In the summer of 2023, when I was 21 years old, something unexpected happened that set me on a new adventure in my life.
While my friend was off traveling in Europe, I got a free voucher for a buffet dinner for 2. Not to let a good meal go to waste, I decided to treat my good friend and indulge in serious feasting together. Little did I know that dinner would ignite a fire within me and awaken a deep longing to explore the world on my terms.
As we stuffed ourselves with delicacies in the luxury hotel, I couldn’t stop peppering my friends with questions about his Europe trip. He shared his enjoyment of the journey and his appreciation of the architecture and the overall vibe of European cities that are so different from anything he could experience in Asia. The more he shared, the more the burning desire to embark on my adventure grew inside me.
I wasn’t born into a particularly rich family, and vacation abroad has always been a distant dream for me. While my classmates and friends were jetting off to faraway places with their families while they were kids, I was stuck at home and could only learn about the outside world from their words. Traveling abroad has never come to my mind, let alone doing it solo.
But life brightened up when I got into my university. By hustling on the side and saving every penny, I could afford a wealthier lifestyle I had never dreamed of in my childhood, all with my own money.
While I couldn’t swing a European trip just like my friend, I realized a solo trip through Southeast Asia was within my reach. Inspired by my friend’s journey, I set off on my first adventure abroad in my entire life — a life-changing journey into uncertainty, armed with only my amateur travel skills and an irresistible craving for new experiences.
Since that life-changing experience, I’ve approached university graduation and embarked on 3 solo vacations abroad. I have exclusively traveled to Southeast Asia and have been to Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines so far. Every trip has been meticulously planned, and I have also learned a lot from the setbacks I encountered. It has boosted my confidence, taught me how to navigate foreign lands with ease, encouraged me to interact with the people I meet along the way, and left me with unforgettable experiences I’d never have had back home.
Honestly, I can’t stress enough how incredible solo traveling has been for me, and I am thrilled to share all my insights with you — from how I prepare my solo trip to personal tips to make your solo trip more enjoyable (including how to handle moments of embarrassment and loneliness when venturing alone), I’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive right in and unveil the magic of solo travel together.
But Why Travel Solo?
For most, organizing a trip with friends and families can be a logistical nightmare, especially for grown-ups. Conflicting schedules, differing preferences for destinations and activities, variation in physical strength and wake-up time… All these can already derail a travel plan before it could even take off.
But for me, to be brutally honest, it all boils down to one simple reason: I am a self-proclaimed nerdy and introverted kid who’s accustomed to spending a lot of time alone and has only a few close friends, and I was never the one invited to social gatherings or events.
However, even among my small circle of friends, planning a trip just one month in advance will be nearly impossible. Most prefer to
thoroughly plan months ahead to catch the best deals on booking and ensure they can secure time off from work or studies, so a spontaneous trip like the one I envisioned simply won’t fit their schedules.
So, instead of waiting around for months, hoping to find someone who syncs perfectly with my plans, I made a conscious decision — I could just go on my trip without waiting for anyone. Why should I miss out on experiences I desire simply because I have to wait for someone to be part of it? If I have the idea and the ability to execute it, why not take the plunge and go for it alone?
Starting Small
While I had practically zero experience with international travel before my first solo adventure abroad, it doesn’t mean I have absolutely zero experience with solo traveling at all.
Living in Hong Kong, I had already embarked on overnight trips to Shenzhen and a day trip to Macau, two destinations conveniently close to my home city. Exploring these places alone gave me a taste of what it’s like to make my own itinerary, arrange transportation and accommodations, find things to do and eat, and other logistics regarding traveling. These have laid foundational knowledge and experience for me before I kickstart my first international trip.
Yet, preparing for a multi-day trip abroad introduced a new level of complexity compared to the short excursions I had taken before. While the concept of exploring a new country thrilled me, I had to step up my game in travel planning and preparation to ensure a smooth journey for my first time having footsteps out of my home country.
How I (Actually) Prepared For My First Solo Trip Abroad
Picking My Travel Destination
Picking the right country to visit played a crucial role in shaping my budget and travel experiences. But for a zero-experience traveler like me, every foreign country felt equally uncertain, so I needed some extra guidance.
In the beginning, my friend’s journey to Europe enticed me, but the cost of traveling there was simply out of reach for me.
It just so happened that another friend of mine also came back from a recent trip to Singapore and Malaysia. I reached out to him, eager to learn about his experiences, food, recommendations, and travel tips in these countries.
And guess where I ended up going for my first vacation abroad in my entire life? Singapore and Malaysia. I am just not motivated enough to look elsewhere.
Budgeting
While the decent amount of savings from my side hustle was a good starting point, having a clear budget ensured I didn’t go bankrupt on a single trip, especially when I had a bad track record of overspending on my previous day trips.
But budgeting isn’t an easy task as I have zero knowledge about the actual price levels of my chosen destinations. The best resources I could find were some online sites that provided average costs for food, transportation, and other expenses in those countries. Armed with this info, I made a table outlining all the items I expected to pay for and also set a generous estimation of my daily food and transport budget based on my online research. Here’s what it looks like:
Research & Research
As predictable and mundane as it may sound, the majority of my time for the preparation is spent researching about every detail of the trip. It involved countless Google searches, looking for major attractions, foods, and transportation, reading top search results about tips for solo traveling in those countries, and gathering as much information as possible so I was armed with enough knowledge about the places that I could navigate with enough confidence.
A Nice Travel Planning App That I Came Across
While I was looking up information for my coming trip, I came across a pretty neat app for travel planning — Wanderlog (Disclaimer: As an independent writer who isn’t famous, I do NOT get sponsored by them!)
I wish I had discovered it earlier in my travel planning process. It is such a lifesaving app that integrates everything I need for a smooth trip — From keeping a record of the flights and hotels I have booked to crafting an itinerary with a map view and even providing a budgeting feature to track my spending. It’s such an invaluable tool for someone like me who likes to plan everything ahead and keep all the information well-organized.
Wanderlog has made it particularly easy to craft an itinerary. I love the way my itinerary is visualized on a Google Maps view, so I can easily see the distance between places. It allows me to arrange my visits in logical order so I don’t end up hopping from one side of the city to another. And if you are a paying customer like me (Yes, I did pay for a travel planning app with my own money!), it has a simple yet convenient feature to help you sort your route to each attraction too.
Wanderlog is not perfect, though — I did find its mobile app a little bit sluggish or sometimes buggy while I was trying to check things out on the go, and the process of adding my spending record on my phone isn’t the simplest task either. But despite these minor hiccups, Wanderlog remains a solid travel planning tool for me, and since I discovered it, I have been using it to plan every single trip I have, so it’s an easy recommendation from me for travel planning.
My Comprehensive Guide To Your (First) Solo Trip
Going on a solo trip gives me unparalleled freedom to enjoy myself on my own terms, but I still find comfort in sticking with the travel planning workflow I have developed over time to ensure a smooth experience. But I know there are people who take a more spontaneous approach to travelling, taking off with little to no planning. Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference when it comes to your travel style.
Based on my own experiences with preparations for multiple solo trips, I have put together a comprehensive guide below, so you can have a clear path on starting your own journey too. While this guide is primarily tailored to solo traveling, much of the travel planning trip can also be useful for those who are organizing trips for a group (kudos to the guys who are trying to put everything together!). I can’t guarantee these steps will work out for everyone, but I still hope you can incorporate some of the tricks into your own planning process. Remember, as a solo traveler, you have the entire trip on your own :)
Start Easy
If you are unsure about diving straight into a foreign country for your first solo trip, it’s perfectly fine to start small before you gradually build up your confidence to take on a more challenging route. You can start as small as planning a solo weekend hangout with yourself around your city or taking small trips to places outside your city. These trips may not be as life-changing as heading out of your country, but they’re still valuable experiences to help you develop essential skills such as packing, crafting itineraries, and navigating around, all in a familiar environment.
If you feel like you’re ready for a bigger challenge, go ahead and venture aboard. Not ready for a brutal adventure yet? Start with a country that is known to be safe for solo travelers and has an easily accessible transportation system. It’s even better if the country has convenient access to most attractions, so you don’t have to spend much of your time hopping around. If your friends have recently been to some places, you can learn from their first-hand experiences so you can make decisions based on their sharing too.
Research & Bookmark
Once you have decided on your destination, it’s time to dive into the research and familiarize yourself with the place before you set foot there.
But before delving into the exciting experiences and local delicacies, here are a few important factors to consider before you can head to that country:
- Whether the weather is right for the time you are visiting the country
- If there is any VISA or immigration requirement and whether you’re eligible for it
- What travel advisories say about your destinated countries & whether there’s a restriction for now
Once you have addressed these initial considerations and decided that you are ready for the country, you can focus on the enjoyable aspects of your trip. You should find most of the information you need online, or you can get/borrow a travel book for your destination which compiles every essential information of that place. Since you are traveling solo, usually the top results when you search for “<your destination> solo traveling” will give you a good idea of what it is like to venture alone there.
Anyway, here is the list of items you can look for while you’re researching for your trip:
- Major areas/cities/regions in the country & whether they’re popular/great travel destination
- Major tourist attractions (& average time spent on those attractions)
- Major activities (Here’s the neat part: You can specifically look for activities based on your personal interest, and you don’t always have to stick to whatever is popular there!)
- Local delicacies
- Souvenirs
- Transportation options (Public transport, taxis, ride-hailing, other interesting options, etc.)
- Price range for various items (Average price for meals, transportation, attractions, activities, etc.)
- If you are visiting multiple regions within the same country, look for cross-city transportation options too
- Accommodation options (price range, types — hotel/hostel/villa/homestay…)
As you come across interesting places, you might want to keep them for future reference. In case you don’t know, Google Maps has a feature where you can “save” a place after searching for it. You can create a list of saved places and show it on the map, which makes it easier to craft your itinerary later. Just as an example, here is my Google Maps list of the places I bookmarked for my recent trip to Manila, Philippines:
Craft Your Itinerary & Budgeting
While discovering the fun things to do on a trip is easy, organizing them into a well-structured itinerary can be daunting. While some people prefer to go with the flow and explore places without a strict schedule, I personally enjoy planning everything in advance, so all I have to do is follow my schedule and fully immerse myself in the experience after the trip starts.
If you’re like me and you want to have a full itinerary ready before you depart, here’s how I would suggest approaching it:
- Group your attractions/places of interest based on geographical locations. If you previously bookmarked your attractions on Google Maps, it should be easy to see which ones are closer to each other.
- Begin placing each attraction in your itinerary according to their geographic proximity, ensuring that you are visiting places that are not too far apart each day. Also, consider the amount of time you are going to spend on each place and make sure you have adequate time to fully immerse yourself in it. Don’t be afraid to remove attractions/activities if they can’t fit into your itinerary due to time constraints. Prioritize the places/attractions that matter the most to you. Remember, you are there to enjoy yourself, not speed running between destinations.
- Once you have sorted out all the attractions/activities, it is time to pick the accommodations based on your budget and your preferences. Pay attention to the transportation options around the accommodations so you can stay at a place where you can conveniently travel to your points of interest.
- Make your budget plan based on the cost of accommodation, transportation method, and attractions you have picked, as well as the average prices of food and transportation for each day. Ideally, add a generous yet sensible buffer to the average daily budget you set and allocate some extra cash for shopping or other unexpected expenses. A simple spreadsheet should be good enough to keep track of all the items and make a sum of them.
Start Booking
Now that you have a good plan ready, it’s a good idea to start booking your accommodation and attractions in advance to secure your reservations.
If you happen not to be able to make a booking for your original choices, don’t hesitate to go back to your itinerary and make adjustments to it too.
Understand Their System
It’s important to familiarize yourself with how things work in the country you’re traveling to, as it may work quite differently than what you are used to. Here are some key aspects I personally recommend learning about:
- How to use public transportation or buy tickets for each transportation option (You may also want to know if there’s any form of tourist pass that gives you unlimited rides for specified days, which could be a good deal if you plan to use the public transportation a lot)
- Major payment methods accepted (local currency used, whether credit cards are widely accepted, any payment apps used by the locals, etc.)
- How to use local ride-hailing apps in case you need one (Uber might not be an option for some countries)
- What are the major scams targeted at tourists there (so you won’t fall for them)
- Local culture & etiquette, such as clothing style accepted (particularly in religious areas) or behaviors in public areas that are accepted/unaccepted by the locals
- The type of power socket used in the country and the operating voltage — make sure you have the suitable adapter on hand for charging your electronic devices in your destination before you travel
Get Yourself Ready
Here are some extra things you can do to get yourself prepared for your trip too:
- Download offline maps on your phone — even with a SIM card for traveling, you may find yourself in a situation where you completely lose cellular signal on your phone. Having offline maps on your phone allows you to navigate around even when you’re disconnected. I personally use Organic Maps for that, so you can give this a shot as well (Disclaimer: As an independent writer who isn’t famous, I do NOT get sponsored by them!)
- Install a translation app on your phone and familiarize yourself with its usage. Make sure you learn how to use it to have conversations with the locals or read signs in a foreign language.
- Set up all the necessary apps you need for your travel destinations on your phone before you travel (ride-hailing apps, local payment apps, ticket-booking apps, etc.)
- Look for mobile network options to stay connected while you’re traveling. Chances are you might be able to purchase your travel SIM card in your home city or pre-order one for pick up at your home or destination airport, so you might want to look for it online. Travel roaming also works, but it can be pretty expensive. You can also buy it right after you arrive at your destination airport, but you probably won’t get the best deal there.
- Print out all the important documents you might need at immigration, check-in, or other situations in your trip. Also, keep digital copies of those documents both locally on your device (so you can access them offline) or in cloud storage (so you can recover them easily). Having multiple copies ensures you always have access to those documents in any situation.
- Pack your clothes according to the weather and activities on your trip. Also, include any necessary items you need in your packing list.
- It is a good idea to bring some common medicine for cold/fever/headache/diarrhea as well, just in case you need them. Also, bring a few band-aids or a simple first-aid kit for minor injuries.
- Exchange currency before you depart to ensure you have local currency on hand for your destination.
- If you plan to use your credit/debit card or withdraw money with your local bank account, confirm with your bank that your cards can be used in foreign countries and inquire about any additional fees. You might need to enable international withdrawal or payment capabilities on your account manually.
- Just to be safe, you can get yourself travel insurance, so unexpected events or emergencies can be covered (hopefully).
Some Extra Tips To Make Your Solo Trip More Enjoyable
No One Cares About You As Much As You Do
It’s natural that you feel self-conscious when you’re alone in the public. You might feel like everyone is staring at you while you’re waiting alone in the airport, dining solo at the restaurant, or wandering around at the tourist spot without a partner.
But here’s the truth: You probably overestimate how much attention people are paying to you, making you feel anxious about yourself. This phenomenon is also known as the Spotlight Effect.
In reality, most people have their own life and they are focusing on themselves too, and it’s very unlikely for them to remember or even care about you doing things solo. Think about it, how much do you remember that one stranger you saw in the street, even if they fall into clumsy mistakes? Chances are, you probably have forgotten about them soon after you encounter them. So it’s going to be the same when you’re out there and other people see you doing things alone.
So, instead of worrying about how you appear to others, embrace the freedom and enjoy yourself. Dine at that restaurant on your wishlist, take good selfies at scenic spots, and fully immerse yourself in activities. Don’t let unnecessary worries stop you from enjoying your once-in-your-lifetime experience.
But what if someone asks you why you’re traveling solo? That’s a question I encountered various times while I was traveling alone as well. In such cases, there’s no harm in being authentic. You can just explain that your friends couldn’t join you for this time or that you just want to have more “me-time” and freedom to enjoy things at your own pace. It’s merely a casual conversation starter, and most people will understand and be accepting of your reasons. So don’t overthink it and let it deter you from making the most of your journey.
Engage With Locals
One of the added benefits of traveling alone is that you aren’t tied to the people you know for your entire trip — which means more opportunities to engage with someone new.
Throughout your trip, there are countless opportunities for you to interact with locals: Whether you need their help with directions, want some recommendations at the restaurant, are exploring the local markets, or encounter a talkative cab driver who wants to strike up a conversation with you. Take these opportunities to build connections with the locals and appease your curiosity about their culture. Another way to show respect and appreciation to the locals is always to greet the staff you meet in the hotel or the friendly locals who say hi to you on the street and don’t hesitate to approach a local and ask them about aspects of their culture that pique your curiosity. Most locals are happy to share their local wisdom and provide insights to their community. (But keep in mind the topics that the locals are willing/not willing to discuss based on their culture)
One caveat is that not every local is here for an authentic connection — so always familiarize yourself with the common scams in the area you’re visiting, and stay cautious when the local seems overly inviting or trying to convince you to go somewhere else. Trust your instincts, and don’t hesitate to decline and walk away if something feels off. Always prioritize your safety while you’re in an unfamiliar place.
Sign Up For Grouped Activities
Going on a trip alone doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself. If you are looking to meet new people or you want to have shared experiences, you can look up group tours that you can sign up for. Usually, tour companies in those areas organize day tours where you can join other travelers and explore popular destinations with an experienced guide, which can be a good option if you want to have an easier time exploring unfamiliar places as well. If you stayed in a hostel for your trip, chances are your hostel also organizes activities for guests to bond with other travelers and explore local places.
So don’t limit yourself to doing things alone for the entire trip — use these opportunities to connect with like-minded people and make the most out of your journey.
Learn Some Local Languages
While English is widely spoken around the world, it’s not an obligation for the locals to be fluent in it just to communicate with us. In fact, you might encounter locals who could not understand or speak English on your trip. While you can rely on a translation app when you encounter someone with limited English proficiency, learning some of the local language is a matter of respect to the locals and can prove useful in certain situations.
I came to this realization during my first trip to Malaysia, where I noticed that not every local I encountered could understand my words beyond simple inquiries like “Where’s the toilet?”. This could partly be attributed to my non-native English accent, but it underscored the fact that not all locals I encountered should be expected to speak English. Therefore, since my second solo trip, where I came back to Malaysia again, I attempted to learn some Bahasa Malaysia (the language of Malaysia), especially common phrases for greetings and expressions of gratitude, and I actually used some of that on the trip to thank the locals for their assistance. Trust me, the locals truly appreciate it when you say Terima kasih (Thank you in Malay) or Salamat po (Thank you in Filipino) more than just a simple “Thank you” in English. It really demonstrates your respect for their culture by putting in the effort to learn a few words in their language. I even found myself in a situation during my recent trip to the Philippines where I was stuck in a remote village, but I successfully located a toilet by using the phrase “Nasaan po ang CR?” (“Where is the toilet?” in Filipino) that I learned while preparing for my trip.
While being fluent in the local language may not be necessary for most places you visit, being able to showcase your (limited) language skills and express appreciation in the local languages can truly brighten someone’s day. That’s why I consider putting efforts into learning some of the local language on every trip to be worthwhile, and I recommend you to try it.
Still Aren’t Convinced?
I have covered a lot about how to start a solo trip, but maybe you still have some concerns about it. Going on a solo trip is indeed a significant decision that may seem unconventional and intimidating, but I am sure the rewards you get from your solo trip will outweigh the doubt and hesitation you have right now. Here’s why:
Solo Travelling Is An Valuable Opportunity For Personal Growth
Solo traveling has been the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me in my life, and I can’t stress enough how life-changing it is as a learning experience. Through solo traveling, I have gained so much confidence by learning to organize and do things by myself and adapt to unexpected situations during my trip.
Also, solo traveling was a significant achievement in my life, and I am sure it will be the case for you too. As mentioned before, I wasn’t able to travel abroad until my twenties, when I decided to take the leap and embark on my first solo vacation abroad. Despite skepticism from those around me because of my lack of experience, I proved that I was perfectly capable of running a trip entirely on my own, empowering me to venture into less-developed and more adventurous destinations with each subsequent trip.
Unparalleled Flexibility And Freedom
Solo traveling offers a rare opportunity to cater entirely to your own needs without any compromises or complaints from others.
Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, enjoy walking 30km a day to sprint through all the major attractions in a day or prefer to take it chill and explore at a more relaxed pace, love shopping, or are up for a difficult hike that your friends wouldn’t dare to attempt — the choice is entirely yours.
It’s even perfectly fine to continue with your niche while you’re in a foreign country. For example, I always love to wander around local supermarkets and department stores to observe the available options and price levels as a “cultural experience”. And as a tech nerd, I am particularly interested in the “tech” section of the department store too — even though I am literally in a different country.
That’s the beauty of solo traveling — seize this moment to be yourself and make the most out of your personal time on your next solo trip.
More Opportunity To Socialize With Someone New
Even as a self-proclaimed nerdy and introverted guy, my social skills have improved a lot, thanks to solo traveling.
In some ways, solo travel has made socializing with people easier. On one hand, you find yourself away from familiar faces, forcing you to interact with people you encounter on your trip. On the other hand, just because you’re a traveler from a different culture makes you more intriguing to others, whether they’re locals or fellow travelers. You might even encounter some talkative locals eager to share all their local knowledge with you! Despite my introverted tendencies, I genuinely enjoy getting to know people when they initiate conversations with me. Sometimes, when I was staying at the same hotel for an extended period, I would meet the same guy who worked there for the same shift for multiple days, and I often took the opportunity to greet and engage in small conversations with them, seeking their recommendations or simply getting to know with them better. It’s these small interactions with people that make solo travel more enjoyable and less lonely.
But let me stress that socializing on a solo trip is entirely optional — It’s perfectly fine if you prefer to have more private time without much engagement with others during your trip. Just remember to be polite to anyone that you encounter, and enjoy your solo activities so you can recharge your social batteries!
Enjoy & Safe Travels!
That concludes my insights and experiences with solo travel. If the idea of solo traveling ever comes to your mind, I hope this guide has helped you feel more confident with kickstarting your journey. Of course, you will need to do more preparation and research for your next trip than just following the tips I have mentioned, and I am sure the online resources you come across will cover more than this general guide for your next destinations.
Trust me. Solo travel is so worth it, regardless of whether you end up thoroughly enjoying every moment of your trip (even if there are accidents, it’s still a valuable life lesson!)
I wish you the best on your future journeys. And, if my blog has motivated you to start your next vacation (whether you’re going solo or not) — safe travels!
