How to Travel by Yourself: Beginner Travel Tips

To get through the fears, blocks and worries, I have a number of things I suggest to get your solo travel plans off on the right foot. I’m going to share with you four of these tips to travel by yourself that I learned from my own solo travel journeys. 

How to Travel by Yourself #1

Start Small

Before you plan a big solo trip, take a smaller trip. This way you can test out the waters and see how it goes, building your way up into those bigger trips.  

How to Travel by Yourself #2

Go Domestic

Instead of going for an international trip for your first solo holiday, go somewhere within your own country. Take a weekend or a week somewhere else that you’ve never been to in your own country. This way you get to dip your toe in somewhere that is somewhat familiar. 

This is exactly what I did when I took off on my long term solo trip. I decided to start off in Canada because I was scared. I did a road trip from the west coast of BC over to the east coast of Canada and explored the Maritimes and Atlantic Canada for a few months. I did this because I figured if I hated traveling by myself, I could easily turn around and come back home. I do suggest giving yourself some time to get used to it though…it may be uncomfortable for the first few days on your first solo trip. 

How to Travel by Yourself #3

Start With Easy Countries

When you do travel internationally, I suggest starting with easy countries. Things that I would consider easy countries are places that speak the same language as you speak. So if you’re a native English speaker, think about going to the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, etc. Choosing “easier” countries for your first place will be much easier to get used to when you don’t have that worry of needing to speak a different language. A little spoiler alert: you usually don’t need to speak the official language of other countries to be able to get around and converse with people

How to Travel by Yourself #4

Don’t Talk to Fearmongers

This one is a huge one. Some people I talked with prior to my first solo trip did this and it just plummeted me right back down to doubting myself traveling solo. So stay away from fearmongering people. Funnily enough, most of these people have never traveled before, but just have their own fears around it so they just feed into your fears.

If you mention any hesitations or worries you have like: “I’m worried about getting around” or “I’m worried about not speaking the language”, these people will probably say something like “oh my God, I know. I don’t know how you would do it. I just wouldn’t go.” Placing that doubt in your brain so you end up second guessing yourself continually instead of working through those worries. This could lead you to not taking that dream trip that you want. 

So who do you want to talk to then? Your cheerleader friends. Seek out your friends that are optimistic and encouraging who will boost you up. These people have usually traveled or have a very positive outlook. They will help you talk through some of the scenarios you are worried about and discuss how to overcome those fears. Having these cheerleaders to talk to makes such a difference to build your confidence and onto that plane. 


I hope these tips help you discover how to travel by yourself. Once you start traveling you will realize that most of your fears are moot.