Imagine exploring the world on your own terms, at your own pace. It’s something that excites and thrills many. But when you’re about to hop on a plane for the first time by yourself, it can feel the very opposite of exciting.
To quickly gain confidence to travel alone, you need to prepare yourself mentally for the trip by not overthinking it and going somewhere you’re excited about. The more you face your fears, and the more you experience and explore on your own, the quicker you will be able to build your confidence.
It’s easier said than done. However, to help you take one step closer to your dream trip, allow us to give you nine tips that will guide you and make you more confident about going on a solo trip.
1. Just Go For It
There will always be some element of fear when you’re traveling alone, especially when you’re doing it for the first time. And even when you’ve done it several times in the past, the fact that destinations are different, cultures vary, and people’s behaviors can be very unpredictable can make traveling by yourself seem daunting.
But that’s exactly what makes traveling to places that you’ve never been to before exciting. You are enriched by the places and people you discover. And so when you feel anxious or afraid, just go anyway. Don’t let fear stop you from learning and discovering.
Because unless you actually go, you’ll never be able to overcome your fears. The more you explore, the more confident you will be about your ability to navigate. And the more open you are to experiencing new cultures, the better you will be at building rapport with people you just met.
While there are people who seem to be born confident, there are others who need a bit of a push to get going. And if you fall in the second category, all you need to do is simply go. Do the very thing you’re anxious or fearful of, and you’ll see that your confidence will start to grow
as you do.
2. Go Somewhere You’re Excited About
Another thing you can do to dispel any worry or unease you have is by choosing a destination that truly, deeply excites you – a place that you’ve dreamed of going to for years, maybe somewhere of sentimental importance. Let that emotional tug be the driving force that propels you to go, book that plane ticket, and set forth.
If you’re feeling fearful and your destination isn’t particularly important or meaningful, you might have a harder time overcoming your fears than when you have a deep desire to go.
You can try digging deep within yourself for places you know will make it hard to say no or turn back. Is there a loved one that awaits on the other side of the globe, perhaps? Or is it a place that you’ve always loved going with a special person?
I have always found it harder to do something that I was afraid of or that made me feel insecure when there was no reward or meaning to what I was supposed to do.
If there’s a purpose to your trip that you know you can’t afford to say no to, you will be able to overcome your fears because you know it’s more than just getting from point A to B.
3. Start Small
When you’re afraid about traveling alone, simply take it easy. Accept that the fear is real and valid, and give yourself ample opportunity to adjust. You can do this by going on short solo trips to relatively near destinations. This way, you won’t be pushing yourself too hard too soon.
Here are some “starter” solo trip ideas to help warm you up to traveling by yourself:
- Book a table and dine out alone. Start by getting used to your own company. If you feel awkward eating out alone, you’ll have difficulty getting used to spending all your time by yourself when you travel.
- Go on a staycation by yourself. It can be just a hotel or resort accommodation in a nearby city. Use this time to get used to booking your own accommodation, finding your way, asking for directions or navigating, and spending the night at a place where you don’t know anybody.
- Join a group day tour. You will likely do this a lot on your future solo trips, so you might want to get accustomed to building rapport with strangers and getting around on your own. This is also a great time to practice your skills at making new friends.
- Spend some alone time on a beach. If you’re planning to travel somewhere with plenty of sun and sand, you might want to get used to taking a dip by yourself. This will give you an idea of what it will feel like.
If you’re an introvert who isn’t exactly excited about traveling alone, you should read my solo travel guide for introverts. I discuss how it gives you the freedom to express yourself and boost your confidence. [Is a Solo Trip a Good Idea for Introverts?]
4. Get To Know Your Destination
One of the biggest reasons people get scared to travel alone is that they don’t know what’s coming. Sure, you might know the destination listed on your travel itinerary but not actually know what you will find there. The culture you’re bound to immerse in, being in a new environment, and the little details like transportation can make you anxious.
The solution? Make sure you know and understand your destination. Here’s how you can do that:
- Do your research. Look your destination up online, and find discussion sites where people share stories and experiences about their own trips. You can look for solo trip experiences and learn from them.
- Talk to people who have been there. If you have friends who have been to the place that you plan on going to, ask them for recommendations and tips, such as the easiest way to get transportation, places to avoid, and those that are a must-see.
- Learn their language. If you are traveling to a foreign country, it will be helpful if you are able to understand and speak important words and phrases, especially if you’re not going to an English-speaking country.
- Understand the culture. Know what gestures or expressions are considered offensive, and learn how to properly conduct yourself so you don’t come off as disrespectful.
- Try their food. If you’re going to a foreign country – say, Japan, you might want to try going to a Japanese restaurant and have a taste of their food. You’ll also want to learn table etiquette.
- Read the news. Knowing current events and the state of affairs at your destination will help you understand how things are and how they are most likely going to affect your stay.
- Read up about safety precautions to take. Last but not least, don’t forget to read up on the safety precautions that are necessary for your trip. You may find these in discussion groups, travel blogs, and even country or state websites.
Making it to your flight for your first solo travel experience can be an enormous task. Fortunately, you can reduce the pressure if you know what to do. You can learn all about the steps to prepare for your first flight as a solo traveler in my complete guide. [solo travel guide for introverts]
5. Refrain From Things That Will Make You Paranoid
Are you fond of watching true crime? Well, now is the time to put that pastime to rest. You don’t need any materials that will cause you to overthink or become paranoid about your safety. What you can do, instead, are things that will encourage you and give you a confidence boost.
Here are some examples of things that you can do in preparation for your trip:
- Talk to friends who are excited about your trip. There’s nothing like a pep talk from your besties – especially those that love traveling solo as much as you do. Encouraging words from friends who have had great experiences will boost your confidence and keep you excited about going.
- Watch travel vlogs. Aside from giving you important tips and a sneak peek into your intended destination, travel vlogs can also hype you up and keep your focus on the reasons you want to go.
- Involve people in the planning. Just because you’re going alone doesn’t mean you can’t have people helping you with the planning. In fact, involving people close to you at this stage can make it more fun.
- List your travel goals. Listing the things that you want to see, eat, and experience will make the idea of going even more exciting and keep you looking forward (instead of being scared) to your solo trip.
6. Do Things That Spark Joy in You
When you’re in a new place for the first time, it can be very overwhelming. Everything looks different, feels different, and even smells different. Therefore, it’s normal to want to stay in your hotel room and not venture out into the “wild”. But then, you would be missing out on many experiences – the very experiences that you went there for!
So instead of locking yourself up in your room and waiting for your flight back home, you can try doing things that make you happy. Need ideas? Here are a few:
- Book a spa appointment. Being in a completely new environment is stressful. So, allow yourself to relax by pampering yourself. Get a massage or have your nails done.
- Dine somewhere amazing. Do you remember researching a restaurant that everyone seemed to talk about? You can now go and have a taste of the food yourself.
- See important tourist attractions. From ancient ruins to historical places to the Walk of Fame, whatever it is that you will only find in your destination, don’t miss out on the opportunity to see it with your own eyes.
7. Have Emergency Plans in Place
When you make plans, you also have to make plans for when your plans fail. Yes, because when you’re in a totally new environment, many things will not go according to plan. For example, the hotel that you booked may have made a mistake with the date, or you might get lost on your way to the hotel.
So aside from double-checking details, it’s also necessary to make plans for emergency situations. To make sure that you’re ready, you can do the following:
- Get emergency contact details. List down the numbers of nearby police stations, transportation services, your accommodation, and other important contacts. You will never know when they will come in handy.
- Have a backup plan for activities. When your day tour doesn’t fall through or your hotel accommodation has not been correctly booked, you may need a backup place where you can book without prior reservation.
- Keep a copy of important documents. If you forget your IDs and other important papers, you will be in a lot of trouble. Always keep a copy of important paperwork, and never carry valuables when you’re out exploring.
8. Be Open to New Friendships
When you’re in a strange, new place, it’s helpful to have people who can help you in the event you get into a sticky situation. Thankfully, traveling solo is a great opportunity to turn strangers into lifelong friends.
You can join day tours or group activities and strike conversations with locals or other travelers like yourself. Be open to the idea of forming new friendships, willing to socialize, and make time to get to know other people.
You’ll never know; you may find your new best friend on the plane en route to your destination. And voila–you get a new travel buddy!
9. Know Your Limits
Lastly, while you should have fun exploring and experiencing new things, you should know your limits and let them guide you so you don’t take on more than you can handle. Don’t push yourself to take on extreme adventures that you’ve never been on before or that you know you’re just not ready for at the moment.
Additionally, when planning your itinerary, don’t pressure yourself to “always be traveling.” Ensure you plan a day or two where you take things easy and maybe just enjoy the hotel facilities. This will reduce your overwhelm and fear about traveling alone.
Key Takeaways
Traveling alone is one of the most thrilling ways to see the world. And by doing so, you don’t just get to tick off places on your bucket list. You also learn more about yourself and have a deeper appreciation for life. So don’t let your fear stop you, and take the plunge.