Traveling is for YOU! It doesn’t matter if you’re married or single, what race or gender you are, if your friends can afford to go, or if they’re too broke to join you. You should be out there because travel is therapy, edifying, enlightening, and stretches you in ways you’d never imagine, and you deserve to know how that feels.
Recently, a friend decided to take her first solo European trip and asked if I had any tips. I am taking our conversation, which lasted a few hours, and condensing it for you in the first video of my new YouTube channel. So grab a pen and something to write with because class is in session!
5 Tips for a Successful Solo Vacation
Pack Light
First, whether you’re planning to enjoy your first solo trip or your 50th, the number one rule is to PACK LIGHT. The last thing you want to do when traveling alone is lug around a bunch of luggage, and no, this doesn’t mean you have to be anything less than clean, fabulous, and sparkly all the time. In another video, I’ll discuss how to travel with only a carry-on and backpack, but the abbreviated version is to pack for a week and schedule your wash days every eighth. It’s super easy. You can do it, and you’ll thank me when you’re not dragging three bags down some cobblestone street at midnight. Packing light also frees you up to schedule a day trip to a nearby island or city without worrying about how you’ll store your bags. The result is more fun and less anxiety.
This is my absolute favorite luggage for solo travel because it has an easy-to-use brake, which comes in handy on public transportation.
Connect with a Community as Soon as Possible
The next tip for a successful solo trip is to CONNECT WITH A COMMUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I know this seems counterintuitive: You’re not traveling solo because you need a bunch of people validating your existence all the time. I get you. You’re strong and independent. But, for safety purposes, it’s a good idea to have at least one person expecting to see you sometimes.
I usually look for a place of worship right away, which has helped me find friends all over the world. Even if I prefer spending time alone sometimes during my trip, it’s nice to know I have the option to socialize, and I have friends who have my back if I ever need them.
For you, finding a community may mean staying in a hostel and meeting people you can cook with and chat up. Or you may want to look for a resource like Black and Abroad, Travel Noir, or another group that organizes events for Black travelers throughout the diaspora.
Before we continue to the next tip, if you want more travel hacks and itineraries, click here to receive a free Travel Essentials Guide. This guide will help you travel more confidently, no matter where you’re headed.
Do Your Research
Point three for a successful solo trip is DO YOUR RESEARCH. This includes researching the safest neighborhoods before choosing where you’ll stay. Know which areas get sketchy after hours. What’s the local emergency number? Is it 911 like in the United States, or 112 like in the EU?
If the local language in your destination is different from your own, learn how to say:
- Please
- Thank you
- Where is the bathroom
- How much does this cost
- Bathroom?
- Do you speak English?
Duolingo is a super popular app for learning languages, and I’ve definitely used it, but consider hiring a private tutor off of Craigslist a few months before you leave. I’ve had better success with the latter method, and it’s nice to learn from a local before you’re in their country.
Download an Offline Google Map of Your Destination
My next tip is a bit technical but super easy, and that is to DOWNLOAD AN OFFLINE GOOGLE MAP OF YOUR DESTINATION. Do this before you leave so you have no problem trying to download it while overseas. Even if you have no service when you arrive, Google can track you, and you can see where you are on the map you’ve downloaded.
Also, when you get lost, which is fine, you won’t look like a tourist checking the map discreetly on your phone.
Watch my video “Don’t Travel Alone in 2023 Before Watching This“ on YouTube for visual instructions on how to download your map.
Create a Shareable Itinerary – and Share It
Next, CREATE A SHAREABLE ITINERARY – AND SHARE IT. By listing the places you plan to visit, you’re giving your loved ones back home a resource for finding you, if necessary, a move that may be life-saving.
TripIt is a travel planning app that creates itineraries by integrating all your travel details into one place. It searches your email automatically for flight, hotel, restaurant, and event reservations. It then creates a neat, color-coded itinerary that’s easy to share and follow. I’m a planner, but I don’t have much time, so I love using TripIt for this purpose.
A Few More Tips for Solo Travelers
A few keys that didn’t make the list but I still find helpful when traveling solo include:
- Utilize Uber and Lyft’s safety features, including sharing your ride’s location.
- Sit at the bar when dining out to avoid feeling as if there’s a spotlight on you.
- Consider wearing a wedding ring (one on each hand).
- No flashy jewelry or accessories.
- Download your Spotify playlist and a few television shows/movies before you leave.
- Grab a whistle for safety.
- SIM Card: Tell your friends to reach you via WhatsApp or iMessage while you’re away, and use a local sim card to confirm reservations and contact new friends abroad while staying in touch with your people back home.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I’d recommend tour groups if you’re older or less secure about being alone in a new place. Otherwise, um, skim them and create your itinerary instead.
For the most part, ain’t nobody thinking about you, and that’s a beautiful thing. Bask in the anonymity and have fun.
Next week, we’ll get into tip #1: Packing lightly. How are you going to fit everything inside of just a carry-on?! Watch my next video, where I’ll teach you how I pack for any trip, three weeks or less, with only one rolling suitcase and a backpack.
See you next week, traveler!