If you’re struggling with the idea of booking your first solo trip, today’s post is for you. Today I’m answering the popular question “How do you get over the fear of traveling alone.”
Several solo trips later, I’ve discovered I actually enjoy and prefer traveling alone or with just my daughter (group trips make me want to hurl lol). I’ve also learned a few things along the way so, here are my tips for taking your first solo trip.
10 Reasons To Travel Solo + 10 Solo Travel Quotes To Inspire You
How Do You Get Over the Fear of Traveling Alone
1. Start with a staycation
Book a trip to a place that’s a 2-3 hour drive away. This allows you to step out of your comfort zone without having to also worry about flights, currency, or learning a new language.
2. Book a tour
Tours are a GREAT way to see a new city without feeling alone. Tours usually have lots of other people (many traveling alone). The tour guides are usually chatty and they handle all the driving so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. Tours keep you busy so you won’t feel lonely or bored.
3. Visit a friend
Plan a vacation in a city where you know someone but book your own hotel room. Make plans to meet them for dinner but spend the morning and afternoon exploring the city on your own. This way you’ll have someone you can reach out to if you get lonely and they can tell you cool things they do when they are alone in their city.
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4. Put time into planning your first trip
One of people’s biggest fears with solo travel is “what if something goes wrong”?. First, no one can promise that any trip will be stress-free and perfect (trust me, I’ve had my share of WTF moments too). However, this fear is often reduced or eliminated as you plan the details of your trip. Take time to fully plan the details of your trip. Are there coffee shops nearby you want to try, how far is your hotel/Airbnb to the nearest train or bus. Search out a few places to grab lunch and or dinner and look over their menu. Book tours well in advance and locate the meeting spots so your not searching last minute. The more details you put into the plans the better you will feel about going alone.
5. Plan to check in with a friend or family member a few times a day
When I first started traveling solo I made it a point to check in with my mom two times per day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. We did calls over facetime so she could see I was okay. This made me feel better because I know that if I missed a call, she would know something was wrong. It also gave me a chance to talk about the things I did that day so I had someone to share the experience with.
While solo travel may not be for everyone if you’re tired of waiting for others to join you or you just have the urge to get away, definitely give it a try. Solo travel is a great way to get to know yourself, forces you to become independent, and pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Do you have a travel question you want answered? Send me a DM on Instagram @CourtneyBlacher or Follow Me on Facebook!
