How to Prepare For Your First Solo Trip
Fear
Before I ever took my first trip, I never really did anything alone. Not because I didn't want to, but because wanting to do things alone never really crossed my mind.
It was around the time I got into travel photography when I got asked to go to Norway. Without a doubt, I said yes.
Fast forward days before the trip only to find out that it turned into a solo trip. And no, it was not by choice.
Not only have I never done a solo trip before, but it was also abroad. Scared out of my mind, the trip was getting closer and closer and I had nothing planned besides my flight. I couldn't focus at work, had no itinerary planned, didn't know anyone in Norway, was anxious, and scared sh*tless out of my mind.
Fast forward to the day of my flight. The plane was about to take off when I tried to convince every single bone in my body that everything was going to be okay.
Then the plane took off and I couldn't stop crying.
Everything just became real and there was no turning back.
So I took a deep breath, prayed, accepted my current reality and by the time I knew it, I landed in Norway.
My time in Norway was short but felt like forever. Day-by-day, I tried my absolute best to make the most of the trip. It was so difficult but I tried to convince myself otherwise. It was tough to even express gratitude but through the uncertainty, this unexpected, solo trip changed the course of my travels, forever.
Sometimes you'll be put into really unwanted situations, but you'll never be put in a situation that you can't fully handle. I had no intentions of wanting to travel Norway solo, but I had no choice and faught my way through survival.
Here's a live update of me freaking out in Norway:
Solo traveling Norway was not a part of the plan, but this trip was only able to make me stronger. This trip opened up my eyes to the possibilities of solo travel because it made me realize that being physically alone is completely different than feeling lonely. That when you're the ultimate decision maker, that your time belongs to you. Your space belongs to you and only you. You don't have to worry about catering to anyone else's needs but yours. It's that tingly, adrenaline feeling that makes you view and appreciate the world in a different lens. And that's the beauty of solo travel.
Here are a few photos I took of Norway's Northern Lights, and the first time I've ever shot on manual with my Nikon D3400.
Cheers to an unforgettable first, solo trip 🥂
So ask yourself
From unexpected situations to jumping into the unknown, why solo travel?
I'm going to be completely honest but whenever heading to a new country, I still get a little bit nervous. So why do I do it? It's that feeling of ultimate freedom and wanderlust that I yearn for and in the end, everything ALWAYS ends up working to plan.
SO if you're still up for the challenge, why do YOU want to solo travel?
Taking that first leap of faith takes the MOST amount of energy. But I am here to guide you on making that first step as smooth as possible.
If you don't have a journal already, which I personally think is just as important as having your phone, for now, pen and paper is fine.
Questions 💭
🏃♀️ What do you want to accomplish from solo traveling?
- Is it personal? Are you trying to prove someone wrong? Are you trying to prove yourself that you can? Is it purely out of interest?
👉 For me, it was to learn how to love myself. I didn't understand self love but learned to at my pace, over and over again.
🏃♀️ Are you ready for the commitment, even if plans go south?
- Are you a Type A type of traveler? How do you react when plans don't go as planned?
👉 For me, I put my phone away and take a walk outside. It helps me clear my head!
🏃♀️ What are your mental, emotional, and physical strengths and weaknesses?
- How will you respond to situations where you're treated wrong or talked downly to? How can you prepare for your weaknesses?
👉 For me, it's going to a cafe and journaling. I've found so much mental clarity doing so.
🏃♀️ How do you deal with loneliness?
- Have you ever experienced loneliness? Are you afraid to do so? Do you have certain outlets to help you avoid loneliness?
👉 For me, it's content creation and photography. Wanting to capture my travels and tell a story keeps my mind occupied, preventing me from experiencing loneliness.
While I was traveling solo, I didn’t find myself asking these questions once, but multiple times. And the moment I started being honest with myself and surrendered to my pride, I started viewing solo travel with a different lens.
Getting to this point took me months, so I can't emphasize enough how important it is to answer these questions intentionally. Had I answered them in the beginning of my solo journey, I would've saved so much time running away from my problems (literally). Because no matter if I was exploring a new city for the first time, it was extremely difficult to be 100% present in the current moment.
Preparation
After Norway, I made sure to prepare myself more than ever before because to say the least, I was not prepared at all! I nearly forced myself to do things I'd normally do with friends or a partner and let me tell you. It was SO awkward.
While there is no perfect formula, the act of solo travel involves you to do things that most would never consider doing. To say the least, reserving for a table of one and going to the theaters alone isn't always the initial go to!
5 Methods to Build Confidence to Solo Travel at Home
In the beginning, there's no way around the awkwardness of doing things alone but I promise, it gets better and less awkward each time.
From months and months of practice, surrending to my fear, and letting go of my pride, here are the 5 ways that helped me gain the confidence to solo travel:
1. Start doing things alone in public
While the thought of doing things alone in your home town have probably never crossed your mind, why do it? Why eat at a restaurant you drive by every week or watch a movie by yourself at your local theater?
Right... you don't want to bump into people you grew up with. You don't want to look like a 'loner'. You're afraid to be judged. But that's exactly it. This would be the perfect opportunity and there's an advantage to all this.
If the intention is to get out of your comfort zone, take advantage of these opportunities because after an awkward solo date, you have the privilege of escaping back to the comfort of your home. You have the luxury of going back to your room and allowing yourself to process what you just did, your thoughts and reactions, your surroundings, etc.
The first time I watched a movie alone, I found myself constantly looking if there was someone I knew. But I also noticed myself looking around for something that I've never looked for before.
I was looking to see if anyone anyone else was also watching the movie alone. To my surprise, there were. Not just one or two, but a handful.
Even as there were a handful of people watching the movie alone, I found myself rushing out of the theaters. I even skipped using the bathroom and hurried to my car as fast as I could.
I had no idea I was this uncomfortable going to the theaters alone. I didn't realize how much I didn't want to feel like a loner. But then I realized that in the end, no one really cared. It was all in my head.
So I went the following week and did it again. And again. After the first, second, and third time, going to the theaters alone only got easier and easier. Now, I enjoy going to the theaters alone.
It doesn't phase me that I'm alone anymore because in the end, I faught through the fear of being judged for doing things you normally wouldn't do alone.
Plus, I'm not sure I want to wait for anyone when the next Marvel movie drops anymore :)
Bathroom selfie w/ my fav food in theaters! :)
2. Find a hobby
Growing up as New York City as my backyard is more than I could've ever asked for. At 16, I learned how to get into the city via public transportation and found myself commuting back and forth often.
I found myself partying every weekend and come back home to a beautiful sunrise. But let’s be real, after doing this over and over again, it gets old and repetitive.
Until I picked up a hobby that changed my life forever.
I got introduced to travel photography back in 2019 and got obsessed. So obsessed that capturing sunrises and sunsets was the only thing I’d think about. To the point that instead of drinking every weekend, I’d sleep early to wake up in time to capture sunrise instead of going back home to one.
While doing this for months, I got addicted to the point that no matter how many times I've ever trekked into NYC, I felt like a new tourist every time. And the more I did this, the more I started shooting alone, and only wanting to get better at my craft.
Clubbing every weekend was fun for a period of my life. But the moment I realized there was more to life than getting plastered every weekend, my life drastically changed. I started exploring the city through a different lens, and it was beautiful.
Photography is a huge reason why I travel and it prevents me from experiencing loneliness on my solo trips. Because of the intention and goal of capturing moments on my travels, I always have something to look forward to.
The thought of traveling to places to take photos was enough for me to fly solo thousands of miles away from home. Photography was all I thought about, but it's only because I wanted to get better and capture the world.
What about you? It doesn't have to be photography. It can be eating at nice restaurants, visiting local gyms, or taking dance classes all around the world. What are things that excites you enough to go to bed thinking about?
Peep a photo of me taking a photo :)
Create a list
List out 5 hobbies that you may want to start learning about, or things you're interested in learning more about. Why do you want to learn more about these hobbies? Is pursuing each hobby worth your time?
Now that you have your list, take the time and execute one hobby per week. It'll be impossible doing them all in one. Feel out your excitement, your willingness to learn more, and how much time of the day you're thinking/learning/executing each hobby.
After week 5, you should have been able to eliminate at least 3/5. Keep what sticks and be intentional about pursuing it further.
For me, it was travel and photography. It took me about a year to get comfortable using a camera. I used to get extremely embarrassed meeting up with other photographers, not comfortable using MY own camera. But as a beginner, it was important enough for me to continue asking questions, shooting every day, and taking my skills to another level.
Create that list, be intentional about pursuing that interest further, and don't give up 💪
3. Get comfortable showing face
Let's be real. Selfie culture is a huge part of social media. When we look good and feel good, we take selfies. When traveling to beautiful destinations, we take selfies to show that we've been there done that.
Let's be real, it's a personal flex.
Or maybe you're extremely camera shy and you don't like showing your face in front of the camera at all.
When I first started creating content, I used to never post stories of me talking in front of a camera. I'd start talking then immediately freeze up the moment someone walked by. I was extremely embarrassed and would even get made fun of by my friends! No one understood why I was sharing life updates with my followers but over time, there's a few reasons why I'm so grateful this habit stuck.
When I was finally on my own, showing face and sharing life updates on places like my Instagram stories made me feel secure.
I made sure I provided constant updates so my friends and family wouldn't worry, and as time stamps in case I needed to refer back to those moments.
Not only does showing face and sharing updates serve as a security blanket for your loved ones, but it's also a way to start showing up for yourself. And whenever you're back from traveling, you now have an archive of digital stories to always refer back to.
4. Learn to say no
As important as it is to get in the habit of showing up for yourself, learning how to say no arguably is just as important.
You might identify yourself as a people pleaser, saying no is not in your vocabulary, or maybe you already knew this and are ahead of the game.
Whenever someone asked to catch up over a meal or wanted to collab on a post, I always found a way to squeeze them into my schedule. It didn't matter how busy I was, even if it was two hours out of my day.
Later on, not only did I realize that I was hurting myself in the long run, but I found myself spreading myself WAY too thin. To the point that it ended up affecting my productivity, relationships, and sleep schedule!
Learning when to say no is so important. Imagine being abroad and you still don't know how to say no. What if you were at a bar in a foreign country all alone and a guy approaches you. You guys have small talk, and he invites you over to grab a drink. You clearly know your limits and know that if you don't go back to your hotel in 30 minutes, it'll be difficult for you to keep your eyes open. But he seems sweet and does his absolute best convincing you to grab a drink.
"You're only traveling here for a week. Don't be a party pooper and come!"
Peer pressure is real. So real. And yes, although you want to make the most out of your trip, if you don't feel comfortable, you're ALLOWED to say no at all costs.
For me, my excuse has been "I need to finish work", and it's saved me so many times.
If you've been following the journey, not only was I constantly making new short form content across Instagram and TikTok, but I was also editing and uploading Youtube videos more often.
I don't care if someone bought you dinner. You don't owe anyone anything. That was their choice to treat you out - which is incredibly nice of them. But if you know in your heart that you should go back to your hotel, remember you're allowed to say no.
5. Journal
Think about the last time you've journaled, or wrote a paper. Maybe it was back in high school for an assignment, or maybe you write here and there but want to start writing more.
I started journaling after getting over a bad breakup. It was my first relationship and I didn't know how t o process my feelings. But I had the urge to write. Endlessly. And since the breakup, I haven't stopped.
If it wasn't for journaling, I promise I wouldn't have been able to survive solo travel. And this is a fact.
From the amount of times I was sad leaving a place because I got so attached to a person or a place. To trying to understand why certain (unwanted) things were happening to me.
But I never felt alone trying to hold myself together. My journal was always by my side, as I'd POUR out my emotions and feelings I was experiencing over and over again.
I read my journals time to time and always thank myself for documenting important moments, unique emotions, people's impact, and everything else in between.
A journal serves as an archived diary. It's there to help understand and unravel your feelings and your emotions. It's used as a safety net because no matter what part of the world you're in, I promise you're going to experience or see something for the very first time. Yes, we're so lucky to be able to capture these moments with our phones, but documenting a feeling is just as important.
On every other trip moving forward, there's no way I'd leave my journal back home. It's a travel item I will forever have in my travel bag because no matter what part of the world I'm in, I know that it's a constant that I'm always able to rely on.
Next Steps
If you got all the way down to this point, I want you to give yourself a pat on the back because damn, that was a lot of information! I'm proud of you getting up to this point because these 5 action steps took me months of trial and error to get comfortable doing. So take all the time needed to also get comfortable doing so.
BUT there is a difference between creating motion and taking action. You've done the first part by creating motion by purchasing this guide and reading up to this point. Now, I want you to take action by planning to book your next solo trip:
Deciding Where To Go
When I first started solo traveling, my dad told me that as long as I followed his first 3 rules, I was free to do anything else.
Those 3 rules were to ensure: safety, safety, and safety.
When you're traveling all alone, no one is there to guide you. No one is there to carry your bags. No one is there to hold your hand and look after you. Because through every good and bad situation, YOU are the only person you can fully trust and rely on. YOU are the final decision maker. And for these reasons, your safety is the number 1 priority.
You want to make sure that crime is low. That public transportation is easily accessible. That testimonies can from others solo travelers are found on the internet.
From my experience, most countries are safe. But not all are solo travel friendly.
I felt extremely safe solo traveling to Norway, but I wouldn't really recommend as a great solo travel city. I found myself getting bored often and if I didn't make the effort to talk to other travelers, I know I wouldn't have enjoyed the trip at all.
So ask yourself, what are you looking to gain out of that trip? Is it just for a quick getaway? Are there specific activities you're looking to do? Are you looking for the next place to potentially live?
By asking yourself simple questions like this, you'll gain a better idea of what you want to gain from your upcoming solo trip.
Since I started traveling only 3 months before the pandemic, I was forced to travel in the US, which worked out of my favor. So if you're also planning on starting in the US, here are my top recommended solo travel cities and why:
Budget & Saving Money
Depending on the city, length of trip, style and preference, budget varies for everyone.
If you're on budget, you're probably looking for cheaper accommodations, like staying at hostels and flying economy. Maybe you're willing to spend a little more to have your own hotel room. Or, maybe you're okay eating at cheap dine in spots in order to spend more on tours and outdoor activities.
Everyone's budget varies so how do you know how much to save?
I recommend having at least double the amount of your flight + accommodation saved.
You might find yourself only using half of what you've saved for the trip. You might be finding yourself needed more. But I recommend at least this amount to give yourself enough cushion to prepare for the unexpected. What if you rent a car, get into an accident, and can't pay it off? What if you ordered one too many drinks at the bar and didn't realize how expensive drinks were?
There's a difference between traveling and traveling on a budget. I've done both and I definitely feel way more limited on things I can do when traveling on a budget. So now when I plan trips and feel as if I'm not going to enjoy my time due to a lower budget, I'll hold off on visiting them for a later time.
While solo traveling Southeast Asia, I prepared myself enough where I did everything I wanted to do and never really considered budget.
Why?
Because countries in Southeast Asia are known to be budget friendly! Choose countries that are more budget friendly than others and you'll be able to do more with less!
Psst
In reality, I was actually able to travel Southeast Asia as freely as I did because of credit card points and miles. The year leading up to Asia, I saved soo many credit card points because I wanted to maximize time and minimize spend.
Let's just say that I spent $0 on all flights and hotel accommodations 😅 This can be an ENTIRE guide in itself but if you want a sneakpeak, check out my review and thoughts on credit card points, miles, and loyalty points:
Booking Flights
There are a handful of sites out there that provide cheap flight options but in the end, are they the most optimal ones to choose?
Sites like hopper.com and skyscanner.com will show you the CHEAPEST flight options but if you look closely, most of the time, those flights are not direct. So unless you're okay with 2 or 3 layovers before getting to your final destination, go for it.
You'll also notice that once you've picked your desired flight, you'll have options to either book them directly on Google,through airlines, or third party sites.
Pro tip: Whenever I'm looking to book a flight, I make sure I'm using incognito. In case you're not ready to book right then and there, an incognito tab pulls up the web as if you are a completely new user with no search history, eliminating the chances of future flight increases.
Backup
Ever wondered what would happen if you lost your valuables on a trip? If someone stole your wallet, passport, or credit cards, would you know what to do next?
The last thing you're probably thinking about is figuring out how to get back home from a foreign country and as this happens more than you may think, having backup is so important.
To prepare you, here are the backup platforms I use before going on any trip:
- iPhone backup: iCloud
- Computer & hard drives: Backblaze ($70/year for unlimited storage) ; I also have a 14TB hard drive at home with all my files backed up as well
- Passwords, passport, ID: 1password.com
- Vaccine card: I made physical copies from Staples and left it at home. I also have a digital copy on an app
Pack Lightly
Whether you're country hopping or looking to solo travel to one city, remember that less is more. Since you'll be manuvering your luggage from the airport to the hotel, you want to make sure that you're not struggling to carry your bags all alone. Plus, you'll want extra room in your bag for gifts and souvenirs to bring back home.
But in case you get into an uncomfortable situation at the airport, you want to make sure that you're able to maneuver as quickly as possible.
Peep to my most terrifying airport:
Let's be real, you're most likely going to be rotating the same 3 outfits. I mean, who are you trying to impress? Unless I know I'm going hiking, I typically only bring 1 pair of sneakers + sandals, 3 shirts, 1 long sleeve, 2 pair of leggings, and 1 pair of shorts.
Traveling becomes so much simpler that way but if you do ever find yourself needing to purchase anything, there are always markets and shopping malls.
Double Check VISA & Entry Rules
Due to the pandemic, international travels became extremely difficult as entry rules into most countries were changing by the month. Thankfully it's gotten a lot better but the worst is getting to an airport and finding out that you're not allowed to enter because you don't have enough vaccine shots or because you didn't get the needed visa before arrival.
Some countries are more strict than others, so you want to double check you have all the needed documents at least 2 weeks before your departure.
In 2022, I met a couple traveling to the Philippines from Spain who only had 2 vaccine shots, instead of 3, and were put into a mandatory quarantine. Flying back to Spain wasn't an option and unfortunately, their trip was cut short. There was no way out of quarantine but hey, that was the reality of traveling in 2022.
So to avoid getting into any type of situation like this, make sure you're up to date on covid and entry rules through a ".gov" website. The last thing you want is to get into an unexpected situation, like a mandatory quarantine, and cut your trip short!
Trust your gut
I stand firm with this statement that your gut is never wrong.
There have been way too many times that my gut saved me from a bad situation that there's not a day that goes by where I don't listen to it when I'm traveling solo.
If I didn't trust to my gut, I would've never started solo traveling in the first place. If I didn't trust my gut. I would've allowed all the negativity take over my decisions. If I didn't trust my gut, I would've still wondered what life would look like if I never pulled the trigger and quit my job.
If you ever find yourself in an unsure situation, take a step back, breathe, and don't make decisions on emotion. The world is not as scary as it seems and as long as you're putting out good energy, the universe will protect you. Trust your gut, listen to your heart, and all else will follow.
Oh, and always remember - safe & happy travels 🖤
Overall, is solo traveling even for you?
There's this unexplainable feeling to solo travel that'll only make you wanting more. Solo travel has taught me more about life than I would've ever known and I know for a fact that it can change yours too. There will be a lot of reasons why you may not take that solo trip but if your wanderlust convinces you otherwise, get ready for an adventure of a lifetime.
No matter what stage you're in on this solo journey adventure, I promise it's almost impossible that you won't gain anything from your trip. Overcoming your fears and and pushing through challenges will only change you as an individual, so keep going and trust the process.
So, are you ready to take this leap of faith?!
For me, solo traveling has taught me more about life than any textbook ever has. It's opened up countless doors and opportunities that once seemed like a far fetched dream. It's allowed me to build confidence to become the woman I am today. Solo traveling changed my life. And it's changed my life for the better.
I hope I've inspired you to take your, if not so already, very first solo trip. You're a lot braver than you know and remember that at the end of it all, you have the power to make the final say. You're not alone in this and know that in whatever part of the world you're in, that I'm always rooting for you from afar.
I'd love to hear your story and your experiences on your next solo trip. Tag me along on your adventures on your Instagram Stories at @gracefkim and let me know if this guide encouraged you to take that trip. You got this 💪
Say whaaat?! I wrote a book?! 🤓 📚
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