Traveling on your own can be scary if it’s your first time. Whether you’re traveling by yourself to a foreign country or just coming home for the holidays, I hope some of these tips will make you feel a little safer or just at ease.
Get to the station/airport early!
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Avoid the stress about being late for your departure. It might be really annoying to leave early from your place, but who would want to be the person who makes everyone wait or gets left behind?
Pack way in advance!
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Make a list of what you need to pack in your bag(s), lay it all out, and put it all together so you have one less thing to stress about before you leave for your solo trip.
Have your passport and/or ticket ready!
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Don’t be the person that makes everyone else wait while you search for your passport and/or ticket. Not everyone has the patience for it so just have your things at the ready so you can get on your transportation vehicle as efficiently as possible.
Pack snacks!
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Don’t let yourself get hungry! You’ll get hangry and nobody ever wants that. Pack some small snacks (who cares whether they’re healthy) to keep your stomach from rumbling.
Bring headphones!
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If you don’t want to talk to anyone, I highly recommend bringing headphones. I forgot mine one time and a man would NOT leave me alone for the whole 4-hour trip. Don’t make the same mistake I did, please.
Keep your valuables on you, not in a checked bag!
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I went on a flight where I left a medication and important shoes in my checked bag and they lost it. They finally found it after 6 weeks. Keep your most important things in your carry-on so you don’t have to worry about the airline losing it.
On vacation? Research where you’re staying!
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Make sure you’re confident about the safety of where you’re staying. Know how to get there for the easiest and most efficient stay. Maps.me is a GREAT app for navigating when you don’t have data and Wi-Fi (not sponsored).
Be aware of pickpockets!
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My family has gotten pickpocketed several times before and it has not been fun. Be aware of your surroundings because it really does suck when you can’t find who took from you.
Wear comfortable clothes!
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Don’t be uncomfortable when you’re traveling to your destination. It’s annoying and you’ll never truly get comfortable in your seat on your way there.
Uber Pool, not UberX
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There are lots of scary stories and although something terrible probably won’t happen to you, it’s better safe than sorry. Ride with someone else so you’re not alone with your driver. Bonus: it’ll always be cheaper than UberX.
I hope this list is helpful for you, first-time single travelers. It can be scary at first but you’ll get used to it. Make sure you have a good grasp of knowledge about your destination (unless you’re coming home). There isn’t a right or wrong way to travel. Just make sure you’re safe and aware of where you are. There’s nothing wrong with being nervous about traveling alone; it can take multiple trips to truly get used to it.