1. Research the Country Thoroughly
Especially for those traveling alone for the first time, it’s important to know which countries are best suited for solo trips. Make sure the country has good tourist infrastructure and that there are enough local amenities nearby. If you have positive experiences during your trip, you can consider more challenging destinations in the future. Of course, language can also be a challenge while traveling. We recommend choosing countries where English is commonly spoken.
2. Accommodation
Hostels are great for meeting new people. Whether in common areas or hostel kitchens, it’s easy to strike up conversations, and it’s completely normal to talk to strangers. Platforms where you can book hostel rooms usually include reviews and comments that can help with your search. Wherever you book: for safety, print out your booking confirmation with the name and exact address of the accommodation so you always have it with you and can show it if needed.
3. Be Flexible
Traveling alone has the big advantage that you can do whatever you want. So be flexible and don’t plan every detail of your trip in advance. However, having a plan for the first few days is definitely helpful. If it’s your first solo trip, big cities are ideal. They’re full of people, making it easy to meet new ones.
4. Pack Light
As a solo traveler, you’re responsible for yourself. If you're backpacking alone, you should definitely take only the essentials so you don’t have to carry too much. More luggage usually means more things to keep track of and unnecessary burden.
5. Pay Attention to Your Safety
What seems obvious is often underestimated. Always have a Plan B: make copies of all important documents like credit cards, IDs, etc., so you always have them handy. Especially copies of credit cards are useful in case they need to be blocked due to theft. It’s also wise to store all important information digitally.
Every trip can quickly take an unpleasant turn. So be sure to take out a travel insurance before your trip to be well protected before and during your journey.