Hey y'all! I am planning a trip for this upcoming summer, part of which I will be tackling solo. And while I am SO excited, there is a heightened workload of planning in order to make the trip successful and smooth. In this post, I'm going to share some of my planning tips with you, as well as some tips for your actual traveling!
Pictured above: The charming seaside town of Monterosso in Cinque Terre, Italy. My day leading up to this picture was hectic and I thought I had ruined the whole day, but look at that view!
First: the planning. Planning for a trip is a paradox, because no matter how much planning you do, something is going to happen that messes up all of the planning you've done. However, it is still a crucial step. I like to break it down into things I want to see, then into days after looking up where everything is on a map. I am a big fan of cheap travel, so I also like to determine the public transportation situation as well as any free activities or potentially free activities. For example, always check to see if museums have free admission days. Many have free admission on Sunday afternoons. This might change when you can/want to do things.
I also love to walk to where I am going, so I print a map in the case there is no/bad cell phone service. (Additionally, staring down at your phone while you're lost can be dangerous! You want to make it less obvious that you are a solo traveler!) On my printed map, I mark where everything that I want to see is, as well as my hotel, the airport, any public transportation stops near where I am going. While this may seem dramatic, I do it for two reasons. One, a back up when technology fails. Two, rather than buying a map or a travel guide that will have these things, I prefer to do the work by hand because it sticks in my mind more and makes me more confident and comfortable from the beginning.
Pictured above: Typing in some of your destinations is a great way to see how walkable (or not!) a city is, which can help with planning. It can also help you become more familiar with the city/location before you even arrive!
A great way to practice planning is to plan a trip to somewhere close to home. It could even be in your city! Or a day trip to the beach, another city, a tourist town like Gatlinburg, Tennessee, or anywhere else. Act as if you have never been there before (or maybe you actually haven't), and do research. Decide what attractions you want to see, look into public transportation, buy tickets ahead of time to a show, or anything else that peaks your interest. Print out a map and mark it with everywhere and everything you need or might need. And go on your adventure! See how it goes. Take note of anything you may want to add or take away. Just like that, you're ready for the real thing.
Pictured above: I took an overnight trip to the stunning Niagara Falls in New York, USA to practice my trip planning. It was a very brief trip, but a short, more local trip (it was a nine hour drive but local is subjective) can really help build up confidence for a bigger trip.
Now, tips for the actual traveling! Like I said before, the most important thing is to make yourself look- not- like a tourist. Looking like a tourist can be dangerous for a number of reasons. First, it can draw attention from pick-pockets or other criminals. Second, it can lead to scams or people who may charge more than they would to a local. And third, it can make locals feel less inviting towards you, and you never know when you may need a local's help. Blending in can be challenging, but it is certainly worth it. This can come from wearing different clothing than you typically would (for example, European "casualwear" is much more formal than American casualwear). Side note for the ladies traveling to a warmer location: if you are planning to visit any churches or cathedrals (specifically if you plan on actually entering), you want to make sure you are appropriately covered (this includes longer shorts/pants and covering your chest/shoulders!)
Pictured above: In most places, you do not want to be going into a church/cathedral half naked. This doesn't mean you have to dress up, you just have to be modest. (You can also pack a light raincoat and a pair of dark tights in your bag; you won't be the best looking, but you won't get mean looks for being inappropriately dressed, either!)
You also do not want to be following Google Maps directions, looking up at signs and then looking down at your phone and looking up and down and up and down. You do not want to have your camera out at all times around your neck, and you do not want a selfie stick at all if you can avoid it. If you do need to check directions, try to find a restroom or sit down for a snack, so it is not entirely obvious what you are doing to everyone around you. When it comes to sitting down for a snack or a meal, try getting "lost" and finding a mom and pop shop that locals would visit rather than a tourist trap. This can help you financially (prices likely won't be as high) and you may even make a friend or two! It gets you off the beaten path, and while that initially sounds more dangerous, pick-pockets actually tend to go towards more well-traveled areas where the tourists are. Of course you always need to be aware, but getting intentionally lost for a while can be your best experience of the entire trip.
Even if you actually do get lost, do your best to brush it off and finish the day off strong. I got quite lost in Turin, Italy, and it messed my entire day up. But I still made it to my destination, albeit for much less time than I anticipated. It was still an amazing day, and looking back, it made me so much stronger and confident. I made friends along the way and I learned a lot about what I am capable of. It made me want to travel solo again!
Pictured above: My flight to my first solo trip to Italy, featuring the Italian Alps. What an incredible start to an incredible trip!
And now I am! I have another opportunity to travel alone and I know it will be even more eventful and it will make me more confident than I was before. These tips are what help me to make my solo trips great, and I hope they help you, too! As always, let me know if these tips helped you or if you have anything to add that might help others! Safe and happy travels!
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