Intro to Solo Travel: Tips for Your First Time Traveling Alone

Back in the summer of 2009 I went backpacking across Europe with a really large Osprey porter bag. Wish I had known about minimalist travel back then. Anyways, while in Rome I took the public bus to get around and on my second night I didn’t think to check the bus schedule…I rode all the way to Vatican City and turns out it was the last stop at maybe 10 pm. The driver and another worker felt sorry for me and let me ride with them back to the station. It was a long walk back to the place I was staying.

Been driving trucks and solo international traveling for 3 years now. I love it, meet so many awesome solo’ers along the way

Great video!

I’m to start my racing career soon. I needed to travel to race events

Going to Guatemala for my first solo trip ever! Definitely a huge step but im excited, thanks for the tipps!

Thank u for the tips @Pack Hacker! I just booked flight tickets to LA not too long ago earlier this week bc it was on sale, and i'll be going to see a concert there it's going to be my first time travelling alone too!

OU grad! me too!

I'm a huge fan.

I plan to go on a solo travel to Budapest this summer. I must admit, even if I am excited with it, I am a bit worried that I will not be able to connect with people and end up staying alone...

Next month i will be solo traveling for the first time. I am 19 y/o so it was all planned by my parents the years before, hopefully it goes well.

Great tips! Best one is to trust your gut. If someone feels wrong or just off, skip it. If you're in a situation and your instinct is to leave, take quick action and get out. Don't be afraid to make a stink or act a little crazy. Get out fast and live to enjoy future adventures.

I finally got my hands on the older version of Osprey farpoint 40 and I love it!

My first trips alone was in the country I live in. Here I feel comfortable with the language and I can easy get in touch with friends and family, they would know what to do.
I REALLY suggest that as the very first step. It's a nice, relaxed way to learn how to pack your bag, make plans, learn how it works on the airport, transfer to the place u're staying at and how to manage the offerings at that place.
The reason I went on those trips (a total of 3 - 4 I think) was bc I signed up for a competition in bowling, one of my biggest interests at the time. I also had the opportunity to make friends bc we had the same interest and we all were at the same event/competitions.
I've also visited relatives who lives far away. Those times I've been fortunate to stay at their place, for free, and they showed me around in the area before I had the courage to go there on my own.

Thanks for these awesome tips. I agree with most of them.
My parents used to make plans for our family trips abroad but sometimes it was a lot of stress bc there was a lot of timestamps to follow. I like it when I have a few plans, like a big plan and then I would think of things to do around that. It's more fun to make things u want to at the moment, like an adventure. Also much easier if u feel tired or in pain instead of having to hurry to the next thing on the to-do-list.
I'm dreaming of going abroad to visit other contries on my own or with a friend. But I don't want to visit the area where the tourists are gathering. I would like to explore, taste and learn the country by it's own people. I think if i'm at a place where there are a lot of tourists and food I eat at home, I could stay at home instead, free of charge. Otherwise I feel like I spend money to be around other tourists like me= boring.😅

Just bought tickets to go from Canada to Switzerland! Im also hitting Spain on this solo trip I cant wait but im kinda stressed lol

Enjoyed this better on my second watch.

My best solo travel advice is don't get sick. You will probably feel like you have to keep going but you will be miserable the whole time and nobody there to get medicines for you - you have to do it all yourself (and if you don't speak the language, finding your way thru a different country's healthcare system is NOT what you want to do when sick). Do everything you can to prevent this

Quite literally getting ready for my eat pray love trip right now. This helped a lot.

I am In my late 30s and still solo travels seems daunting to me... and yes I am a guy.... I try to do a solo trip but breaks at last moment and go for group trips.... I think a lot and I am afraid if something bad would happen in a foreign country... I also don't have friends and never traveled with one.. how can I overcome this

No.23sorawit

Thank you for the benefits of this clip. Very useful about various places. Reminds me of my trip to Bangkok alone, it felt very lonely. Thank you for the clip and I will follow.

No.20 Suppawat Tanooard
I haven't had a chance to travel alone but this video is very interesting and wonderful, I learned a lot from this clip that will be useful to travel in my future life and lastly ask you to make a clip with I will continue to look forward to this benefit.

No.29 Atip karapakdee

I've never traveled alone in my life. This clip is awesome. I've learned a lot of tips, especially on Get Great Gear and It Pays to Prepare. This clip will surely motivate me to start my first solo journey very soon.

No.40 Ekamon chueysuebwongsa

Thanks you for this .This video is useful for people traveling alone. I hope you make another useful video.

No. 0 Jade Oliver Dabon

Thank you for these useful tips for solo traveling. I remember when I was in Cambodia. I had spent lots of money on my transportation. I made lots of Cambodian friends such as the driver, the vendors, etc. I really appreciate those tips coz these can help my students to learn more about themselves when they want to travel solo.

I loved all the tips on your video. I've always travelled solo and enjoyed every minute of it. I've messed up and got lost and to me it's an experience that I will never forget. Thanks for the video and keep on travelling. Cheers

I worked as a full time receptionist for a long time and once met a guest that was solo travelling for the first time. She really enjoyed it so far and we tried to give her all the best tips and places to see and go. The only thing she was a bit worried about was that she really wanted to enjoy a night out on the town but was nervous to do so alone. So when we had our «lønningspils» (paycheck-drink) for all of the receptionists and hotel staff, we invited her along and went bar hopping and clubbing. She had a great time and lost a lot of nervousness for the next leg of her travels alone. So my tip I guess is to talk to the staff! They always want you to have the best experience and they know a lot things about what not to miss but also which areas to avoid.😊

Soo I’m use to flying alone but this is going to be a road trip travel! I have my large dog but I’m still really nervous. Any advice from anyone is welcome and appreciated🧡

I travelled California to New York , stop off in Chicago, on Amtrak by myself many years ago. Booked a a sleeper car. Best travel ever. Had dinner each night on the train with someone new. Chatted for hours with a lovely woman . Was ‘adopted’ by a Texan family who told me heaps about where were were travelling though. My advise is to always look like you know what you are doing and where you are going.
I found that as I was by myself , I was left alone in a lot of the touristy places like downtown Hollywood , I think they must have though I was a local.
Also , can’t stress this enough, if you don’t feel safe in an area , or you think , if this was home , I would no be here , then trust your instincts, I had that feeling once in a major city , so I went back to the hotel.
When I book overseas holidays , first night in the new city , I pre book the best hotel I can afford and pre book transport , cause I know I will not have my wits about me when I get off the plane.

I was harassed by two teenagers or young adult while solo travelling. Very bad experience, not recommended. You could appear to be very weak as a solo tourist, makes you become a target. In addition, I was followed by homeless people in San Diego for a couple of streets.

Tomorrow I start my first solo travel <3 I stay in my homecountry for now and planned a few things so far. The thing I'm most concerned about is eating in a restaurant alone, going to different locations alone...like I'm someone that finds it akward and doesn't know what to do with themself xD But I hope I can lear something about myself and enjoy the peace and freedom of being alone. Your video helped me very much, thank you 😊😊

I love traveling solo, been doing it for over 30 years for business and leisure, locally and internationally. Pack light, get durable gear, stay safe, make plans and be prepared but stay flexible, don’t overbook your travel agenda, enjoy your freedom and privilege to make this choice. If you feel lonely, join a tour for a day trip, a food tour, a bike tour and you’ll meet people of all ages and backgrounds from around the world. I’ve had an Eagle Creek backpack since 1991 and it’s still in perfect condition. I decided to get the Global Companion woman style last year because it’s carry on size and I love it!

Thank you for saying a lot of advantages when it comes to travelling alone. Just so broken hearted that my beshy can't come. Helped a lot. 💕

Thanks for your videos. Watched a few and took already a lot of tips out of them.

This one is the most important for me since I go on my first solo trip soon.

Going to start my solo travel tip around the globe on may 12 (my birthday) i have no idea how im gonna do it but I’ll find a way. Where there is will, there is a way

I didn't know you could Time Travel. Amazing what they can do nowadays.

Awesome job. Solo travel is a major part of my personal religion. It’s my oxygen. The yang of my yin.

I’m traveling to Philippines by myself for the very first time….

Went on a long weekend to central MEXICO , never walked that much … beautiful! But since I’m a bit social talker and chater

I got totally ripped off in Hong Kong - I bought a lens and other camera equipment - the sales guy charged around double what I should have paid for the whole bundle - but he kinda hid the extra charges and focused on the fact that I was getting a lens at around a 25% discount. I walked out of the shop happy enough but when I did the math that evening I realised I'd been had - my fault for being such an idiot... Going solo in Hong Kong was amazing though!!

Ive traveled to Tokyo, Helsinki,Copenhagen,Lived in London alone and now im in Canary Islands ALL ALONE! :)

I’m about to travel Europe/ Israel for an unknown amount of time thanks for the tips!

Going to my first hike in the Himalayas tomorrow. I will be solo but will have a guide. Let us see how it goes!

Any one up to meet in Greenland or alaska

Great video, Pack. I recommend Thailand, it's is one of the best countries for solo travel. I've been around here for the last 10 years!

Awesomeness I saved this for later

I love coming across videos with 0 dislikes

Great tips. I have been traveling solo to Japan and Europe, definitely will do it again, will use some of your tips to improve my trip efficiency

Do you have any videos that are exclusive to solo road trips? Most of the information assumes international travel.

Damn! You are GORGEOUS!! 😛