There's usually a moment when the idea of traveling solo starts creeping into your head. Maybe you see another woman traveling by herself, sitting at a café in Paris, walking through a market in Morocco, or exploring a city without waiting for anyone else to decide what they want to do. And you think, I would love to do that.
Then almost immediately comes the second thought: But can I really travel by myself?
Yes, you can. But I also don't believe you need to book a flight tomorrow just to prove that you're brave. After more than 16 years of traveling solo, one of the biggest things I've learned is that confidence usually doesn't come before you do something. It comes after you've prepared, taken the first step, figured a few things out, and realized, Okay... I can actually do this.
1. Build Your Confidence Before the Trip
You do not have to magically wake up one morning feeling fearless. Start small. Take yourself to lunch. Go to an event by yourself. Spend an afternoon exploring somewhere you've never been. Take a short day trip without bringing someone along.
Confidence doesn't come from pretending you aren't nervous. It comes from knowing you've prepared.
2. Have a Safety Plan Without Scaring Yourself
Safety planning isn't about assuming something terrible is going to happen. It's about knowing what you'll do if something doesn't go according to plan.
Before you travel, research your destination:
- ✦Look at where your hotel is located and read recent reviews
- ✦Learn how you'll get from the airport to your accommodation
- ✦Research transportation options and local customs
- ✦Know which areas you're comfortable exploring during the day and which places you may want to avoid alone at night
- ✦Keep copies of important documents separate from originals
- ✦Store emergency information somewhere besides your phone
- ✦Share your basic itinerary with someone you trust
3. Get Your Money Right Before You Leave
Before you leave, figure out what the trip is realistically going to cost. That means more than your flight and hotel. Think about food, transportation, activities, tips, shopping, airport transfers, and all those little expenses that multiply once you arrive.
Ask yourself: If I lost my wallet tomorrow in another country, what would I do?Hopefully you never need your backup plan. But I would much rather figure this out sitting at home than while standing in another country with no wallet.
4. Handle the Boring Stuff
Pre-Trip Logistics Checklist:
- ✓Your passport expiration date and destination entry requirements
- ✓Whether you need a visa
- ✓Flight and baggage rules
- ✓Your accommodation and its location
- ✓Transportation from the airport
- ✓How you'll get around once you arrive
- ✓Travel insurance
- ✓Destination-specific health recommendations
- ✓Your medications and prescriptions
- ✓Your phone plan, eSIM, or local SIM options
- ✓Chargers, adapters, and other electronics
5. Make a Plan, But Leave Room to Actually Enjoy the Trip
Your itinerary should help you feel grounded, not trapped. Pick the things you absolutely don't want to miss. Then leave yourself some space. Some of my favorite travel moments have happened when I wasn't rushing to the next thing. It's your trip. Build enough structure to feel prepared and enough freedom to actually experience where you are.
The Real Secret to Feeling Ready
You may never reach a point where you feel completely fearless about taking your first solo trip. You don't need to. What you need is a plan. Then you go. And every time you figure something out on your own, you add another little piece of evidence: I can do this.
Ready to Start Planning Your Solo Trip?
I created Solo Travel Ready because I kept hearing the same questions from women who wanted to travel alone:Where do I even start?How do I know if I'm ready?How do I plan all of this without getting overwhelmed?
Explore the Workbook