Your Solo Travel Questions Answered
After getting countless emails, comments, and DMs full of questions about solo travel over the last few years, I finally decided to whip up a blog post (and podcast episode) answering all of the most popular and frequently asked questions. So if you’ve been considering solo travel but have some hesitation or want more tips from someone just a few steps ahead of you, consider this post written just for you. Alright, let’s start this Q+A, shall we?
How am I able to travel so much?
Great question! Prior to taking my first long-term Europe trip, I spent 2 years aggressively paying off my student loans, and after that, I spent almost another full year saving money the same way: by working full-time and having multiple side hustles, which helped me save around $10k for my trip. A few months before I left for Europe, I landed a super part-time remote gig, which definitely helped me have a little more to spend while traveling. That company ended up asking me if I wanted to take on more hours by the end of my trip, which was perfect timing and gave me the opportunity to continue traveling, so I spent another 8 months traveling around the U.S. before heading back to Europe for another 4+ months.
Fast forward to now, and I still work remotely. I freelance part-time for a few consistent clients as well as I launched my travel business last year, and I am absolutely loving that I get to now help others get out into the world, no matter their budget or destinations. All of these things help to, of course, pay the bills, as well as let me travel more freely! Even though I might not have traditional PTO being self-employed, I have the ability and freedom to work from anywhere in the world, which is a total gift. However if you don’t find yourself in the same position, it doesn’t mean you can’t also find ways to make travel a priority. I always recommend considering long-weekend trips, like 3 or 4 days, and even trying to work them around paid holidays. That way, you only have to take off 1-2 days of work while still getting a 3-5 day trip! Such a win.
What do I do with my dog when I travel and do I feel guilty?
Yes, I sometimes feel guilty leaving my pup when I head off to explore somewhere that he can’t join me for. Thankfully, I have a shortlist of trusted friends who love Amos (my dog) as much as he loves them and who are always willing to stay at my place with him when I travel, which is truly a gift because yes I want to ensure he’s thriving when I’m gone. I’ve also found this to be the most cost-effective solution (especially compared to boarding), as most of my friends are super gracious and willing to take a lower sum of money for watching him. Another solution, I’ve looked into when in a pinch is Rover, a dog walking/dog sitting app.
When is the best time to look for and book flights? Any favorite airlines?
Here’s my simple answer: you can look for flights anytime, and I actually recommend checking flight options and prices often, especially if you know on/around the exact dates you want to fly. As for when you should book them, I’m sure you understand that covid things have kind of changed things up (and may continue to do so), but it’s generally agreed upon by most industry experts that the best times to book flights domestically (a.k.a. state to state in the U.S.) is anywhere from 1-3 months out (I always err on the side of 8ish weeks), whereas if you’re looking to travel internationally, it’s more like 2-8 months. I’ve always booked my international flights around 3 months out. I highly recommend subscribing to email lists like Scott’s Cheap Flights or FareDrop to get specific alerts for low-price flight alerts from airports near you!
As for my favorite airlines, I’m not particularly loyal to any airlines simply because I always make sure to check options across all airlines using Google Flights (and checking Southwest separately). I often find that Southwest is the most affordable, so I tend to fly with them a lot of the time. But, for example, with my trip to Alaska last year, I flew Delta because their roundtrip flights were only $350. So I say go with what’s cheapest, but if that’s not your jam, that’s totally okay haha.
What is the best luggage?
If you’re able to spend some more upfront, I could not recommend Away luggage more. I took their medium-sized bag around Europe twice and basically even lived out of it while traveling the states. It has withstood countless bus and train rides, the hills of Lisbon, cobblestone streets across small towns in France, and more, and it still works just as well as it did the day I got it. Plus it comes with a literal lifetime warranty, so you really can’t go wrong. I’m a big advocate for investing in pieces that will last for a long time rather than getting the cheap item that will fall apart after a few uses, so if you swing it, definitely look at Away (p.s. click here for $20 off!).
Another bag brand I’ve looked into quite a bit is Baboon to the Moon, which aims to make sustainable adventure gear that will last. Their “go” backpacks are pretty amazing and seem to be able to hold a ton of stuff. So if a backpack is more your jam than a traditional suitcase, I definitely recommend checking them out! And a more traditional backpack brand I know a lot of people love is Osprey, which you can get at places like REI, sporting stores, or even Amazon.
What are my essential packing tips?
I actually go over a lot of my dos and don’ts for packing in The Simple Guide to Solo Travel, but here’s the gist
Choose the right kind of luggage
Always check the weather and make a packing list beforehand
Use packing cubes and roll roll rollllllll
Pack “multipurpose” items and always less than you think you’ll need
How can someone save for travel, especially while in college, getting out of debt, or saving for other things?
My biggest recommendation here is to decide what your priorities are first. If travel is a priority to you, which it probably is if you’re asking this question, then let’s start with your mindset: make it a monthly goal to save X amount of money for travel. Treat it like a payment you HAVE to make each month to avoid excuses or justifications as to why you just can’t save.
As for practical tips to making some money for travel, pick up some side hustles if your full-time/normal income just won’t cut it. When I was getting out of debt, I worked enough in my side hustles of babysitting, housesitting, tutoring, selling goods, etc. to earn around $18,000 in less than two years. That’s bonkers, and I actually don’t recommend making that a goal because — to be totally honest —I was kind of miserable in that season. But even if you were to cut that in half, you could save around $4,500 a year in side hustles, which could help you take a couple of really cool trips!
If you’re looking for side hustle recommendations: babysitting, pet/housesitting, tutoring, selling clothes/things you don’t need on FB Marketplace, Poshmark, DePop, etc., offering another type of service, starting a side business, etc.
What are my best budgeting tips while traveling?
Honestly, this is going to probably be pretty specific to the traveler, simply because we each prioritize what is most important to us and will therefore likely spend more on the things we deem important, but I personally choose to typically save on transportation and lodging. So I go cheap on flights, trains, etc., as well as where I stay, usually opting for Airbnbs or hostels (especially in Europe) so that I have more margin and money to spend on experiences and, of course, food. My mentality is that you don’t usually spend that much time in the place you’re staying, so why spend a ton of money there, right? Obviously again, the goal of your trip will probably determine where you want to spend and where you want to save.Here are my two biggest tips:
Hostels, especially in Europe, are SUCH an affordable option for lodging. I stayed in some amazing cities for around $25 a night in dorm-style hostels and would do it all over again. Airbnbs are also a great option and available worldwide, so look at those, too.
You don’t need to eat out for every meal, and that will save you a ton of money. I suggest 1-2 meals at your hotel or hostel (which, by the way, often offer a simple free breakfast with your stay, so that’s another win) and then the other meal(s) out. For example, in Paris, I went to the local market and got a few items like fruit and granola bars that I would snack on throughout the day, which gave me more margin for a nice meal out for dinner.
What are my suggestions for destinations for a first solo trip?
I recommend looking for cities that have good public transit options and/or that are generally set up to be friendly to tourists. The world is a massive place so, really, there are just so many amazing places you can choose to visit. Nonetheless, here are a few suggestions:
Domestic: Nashville, NYC, Chicago, Austin
International: Vancouver, London, Paris, Prague, Lisbon
What should someone do to feel safe while exploring alone?
Okay, I get SOOOO many questions about safety (like, all the time). I even have a whole bonus lesson in The Simple Guide to Solo Travel dedicated to staying safe while traveling, but here are my top tips:
Try to look like a local, a.k.a. do your best to not stand out as a tourist.
Get off your phone. Don’t be looking at your phone all the time, because it can keep you from being aware of what’s happening around you.
Make copies of your travel plans, passports, credit card, etc., and make sure someone back home has those copies.
If you want to “test-run” feeling safe while traveling, do things solo in your own city. Walk around highly touristy areas, go to a coffee shop or restaurant solo, etc. I promise this will increase both your awareness and confidence, which will help you stay safe.
How can someone get past some of the psychological barriers of eating alone, etc.?
This really piggy-backs off the last question, but the honest truth is that I have learned to just really enjoy my own company and so love getting out and doing things solo! But here are a few tips for getting started on that journey...
Start small: go to a coffee shop solo, and bring something like a book or laptop to kind of “keep you busy” while being solo.
From there, move onto something like going to a movie solo (which is one of my favorite things to do alone!)
If/when you decide to upgrade to dining to a restaurant solo, start with something like brunch or lunch before doing dinner.
I highly recommend sitting at the bar and chatting with the bartender or, again, bringing something like a book with you. I promise this is way more normal than you may think it is, especially in big cities.
Ultimately I hope you learn to enjoy your own company. Try not to run to other people when it gets uncomfortable. Instead, lead into that feeling and choose to persevere. After all, if you’re not willing to be uncomfortable, how are you gonna grow, right?
What if someone has been saving some of their bucket list destinations for when they’re dating or married?
Oh man, this question. LISTEN... I totally understand wanting to save special things or dreams or destinations for “when,” HOWEVER —and this may be a hard truth to swallow but c’est la vie — our “whens” are not guaranteed. It’s like when someone says they’re going to wait to travel until they’re retired, right? Like, you might not even live to 65 because life is hard and things happen outside of our control all the time. I know that statistics do show that most people will get married so the odds may be in your favor, but at the same time, what if it turns out your future partner has little desire to travel to that place or something happens that makes that trip harder to take once you’re together? There are just so many unpredictable variables, right?
All of that was me trying to keep it gentle, but my real piece of advice here is don’t wait. Screw waiting for someday when the desire (and maybe even the means) exist now. If you’ve always wanted to travel to South America and are waiting for “when” or “if,” stop waiting and do it now.
Really, my biggest advice here is do the things you feel led to do. So say yes to those destinations, those trips, those dreams because chances are that you were given those desires for a reason. So say yes and stop waiting for something that might not even happen (or, at the very least, might not happen the way you think it will).
Alright friends, hope you found this post (and podcast below) helpful and encouraging as you consider taking your next (or first!) solo trip. Happy travels!
