How to plan your first solo travel? I will start by saying, “Don’t go too far for your first solo travel!” Let’s check the water first. This will also tell you where your confidence levels stand. You will be afraid of the unknown.
This will also tell you where your confidence levels stand. You will be afraid of the unknown. In context to `unknown’ in a travelling scenario, know the unknown through Google first. You will find plenty of travel diaries talking about one city and with details.
If you want to travel to Thailand mastyatri.com has detailed blogs to help you plan. How to plan your first solo travel? Start preparing at least 3 months in advance. All working professionals will agree overload of information can bring more anxiety. If you prepare step by step your confidence level will also grow as days pass by.
Flight booking should be done 3 months in advance. We know all airlines and now even railways follow dynamic prices. If you book late the more prices you pay. You should also know that air ticket prices are higher on weekends. This applies to both national and international flights.
2 Month Before
You get good rates and deals on room booking. For international room bookings, you should start scouting hotels 2 months in advance. To travel within your country you can book a room 1 month in advance. I would recommend a hostel stay for first-time solo travellers. Homestay is another fantastic way to experience a solo journey.
The solo travellers have to face the single supplement charges by the hotels or even some tours. This is where hotels charge for two people and not one person. You must have seen on travel portals, that costs are shown as `per person cost on a double sharing basis. That means the room cost is for 2 people. Since you are going solo you still have to pay for 2 people. As a first-time solo traveller, you should know this.
1 Month Before
This pertains to international travel. You should apply for your visa. This is the safest timeframe to apply for a visa. The visa process takes seven working days if you are applying before you go to travel. Some countries like Thailand give visas on arrival; however, I would recommend first-time solo travellers get the visa before they go. I would also encourage you to apply for a visa yourself. The process is easy it will help you become a better solo traveller. For the first-time solo traveller, you can go through an agent. I will leave that choice to you.
You should book tours and activities online. I would recommend booking tours when you go there. Make sure you do all the research. However, as a first-time solo traveller pre-books your tours and activities before you go. By pre-booking, you will be obliged to go. Sometimes if you lose your nerve you might cut short on tours.
48 Hours Before
This is mandatory for international travel. You need to get a negative RT-PCR test done, 48 hours before your travel. If you are an Indian travelling within India you are allowed to travel without this certificate. You only need the double vaccine certificate.
I would recommend you install the DigiLocker App. Within India, you can show almost all certificates through this app. You don’t need to carry hard copies of your driving licence, Aadhaar card, Vaccine certificate etc.
24 Hours Before
If you are going international, time to exchange money. Buy some dollars and get some money from their country. So if you are going to Thailand carry some Baht and the rest in US Dollars.
If you are going local, time to pack bags. Also, carry all documents related to your travel in a hard copy. Have two sets of every document, the other one being a backup copy.
This kind of preparation not only brings in confidence to travel, but it also budgets your travel. If you start booking month-on-month, travel becomes easy in your pocket. On the D-day, you only need money for food, transfers and emergencies. Solo travelling can get expensive if you are not careful. In some places, cash is only the way to don’t rely on cards too much. Managing cash is a big problem on solo travel. Don’t keep all your cash in one place. Scatter your money among your clothes, shoes etc. Also, if you are travelling internationally keep your passport in the room safety box. It will also be a good idea to keep your backup money in the locker.
Solo travelling will teach you money management.
Picture this: You’re all set and ready to make your solo travel dreams come true, but parental approval is still on the fence. Fear not, my friend! If you show them the confidence that comes with being well-prepared, they’ll be more likely to give you the green light. And as for the never-ending “what if” questions, even the most timid of your pals will give you some version of the same. The trick is to stay positive and prepared, and let your infectious energy work its magic on them. So, grab your backpack and let’s get ready for this journey! If you have any lingering doubts, just leave a comment- I’m happy to help.
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I am Ajay Bansal, a travel coach, and the founder of mastyatri.com. My objective is to establish a “Solo Traveler’s Hub” to empower over 100,000 solo travellers worldwide. My team and I have developed solutions to facilitate safe and confident solo travel experiences. The Solo Traveler’s Hub fosters a community of like-minded travellers who can explore new destinations, enrich their travel experiences, forge new friendships, and share their knowledge with fellow solo travellers.