I have come to realise that I am a total contradiction, my personality and behaviour has two conflicting sides.
In the everyday, my home/personal life can be chaotic, untidy, disorganised, I’m indecisive, I over analyse every single idea or plan or conversation to the point of obsession or unresolved dismay.
But when it comes to work – I am precise, intentional, deliberate and direct. I live for lists, thrive on deadlines and do a happy dance whenever a client sends me a clear request. Pragmatic, proactive and logical, finding the solutions before freaking out, I am a demon under pressure and pretty much always manage to make smart, quick productive decisions.
Soooo seriously, wtf? These contradictions have reared their heads with every trip I’ve taken, should I be going with the flow and enjoy the adventure of ‘not knowing’… or maybe I should be super organised, planning in advance and maintaining a level of control so I can be ‘free’ to relax when actually away?! This flip-flopping between the two sides of my mind is making me question my entire approach to travel planning, I’ve been second-guessing myself on exactly HOW MUCH should I plan when travelling?!
My very first solo adventure had been a step by step, strategic route, planned down to the very hour. All accommodation pre-booked months in advance, all planes, trains, ferries and busses arranged and even multiple practice packing run-throughs had taken place. Yep, I know I was definitely channelling some Monica Geller vibes.
A few years into my travel obsession and I now find this kind of planning a little limiting. This ‘100% established plan’ mentality created a strict set of boundaries, which I didn’t realise until I was the other side of the world, was one of the things I was trying to evolve past, to stretch and to even get away from – if only temporarily! Bit of an “ah-haaa!” moment for me there.
Now, my strategy is more simple – work out how to get to the country I want to reach and book accommodation for the first three nights, minimum. Pretty much anything else can be booked along the way, depending on who I meet, what pops up, and what exciting opportunities cross my path… (when the f*ck did vagueness get so dammed appealing to little old plan-loving me?!)
Here's our savvy supportive tips for your first solo trip!
1. LIST YOUR LOCATIONS
If you’re planning on moving around then make a list of all the locations you’re keen on visiting. Head over the hostelworld.com or booking.com and work through the list finding accommodation for each one.
Some people like to book in advance, some prefer to book on the go, but prior to arriving at your first destination, it’s always smart to lock in at least a few nights in the first spot. This is a great way to take some of the pressure off and just enjoy for the first few days of your trip.
2. VISUAL ACTIVITY BOARD
If you are feeling nervous about what exactly you’ll do once you reach your destination, make a little list or even Pinterest board or even an Instagram ‘Saves’ folder, of key things you want to visit and do in each location. We love a visual! Forward planning helps reduce any fears you make have and gives you rough outline of parts of your trip.
3. BE ADAPTABLE
Remember plans don’t always happen, things can change, you may get to a destination and hate it, or you might make some awesome friend who invites you along with them, or you may just realise there are other things to see and do once you get there that weren’t on Instagram! (is this possible??! Let us know! haha). Keep things flexible and keep an open mind, sometimes the best travel stories come from days you didn’t plan!
4. PREP FOR ACTION DAYS
If you’re an action addict gal with endless energy, and you have a mega wish-list of activities you want to squeeze in, it makes sense to plan a little! Things like surfing, diving or hot air ballooning can be super popular so prepare your days ahead of time, to ensure you get the most from your trip and don’t go back home wishing you’d done kite-surfing instead of being hungover in the hostel.
5. GET A GUIDE SORTED
Going solo, doesn’t have to mean you’re exploring alone. Often the hostels will arrange group activities or tours you can join in with and this doesn’t require much advanced planning, usually just signing up the night before! (Depending on how many bottles of beer you’ve necked!) There’s also some great platforms where you can hire a local guide to show you around and share local insider tips! An app called Cool Cousin – terrible name but brilliant concept, you can filter the guide by your personal interests – are you looking to see some history or do some action sports, check out the local music or catch a big DJ acts… you get the idea.
6. WONDERING HOW TO WANDER?!
Some of us solo travellers just love to wander around, explore and have no idea what the day ahead holds… We always like to check ahead if you can rent bikes, motorbikes or cars in each destination and what sort of cost etc. Remember to check that the vehicle is covered by insurance and you have contact numbers of who to call should there be an accident or breakdown!! No accidents yet, touch wood, but especially on mopeds/scooters/bikes – this is crazy common!
ULTIMATELY…
…for your first solo adventure, planning can give you peace of mind. But don’t go overboard, make sure to leave room for unexpected adventures… otherwise – what’s the point! You’ll meet people who you might want to join, or who might tell you about this awesome place they visited that does not appear on a guidebook. You might book a full week in a hotel in a city that you might wind up hating, or plan just one day in a town you love and want to linger a bit longer in. Lastly take the unexpected and enjoy it, those are the bits that make the great stories!