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Planning a solo trip is mostly the same as planning any trip, with a few extra decisions: where you will feel comfortable, how you will stay safe, and how you will meet people if you want company. This step-by-step guide covers all of it in the order you should do it, from choosing a destination to the final checks before you leave.
Quick Answer: The 12 Steps
- Decide why you are going and for how long.
- Choose a destination that suits a first or next solo trip.
- Set a realistic budget with a buffer.
- Check your passport, visa and entry rules.
- Book flights.
- Choose where to stay.
- Build a loose itinerary.
- Buy travel insurance.
- Sort your money and phone.
- Pack light.
- Set up safety routines.
- Plan how you will meet people.
1. Decide Why You Are Going and for How Long
Your goal shapes everything else. A relaxing week on a beach, a city break with museums and food, a hiking trip and a month of slow travel all need different planning. If this is your first solo trip, a shorter trip of about a week is a good test. You can always go longer next time.
2. Choose a Destination
For a first solo trip, look for places that are easy to get around, have good public transport, have plenty of other travelers and where you feel comfortable with the language. Think about the season, the budget and how much safety planning you want to do.
- See our picks for the best cities for solo travel and the best European cities for solo travel.
- Compare cities on safety, walkability and solo dining in our Top 10 cities for solo travel.
- Want somewhere quieter? Try the underrated places perfect for solo travel.
3. Set a Realistic Budget
List every cost category: flights, accommodation, food, local transport, activities, insurance, visas and a spending buffer. Solo travelers pay for rooms without anyone to split the cost, so accommodation is often the biggest difference. Add a buffer of 10 to 15 percent for surprises.
- Choose a daily budget for food, transport and activities, and multiply by the number of days.
- Add the fixed costs on top: flights, insurance and the first nights of accommodation.
- For ideas on cutting costs, read how to travel solo on a budget.
4. Check Your Passport, Visa and Entry Rules
Entry rules change often, so check official government sources for your nationality and destination. Look at passport validity requirements (many countries ask for months of validity beyond your stay), visa or e-visa rules, vaccination requirements and any onward-ticket rules. Do this early, because passport renewals and visas can take weeks.
5. Book Flights
Compare prices across different dates and nearby airports, and be flexible where you can. Try to arrive during daylight, especially on a first trip, so that you can find your accommodation more easily. Check baggage rules before you pay, because cheap fares often exclude luggage. For more, see our flights and transport tips for solo travelers.
6. Choose Where to Stay
Where you stay matters more when you travel alone. Look for a location near public transport and food, recent positive reviews from solo travelers, and a staffed reception if possible.
- Hostels with private rooms combine privacy with a social atmosphere.
- Small guesthouses and boutique hotels are good if you prefer quiet.
- Women who want dorms can read about the best sites to find female-only dorms.
7. Build a Loose Itinerary
Pick one or two things you most want to do each day, then leave the rest open. Group sights by neighborhood to save travel time and book popular attractions ahead. Add buffer days and some downtime. Overplanning is the most common mistake on a first solo trip.
8. Buy Travel Insurance
Insurance matters more when no one else can help you. Look for medical cover, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and cover for the activities you plan to do. Check what your credit card or existing policy already covers, and read the exclusions before you buy.
9. Sort Your Money and Phone
- Bring at least two payment cards stored in separate places, plus a small amount of local cash.
- Tell your bank where you are going if they require it.
- Get a local SIM, an eSIM or a roaming plan, and download offline maps.
- For more detail, see how to stay connected while travelling abroad.
10. Pack Light
You will carry everything yourself, so pack less than you think you need. A carry-on bag keeps you flexible and avoids baggage fees and lost luggage. Choose layers and clothes you can wear more than once, and pack any medication in your hand luggage. Our packing list has a full checklist.
11. Set Up Safety Routines
- Share your itinerary and accommodation details with someone you trust, and check in regularly.
- Keep digital and paper copies of your passport and key documents. See how to protect your travel documents.
- Save local emergency numbers and the address of your embassy.
- Learn the common scams in your destination, and avoid walking alone late at night in unfamiliar areas.
Read our full solo travel safety guide and the list of mistakes to avoid when traveling alone.
12. Plan How You Will Meet People
You do not have to talk to anyone, but it helps to have options. Join a walking tour or cooking class, stay somewhere with a common area, or use a meetup group. See how to meet people when you travel solo and how to eat alone without feeling awkward.
Planning Timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 months before | Choose destination, check passport and visa, set budget, book flights |
| 1 to 2 months before | Book accommodation, buy insurance, book key attractions |
| 2 to 4 weeks before | Sort phone plan, cards and cash, vaccinations if needed, build a loose itinerary |
| 1 week before | Pack, download offline maps, share itinerary, copy documents |
| Day before | Check in for flights, confirm first night of accommodation, charge devices |
These timings are general guides. Long-haul trips and peak seasons need earlier booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I plan a solo trip?
For a first trip, two to three months gives you time to sort documents, find reasonable flights and book accommodation. Last-minute trips are possible once you are more experienced.
Is solo travel more expensive?
Per person it can be, mainly because you cannot split accommodation or taxis. Hostels, shared tours and cooking some meals bring costs down.
What is the best destination for a first solo trip?
Somewhere with good transport, plenty of other travelers and a language you can manage. Many first-time solo travelers start with a major European or Asian city. See our ultimate guide to solo travel for more.
Am I too young or too old to travel solo?
No. Read our guide to the best age to start solo traveling.
Keep Reading
- Solo travel tips for when you are on the road
- The benefits of traveling alone
- Is it weird to travel alone?
Hi, I’m Jenny, a solo travel writer based in the UK with nearly a decade of independent travel under my belt. I took my first solo trip at 24, a slightly terrifying two weeks in Vietnam, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Over the past 9 years I’ve completed 60+ solo trips across Europe, Southeast Asia, Central America and Japan, from weekend city breaks in Prague to three-week overland journeys through the Balkans. I speak conversational French and basic Spanish, which has opened more doors (and more dinner tables) than any guidebook ever could.
My writing focuses on the practical stuff solo female travellers actually need: safety, navigation, budget-stretching, and finding genuine connection on the road. I don’t do fluff. If I haven’t personally figured out whether a city is safe to walk home alone at midnight, I won’t pretend I have.
When I’m not writing I’m usually planning the next one, or eating something I can’t pronounce.