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How to Choose Your 1st Solo Destination

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How to Choose Your First Solo Destination for Solo Female Travelers

So you have finally decided to travel solo? Congratulations! I don’t know what your story is, but it must have taken a great deal of courage to even come to that decision, and for that alone, you deserve massive respect.

Whether you want to make it a one-off thing (I hope not!), or you plan to have this rendezvous with yourself on a yearly basis, or monthly, or full-time, this is the first step towards a life-changing journey.

So, what do you do next? How do you decide where to go on your first solo trip? Here are a few pointers that may help you decide:

woman in airport
Credit: JESHOOTScom / Wikimedia Commons

Well, duh. This should go without saying. It is your solo trip, after all. That’s the great thing about traveling alone—you can go wherever you like without having to find a compromise with your travel partner(s). 

So go ahead and ask yourself what you like the most.

  • Are you more of a beach person or a mountain person?
  • Do you like going to museums, art galleries, and historical buildings, or do you prefer something more adrenaline-inducing, like bungee jumping, skydiving, and white-water rafting?
  • Do you want to go where there are lots of young party-goers or do you want somewhere quiet where you can get away from it all and be one with nature? 

Don’t pick a place just because everybody else wants to go there. I once made the mistake of going to Paris on my first time to Europe, even though:

  1. I didn’t like big cities,
  2. arts and museums weren’t really my thing, and
  3. I wasn’t really keen on visiting the ‘City of Love’ so soon after a breakup.

In the end, it turned out to be quite a disappointment. I would still have wanted to visit Paris at some point in my life, but I wish I hadn’t tried to make it the highlight of my first Europe trip just so I could impress people with pictures of the Eiffel Tower.

 

2. Budget

Okay, time to get real. You need money to travel. Sure, you can follow the footsteps of Christopher McCandless and many others who hit the road with zero or very little money in their pockets. If this is what you’re aiming for, click here for some inspiring stories of those who have done it. But for the rest of us, we’re going to need some money to buy that flight / bus / train ticket.

So, take an honest look at your budget, and let that help you decide where to go. Far-away destinations don’t necessarily mean that they are less affordable. For example, if you’re in Europe, flying to Southeast Asia may be expensive. But the fare plus travel expenses for a few months in Southeast Asia may still be cheaper than if you were to travel within Europe for the same amount of time.

3. Familiarity

woman walking in London
Credit: Alexandre Godreau / Wikimedia Commons

If you asked me, I’d say it’s better to start with a place that gives you some familiar comfort. I know, not everyone will agree with me on this. Some may want to jump in at the deep end right away by going to countries that are totally different from their own. And that’s totally cool. But some may prefer taking it a little slowly.

For my first solo destination, I chose Singapore because I knew it to be safe, clean, and modern. Plus, the weather, food and language were very similar to my own. That it was only several hours away by train from my city was a bonus.

So, if you’re feeling a little scared about traveling alone for the first time, start with a place that is not too drastically different from what you’re used to, but still foreign enough to give you a feel of what it’s like to be a solo adventurer abroad.

If you live in Europe, this should be fairly easy to do. You’re most probably just a few hours’ drive away from your neighboring countries, and for most of them, I believe you don’t even need a passport or a visa. * jealous *

However, if you live in a huge country where it takes an entire day to fly from one end to the other, then you might want to just travel domestically for your first trip, which is absolutely fine too. A solo trip is a solo trip even if you don’t cross any international border.

4. Safety

street scene in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam
Credit: Felix Plakolb / Wikimedia Commons

It’s common sense to avoid going to countries that are at war or experiencing any kind of political unrest. Not only are they unsafe, they probably won’t let you enter in the first place. But what about third-world or developing countries? Are they safe to visit? What about countries with high crime rates? Should you avoid them at all cost?

Those questions are a little harder to answer. The thing with danger is that it’s everywhere. It’s even there in your own kitchen. Whether or not a country is ‘dangerous’ is rather subjective. Let’s say you’ve never been to Southeast Asia. It’s normal to be concerned about how safe it is for a solo female traveler. You might have heard stories of snatch theft, or people being scammed, or women being harassed.

On the other hand, there are millions of women, including myself, who have lived here our entire lives. And we’re fine. But that’s only because we know which areas to avoid, and how to dress and behave to avoid unwanted attention.

My advice is, while I don’t discourage you from visiting places that are deemed ‘unsafe’, I’d recommend putting it off until you’re a more experienced traveler, so that you would be better prepared if—*gasp*—you find yourself in a dangerous situation.

5. Climate & Weather

rainy weather
Credit: Ввласенко / Wikimedia Commons

These two elements play a vital role in helping me decide where to go. Coming from a tropical country, I just cannot stand cold weather. Anything below 20 degrees Celsius is too cold for me.

So although I fell in love with Russia’s colorful cathedrals and postcard-perfect landscapes, I simply couldn’t picture myself living or traveling there long-term, and especially not in winter, because it would just freeze my a** off. On the other hand, I don’t like it if it’s too hot either. Oh well. #firstworldproblem

You may not be as picky as me, but it’s always a good idea to check the weather (and temperature) before you book that ticket to wherever it is you want to go.

If a flight ticket to a particular destination is way cheaper than it usually is, be very suspicious because it could be that it’s in the middle of a typhoon season (speaking from experience). You don’t want to spend your beach getaway being holed up in your hotel room because it rains the whole time you’re there (also speaking from experience).

6. Visa Requirement

A visa is an official permission that authorizes you to visit a foreign country. Before going to any country, please check if you need a visa to enter. Don’t be like silly old me who went to the airport all excited to fly to Myanmar only to be turned away because I didn’t have a Myanmar visa. The lady at the check-in counter looked at me as though I was a bit thick in the head, and I don’t blame her, really. You see, I make all these idiotic mistakes so you don’t have to.

Visahq.com is a great website for checking whether or not you need a visa to visit a particular country. Just select your citizenship, country of residence and the country you’ll be visiting, and it will tell you whether a visa is required for that trip. They also offer visa services for most countries in the world.

As every country has different visa requirements, it’s important to check this very carefully. Can the visa application be done online? Or can you get a visa-on-arrival (VOA) at the airport? Some visas require you to be present at the embassy and go through an interview process. Some require an invitation letter from a travel agency, or the hotel that you’ll be staying at. Remember that most visas will also cost you money.

So do take this into consideration when choosing your destination. Are you willing to go through a complicated visa application process for your first solo trip abroad? If yes, then the next important things to know are the processing time and validity period of your visa. Make sure you allow sufficient time to apply for it before going on your trip. Don’t leave it till the last minute, but don’t do it too soon either. Otherwise, your visa might have expired before you even get on that plane!

7. Vaccination Requirement

Vaccine
Credit: John Keith / Wikimedia Commons

Some countries require you to show a vaccination certificate before you’d be allowed entry. This is to prevent the international spread of certain diseases, and also to protect you from being exposed to infection. The most common vaccines for travel are:

  • Yellow fever
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
  • Rabies
  • Meningococcal disease
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Malaria

Please note that some vaccines need to be administered in a series of doses spread over several days or weeks. Don’t forget to add to that the amount of time for the vaccines to start taking effect. So just like getting a visa, do make sure you have enough time to complete this process before going on your trip. The country requirements are subject to change at any time, which you can check with the relevant embassy.

Click here for a comprehensive list of each country’s vaccination requirements and recommendations, published by the World Health Organization, as of 2018.

8. Ease of Transport

Trolleybus in Vilnius Lithuania
Trolleybus in Vilnius. Credit: Bahnfrend / Wikimedia Commons

I’m a terrible driver so I have no choice but to rely on public transportation to get around. A lack of public transportation is usually a deal breaker for me, as renting a car or hiring a private driver is going to cost a lot more if you travel alone, as you don’t get to split the cost with others. Until I brush up on my driving skills, I’ll have to stick to places that are well-connected. Central Asia is going to have to wait.

A word of advice: If you have to take the local buses or trains, find out whether you have to book in advance or just turn up at the station. Check the operation hours, and keep that in mind when booking your flight tickets. You don’t want to get a flight that’s too early in the morning or too late at night if the local transportation to and from the airport is sporadic.

9. Festivals

Holi festival
Credit: Steven Gerner / Wikimedia Commons

Sometimes, festivals are what attract me to visit a place more than the place itself. What world-famous festivals would you most want to be a part of? Is it Holi in India? Songkran in Thailand? Oktoberfest in Munich? The list is endless. Time your visit to coincide with these celebrations.

On the flip side, some festivals mean that most shops will be closed. In many Muslim countries, during the fasting month of Ramadan, it is illegal to open restaurants during the day, and out of respect, you shouldn’t be eating in public either.

In Bali, there is a holiday called Nyepi or the “Day of Silence”, where everybody on the island is expected to stay at home and refrain from using any electricity, electronics, fire, and all forms of entertainment. Even flights are suspended for the whole day. Therefore, while festivals may be exciting, do check if it might affect your travels.

 

So, have you decided where to go on your virgin solo trip? Or are you a seasoned traveler? If so, where was your first solo destination? Let me know in the comments below.

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30 Comments

  1. Pingback:10 Reasons Why I Chose Singapore As My First Solo Destination | Ummi Goes Where?

  2. Char

    Love this! I did my first solo trip in 2014 after a friend bailed on me last minute! I was terrified but it ended up being the most incredible two months and since then I’ve been to 50 countries – mostly solo! Really enjoyed this and it’s very informative for future first time solo travellers 😊

    • ummi

      Wow, that’s really inspiring, Char! Good thing you didn’t give up on the trip when your friend bailed on you last minute. Sounds like a blessing in disguise. Wishing you more beautiful adventures for this year!

  3. Clarice

    I did a group band tour in high school and got a quick glimpse of a few European countries, and I chose my first solo trip based off that experience. I ended spending a year in Germany – I chose Germany for how safe it felt, for sure. I did branch out to Switzerland and Italy a few times during that year. But there was so much to see and do in Germany! Such an amazing experience. I definitely recommend solo travel to any one who can!

    • ummi

      Oh that’s so cool, Clarice! I wish my school had something like that. I also felt very safe in Germany except for some street scammers in big cities. The people aren’t the friendliest in my opinion, but they’re helpful and honest and once you get to know them personally, they’re actually very nice people. You made an excellent choice!

  4. MagicandBliss

    Great post! But somehow I feel that follow your hear might not be the best way to choose your first destination, especially when you have mentioned so many other important tips 🙂

    • ummi

      Thank you for your insight, MagicandBliss. I think you’ve got a point there.

      What I was trying to convey was that you shouldn’t make your decision based on what’s trending or what other people say is nice if your heart’s not in it. For example, on my first trip to Europe, I chose Paris to be my first destination because everyone was saying that it’s the place to be in Europe and the most beautiful city in the world. Admittedly, I also wanted to impress my friends with pictures of the Eiffel Tower because to many people that’s probably the most iconic monument in the region. But personally, I knew that I didn’t care much for big cities and their buildings; I also didn’t have much appreciation for art or architecture, and would have enjoyed a scenic hike in the countryside more than a day at the Louvre. So, unfortunately, I ended up not enjoying my trip much.

      But of course, there are many more things to consider when choosing your first solo destination as mentioned in this article — it’s wise to take a bit of everything into consideration. 🙂

  5. Natalie LaTurno

    I think these are some amazing tips! For my first solo trip, I chose to center my destinations & timing around festivals and concerts and was really happy I did. I’m sorry you didn’t like Paris much! I often hear that people don’t enjoy it as much as they thought they would. I however, ended up really loving Paris and hope to go back.

    • ummi

      Glad to know that your first solo trip was a success, Natalie. Timing your visit around festivals is a good way to experience the local culture, as long as you don’t mind the crowd. Also, it’s great that you enjoyed Paris. I’d love to go again and explore the less touristy parts.

  6. Rawlins GLAM

    My first solo trip was to Bangkok – all the same reasons as why you chose Singapore.
    And I was surprised that Bangkok is very much forward as compared to Malaysia in many ways.

    And now I consider Bangkok as my second kampung. Bangkok never fail to excite me and everytime I visits, there are always new findings.

    • ummi

      I had the same impression when I visited Bangkok for the first time, Rawlins. I guess we Malaysians are so deluded to think that we are the 2nd most advanced nation in the region (after Singapore). Haha. And now, just like you, I consider Bangkok my favorite city, and Thailand my favorite country.

  7. bae roslan

    my First solo trip i went to bangkok. but its kinda unplanned to do solo, so tak well prepared. lepas tu i saja teringin naik bas yang murah tu but penduduk situ taktau speak english. dah macam ayam itik la pulak haha but bestttt. and as your advice, solo travel ni ok je. janji kita prepared

    • ummi

      Haha travel macam tu la best, kan Bae. Naik bas local, pergi tempat2 yang tak ramai pelancong pergi. Tentu jadi satu kenangan manis untuk awak.

  8. Grace Ng

    paris was my first actual solo destination but it was for work, and ko phi phi was my first solo travel destination. wish i read your article when i was first starting out, would hv turned out a lot differently!

    • ummi

      Thank you, Grace. I hope everything turned out well for you on both trips. Koh Phi Phi, or Thailand in general, is an excellent choice as a first solo destination.

  9. Kitkat Nelfei

    Very true ahh.. The third point really valid ahh.. I was choosing between Europe and UK during my first solo trip and my friend suggest me to go UK before Euro especially due to language barrier in the EU countries.. Nice tips!

    • ummi

      Thank you, Kitkat. I think you made a good call there. Traveling alone for the first time is challenging enough as it is, you don’t want to be further stressed out by language barriers. Anyway, well done for having traveled solo in the UK!

  10. Ruby

    Ummi! Thank you for artikel best ni. Almost forgot masa first time travel solo. Ruby pilih ke Sabah. Masa tu pilih destinasi laut dan hiking. Cabaran memang ada. Risau semua ada. Tapi first time solo is a good trip kalau kita start dengan tempat mudah guna wang tunai. Mudah berkomunikasi dan pakaian musim panas macam di Semenanjung. Hehehe. Next, baru berani ke Jogjakarta, Indonesia. I think pengalaman 10 tahun dulu semua ni. Ummi buat akak rindu travel!

    • ummi

      Thank you, kak Ruby! Kali pertama saya travel solo pun lebih kurang 10 tahun dulu, dan saya setuju sangat2 dengan apa yang akak cakap. Cabaran tu memang ada. Risau tu normal. Jadi bagi first-time solo traveler, adalah sangat disarankan cuba tempat yang dekat2 dulu supaya nanti takde la terlalu stres dengan matawang asing, iklim yang terlalu berbeza, dsb. Apa pun, syabas untuk akak kerana dah pernah travel solo. Semoga menjadi inspirasi buat pembaca yang lain.

  11. Sis Lin

    Betul Ummi, biasa no satu dan dua atas tu kena fikir dulu, baru boleh langkah ke no tiga.. budget tu mesti fikir yang utama..kalau tak, jangan le nak teruskan no tiga hehehe

  12. Mohd Zarin

    Hope we all can travel again and yes i pernah ada pengalaman travel solo ke Tokyo. I think travel kat situ paling safe dan boleh la berdikari sikit-sikit tengok orang kat sana.

    • ummi

      Setuju, Zarin. Negara Jepun memang antara negara yang paling aman dan selamat di dunia. Pilihan destinasi yang bagus bagi mereka yang ingin kembara solo buat kali pertama.

  13. Pingback:Tips Memilih Destinasi Kembara Solo Pertama – Ummi Goes Where?

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