Ezey Duru

Fasten your seatbelt — next stop: Your First Solo Trip!

This is going to be a series on how to start planning for your first solo trip. From defining your travel goals to setting a budget for flights, transportation, accommodation, and daily expenses, to ensuring safety and accessibility, finding inspiration, what to pack, and covering all the essential aspects of traveling.

The first topic we are gonna chat about today is how to choose your travel destination based on you travel goals and budget.

Step 1: Defining your travel goals!

So before you can choose your destination you need to ask yourself a few questions, first question is “What do I want this trip to be?” What are you envisioning? Is this solo trip meant to be a time of relaxation and meditation, or adventure and excitement, or culture immersion and learning, or for personal growth.

The exciting thing is that it does not need to be just one — you can choose all of them! This is your solo trip, so whatever you want this trip to be, it will be. It’s your decision and your experience.

The second question is “Do I want to be in a city, on a beach, the mountains, ohh or in the deserts?”

City: Explore famous landmarks, visit museums, have a picnic in the park, go shopping, attend a show or concert, experience the nightlife at bars, clubs, or live music venues, and ride public transportation for a local feel.

Beach: Relax under the sun, swim and snorkel with the fishies and turtles, take a boat ride, go jet skiing, try paddleboarding, or enjoy a beach bonfire at sunset.

Mountain: Hike scenic trails, camp under the stars, go mountain biking, swim in waterfalls, and try horseback riding. In winter, enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating.

Desert: Go sand surfing, ride camels across the dunes, experience breathtaking stargazing, and visit hidden oases for a refreshing escape.

And lastly, “What kind of experiences excites me?” Do you want to immerse yourself in culture and cuisine through cooking classes or food tours? Are you drawn to extravagant nightlife, or do you prefer a more relaxed vibe with cozy bars and pubs? Would you enjoy exploring art museums and historical exhibits, or do you crave the exhilarating outdoor adventures?

Knowing a general idea of your travel goals helps narrow down your choices to the type of experience you want to have.

Step 2: Set a Budget

Your budget is a huge factor when it comes to choosing your destination. The main costs to consider are flights, accommodation, and daily expenses. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Are you a budget traveler or a luxury traveler?

As a college student right now, I am a budget traveler, so I look for the best deals and the cheapest accommodations that are still cute and fun! Here are some hacks I swear by:

1. Flights:

If you don’t have a huge attachment to a specific destination, this is the best way to find affordable options.

My go to site is Skyscanner and Priceline , but I know other people also use Google Flights for affordable options.

The best feature ever is Skyscanner Explore

You select your departure city, and instead of picking a specific location, you can choose “Can’t decide where? Explore everywhere.”

You can fill in your travel dates, but another hack is to stay flexible with your dates because this can significantly change the cost. Then go through the list of places that are in the general area or location that share the aspects of where you’d like to be. (like beach, mountain, desert, city)

I’ve also heard that the cheapest days to book a flight are Tuesdays and Wednesdays because fewer people are booking. The cheapest days to fly out are also Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. This is because there’s less demand (fewer business travelers), while Fridays and Sundays are the highest in demand.

If you’re flexible, it’s always better to book travel dates earlier rather than later. But there are sometimes surprise promotions, so if I have a plan, I just go for it. Although for my solo trip, I booked just two weeks ahead.

2. Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, you have three main options: hotels, Airbnbs, or hostels. Each one caters to a different type of trip, so your choice depends on what kind of traveler you are.

• Hotels/Airbnbs — If you’re okay with being alone and want your own space without actively looking to meet new people, this is the best option. It allows for privacy, comfort, and a more independent travel experience.
• Hostels — If you’re looking to meet other travelers, participate in activities, and have a built-in community to explore with, hostels are the way to go. They’re also the most budget-friendly option. Plus, hostels come in different styles, such as party/social hostels or more relaxed, coworking-style hostels, so you can find one that suits your vibe.

Reminder solo traveleing does not necessarily mean you have to be alone the whole time you are going by yourself yes but you are going to be open to any experience and that includes making new friends and being open to the experience of doing something new with someone new.

Reminder: Solo traveling does not necessarily mean you have to be alone the entire time! While you’re getting on a flight or in a car physically going on the trip by yourself, you’re also opening yourself up to new experiences like meeting new people, sharing adventures, and stepping outside your comfort zone.

You still have to be aware about how to stay safe in all situations which is key for moving with confidence and enjoyment! (which I’ll cover in another blog post so stay tuned!).

Personally, I love social hostels, because I enjoy meeting new people and having guaranteed ways to meet new people. On my first solo trip to Cancun, I stayed at Mayan Monkey booked through Hostelworld, and it was such a fun experience! I participated in fun activities like 7 AM yoga on the beach, guacamole cooking competition, salsa dancing class, and pool party which really made my trip even more special!

Try it out — check out the amazing deals on Hostelworld and see anything that calls to you!

3. Lastly daily living expenses and activities

The main thing you’ll need to budget for is food. I usually try to include breakfast in my hostel stays if it’s available, simply for convenience. Aside from that, I balance eating out and cooking. I’ll eat out a few times, especially if I’m meeting new people or cooking together with others. However, it’s important to cook some meals as well — only eating out will drain your budget quickly.

As for activities, I’m definitely a budget traveler, and I firmly believe you can always find free things to do. Depending on where you’re staying, activities like going to the beach, swimming, hiking, or backpacking are often free. And if you are looking for tours and other fun paid activities outside I always love to get inspo from Get Your Guide and Viator!

Hey and also, if you’re a woman, you might potentially come across opportunities for free experiences! Use those resources, get the jist. Here was a crazy experience, when I was in Cancun, a friend I met at the hostel and I ended up having the rest of the weekend covered after going out one night. Of course, this all depends on the experience you want and what you’re comfortable with.

Always trust your instincts and do what feels right. Never force yourself into something you don’t want to do or go out alone late at night if you don’t feel safe. The best approach is to find a travel buddy or two that you feel comfortable with. And always keep people back home updated on your whereabouts. But this is something we will go into soon!

I am super excited for you to go on your first solo trip and this is just the start and I will be here to share all of my knowledge and answer any questions to help support you on your first solo trip! Always feel free to comment and ask away.

What type of traveler are you? Budget/Luxury, Desert/City/Beach/Mountains, Airbnb/Hotels/Hostels.