When you begin planning a solo trip it can be difficult to narrow down the best solo travel destinations. Maybe you’re planning your first solo travel adventure but do you know where you want to go. Maybe you already have the ideal location in mind or if you are like me you probably have a long list of places you want to explore. The following solo travel tips will help you plan your vacation.
Some destinations are better choices for solo travelers. Bigger cities allow one to blend in with the crowd whereas in a small village you are no longer incognito. Ask yourself some questions in order to narrow down your solo travel options.
Explore This Guide:
Identifying Your Solo Travel Goals & Activities
Are you looking for relaxation, adventure, and physical activity, or exploring nature?
Do you want to take a class, attend an event, or enjoy big city culture?
You’ll want to narrow down the type of location to suit your basic expectations on your trip.
I usually opt for the excitement of a big city but when I planned my getaway to Costa Rica a couple of years ago I knew I wanted nothing but beach and relaxation.
In addition to running my bookkeeping business, I had been studying Arabic during summer school at the local community college. I spent 20 hours a week studying or attending class for 12 weeks straight. My brain was fried and I decided to take a solo vacation break in Manzanillo, Costa Rica.
Think about what you want to get out of your solo travel experience.
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How to Choose the Best Solo Travel Destinations
It all depends on what you want to do and see while traveling. Safety is an important factor when planning solo travel especially for women. Sometimes I go for safety in numbers and visit places that are well traveled.
In Southeast Asia you can expect to find a lot of budget travelers including solo female travelers. This makes it easier to meet people while traveling and also offers a feeling of security, knowing that you can find other tourists that speak English.
Get the full list of best places to travel solo in Southeast Asia to start planning your trip.
Where Do You Want To Travel by Yourself?
- Big city chaos or small village community?
- Beach or mountains?
- Backcountry on your own or join a group tour such as trekking Machu Picchu?
- Craving tranquility or partying and dancing all night long?
- Modern art and design or back to nature?
- English-speaking country or someplace where the language is unknown to you?
Narrowing down your desired environment is a key factor in planning your travel.
When I planned my solo trip to Southeast Asia I knew I wanted to be in a tropical climate to escape the cold Canadian winter months.
I looked at travel books, these days I would look at travel blogs instead because they’re often more up to date with info.
When I traveled around Asia on my own I enjoyed staying in big cities and a lot of small beach towns and villages. If you haven’t traveled much you may want to try a variety of places to find out which you like the best.
Checking Weather and Climate When Traveling Solo
When planning your solo travel adventures be sure to consider seasonal weather conditions. For instance, my San Antonio to Big Bend Road Trip was planned as a fall trip because I knew it would be way too hot for me in the summer months. If you’re looking to travel around Texas, check out my comprehensive guide for Solo Female Travel in Texas for everything you need to know.
Are you trying to escape your own climate or just want to experience something different? In Texas I like to escape the brutally hot summers so I often visit Canada during the summer months.
I have escaped from both winter and summer weather in Austin, TX by going to South America where it is the opposite season. In some locations the climate is tropical year round, for instance Medellin Colombia is known as the city of eternal spring.
Check the average temperatures on the internet so you can plan accordingly. Bear in mind that some locations may have wild fluctuations in temperature as well as precipitation so make sure you investigate thoroughly.
Before I booked my trip to Costa Rica many people told me it was rainy season. This was not entirely true as I was visiting the Caribbean coast which has its own microclimate.
Determine Your Solo Trip Length & Itinerary
If you have only a week to get away then you will likely want to keep travel time to a minimum. Maybe opt for a solo road trip or plan your trip to someplace with non-stop flights.
When I traveled to China for a study abroad class we only had 10 days in China yet our flight from Chicago took 14 hours to Beijing. It was worth it but I wouldn’t want to spend so much time getting to every destination.
With 2 weeks or more you can spend a little more getting to your destination. I used to take 7 – 10 days for my trips and I would often spend 2 days on traveling.
I try to book overnight flights whenever possible and take steps to avoid jet lag so I will still feel energetic when I arrive at my destination.
A month or more gives greater flexibility. Many people opt for long-term travel of several months or even years.
My first solo trip was originally a 3-week solo vacation. After talking with friends I was convinced to change my plans – I traveled for 7 months on my own!
The length of your trip will impact much of your solo travel planning – particularly your budget and what to pack.
Step-by-Step Solo Travel Budget Planning
When planning your first solo trip make sure you have an idea of what your basic costs will be. Before I book any travel I create my trip budget, including costs for: airfare (or other transportation) lodgings, airport transfers, meals, entertainment, admission fees, visas, vaccinations, and any day tours or classes I want to attend. Reviewing travel guides and travel blogs will give you some first-hand experiences to gauge the costs of your travels.
Costs of Getting to Your Destination
Are you traveling by plane, train, boat, or bus – how much will it cost?
Accommodation Costs for Solo Travelers
The older I get the more I prefer comfortable, secure accommodations while traveling. I will pay extra money for a hotel room in a desirable location that gives me peace of mind.
Over many years of travel I have stayed at boutique hotels, bed & breakfast lodgings, camping, rustic lodges, short-term rental apartments, or even a hostels.
I recommend checking for deals on hotels and short-term rentals on Booking.com. This is the site I use to book most of my hotel rooms because they often have last-minute deals or offer reservations without paying in advance.
For those heading to Europe, look at my experience navigating accommodation and transit in my Cinque Terre Italy Solo Travel Guide.
Transportation Costs and Options
Do you plan to get around via bicycle, bus, subway, walking, rent a car?
Will you be visiting other places via train, boat, bus, or plane?
Research the costs. Read my post about transportation options in Barcelona for some ideas about getting around in a big city and how to get to/from the airport.
Safety priorities can change as we get older. While a cheap late-night public bus may save you money, it’s usually worth it to spend a few more dollars on a taxi or private transfer to avoid navigating dark streets and transit stations alone at night.
If you are visiting a remote area the transport options will be much more limited, so plan accordingly.
Also remember to check for age-based discounts. Many train travel companies, museums, and national parks worldwide offer excellent senior discounts. In the United States one of the perks of reaching age 62 is being eligible for the National Parks Senior Lifetime Pass or Senior Annual Pass. I ordered my senior pass online and received it within a couple of weeks. And while traveling in Europe in 2026 I booked train travel in Poland with a 30% discount for travelers over age 60. Always look at the ticket options before booking so you can take advantage of senior discounts.
Meals and Entertainment Budget Planning
Whether you choose to eat street food during your whole trip or you decide to splurge on expensive meals – decide on a budget and add some extra cushion is my advice.
People often spend more on meals and drinks while traveling than they had initially planned.
Learn About Travel Visa Costs
Does the country you want to visit require you to obtain a visa in advance? How much will it cost? How long will it take to obtain the visa?
For US passport holders visit the US Department of State and Canadian passport holders can visit the Government of Canada travel advisories page.
All others should search for “visa requirements (country) citizens”. When I booked my trip to Brazil I had not even checked the visa requirements – not smart! When I was reading a travel guide I noticed my oversight and bought my visa right away.
Research Travel Immunizations Requirements
What are the vaccination requirements for your destination country? You need to know before your arrival because you don’t want to get turned away due to non-compliance with the local rules and regulations.
Do you need to get any other immunizations before your trip? Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and TDAP (Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) are some of the common immunizations travelers need.
Many cities have travel clinics that specialize in international travel medicine. Otherwise, consult with your health practitioner. Plan in advance as some immunizations require a booster shot to be most effective.
Staying healthy is key to enjoying your trip. Check out my article with 8 Tips for Healthy Skin While Traveling.
As the saying goes “when planning a trip bring twice the cash and half the clothing you had planned.”
Planning Solo Trips Around Events, Festivals, and Classes
The annual music, art, or film festival, Carnival, or a sports event, whatever your passion you can find events in other countries that would be interesting to you. If it is an annual event that you want to attend you already have eliminated the need to decide when to go.
I recently met a solo female traveler who had been apprehensive to travel alone – she opted for a one-week dance class in Montreal so that she would have people to socialize with each evening during the classes. She learned some new Latin dances each night and had the daytime to explore the city on her own.
Consider planning your trip around a key event, festival, or a class.
How to Research and Book Your Solo Destination
Researching my travel destinations usually involves a lot of online searching and reading. I have a folder in my online bookmarks for each destination I am researching. As I find websites or articles of interest I bookmark them in the folder.
I search for books, movies, and music CDs using my local library’s online capabilities, which allow me to reserve media and have them sent to my nearest library. I receive an email notification when the item is ready for pick-up.
When it comes to booking my travel I opt for purchasing air travel directly from the official airline rather than a discount company, because if anything goes wrong I want the actual airline as my go-to for support. The same goes for train and bus tickets, I try to always book directly with the company offering the service rather than a discount supplier.
For accommodations I like to use Booking.com for hotels (and short-term rentals) or go direct to the hotel website to check for the best price. Surprisingly, hotel websites do not always have the best price. It’s best to check both.
I hope you enjoy your travels wherever you are planning to go! If you have any comments or questions please leave them below.
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Great information for solo travelers. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Susan Moore for this wonderful tips. It will definitely help to solo traveller. Thank you for sharing this wonderful information.