3 Tips to Make Your Trip Better Than Mine
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned thus far is that I can’t wait for others to live my life.
I was not comfortable with the idea of solo travel in the beginning. I thought that I would look awkward and actually feared the idea of being alone.
But what became more frightening was that I would miss the opportunity to take a trip because of a lack of availability from my friends. So on a whim, I booked my first solo trip. However, my weekend getaway could have been more enjoyable if I avoided some newbie mistakes.
1. If You are a Planner, Plan. If You are not, Don’t.
I spontaneously booked a weekend stay in Crystal City (a small suburb outside of D.C.) for my first solo trip. I was not very familiar with D.C., but I thought I would just allow myself to go with the flow and see where the weekend would take me.
The only dilemma is that I have a Type A personality. I love to plan. So going a whole weekend not really sure of what to do, made me feel lost, confused, bored, and a bit awkward walking around the city looking like an absolute tourist.
My advice: if you are the type of person to go with the flow, then do just that. If you overwhelm yourself with planning, you will take the fun and spontaneity out of your trip. If you are a planner like me, I highly suggest some forethought, so you feel at ease on your first solo trip.
2. Stay True to What you Like
For your first solo trip, I recommend doing the things you like. Solo travel allows you to plan your trip 100% to your liking.
I am not a fan of high-intense cardio; I know it’s pretty sad. But, I actually prefer low-to-moderate exercise like a beginner to intermediate hike. But I convinced myself my first solo vacation needed to be adventurous and full of new things.
So, I ended up booking a spin class. There is nothing wrong with trying new things, but I recommend trying new things that you are somewhat confident you will like.
If you don’t enjoy something back home, you probably won’t enjoy it on vacation.
After the spin class, I was overly exhausted because I am not used to that type of cardio. My energy began to fade throughout the rest of the day, which caused me to feel like I was wasting an opportunity to sight-see because I just wanted to rest.
Thinking about it, I would have been much happier finding a new trail to hike because I enjoy hiking so much. It would have allowed me to try something new, not be so exhausted, and still gain a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
3. Talk to People
I took my first solo trip to unplug from technology to the best of my advantage. I think this is a great thing to do and would recommend it. However, because I am moderately extraverted, it was hard not to text, call, or FaceTime my friends.
I wish I would have spent more time talking to locals or minimally using my phone for 30 minutes a day to check in with friends and family. I was only gone for a weekend, and the lack of socialization was honestly brutal for me. I also recommend talking to locals because you can get tips about the best restaurants/bars/activities/history of the area, etc. Not to mention a small burst of socialization.
I hope you found these tips helpful and that your first solo trip will be much better than mine.
Happy Traveling!