Your Solo Trip: The Essential Things to Bring

Planning a trip by yourself?

You want to travel alone, but afraid?

At first I was. Since my first time to travel alone and succeeding travels were work related, I had no choice but to brace myself to follow the business arrangement and challenge of travelling solo.  

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So far, over the years on my solo trips, now with my own time for adventure, I have had my few regrets - 'should have done this', or 'should have brought that' situations. But I learned a lot and gotten used to what to bring, what to prepare and what to avoid.

I wanted to help you on packing your things, whether you are travelling alone or with a group. With preparations and knowing the safety,  I'm sure this will be a good adventure of your time.

What to Prepare?

✅   Start to research the country you wanted to visit. If you already booked your accomodation, be familiar on the destination, specially the transportation, and the surrounding area of your hotel or stay.  If you haven't booked yet, you might want to book your accomodation on this site. This activity is a precedent to planning your itinerary. 

🚌Check the transportation hub. Do they use trains or bus for public transports? Get more information about the need to buy a transportation card. Most transportation cards abroad can be used on all transportation utilities. On some convenient stores, you can use the card to pay for purchases.

 💵Money currency. Some recommendations is have money exchange already, before you leave, for minimal amount so that you have the local money with you already.  You can also choose to exchange currency when you are already in the destination airport. Consider information on the location of money exchange booths near your hotel.

📱Local e-sim or sim card. It is recommended to buy local sim card or e-sim for more reliable internet connection. You can choose to use your existing sim that has international services outside your country.

 ⨷ Socket. Check the standard electrical socket of your country of destination. You might need to bring a universal adapter.

✅   Pack light.  You bring only what you need and will use for the planned trip. Apparently, this is not applicable all the time. There are common factors that can influence  your packing strategy during your trip.  This sub-topic is sourced from different travel websites.

Weather - Definitely you will have to bring all the fluffy big jackets, sweaters and thermal suits if you will go to your destination on winter season. 

Activities - Are you an adventurer or will just stroll around the tourist spots? Or are you in for shopping??  Will you go for some trekking? Different activities will require additional clothes or additional baggage.

Duration - A short trip of 3 to 4 days can accomodate your things in your hand carry bag. Still depends on the weather. 

Budget  - Extra baggage aside from the ticket package inclusion is costly.  You will be limited on what you want to bring if you are considering this. 

Type of traveller - There are more than 20 types of travellers as posted in web. We all have different personality, so we differ on types therefore we might have different needs to bring along.  

Simply, we pack light so we carry our bags and luggage comfortably.  And the things we need are packed safely and properly.  

Here are few essentials to consider again on your packing, aside from the things you will wear:

Personal essentials and toiletries.  If you are too sensitive to use hotel toiletries and have your bespoke regime essentials, specially your sunscreen, it is better to bring it with you.  Make sure these are packed properly in your check-in bags, specially if you will bring more than 100ml in size. 

Gadget charger and/or adapter. Whatever gadget you are bringing, don't forget its charger and/or adapter. Power bank is not always in my list because I make it a habit to charged all gadgets at night while travelling.  It's an additional weight in my hand carry bag, and power banks are not allowed in checked-in luggage anyway.

Towel, beddings and sarong. This might only apply to staying in an Airbnb.  Linens and towels are limited during this type of stay, so you might need them. You can squeeze these things into your luggage. I usually bring pillowcases if I stay in an Airbnb. A sarong is useful during the flight and if you are not sure of the temperature.  It is light and if you need to keep warm, you can easily take it out.

Medicines - This is like your emergency kit.  Bring paracetamol,  anti-histamine, meds for cough and flu, in case you got sick, you have ready tablets to take. Don't forget Tita essentials like white flower oil or Katinko 😀 

Organizers. Use packing cubes and/or zip lock containers to compartmentalise your clothes and things.

Inflatable neck pillow. It helps keeping you comfortable while waiting in the airport and also during your flight. It depends on the airline, you can request a pillow from the flight attendant, for additional comfort. I suggest that you bring the inflatable one, so you can deflate if you don't need it anymore.

Tumbler or water container.  You should bring this while you are on your tour.  A water in hand is the best first aid.

Handy bag or tote bag in case you want to buy souvenirs or you have an impulse to buy something. 

Others. Because you are a girl scout, bring foldable umbrella and cap. Just squeeze this into your luggage. Your cap is useful on a sunny or rainy day. 

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✅   Things to bring.  Here are strictly the things you should pack with you as a solo traveller.

Passport copies.  Prepare copy of passport aside from the digital photo you have in your phone.  These copies you can leave in your hotel, and in your tote bag if you bring another, aside from your personal bag. In case your bag is lost together with your phone, you have other copy for identification.

Most comfortable shoes and socks.  Because you are going to walk most of the time and might get lost while finding your stations,🤞 hopefully not.  Wear socks during your travel to destination.  For some immigrations, they will require you to remove your shoes during checking in of your hand carry baggage.  You don't want to have your feet to touch the cold, and dirty airport floors. Also socks should keep you warm on the airplane and in your air-conditioned hotel.

Luggage cover.  This provides not just additional security for your bag, but also to protect your luggage.  Not all airport handlers are gentle with the luggage. You have no companion to help you carry things if your luggage comes out broken.

Book. There's no better companion, which you can grab immediately, than a physical or virtual book. An audio book can also fill up your interest in a story; if not you can prepare the next. 

Music Playlist. You need to have your Spotify or any music app installed. Start selecting your favorite music to jam to while you are in flight, and during transport rides. Still, be mindful of your surroundings while listening.

 

✅   Travel Itinerary.  This is one exciting activity in preparing for your adventure. Whether you like things chill or spontaneous, it is recommended you plan ahead of the places you would like to visit and how to get there.  You can include the cost of transportation, entrace fee if there are and also a duration.  While researching on this, you can save your reference sites.  Have a notebook or a spreadsheet to jot it down and manage it later on. 

Don't forget to include to visit a church specially if there's a Sunday in your travel dates. Nothing more important than offering an hour for this wonderful adventure given to you.

Now that you know what to prepare and bring, you should know what a solo traveller should avoid.  It's better to double your safety specially if you are travelling outside your country.

There's always a lot of discovery at the end of a trip.  You have expanded your comfort zone and developed confidence.  You are now motivated for more success and do better things. If you are thriving for Self-Improvement, you can check this 50 questions for self-discovery.

I wanted you to be safe and be comfortable in travelling alone. Praying for a safe and enjoyable trip.