Embrace Adventure: Tips for a Successful First Solo Travel

So many questions running through my mind – did I pick the right destination for my first solo trip, should I really go on this trip alone, what if it is not as fun as I imagine it, what if I get bored?

What if, what if, what if….tune all the questions and doubts out, because none of the what ifs will happen. You are going to dictate how your first solo trip goes, and it’s going to be a trip to remember – trust me!

Just as you tune out the first set of voices, another set rushes in –

“but what if my flight is canceled?”

“what if it rains everyday?”

…again, tune them all out, because you are not going to ‘what if’ this trip, you are going to create a fun itinerary, meet amazing travelers, stroll through the streets of a beautiful city in confidence, taste delicious food, and wander around till you come across views that will leave you in awe – this is your trip!

Planning the Trip. How I Picked my Destination.

How did I end up with Portugal as my first solo trip? I love going to the beach and I enjoy hiking, so I started by searching for beautiful coastal trails around the world. I then narrowed it down to places within a 6 hour direct flight from the US, since my trip was going to be less than a week.

Weather and safety were also on my priority list. My focus was on an active trip, so I needed great weather to wander around.

Using my list for coastal hikes, and other criteria, Portugal checked all the boxes.

It was so much fun planning the trip – booking the flight, searching for hotels, joining a Portugal facebook group, creating an itinerary, and booking tours.

I wanted a direct flight so I could get to my destination quick enough and start having fun. For this trip, I arrived in Lisbon around 10am, and I was able to get to my hotel, check in, relax for about an hour, order a Bolt ride, and head to the city center to meet other tourists for a walking tour of Lisbon.

I did a lot of research on hotels, and booked a hotel that had early check in, within 20 mins drive from the airport, and provided airport transportation for convenience.

Joining a Travel Portugal facebook group provided me with so many tips and ideas on how to have a great trip in Portugal.

I was very flexible when creating my itinerary and booking tours. Remember, this was a solo trip, so I was on my own timetable and could be as flexible as I wanted. I also wanted to have a lot of fun and be active, so I viewed my itinerary as a guide, and not something set in stone.

All my tours also had 24 hour cancellation rules, giving me the flexibility to move things around when my plans changed.

Tip: If I have a ‘must do’ on my itinerary, I schedule it for Day 2 or Day 3. I do this because, just in case something happens, I can reschedule it to another day.

Packing

To check in or not to check in? I travelled with just a hand luggage and a small hiking backpack, since my trip was for only 5 and half days. I ended up checking my hand luggage in, since I’d heard through the facebook group that the airline was very strict on hand luggage dimensions. I was on my way to have fun, and I didn’t want to deal with luggage dimensions, so I just checked my hand luggage in.

Tip: When you check in your luggage, pack an extra set of clothes in your personal item you can carry on the plane, just in case your luggage does not make it to your destination.

Another packing tip: I made notes on my phone before my trip for items I am likely to forget – my contact solution, vitamins, camera, hiking shoes, European adapter, phone charger, powerbank, and an umbrella (since the weather called for the chance of rain in Portugal during my trip).

Living in Every Moment

During my solo trip, I made sure every moment was an experience for me. I laughed when our tour group to Sintra got caught up in the rain and I found myself fighting the winds for my umbrella on top of a castle.

I stood in the raindrops for a moment enjoying the sound of the crushing waves at the beach in Cascais before sprinting to take cover in a cafe.

I tweaked my itinerary a bit when I found out the weather will not be conducive for hiking on that day.

I picked random restaurants, sat down, and enjoyed a hearty meal.

I strolled through neighborhoods and captured the busy streets. I always arrived at my tour meeting point at least 15 to 20 minutes earlier to take in my surroundings and capture the life of the city.

I chatted with the Bolt drivers and learned more about Portugal.

Every chance I got, I slowed down, and enjoyed the world around me.

When I tuned out all the what ifs, I realized I picked the perfect destination for my first solo trip. I enjoyed amazing food. I had a lot of fun and did not get bored, and even when it rained, I got the chance to enjoy the best ice cream in Cascais.

I hope if you ever get the chance, you will choose an open road to a new adventure. ~Eliza