Feeling like there’s SO much to figure out? That’s completely normal, and it’s not a sign you shouldn’t go. You don’t need to have everything figured out to take your first solo trip. You just need these five things sorted… and then the only thing left to do is go.
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YOUR FIRST SOLO TRIP CHECKLIST
Pick a backpacker-friendly destination (not just a beautiful destination— trust.)
Check visas for your destination AND your layovers
Budget: daily cost × days, plus ~$1,500 for emergencies and a cushion for home
Check vaccine rules based on where you’re flying FROM
Get travel insurance before you leave
1. Pick the right solo travel destination
Not every dream destination is good for solo travel. Look for “backpacker” spots: more single-person stays (hello, hostels), more activities you can join alone, and more people on the same adventure as you. That’s how you make friends fast.
Learned this the hard way: I spent my birthday on my first solo trip in Santorini… surrounded by honeymooners. Haha. Beautiful, but lonely.
Before you book, search “[destination] backpacker” and check if the hostels have social events, walking tours or family dinners.
Need ideas? Here’s where I’d send my little sister.
2. Figure out your visas
Before you buy your ticket, make sure you can enter your destination AND every country you have a layover in. Rules depend on your passport and change constantly, so check your government’s official travel site and each country’s embassy. Some visas take weeks, so start early.
Don’t skip the layovers: travelers with a valid visa for their final stop have been sent back over a missed transit visa.
List every airport on your route, layovers included, and check each one before you pay for the flight.
3. Know how much money you actually need
Find the “average daily cost of travel” for your destination and multiply it by your number of days. Do it per country: even neighbors can be WILDLY different. Match the source to your style, too. If you’re not staying in hostels, a backpacker’s daily number will be too low for you.
Then add ~$1,500 for emergencies, AND save money for when you get home. Trust me on this one… coming back with no cushion is the worst.
4. Check your vaccine requirements
Some countries require proof of vaccines, like yellow fever, to let you in. No proof can mean no entry.
Here's the move nobody tells you: the rules can depend on where you've been on your WHOLE trip. If you've recently spent time in a country with yellow fever risk, your next country may ask for proof of the vaccine, even if it wouldn't ask someone flying in from home. That's exactly what happened to me flying from Colombia to Costa Rica.
Check every leg of your trip, not just your first stop, on the CDC’s destination pages and each country’s embassy site.
PRO PRO tip: you might be able to save on some vaccines by getting them after you land, as long as your first country doesn't require them for entry. I flew into South America from the US (no yellow fever risk there), so I didn't need proof to get in… and when I went, I got my yellow fever shot for FREE at the Bogotá airport. That saved me the ~$200 it would've cost me back home.
Just plan the timing: your yellow fever certificate only counts 10 days after the shot, so get it early, well before you cross into a country that asks for it. Programs like this can change, so check before you go and talk to a travel clinic about what you need.
5. Sort out your travel insurance
Long travel days, time changes, new foods, hostels… your body goes through a lot. Insurance means one bad day doesn’t wreck your budget.
Proof it pays off: I got a severe eye infection in Cambodia, and a two-week episode of food poisoning in Colombia— both sent me to the hospital, but having travel insurance took off the stress of figuring out the cost of treatment.
I use SafetyWing. It’s fairly priced, and my claims have always been easy. Buy it before you leave and save your claim info in your phone.
The stuff nobody tells you
Beautiful doesn’t mean solo-friendly. Check who actually goes there before you book.
Layovers count. A transit visa can matter as much as your main one.
Vaccine rules follow your route, not just your passport.
Budget for coming HOME, not just for the trip.
Keep every receipt when you see a doctor abroad. Even small claims are worth filing.
WATCH IT
More solo travel tips on TikTok
You don’t need it all figured out to go. Sort these five things, figure out the rest along the way, and know you’re braver than you think. I’m rooting for you.
Happy travels,
Londy B
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