Welcome to Be Your Own Date - a space dedicated to all things self-care and wellbeing. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take a look at my other posts; I hope you’ll like them and find them useful too! In this post, I am sharing my experience and top tips for solo travel.

Be kind to yourself (at home and abroad)

As you know, I am a wellbeing, self-care and mental health advocate. So, it’s only right that I start this guide with a gentle reminder to be kind to yourself today, tomorrow and on your travels. This is something that I have to remind myself to do too; you are not alone! Self-kindness is all about being compassionate, forgiving and taking good care of yourself. For example, this month, I have booked a few days away by the sea - my happy place - and am really looking forward to it. I don’t know about you, but I love to re-focus at the start of each month and make sure that I am intentional with my wellbeing and self-care routine. I like to jot down a few ideas in my notebook and mobile to keep them front of mind and to motivate me to turn my ideas into actions. Why not give it a go if you haven’t tried it before?! Consider investing in a copy of my Wellbeing Planner for more support.

I invite you to take a moment to think about what brings you joy, plan for it, and build it into your schedule this month. Once you dare to imagine the possibilities and begin to smile to yourself, you will know that you’re on to a winner! 

Tell me, what are you looking forward to doing this month? Let me know in the Comments section below and connect with me on your socials.

A guide to solo travel: Travelling alone with confidence 

Travelling alone might just be one of your most transformative experiences yet. It changes who you are, how you see things (and the world), and may even shift some of your perspectives and priorities in life. I touched on this subject during my Instagram Live, which you can watch here. I absolutely LOVE to travel and am often asked for guidance on how to get started and to prepare for your first solo trip.

Here is a guide that I have put together to help you along your journey. It is a live document, so I will be adding to it, should any other ideas and tips come to mind and would love to hear your thoughts too. 

Maybe you are thinking about or have already planned to travel with a friend/loved one or as part of a small group, or perhaps you are braving it alone. For those of you who are interested in travelling ‘outside of the box’, off the beaten path and venturing away from a ‘package holiday deal’, this guide is for you. Let’s mix things up a little! There is no one-size-fits-all and there is no right or wrong way of doing things. Instead, I encourage you to tailor your trip to your needs and what you truly would like to get out of it. And, crucially, to feel confident in your decisions. Just do you! This approach to life (and travel) is true to the ethos of Be Your Own Date and why I created this blog and platform for empowerment. 

Signs of a great holiday

What makes a holiday/vacation great? What are the signs? For me, it’s starting to miss the place before I’ve even left. That sudden realisation that you are thoroughly enjoying yourself and the experience, and don’t want to let go of that wonderful feeling that it sparks inside of you. I begin to ponder on how to extend the trip and whether I could live there for a while and how to make it happen. It’s a happy state of mind to enjoy your time away while thinking about the future possibilities. Ever had that feeling? 

As much as I enjoy travelling with other people, I also think that it’s pretty cool to try travelling alone at least once and see how you like it. You will, of course, meet lots of people along the way, so solo travel is not to be confused with being lonely, that is something else entirely. I want you to feel good about your solo travel plans and to feel confident and well supported. Now, that’s a good start…

Where and why?

Your solo trip can be anywhere you would like it to be (erm, within reason). Yes, that’s right! And solo travel doesn’t have to be abroad either, it could be locally, a few hours away or further afield. So, whether you’re up for a staycation or exploring outside of the country, my top tips will still help you along the way. Your next adventure awaits. How exciting! 

Ultimately, I travel for the opportunity to bask in the sunshine, explore different cultures and terrains, find hidden gems and, most importantly, sample a range of cuisines - I am unashamedly all about the food! My favourite part of the world to explore is the Caribbean and Latin America. Where would you like to travel for your solo trip and why?

“The world is your oyster”. This was instilled in me at an early age by my mum and I still carry this sentiment with me today. 

Have a travel plan

To all my fellow (and soon to be) list lovers, planning helps to keep you organised and on track with your anticipated spending, as well as ease anxieties around venturing out alone. Once you have thought about where you would like to visit and why, you may also wish to consider the following points to help form your own travel plans and to assist you on your journey travelling alone with confidence:

• Budget - how much you can afford to spend, not what you would like to spend. Just sayin’. Read my Budgeting Checklist to support you. 

• Safety - share your plans and contact details with at least one person you trust and keep them in the loop before and during your trip.

• Travel documents - carry a photocopy of your passport (and visa if applicable) to cover all eventualities.

• Packing - pack light whether it’s a backpack or suitcase! More often than not, you pack wayyyy more things than you actually need. You know it’s true! I have developed a system that enables me to pack all my items in hand luggage only. Yup, it can be done! Check out my savvy packing tips and tricks on my Haiti blog.

• Continue to look after your wellbeing and self-care - just as you would at home.

🗒 Side note: Some people might question your decision to travel alone, but you don't owe them an explanation. Not everyone will understand what you want to do and that's ok. OK?!

4 travel essentials

This is usually the part where you would expect me to reel off a long list of items concerning the travel essentials that you must bring on your trip. Not here, I’m afraid. I like to do things differently, in case you haven’t realised yet! My travel necessities are simple and there are only four things to consider and not necessarily what you might expect: 

1. This guide to solo travel, of course!

2. A sense of adventure

3. A ‘travel bible’ suited to your budget and travel style - The Lonely Planet is my personal favourite because of the range of food and accommodation options provided, from ideas on backpacking and hosteling for those with a simple travel style, to some great choices if you prefer to splurge and adopt a more luxury travel style. Plus, everything in between!

4. A home comfort to help soothe you on the days when you are missing home. For example, my item of choice is either a jar of peanut butter or Nutella, possibly both. By the way, it’s totally normal to experience some self-doubt on your journey to solo travel, before and after, a flash thought like, “what on earth am I doing?” Just keep on going, this feeling usually fades...

Don’t travel without these 4 simple things! You'll thank me later.

Tip: You can purchase your preferred travel bible in paperback or a digital copy - shop around for the best price. Alternatively, check out whether your local library has a copy to accompany you. This will undoubtedly be your best travel buddy, enabling you to quickly look up the local lingo, customs, events, places to stay and eat, and things to do.

So if you plan to travel solo, follow this guide to instil confidence and to help alleviate some of the worries that you may have. Don't be afraid to go it alone. For further wanderlust reading, you may also be interested in my post, ‘Travelling While Black’.

Have you imagined your bags packed yet?

1:1 Wellbeing Coaching ☀️

You would like support with bringing your solo travel dreams into reality. Well, why not consider 1:1 Wellbeing Coaching with me? I am here to guide and cheer you on throughout your journey, from short trips to wellbeing breaks to sabbaticals!

The next step is to book a discovery call. Let’s talk!

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The world is your oyster. Be kind to yourself. Be Your Own Date.

~ Amy-Jo ☀️