You’ve already decided where to go on your solo trip. And when. Now all you need to do is stop feeling overwhelmed every time you picture yourself wandering around your destination on your own. Trust us, travelling solo is something you can really come to love. So much so that you might even get hooked. Some people even talk about the psychological benefits of travelling alone: building confidence and self-assurance, becoming more independent and enjoying a greater sense of freedom... That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to help you make the most of the experience.

There are plenty of destinations for your first solo trip. In fact, the whole world is out there. That said, if the idea still feels a little daunting, choose somewhere that suits you. For example, if you’re not very comfortable speaking another language, you might prefer a destination in Spain. Worried you’ll get bored? Then perhaps avoid an almost deserted island and opt instead for a city with a packed cultural calendar…

Travelling solo doesn’t mean feeling lonely. You’ll meet people. Plenty of them, in fact: solo travellers often spark the curiosity and friendliness of local people. So don’t worry too much about being on your own; just try to overcome your shyness. A simple ‘Hi, how are you?’ is the first step towards starting a conversation. From there, a few basic questions about where you are and a little about your own story can help get things flowing.

There’s no need to memorise its GDP or the exact population of the city you’ll be visiting, but it is useful to know what kind of weather to expect, whether it’s a safe destination, what the local customs are, how easy it is to get around on foot, especially at night, where your accommodation is and how to get there…

Eating lunch or dinner is often one of the things that feels most daunting when you first think about travelling alone. Until you start enjoying it, which you will, one useful trick is to ask for or book a seat at the bar. That way, you can always exchange a few words with the staff or with other diners sitting nearby. Bringing a book or having a series downloaded on your smartphone is another tried-and-tested option if there’s no room at the bar and you end up sitting at a table.

There may well be a morning when you wake up, face the prospect of spending the whole day alone somewhere unfamiliar and wonder what on earth you’re doing. It happens. To avoid that feeling, or at least minimise it, we recommend looking up a few activities in advance that you might enjoy: a guided group tour, a shop you want to visit… Nothing too rigid, just a few options to fill your time, while still leaving plenty of room to be spontaneous if a better plan comes along.

We don’t want you to embark on this experience thinking about everything that could go wrong, but it is worth taking a few precautions in case something unexpected happens. Let a friend or family member know your itinerary (you can even share your location with them in real time); keep a backup copy of your documents and card details; remember the address of your accommodation and don’t rely entirely on your smartphone; and, if you’re travelling abroad, make sure you know where your embassy is.