To ask for your tips for a first time solo traveller?

[FirstTimeSoloTraveller]

I have just booked my first ever solo trip (not booked my flights yet, I'm going to book those in the new years sales).

I'll be going to the Italian Grand Prix next year, by myself. I'll fly in on the Wednesday and fly home on the Monday.

I've always travelled with either my family, or a group of friends. Any tips would be welcome. I feel like I'm quite street "smart" in terms of valuables etc., but any advice would be great!

I used to travel a lot by myself. The one very practical thing I found was that actually, annoying though it is to check in all my luggage, the less I was carrying, the better. Being at the airport and having to try cart a bag and a laptop bag and a handbag around while going to the loo, getting a drink, doing some shopping was so annoying vs when you're travelling with some one and can take turns to leave bags and paraphanalia with someone else for a few miutes.

If you don't already routinely carry a portable charger for your phone, make sure you do. We rely on our phones so much for maps, public transport, tickets etc, than no battery or low battery is a huge challenge and if you're alone, that will be a challenge.

I think general advice on travelling safely re valuables etc applies whether you're in a group or alone so I wouldn't worry too much about those specifics. Obviously, you're always more vulnerable alone than with other people so consider that when planning where to stay etc - you don't want to be walking down super quiet streets you don't know late at night alone. I'd also include extra money for cabs in your budget so you have the option of just getting a cab back in the evenings if you need it.

Yes I’m also going to be attempting my first ever one bag trip! Which is quite daunting as a chronic over packer, but also the perfect opportunity to do it. I will literally only being going to the race and the track. So no need for multiple outfits! A portable charger is always in my bag anyway but I’ll make sure to have back ups!

Never tell anyone you're alone. "My partner is just off looking at X this morning", or "my partner is expecting me back around y time so I'll just message them to let them know how I'm getting on"

If you're in a cab share your location with someone back home and be talking to/texting "someone" who is waiting for you at the end point of your journey (even though you're not as you're alone).

Take a kindle or a book or something so that if you want to you have something to do that isn't going to make you feel awkward (if that's something you might feel).

To be honest aside from actually at the race I can't imagine I'll be meeting a ton of people! I might be meeting up with some friends at the events etc though, and it'll all be public transport!

Please dont be paranoid though. As a traveller you are a bit more vulnerable, sure. As a lone woman too. But you dont instantly become super st risk because of these things. I have never felt the need to tect someone back home when getting in a cab in a different city. Why would I? I do, just like in London or other UK cities only use registered taxis or Ubers. I dont tell people my partner is just in the loo, but then if I am making small talk with strangers its probably at an event or a museum ans not in a dark alley.

Yeah I feel quote comfortable at sporting events in general (I go with family and friends a lot!), but this will be my first time going solo and my first time flying alone. I travel quite a bit, but going alone does feel like a bit of a daunting prospect! I'll definitely be meeting up with people on at least two of the days, but it's still full of things you don't really think about when your mum has handled all your travel arrangements 🤣

Packing cubes are brilliant for getting everything into as little space as possible.

Make sure you know as much as possible about local public transport before you get there - what you need to catch, where it goes from, how often, how to pay (contactless, app, ticket machine etc) and whether you need to validate your ticket once you’ve got it.

Make sure someone at home has your insurance details.

If you're not used to organising your own travel arrangements, then there's other things to think about which perhaps someone else has done for you previously:

Is your passport valid and up to date? You usually need it to have at least 3 months until expiry from when you plan to return. Do you need a visa and if so, are you sorted?

If you're taking hand luggage, do you have the right size for the airline you're travelling on?

When choosing your accomodation, are you thinking about public transport and convenience of getting to and from whatever your plans are? A cheap hotel on the other side of town might work out. more time and hassle than it's worth. Is your hotel convenient for other amenities you might care about? Also, as it's probably a crowded venue etc etc, make sure when planning your routes to take in to account the liklohood of delays/crowds etc.

what wil the weather be like? Do you need anything specific? Do you have the right travel sized items of your favourite toiletries etc?

How are you getting to and from the airport, on both sides? Are you comfortable with your options? How long will it take?

For the event, you will need your tickets etc. Do you also need ID and if so, what sort?

Do you have a bag that's safe to keep your valuable documents in - zippered internal pouch etc (x1000 if someone else has tended to hold your documents).

You say your mum has organised things previusly so are you quite young? It's briliant to travel when you're young, but it does mean you may well meet other people and get swept up in things. I consider that a good thing. But maintain the same level of street smarts that I hope you would at home on a night out!

Don’t let strangers know you are alone. You’re always ‘meeting friends later’, ‘seeing your brother for lunch’ etc

Buy travel insurance
Have access to emergency money
Travel light (you need to be able to carry all your stuff)
Have fun
Go ! Go ! Go !

I will be renewing my passport in a couple of months, it's expiring in May of next year - I'll do it before I book my flights.

Public transport is all sorted, the hotel I have reserved is right by the train station and all trains are direct.

I've never been abroad without my family, I've only every travelled domestically with my friends so I'm hoping it'll all be fine!

Travel alone all the time! Agree: always have a battery pack; I have stopped staying in AirBnBs because I prefer the security of a hotel; consider how you get from the airport to your hotel / where you are going (I have dyspraxia and no sense of direction so this is a really big deal for me). Figure out how public transport works (lots of places have tap in tap out public transport which is fun and easy to use). Enjoy!

I've never found that sort of thing necessary, and I've been travelling solo for over 20 years.

Be very careful of your bag on public transport. Ensure you have a bum bag or a body bag with different pockets worn close to the front of your body, and hold onto it.

Yeah I think I'm going to go for a hotel because you can go early, store your bag there and then come back and check in (which I'd want to do on the Wednesday, so I can head into Milan!), instead of being bound to 3pm with an Airbnb.

Again, I don't really think this is applicable for me because I'll either be meeting friends while I'm there (if they go), or just chatting with people on the shuttle to the station, where there will be thousands of other people getting on the train, it's not as if I'll be hooking up with people!

yes, agree. ditto on the way out. For me Air BNB is useful for us as a family or for longer stays perhaps, but the convenience and professionalism of a hotel is always my preference on a short trip. I recently did a quick work trip just in the UK... I was very grateful to be in a hotel at 11pm that night when I realised I'd left my toothbrush at home!

An Airbnb is good if you’re not flying in early, but I’ll be landing into Milan at 9am, I can go to the hotel, freshen up, and head into the city, if I was in an Airbnb I’d be taking everything with me!

Italy will be fine! In other places I found it useful to wear a wedding ring. I tend to stay in youth hostels or private (slightly more upmarket) places aimed at young people because then it's easy to meet people in the cafe/common areas. If you were eg going to look at the sights there were always other people going to the same places. I met a lot of Australian women travelling alone. I find hotels a bit lonely and I tend to stay in my room and lack confidence to venture out alone, especially at night.

To be honest I’ll be so busy during the day I don’t think I’ll be up to going out at night! If I was going sightseeing etc I’d consider it, but I am solely going for the f1

I love travelling alone, and I'm not really a traveller at all. But when I leave the country I'm like a different person and just blend in with the crowd and nobody knows or cares who I am. The freedom is amazing! The one thing where I had to stop and think quickly was when I was on a walking tour, obviously alone, and a man asked me what I would be doing later. I said I was busy meeting up with friends and he was fine with that. I was a few steps away from going into my hotel but I kept on walking and went into a different one to throw him off, just in case. But do not worry! You will love it! In fact, I'd love to join you for the F1! I've never been to a race but want to do it some day. Have a great time!

Thank You! I’ve been to a fair few races but this is my first time going alone!

Better still, wear a security belt with your passport, credit card, main stash of cash against your body UNDERNEATH your clothes and your bumbag. I resorted to this in Italian summers when my clothes were so lightweight that the security belt would have been visible through my light cotton top. Have a small purse with about 20€ in small change and keep however much money you think you will need that day elsewhere in the bumbag.... if you need more you can always take a trip to the ladies' to access it.

Yes, good idea. I wore a security belt in Italy and had a few Euros in a neck purse under my clothes, leaving my hands free. I safety pinned my bum bag to my jeans too. It's the only country where I've taken those measures.

I was just there and felt very safe, which is why I picked it as my first solo trip! I am also entirely cashless, I haven't carried cash since I was about 12!