How to Plan Your First Solo Trip: A Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide
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In brief
Planning a first solo trip comes down to research, insurance, a pre-booked first night and a safety plan shared with someone at home, according to official UK government travel guidance. This guide lays out the preparation steps in order, plus what day-to-day safety advice and 2026 survey data say about traveling alone.
Solo travel has moved from a niche choice to a mainstream one, and most of the planning work happens before you ever leave home. Official UK travel guidance and a 2026 industry survey point to the same core steps: research the destination, sort insurance and documents, book the first night, and set up a way to stay in touch while you're away.
Why More People Are Traveling Alone
The 2026 Solo Female Travel Survey, run by the Solo Female Travelers Club and based on responses from roughly 2,800 people in more than 90 countries, found that 85% of respondents travel solo for the freedom and flexibility it offers, while 68% said they still worry about personal safety. The same report cites Grand View Research data showing that more than three-quarters of solo travelers worldwide are women. Single-room pricing remains a sticking point: 32% of respondents in the survey said they are frustrated by the "solo travel tax," the extra fee hotels and tours often charge solo bookers, commonly known in the travel industry as a single supplement.
What the 2026 Solo Female Travel Survey Found
Finding
Share of respondents
Travel solo mainly for freedom and flexibility
85%
Worry about personal safety while traveling alone
68%
Frustrated by the single-supplement "solo tax"
32%
Plan to take a women-only trip in 2026
21%
Step-by-Step: Planning Before You Go
Research the destination first. UK government guidance recommends checking official country travel-advice pages, signing up for update alerts, reading guidebooks and online forums, and talking to people who have already been there.
Work through a foreign travel checklist before booking anything, as recommended by GOV.UK, so documents, health and money matters are covered early.
Buy travel insurance before you leave. GOV.UK guidance states this applies "even if you are visiting friends and family, or know the country well."
Sort your finances in advance: confirm you can access money abroad, keep emergency funds available, and have a backup plan if accommodation falls through.
Make photocopies of your passport and insurance policy and leave copies with someone at home, separate from the originals you carry.
Share your itinerary with a trusted contact and agree on how often you'll check in with them.
Book your first night's accommodation before you arrive rather than showing up with nowhere arranged.
Arrange airport transfers in advance and plan to use only official, licensed taxis once you land.
Staying Safe Once You're There
Advice from the UK's TravelHealthPro service (run by the National Travel Health Network and Centre) focuses on day-to-day habits rather than one-off bookings.
Avoid traveling alone at night where possible, and stay aware of your surroundings.
Keep valuables out of sight and avoid displaying jewelry or large amounts of cash.
Choose busy train carriages, and avoid hitchhiking, in line with GOV.UK transport guidance.
Never accept drinks from strangers, and buy alcohol only from reputable sellers with an intact bottle seal; TravelHealthPro warns that counterfeit alcohol in some destinations can contain methanol, which causes serious illness.
Check accommodation safety features on arrival, including working door locks or chains and, where relevant, a British Standard–compliant carbon monoxide alarm, as GOV.UK guidance advises.
Keep checking official travel-advice updates for your destination for the duration of the trip, not just before departure.
Both GOV.UK and TravelHealthPro frame these as routine precautions to take into account rather than reasons to avoid traveling alone.
Questions
Do I need travel insurance for a solo trip even if I'm visiting friends or family?
Yes. GOV.UK guidance says travel insurance is needed even when visiting friends and family abroad or traveling to a country you already know well.
Should I book my first night's accommodation before I arrive?
Yes, according to GOV.UK guidance, solo travelers should book accommodation, especially the first night, before arriving rather than looking for a place after landing.
What is the "solo travel tax" people mention?
It refers to the single supplement, an extra fee some hotels and tours charge solo travelers for booking alone; 32% of respondents in the 2026 Solo Female Travel Survey said they are frustrated by it.
Is solo travel actually safe?
Official guidance from GOV.UK and TravelHealthPro sets out routine precautions for solo travelers, such as researching destinations, booking ahead and staying alert, rather than advising against solo travel; the 2026 survey found 68% of solo travelers still worry about personal safety.
Who is traveling solo in 2026?
According to the 2026 Solo Female Travel Survey (about 2,800 respondents in 90+ countries) and Grand View Research data it cites, more than three-quarters of solo travelers worldwide are women, with 85% citing freedom and flexibility as their main motivation.
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