Preparing for My First Solo Travelling Trip

The decision is made, I’m going travelling to southeast Asia and then Australia. A mammoth trip, and solo. Daunting as it may seem, I’m overcome with excitement. But the preparation for travelling is a long process, especially if you want to get it right.

So what do you need to sort? Firstly, you need to somehow explain to work, the job all your life’s work has rewarded you, that it wasn’t exactly what you wanted. Though this is tough, especially for me, as I was so thankful for the opportunity, this is when travelling becomes real. My notice handed in, I’m ready.

Next, which was probably the longest process, injections. I had to book an appointment with a nurse, go through the countries I may visit, and get a LOT of jabs spaced over a month. I probably got way more jabs than I actually needed, but I thought ‘it’s peace of mind for my parents.’ So make sure you do this well in advance, and also budget for them. It cost me around £500 which was a big hit to my bank account.

Next, travel cards, how am I going to get money out? I opted with starling bank, this is a great bank. They are an online banking app, you can turn your card on and off, to prevent skimming, and can transfer money from your UK account to this account whenever. I also liked that this card had exchange rates of MasterCard, and didn’t charge extra to take money out. I’d 100 percent recommend starting.

Next, where am I going to go?! I decided I’d fly to Bangkok and see where I’d end up, booked my one-way ticket, excitement is brewing now, I'M ACTUALLY LEAVING.

The next few weeks, goodbye luxuries, one last set of eyelash extensions, removing my hair extensions, and packing the most basic of clothing (and makeup, clip in extensions and highlighter because your girl gotta shinnneee—and yes, I soon realised this is totally extra).

The last step, goodbyes. The worst part of an open-ended trip is saying goodbye, but not knowing how long for. Although the one month full of goodbye parties was one of the best parts of my life so far, the gut-wrenching feeling of leaving your loved ones behind, is HORRIBLE.

Although, as I will soon explain, this actually led to me having one of the best months of my life so far, you really appreciate those around you, how supportive they are and how they are the reason for your happiness, true friends will push you, even if they want you to stay to find who you really need to be. As my best friend said to me the day I left ‘If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you could be.’

So, I’m packed, I’m sorted. Everything, done. The night before my flight, get ready for the nerves. As I sit on the sofa with my mum and dad, I cry, I’m apprehensive, can I do this?

The nerves were probably the hardest part of the journey, I made the choice in a second, and now my brain was becoming far, far more ‘logical,’ shall we say. I actually had the best month of my life, leaving parties, Christmas, and I actually met a guy I could genuinely see a future with. But then, I sat, I thought, is it because I know I’m experiencing ‘lasts’ for a while, and because I KNOW it won’t go far with this guy because we know I’m leaving, who knows...

My parents then reassure me as soon as I arrive I will know I’ve done the right thing, and ‘you can fly home whenever.’

So this is where it starts, my parents drop me off at the airport, and this is where my new life as a traveller begins, I say goodbye and cry one last time. I then sit on the plane in relief, excitement, it’s all ahead of me now..