Travelling alone can be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Here’s everything you need to think about as a first-time solo traveller. Until recently, I’d never have even considered going out to lunch by myself, let alone travelling across the world. But after a couple of years watching countless friends venture to exotic locations, the allure of solo travel is becoming more and more difficult to resist. According to leading online travel agent Opodo, the main reason travellers embark on solo journeys is so they can be in control of their own decision-making. For someone who’s never travelled by themself — and tends towards disorganisation — this is both exciting and terrifying. I sat down with a few expert solo travellers to figure out what I need to consider before finally taking the leap. Over the years I’ve come to learn that sometimes the best way to reduce stress and anxiety over approaching any new thing is to research it in depth.

“Safety is the number one thing you should take extra care of when traveling to other countries and continents solo,” says Mercedes Zach, travel expert at ASAP Tickets, part of Trevolution Group. “Do some extra research to make sure that you stay in a safe neighbourhood, be aware of your surroundings and gather information on where to seek help in case something unexpected happens,” she advises.

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