So, you’ve reached a time when you want to travel by yourself, or with your friends instead of your family. It was bound to happen. The only thing is that now all of the planning etc. falls to you. I know for me that this was such a challenge because I didn’t know where to begin but hopefully, I’ll be able to help someone else out who feels the same way I did.

Researching Your First Holiday Without Your Family

When planning any holiday, I’ve found that it is important to do your research beforehand, especially for your first holiday without family. This is because you will need to make all of the decisions. If you aren’t sure where you want your holiday, consider what’s on offer in different locations, how far you want to travel, your budget and what you want from your holiday.

It is so easy to research your chosen destination now, all you need to do is type the location and the topic you’re looking into, in a search bar on the internet to get all the information you could possibly need. Although make sure to fact check everything and look at the reviews.

How to Choose Accommodation For Your First Solo Holiday

One of the most important things to book for your holiday is the accommodation. Make sure this is one of those aspects that you research and be happy with your choice. You hear so many horror stories about people choosing the wrong place to stay, so especially if you’re travelling alone choose somewhere you’ll feel safe.

In our case we chose to stay at a hotel near the activities that we had planned. This was because neither of us had any experience with companies like “Airbnb” and Harry had bad experiences with camping (not that there was a campsite nearby!). Also, it meant that we would spend less on travel.

There are so many different options for you to consider when booking accommodation; would you prefer bed and breakfast, self-catering, or all inclusive. Then there is the option of booking a holiday home or Airbnb instead of staying in a hotel or hostel. So, take your time with this choice, look at which option will work best for you and make you feel most comfortable.

Handling The Finances For Your First Holiday Without Your Family

I feel like you must be fed up with me talking (or writing!) about budgeting and money as I do it practically every post. But it’s such an important part of planning a holiday.

When you’re going on a holiday with your family, you don’t always realise how much money goes into a trip. I know for me, my parents never really mentioned how much a holiday would cost them, so it isn’t something that you think of when you’re younger. Now, though it all rests on you.

Whatever you do, DON’T put yourself into debt for a holiday. Put aside a little money each month and look into how much everything will cost, also keep an eye out for any offers that might be available. Sometimes it will surprise you how much you can do simply by shopping around for the best offers or buying the tickets online in advance.

Important Documentation For Your Solo Holiday

So, something else that I’ve never had to think much about before a holiday previously was all the documentation that makes it possible. I mean I had been responsible for my passport on school trips before, but I’d never had to apply for one before!

Our trip to Florida this year is giving me even more experience with this aspect of holiday planning. As we have had to apply for visas and health insurance which neither of us have ever done before.

Make sure before you travel that you know exactly what is required, through research, and that you have it easily accessible when you’re travelling. I always make sure that I have a plastic wallet or folder in my hand luggage with our passports, visas, hotel, and travel reservations so that I can quickly and easily access these on the go.

Sorting Out Travel Arrangements For Your Holiday

How are you getting there and travelling around when you’re there? You have to have it all planned out, preferably before or at the same time as booking your accommodation. If you are looking for more tips of choosing how to travel take a look at this blog post.

A tip that I was given when we first started talking about travelling was to plan it before you leave. Originally it was because you can never completely rely on WiFi but it’s also a safety measure. If you look like you know where you’re going you are less likely to be targeted and when you aren’t checking directions, you are more aware of your surroundings. It also means you’ll likely get to your destination quicker.

Quick Safety Tips to Consider When Travelling

You aren’t always expecting the worst to happen when planning, but it’s something that can occur. I won’t go into too much detail here, that’s another blog post! But here are a few tips.

1. Know the country’s emergency number(s).
2. Be able to explain your situation (use an online translator if all else fails!).
3. Give someone else your itinerary, so they know where you’ll be and when you’ll be there.
4. Have your emergency contact information up to date.

Having a Checklist When Travelling

A big part of my holiday planning since doing it alone is having checklists. They are how I make sure that I remember everything; important documents, accommodation details and what needs to be packed. Doing this enables me to look over what I have already sorted and consider what else needs to be done in order for us to be completely ready.

If I didn’t have my checklists for the first few holidays (as well as the bigger ones recently!). I would be completely out of my depth. Lots of people don’t get on with lists, and I can completely understand that, but in this instance they are a lifesaver. And, if you hate them, you never have to use them again!

Conclusion

So, when planning your first holiday without your family take your time, listen to advice, and decide what works best for you. Also, remember that you probably will need a few trips to perfect your holiday planning system.