When it comes to solo traveling, things can be scary or intimidating, especially for your first trip away on your own.

Solo travel is the perfect way to enjoy your travels the way you want to and do everything you want without having to worry about another person or making compromises. But it isn't for the faint of heart. It requires some level of savvy and confidence, or I hope you navigate new areas alone and get the most from your trip.

So, prior to departure, how can you prepare for solo travel?

Get Fit

You need to be physically fit for your adventures as you alone will be responsible for all of the heavy lifting, so to speak, and you need to be confident you have the energy and mobility to get to and from each destination and explore as you need to. It can be a good idea to work on your fitness levels before leaving so you can be confident you are fit enough to undertake the journey, especially if you plan on participating in physically demanding activities such as extreme sports, hikes, or even volunteering. Whether you hit the gym, focus on walking more to build up endurance and stamina, or work on reducing your body fat via emsculpt neo or changing your diet, you can work towards improved health and fitness to boost your body to do everything you plan to do.

Research

The more you know about where you are headed, the more you can be prepared and aware of what to expect. Is the country plagued by con artists looking to scam foreign travelers? Do you need to be mindful of pickpockets and tourist traps? Or are there areas, hostels, and locations to avoid so you don't put your safety at risk? Finding out as much as you can about what to do and what to avoid can give you the confidence to protect yourself and be conscious of what is happening around you.

Stand Tall

You need to exude confidence when traveling solo so you don't miss out on any opportunities or make yourself a target for appearing meek or vulnerable. Practice standing tall and looking people in the eye. This gives the appearance of confidence and can help you to be more assertive when dealing with strangers. Even if you're not feeling confident, standing tall is a simple trick anyone can do and will give that boost when you need it.

Plan for Contact

Even though you're alone, it can be a good idea to ensure people can still contact you should they need to or should need them to.

In the first instance, you should register with your close government for the countries you will be visiting so they know that you will be there should you need assistance. Use various methods of communication for loved ones back home so you can keep communication open as much as possible, especially if you're traveling to areas with poor cell service or no internet connections. Identify places that you can frequent so you stay connected online, ie. McDonald's has free Wi-Fi, as do Starbucks, etc. Or you can install an app on your phone that allows people to track your movements so if anything happens, they can alert the authorities and have an idea of your last known location.