Ever since my first solo venture last year, I have been waiting to suggest more women out there to travel solo once a while. Why solo?? Well, very little can be explained in words, but if you love traveling and have all the resources, especially time, why not? How long are you going to keep looking for a companion? Those of you who’re thinking that going solo to an unknown place is pointless, lonely, awkward, weird, just hold that thought and wait until you get to the end of the article.

You will panic: Oh yeah, somewhere between deciding to travel solo and starting to plan you’ll find yourself very anxious, worried and maybe even excited at the same time. If you’re already a solo traveler and you haven’t passed this stage, salute to you!!

Decide your budget: This is probably applicable for anyone who’s planning a trip. You might want to consider the number of trips you would want to go for in the future. So decide if you want your trip to be luxurious, moderate or pocket friendly. Oftentimes women aren’t aware that there are a number of private hostels that are inexpensive and safe in all the major tourist destinations.

Plan your itinerary: Figure out how you want to reach your destination depending on the number of days you have. I often prefer the faster options available. However, you don’t always get flights to all destinations. So you need to club it with a train or bus. Next you need to know what sightseeing you want to do or, which experience you want to have. Enquire at hotels or check with your friends and colleagues if necessary.

Tickets please: Check your holiday calendar and book your tickets. You might want to book your stay as well. I often use Booking.com because its more flexible in terms of cancellation, but there are a number of websites depending on what you’re looking for. Until you execute this step, you’re only one of those people who plans and cancels.

Pack well: I personally prefer traveling light. That way, I can even carry my luggage around if necessary. It’s important that you don’t put yourself in an uneasy situation, but at the same time have everything you really require. Don’t forget your toothbrush, power bank, credit card, ID and earphones. You might also want to carry enough cash if your destination doesn’t have ATMs.

Enjoy yourself: You can do whatever you want at your own pace. There will be no one to judge you, instruct you or irritate you. You’ll be spending a lot of time with yourself and also interacting with a lot of other tourists/ travellers and locals whenever necessary.

You’ll still find a lot of negative responses when you tell people that you’re a solo traveler. Don’t bother about the huge warning signs or your friends hold up when you let them know about your plans. And when you are touring around, people may be good to you and try to help because you’re a woman, which is sweet and nice at times. However, don’t forget that you can handle yourself. Go explore the world when you have the time. Even if you struggle, you’ll learn from each experience and its the best parts that you’ll carry forever.