My 7 Solo Travel Guidelines

Traveling with friends or family can be rewarding. There’s nothing like sharing epic scenery or experiencing a delicious local meal together. Plus, I’ve found the interests of others help expand my own choice of experiences. And, when things go wrong, it can be helpful to have another person there to help sort things out. I can also appreciate the cost savings of splitting lodging and transportation expenses.

But, despite all the positives of traveling with others, traveling solo comes with its own valuable rewards. I’m responsible for my schedule, able to change my itinerary on a whim, and more apt to meet other travelers during my journey.

While traveling solo can have added benefits, I follow this general set of rules to help ensure my trip goes as smoothly as possible.

1. Pack Light

My No. 1 rule is no checked bags for this girl. And, I may wear the same clothing multiple times. Traveling solo makes me less concerned about having a new look each day.

2. Have Backup Technology

Traveling solo means I cannot borrow someone else’s phone if mine dies or is stolen. I’ve had 2 phones stolen and another die, so traveling without a phone will not happen to me again.

I now travel with an extra, refurbished backup phone I purchased on Amazon for less than $200. It works great for everything except network calls and messaging, but I can add a SIM if needed.

3. Be Transport Savvy

Arriving late at night and not knowing how to get from the airport to my hotel is risky behavior. I use Rome2Rio to estimates transport costs and routes. Researching any local ride-share options and downloading the associated apps is also important.

I know the shuttle pickup locations and schedules (if available) and email the hotel in advance if I need to request pickup.

And finally, I’m prepared with backups should I have flight disruptions. I check for these before leaving home but I also have a basic Expert Flyer subscription to search for alternate flights in real time. It costs $5 per month for up to 250 searches.

4. Choose a Safe and Convenient Location

When I’m traveling alone, I want to be in a safe area but have access to restaurants, activities, and the local sights.

I use Google Maps to zero in on where I might select my hotel and review what’s available in the area. I can then use Google Street View to take a virtual walk nearby. Hotel reviews can also help me select the right hotel.

5. Select the Right Credit Cards

Hopefully, I’ll be able to use a credit card for nearly all my purchases, but each trip dictates the selection of cards I carry. Here are the cards I typically carry on any given trip:

Destination Expenses

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

UP’s Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

APR

22.49%–29.49% Variable

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 22.49%–29.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is my go-to travel credit card. It has excellent travel insurance benefits, but I use it more for my destination expenses. I earn 3x points on everything travel-related, including most expenses I incur during my trip, such as:

• Bus, train, ferries, and taxi fares
• Tours, events, entrance fees
• Dining

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card also gives me complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges worldwide. This benefit is useful, especially outside the U.S., and I use it frequently. Plus, when I arrive home, I can save a list of all my travel expenses from my card statement.

I also always throw in The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express or The Platinum Card^® from American Express to access any Centurion lounge I might encounter during my travels.

Airlines and Hotels

Whichever airline I fly — or hotel brand I stay in — I carry that branded credit card.

Selecting the right affiliated cards ensures I earn miles or hotel loyalty points for any expenses I incur, whether those are in-flight or on-site hotel purchases.

6. Organize My Currency

Fortunately, many destinations are becoming cashless, making it less of a requirement to carry a large amount of local currency. Still, I’m responsible for all my expenses, so I need to know exchange rates and organize my foreign currency.

I can always look up the currency exchange rate on my phone, but having a small cheat card and a memorized conversion ratio in my head serve as reliable backups. This knowledge is also important for determining the amount of local currency I need to withdraw from an ATM.

I use Coinmill to print out a quick summary of currency conversion examples and then calculate a formula to memorize. For example, if 100 Icelandic krona are worth 70 cents, I memorize a factor of 0.7. When using cash, I mentally convert the currency using the factor I’ve memorized, accessing the rate on my phone or referencing my cheat sheet, whichever is the most convenient. It’s a system that hasn’t failed me.

7. Mingle With Others

Finally, traveling solo doesn’t mean I want to avoid people. I actually look forward to meeting new acquaintances during my travels.

For this reason, I normally book at least 1 small group day tour or city walking tour. I use Viator to find local tours, as I’ve had good experiences with the company and like earning triple rewards on my purchases with them.

I have even met other travelers in the hotel lounges who invited me on excursions. Additionally, when available I may eat my meal at the bar versus a sit-down table, increasing the chance for interaction.

Final Thoughts

Traveling alone can be just as fulfilling as traveling with others. In some cases, it can be more so.

However, with the freedom of traveling solo comes the responsibility of ensuring I’m prepared for any potential derailments. There’s also the responsibility of making sure I have a good time. My top 7 rules help me organize, create plans that minimize disruption, and set the foundation for having a fun and rewarding journey.