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Essential Solo Travel Guide: Must-Have Items to Bring

Exploring the world on your own brings a lot of excitement but also requires careful preparation. Join us as we go over essential items that are indispensable to make your journey perfect.

Administrator

28 February, 2024

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In addition to group trips with friends or family, the trend of exploring new destinations on your own has become increasingly popular recently. While traveling with a group requires careful planning to accommodate everyone, traveling solo is simply a matter of scheduling personal tasks, choosing a convenient time, and starting the journey.

Solo travel is not only a new and exciting experience but also opens up opportunities to meet and make friends with people from all over the world. However, those who are new to solo travel need to pay attention to careful preparation to ensure a smooth trip.

Recently, Nicole Jordan, who has spent over a decade traveling solo to 40 countries, has shared valuable advice for those who want to try this form of travel, including a list of essential items that cannot be overlooked.

Pack your belongings in a large backpack instead of a suitcase

Nicole shared that she prefers using a 55-liter backpack as her main luggage for most of her adventures. She explained that moving around places like bus stations, airports, or wandering the streets becomes much more convenient with a backpack compared to dragging a suitcase. Moreover, backpacks often comply with the carry-on luggage regulations of many airlines.

Essential items must fit into a foldable bag that fits in the backpack

On the plane, Nicole often takes out a bag containing essential items from her backpack and keeps it under her seat. When traveling by crowded trains or buses, she keeps important items close to her, while placing the backpack in separate storage space.

Choose clothing that is versatile and functional

Nicole emphasizes that she chooses clothing based on versatility rather than fashion. In her backpack, she always prepares a few T-shirts or tank tops, a woolen sweater or fleece jacket, along with a windbreaker and raincoat. When going to tropical areas, she will remove the heavy jacket from the packing list.

Compact and packable Microfiber towels

Nicole never forgets to bring a small Microfiber towel on her trips, whether to the beach or for a picnic. She likes them because they can be rolled up like a water bottle, saving space and being easy to carry. In particular, these towels are lightweight and dry extremely quickly compared to traditional bath towels.

Other items

In addition to the necessary items for a long solo trip, Nicole also brings medication and a personal first aid kit. A reusable water bottle is also an essential item. For entertainment, she often brings an e-book reader like Kindle, or a tripod to capture high-quality photos or videos when she explores spectacular scenery.

Frequently asked questions

For a smooth solo travel experience, careful preparation is key. Opt for a large backpack instead of a suitcase for easier maneuverability. Pack essential items in a foldable bag that fits inside your backpack, and always keep it close when traveling. Choose versatile and functional clothing over fashionable pieces. Don’t forget to bring a compact microfiber towel, medication, a first aid kit, and a reusable water bottle. For entertainment, an e-book reader or a tripod for capturing memories can be useful.

Nicole Jordan, an experienced solo traveler, recommends a 55-liter backpack as primary luggage. She suggests versatile clothing, including t-shirts, tank tops, a woolen sweater, a windbreaker, and a raincoat. She also emphasizes the convenience of compact microfiber towels. Other essentials include medication, a first aid kit, a reusable water bottle, and an e-book reader or tripod for entertainment.