…before I go anywhere, this is…
How I Prepare for Traveling Alone Over the Age of 40!
I’m Meredith, the woman behind Bag Lady Meredith San Diego, serial solo traveler, professional over-packer, and firm believer that you don’t have to be fearless (or 25) to see the world on your own.
After more than a decade of solo travel, I’ve learned a secret or two that makes planning your 1st solo trip a heck of a lot easier. So, consider this my tried-and-tested solo travel booking stack: five things I think about before heading out alone, especially when I’m traveling somewhere new.
What are they?
I start with these five simple (but powerful) questions before I book to help me sort the fun stuff from the “oh crap, I forgot about that” stuff, making them part of my go-to solo travel booking stack.
Traveling Solo Doesn’t Require a Perfect Plan.
But it does require a few decisions.
After ten years of solo traveling, I’ve learned that I don’t need 47 browser tabs and a color-coded spreadsheet to prepare for a trip (although I’m not judging if you do). Instead, I tend to think about my adventures in a particular order.
So I put together my solo trip booking stack, aka the top five things I consider before taking off on my next adventure, to share with all of you aspiring solo adventurers. With all 5 of them right here in one place, you can refer back to them whenever you need them.
You´re welcome!
1. Where Am I Sleeping? How to Choose Solo-Friendly Accommodation
Accommodation can make or break a solo trip.
Once, I booked one of those gorgeous outdoor bathrooms in Bali, only to find myself terrorized by intrusive frogs and geckos all night. Now, I’m thinking about more than just the prettiest room or cheapest nightly rate. I´m thinking about location (the more central, the better), transportation access, neighborhood feel, reviews, and whether I feel comfortable coming back there alone all matter.
The right place to stay should make you feel like you’ve got a home base, not another thing to worry about. When I get this part right, I can spend less energy second-guessing my surroundings and more energy enjoying where I traveled all that way to be.
I’ve rounded up the booking resources I actually recommend for finding stays that make solo travel easier, not more stressful → FIND SAFE SOLO STAYS.
2. What Do I Actually Want to Experience? Planning Solo Travel Experiences
One of the best things about traveling alone? You don’t have to compromise on the itinerary.
👉🏾 Want to spend three hours in a museum? Do it.
👉🏾 Want to skip the museum entirely and sit outside with a glass of wine? Also valid.
When I’m looking for tours and experiences, I focus on the things that genuinely interest me, not simply the things everyone says I “have” to do.
One trick of the trade is to do some independent research on your destination (or region if you´re keeping it broad) for that time of year. You´d be surprised to discover live events, annual festivals, even circus performances that might be worth navigating your plans around.
This is why I always say it´s never a bad idea to have more than a few ideas in mind of things you like to do and that might be available during your planned trip, because random weather issues, business closures, or strikes happen all the time.
Ready to start filling your itinerary with things you’ll actually enjoy? From local tours to unexpected events and experiences worth planning around, these are the resources I use to find things that make a solo trip feel like my trip → EXPLORE EXPERIENCES.
3. What Happens if Things Go Sideways? Solo Travel Safety Planning
Because sometimes they do. I´m not going to sugarcoat this for you. You WILL experience an upset during your solo journey.
👉🏾 Flights get delayed.
👉🏾 Bags disappear.
👉🏾 Plans change.
But it´s how you choose to handle yourself in that situation that counts most. This is where I think about travel insurance and the practical protections I’d want in place before leaving home. Besides that much, tiny things like traveling with a universal type of debit card (like Charles Schwab–personal favorite) can make a world of difference when your back is up against a logistical wall alone in a foreign country where you don´t speak the language or know a single soul.
Keeping as level a head as possible when these things inevitably creep into your travel space is highly recommended. But I will absolutely not judge you if you need to escape to the closest toilet stall and have a mini meltdown first. Just remember to trust yourself and the universe, and then begin making your plan B action plan.
This is one piece of trip planning I’d rather have sorted before I need it. If you want to know what kind of travel coverage makes sense for a solo trip, start here → LEARN ABOUT TRAVEL COVERAGE
4. Who Would I Call in an Emergency? Resources for Solo Travelers
Let’s talk about the thing no first-time solo traveler wants to think about, but absolutely should.
Emergencies happen. Sometimes it’s something seemingly minor that turns into something serious, like a nasty case of food poisoning after trying the local street food (happened to me). Other times, it can be more serious, like a motorbike wreck while solo traveling in Thailand (also happened to me). And when you’re alone in an unfamiliar country, even a small problem can feel much bigger if you don’t know who to call.
The good news? You don’t need to panic.
That’s exactly why I created my free emergency resource for solo travelers.
It includes a global list of emergency numbers for every country, organized alphabetically by continent, so you can quickly find the number you need without digging through pages of search results.
Think of it as one less thing to figure out when your brain is already working overtime. Save it to your phone before you go, share it with someone you trust, and travel knowing you have a backup plan in your pocket.
Before I leave, I also make sure I know where to find hospitals or local clinics for my destination by marking them on my Google Maps, and that someone I trust has access to the important details of my trip. That way, if something goes wrong, I’m not trying to Google my way through a crisis while sick, injured, or scared.
Save my free emergency resource to your phone before you go. Hopefully, you’ll never need it. But if you do, you’ll be glad you have it → GET YOUR FREE EMERGENCY RESOURCE.
5. Done the Research? Let’s Make Sure Your Trip Actually Happens
If you’ve already done the due diligence and read the blogs, compared the hotels, mapped out the transportation, and saved approximately 47 things to your phone, yet you’re still wondering: Did I actually plan this right?
First of all, it´s a completely normal feeling, especially when it’s your first time traveling solo. There’s a big difference between having a folder full of research and having a trip that makes sense for you: your travel style, your comfort level, and at your pace.
Sometimes you don’t need another article telling you what to do. You need an experienced traveler to look at your plans, spot the gaps, answer the questions Google can’t, and give you an honest second opinion.
That’s where my Solo Travel Second Opinion comes in.
I’ll help you turn all that research into a realistic, well-thought-out solo trip!
The Solo Travel Second Opinion
45 minutes • $89
This one-on-one session includes:
- destination selection
- route strategy
- accommodation/neighborhood considerations
- transportation
- solo-specific safety considerations
- activity strategy
- “what I’d do if this were my trip”
- personalized resources afterward
- a post-call PDF of Meredith´s Takeaways
For someone who has already chosen a destination, you provide me with your:
- destination
- dates
- rough budget
- itinerary
- biggest fears/questions
And I´ll give you:
- red flags
- logistical problems
- “you’re overthinking this” moments
- safety considerations
- what you’d change
- what they should research before booking
I’ll bring ten years of solo traveling experience, those hard-earned lessons you can avoid before making them, and an honest opinion about your decision. Basically, the inspiration you need to stop thinking about it and take the trip already!
And if you’ve done all the research but still have that little voice asking, “Am I missing something?” That’s exactly what my service is for. Bring me what you’ve got, and I’ll help you spot the gaps, think through the logistics, and decide what actually needs your attention before you book → GET MY SECOND OPINION.
My Booking Stack Is Your Confidence Stack
These five steps in my solo travel booking stack aren’t about overthinking your trip. They’re about making sure the trip you´re booking actually works for you.
Consider your chosen destination, the logistics, where you’ll stay, how you’ll get around, and what you need to feel prepared. Then get excited and book it!
Because traveling solo over 40 isn’t about having every detail figured out or waiting until you feel completely fearless. It’s about knowing yourself well enough to make choices that let you travel with confidence.
So use what you´ve discovered here as your own booking stack. Ask yourself the right questions. Do the research. Trust your instincts. If that doesn´t do it, book your one-on-one with me and let´s work through the kinks. Then all that´s left is for you to close the laptop, book the trip, and start looking forward to your 1st solo trip.
Ready to Book Your Solo Trip?
You’ve researched the destination. You’ve found somewhere to stay. You’ve figured out what you want to do. You’ve got a backup plan.
Now stop researching.
Book the trip. You’re not too old. You’re not too late. The world is yours to explore! No more waiting!
