8 Solo Travel Essentials You Need In Your Carry-On
This one goes out to all our free agents ready to take on the world with nothing, and no one, holding you back (cue Shawn Mendes). Solo travel is all the rage on social media right now, but TikToks and Instagram Reels rarely capture all the prep work that goes into planning a solo trip. If you’re going to go it alone, here are the 8 solo travel essentials you simply can’t leave without:
1. An International Phone Plan
If you do one thing before arriving in a foreign city, it should be to consider your international phone plan. While some trips might be ideal for unplugging, your first (or second, or third) solo travel experience abroad isn’t going to be one of them. This is #1 on our list of solo travel essentials because we use our phones to navigate the unfamiliar places we travel to. On my first solo trip, I used Maps to figure out public transportation in all the major European cities I explored.
Truthfully, without a cellular data plan I’m not sure how I would have known where to go from the airport. When it comes to navigating new places, you can’t rely solely on wifi signals. You’ll need service while moving from one place to the next.
Call Your Provider
On my first solo trip, I used AT&T’s International Day Pass for $10 a day, to use data, talk, and text just as I would at home in the U.S. This might sound like a lot at first, but the plan maxes out at 10 daily fees per line, per bill. In other words, you won’t pay more than $100 a month to have the exact same coverage you normally would. Thank God. If you have AT&T, check out www.att.com/IDPTravelTips for details.
If you use any other cell service provider, give them a call BEFORE you leave the country to find out what they offer in terms of international plans. Make sure you know exactly what type of coverage you have before you cross any borders. If you don’t, you risk major charges for international phone usage. You can purchase international sim cards and insert them into your phone upon arrival. However, keep in mind that these sim cards may require activation by calling your service provider.
Safety TIps
Most importantly, you don’t want to feel like you can’t use your phone when you’re traveling solo. Even if you’re not worried about navigation (which you should be, if you’re in an unfamiliar place), you need to be able to keep in contact with your loved ones. It’s important that you have a designated person to update on where you are. Plus, you should always be able to use your phone in case of emergency.
It’s always a good idea to look up the emergency numbers of the country you’re in and have these on hand. We keep these numbers the notes app on our phone, just in case. While we’re being extra cautious, go ahead and make copies of your passport before you leave and keep them in both of your bags. This way, you’ll be able to more easily prove your identity and apply for an emergency replacement more quickly.
Confidence is Key
Lastly, it’s a great idea to separate your cards and cash into two bags. This way, even if you had one bag stolen, you would still have some of the essentials in the other. Of course these are worst case scenarios, but it’s better to consider them before traveling and be prepared, so that you’ll feel confident while you travel. Confidence is key when it comes to traveling solo.
When traveling solo, your phone can be a lifeline of sorts. What plan you choose will be dependent on factors like how long you plan to stay. If you’re going for months at a time, it may make more sense to purchase a local sim card.
Whatsapp is a great app to use to communicate with individuals who have international phone numbers. You can also use this app to communicate with family members if you don’t have cellular data, when you’re on wifi. Download Whatsapp before you take off and make sure you have your most important contacts input before you go. With Whatsapp, you can reach your loved ones wherever you are.
Artwork on the streets of Split, Croatia
Split, Croatia
2. A Portable Charger
If your phone is #1 on the list of solo travel essentials, then a portable charger is a close second for obvious reasons. Nothing dies faster than a phone battery when you’re using navigation apps, like Maps, regularly. Make sure you charge and pack a portable charger. That way, when your phone battery dips into the red while you’re out exploring, you’re prepared.
It’s no secret that not all countries use the same type of plug. Portable chargers are extra handy in foreign countries if you’re short on travel adapters/plug converters, which allow you to plug all your devices into wall sockets that don’t take the same plug. Most portable chargers can be charged with a USB. USBs can be found in certain hotels and cafes, depending on where you’re traveling to.
Start by researching what type of plug the country you’re traveling to uses. Then, purchase a converter (or multiple if you need to charge many devices) in advance. Your portable charger will allow you to charge devices without converters. However, after a certain amount of time the portable charger itself will need to be charged… so the converter should really be considered one of our solo travel essentials too.
Solo trip to Split, Croatia
Solo trip to Split, Croatia
3. A Crossbody Bag
Nothing says fashion like a fanny pack.
Enough about technology, let’s talk fashion. Nothing says fashion like a fanny pack. When traveling alone, it can be tiring to feel like you need to keep constant watch of your belongings, but it’s necessary. With a crossbody bag or fanny pack, you can carry your most important possessions (like your cards, cash, and cellphone) right on you, at all times.
During my first solo trip, I never left my hotel room without my LuluLemon crossbody fanny pack strapped to me. It was my best friend, my companion, my other half. Where I went, it went too (yes, even the bathroom). I wore this bag across my body through airports, and it helped me keep track of my most important belongings. Just make sure you have enough room to stuff this bag into your backpack when you travel, in case an airline decides to be stingy about your bag allowance.
A crossbody bag is a small price to pay to ensure that you don’t lose your most important possessions as you travel. This type of bag makes our list of solo travel essentials because it also helps to prevent theft. When you wear your possessions on the front of your body it’s more difficult for someone to steal from you.
4. Spreadsheet Itinerary
When you travel solo, it’s important that you’re extra organized. As a solo female traveler, it’s a good idea to share a complete list of your travel plans with your loved ones. This way, someone can check in with you throughout your trip. Be specific in sharing the important details of your itinerary. Below, I have listed every detail that I included on my personal shared itinerary.
For ease, compile all of this information into a Google Sheet or Excel Doc. While it may seem like a hassle to compile all of this info, it will actually help you to be more aware of where you’re traveling yourself. You can screenshot this itinerary so that you always have access to important names and addresses of places, like your hotels.
Gultsmeden Hotels
What to include on your Spreadsheet:
- Destination
- Arrival flight time
- Departure flight time
- Airline
- Activities (like set tours or excursions)
- Helpful Blogs (I saved lots of posts to a spreadsheet prior to traveling with ideas about everything from what to see, to where to eat)
A Note on Helpful Blogs:
Travel blogs can be some of the BEST resources for travelers, helping you plan in advance on what spots and sites are worth your time. We don’t say this just because we have a travel blog! We’ve traveled abroad numerous times, relying solely on travel blogs as our guides. In fact, we prefer learning from fellow travelers vs. the major travel sites like Tripadvisor and Booking.com. You can have a more authentic experience by following personal travel blogs that are suited to your tastes and interests.
At Baggage, our goal is to help you travel to fall more in love with the world, while avoiding the toxic travel trends that harm the environment in the process. If you’re looking to fall in love with new places, you’re in the right spot. Explore our other posts here.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark
5. Light Packing
Who needs a boy to carry their heavy bags? Around here, we pack light and we’re perfectly capable of carrying our own baggage. Packing light is an essential component of solo travel, especially if you’re moving around a lot.
You don’t want to be lugging a 50 lb suitcase up and down steep sets of stairs. When I traveled Europe solo, I was on planes and trains every few days, having to lug my baggage along beside me. I opted for a backpack and a small carry-on that I was able to bring along on each plane ride with me (even the small, cheap European airlines like EasyJet!).
If you’re a notorious over-packer, packing cubes are perfect for you. We use these everywhere we travel, to separate the different types of clothes we pack and organize the chaos that would otherwise be the inside of our suitcases.
Our two biggest tips for the chronic overpacker: plan in advance and take pictures of your outfits prior to leaving so that you pack only what you need. Then, organize everything into packing cubes by type of clothes (pants in one, shirts in another).
Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen, DK
Home of the Danish Royal Family
6. Tripod
Just because you travel solo doesn’t mean you should have to forgo getting those amazing shots in your dream destinations. That’s where the trusty Tripod comes in handy. You can find one that will do the trick for as low as $25 on Amazon – which I recommend if you’re just starting out.
Before leaving for Europe, I bought one that had a bluetooth remote and set it up just about everywhere I went. Simply tighten your phone into the holder and raise the tripod up to the ideal height. Next, position yourself in front of the camera, holding the tiny remote in your hand, and click the button each time you want to take a photo. Some people think it’s funny to take photos of yourself this way, but it’s much better than relying on strangers to get a good photo of you. Not to mention that you have to hand over your phone in order to do so!
Make sure you purchase a tripod that you can easily fit in your backpack. Ultimately, the smaller the better because you’ll be carrying this around as you go about your day. I chose to bring it on the days where I knew I would want photos, and left it behind on the others.
Breakfast at Wulff & Konstali in Copenhagen
Pastries at Wulff & Konstali Food Shop
7. Snacks and more Snacks
Snacks may not seem like solo travel essentials, until you’re stuck in a foreign airport that has no restaurants, with a delayed flight. If you travel enough, flight delays will happen to you. No one is immune. Even worse, many small airports fall short on offering options for those with food allergies. Your best bet is to leave extra room in your backpack and pack snacks when you know you have a long travel day ahead.
You can do this even when you’re in the middle of traveling from country to country. Many times in Europe, I would run into local grocery stores and pick out fresh fruit and nuts to keep in my bag. This way, I didn’t have to find a restaurant or cafe every single time I found myself hungry. See below for a few healthy snack ideas to get you started…
- Nuts
- Healthy Protein Bars
- Carrots/Celery
- Fruits
8. Reusable Water Bottle
You’ve likely heard this one before, but for good reason: bring a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you travel. Staying hydrated is so important, especially if you’re constantly on the move. It’s easy to get sick while traveling as your diet and sleeping patterns fluctuate. It’s also easy to forget to drink water, so bringing a water bottle along will be the perfect reminder.
Better yet, bringing a reusable water bottle also prevents you from needing to purchase new plastic ones everywhere you go, and contributing to waste. The little decisions we make every day DO add up. Just think about how many plastic water bottles you’d buy on a trip if you don’t bring a reusable one along. Lastly, certain countries don’t have good drinking water, so make sure you know whether the local water is safe or not before filling up from the tap.
@baggagegirls Unforgettable few weeks in Europe and we’re going to share alllllll the things (here & on our blog) 💌 #baggagegirls #traveltiktok #europeinthefall #ecohotels #travelbucketlist #travel
♬ final boarding call ovrxpsd - JenG
Solo Travel Essentials
If you’re getting ready to travel solo, make sure to pack these 8 solo travel essentials into your carry-on. Solo travel can be an amazing experience, but it requires a great deal of preparation. In truth, I found that traveling alone forced me to be constantly aware of myself and my surroundings. As a result, it was difficult to relax at times as I was constantly having to navigate foreign transportation systems and international bookings, entirely on my own. Ultimately, I was so grateful that I had these solo travel essentials with me to make all of this just a bit easier.
How I Used These Items
My international phone plan and spreadsheet itinerary helped me feel connected to those I was physically far from. I carried that cross body bag everywhere I went, like it was an extension of my hand. My portable charger allowed me to keep my phone battery charged for those days that I relied heavily on Maps to navigate new places.
In addition, I got SO many great pictures with my tripod. Ultimately, I had more than enough clothes and was proud of myself that I chose to pack light. In the end, I learned from my own mistakes of not bringing a reusable water bottle or enough snacks, and I bought what I needed abroad.
Sometimes, you just don’t know what you need until you get somewhere. If you do need to pick up additional items while traveling, try to support local businesses and buy quality products when possible. For the most part, planning in advance and packing only the essentials, allows you to enjoy your trip that much more.
Free Agents
Being a free agent is one of the most, well, freeing, times of your life. While that may be cliche, it’s true that you have a unique opportunity right now to spend time discovering your likes and dislikes, learning as much about yourself as you do about the new places you travel. Whether solo travel is for you or not, travel offers all people the unique opportunity to get to know themselves better in the process of exploring the world.
Final Note About Solo Travel
Please don’t feel like you have to travel solo to grow as a person – this couldn’t be further from the truth. As sisters, we prefer to travel together, and oftentimes with additional friends and family too. There are equally as many benefits to traveling with a group as there are to going it alone.
If you are going to go it alone, these solo travel essentials will help you ensure you’re safe and prepared to embrace this new experience and fall more in love with the world.
All our love,
Baggage girls
