In my most recent reader survey a lot of you said that you need more help with planning your trips out and getting from point A to B. I can appreciate that some places are way easier to navigate than others, and since I’ve seen all kinds of arrivals halls, from Kathmandu to London and Maputo to Buenos Aires, I’ve got you covered.
Here’s the best way to be so prepared for a trip (with minimal effort) that nobody can scam you and you can feel confident and excited for your trip, whether it be long or short, local or on the other side of the world. This is my methodology for traveling headache free:
Before you go

1) Pick a place to go
I pick my destinations based on a lot of different factors and no two trips are the same. Maybe I heard that a place is great via word of mouth as was the case with Mozambique, saw incredible photos of it on Instagram as was the case with Iceland, or went there because I knew it was high-value, as was the case with Southeast Asia.
Generally I take three factors into account when making my decision:
Costs: Can I actually afford that place? First I do a quick search of hotel prices and activities in the area so that I know what I’m in for. If it’s a long trip and I want to be able to enjoy it comfortably, I check in with my finances before booking. High season will impact costs, too, so I aim for shoulder seasons because the crowds are thinner but the weather is generally still nice. Check into high season with Lonely Planet.
Weather: I check average rainfall, temperature, during my target month to make sure that it works for what I want at the moment. Sometimes I want snow and other times I want sunshine!
Visas: Lots of places have a visa-on-arrival option for me as a US citizen (it’s usually similar rules for Canadians, EU residents, Aussies, and Kiwis) but some are more complicated, like Mozambique, Russia, Brazil, Vietnam, and China to name a few. I find Wikipedia is a good resource for checking visa rules.
This is also a good time to think about any immunizations you might be missing. Want to visit Zanzibar? Make sure you have a yellow fever vaccination first!
Still struggling to pick a place? Here are my favorites for solo travelers in Asia and a few more favorites worldwide and the reasons behind my choices. If you need some inspiration check my destinations page for all of the places I’ve covered.
2) Book a flight like a boss
The jury is out on the best time to book a flight. Some say it’s two months ahead of time for an international departure but to be honest, I’ve booked flights the week or even the day before and didn’t pay that much for it. The earlier you know your dates, though, generally the better.
I suggest signing up for newsletters for the airline that makes the most sense for your flight. For example, I’ve scored many cheap flights with Air Asia in Southeast Asia and Norwegian for Europe and the US by jumping on the deals they offer through their newsletters. I’ve also scored super cheap flights by following travel hacking websites.
It also pays to be flexible. If you have a week or so of wiggle room on either end or are flexible with the destination you’ll have a much easier time finding deals. Want to go to Europe, for example? Use programs like Kayak.com/explore and you might find awesome deals.
It also helps to book in the local currency and language. Use the Chrome browser’s translate function to book the flight in these cases. I’ve saved a lot of money by buying flights in German for Europe and Spanish for South America.
3) Research what I want to do and book some things in advance
What’s your motivation for visiting a certain place? Do you want to ski, SCUBA dive, hike, make it a photography trip, or just chill? In some cases, you’ll want to book things ahead of time.
If it’s a popular ski resort, get your hotel booked quickly. I like Expedia and booking.com for this.
If it’s a diving hotspot and they restrict diving permits like in Sipadan, book as far ahead of time as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you want to hike, start practicing now! Go on walks and little side hikes whenever you can to get in shape.
I really like to leave as much up to serendipity as possible in my itinerary, so in places like Southeast Asia and Africa, I don’t worry too much about booking ahead unless it’s a holiday or a safari. In Europe and North America, though, it can get costly to wing it, so plan ahead in those places!
4) Get insurance
I always get insurance for my trips because it’s not that expensive and if I have a major health issue, I don’t want to get stuck with the bill or worse, end up in a healthcare system that I don’t feel comfortable with. Things can turn south quickly if something major happens and you can’t pay the bill.
The one I use, World Nomads, will fly me to a better hospital if the country I’m in doesn’t have adequate medical facilities. That would have come in very handy if I’d had a problem in Mozambique, Cambodia, Laos, Malawi, and a really long list of other countries I like to frequent. The explorer option also covers diving and hiking, two activities I do all the time. Most domestic insurance won’t cover you abroad so at least look into travel insurance before you go. Best case scenario you don’t need it but worst case you’re covered if you do.
5) Consider your packing list
Do you need to buy anything prior to your trip? Check out the following packing lists depending on your destination:
6) Get offline maps
Next I want to make sure I’m able to get around the place I’ve chosen with ease. The best way to navigate around where you’re going is to have an unlocked smart phone so that you can get a SIM at the airport, or an international plan with T-Mobile that provides coverage abroad. Don’t roam with other carriers or you’ll pay dearly for it.
In the case that neither of those options is available to you, download maps.me, which is an offline map that can help you navigate. Plot out the route to your hotel before you depart just in case your destination airport doesn’t have Wi-Fi. When you book, most hotels will also have directions on how to best reach them so read up on that first. If that’s not available to you, check out WikiTravel for suggestions on how to get to and around your destination. Cross reference with Google Maps while you’re still online to make sure that your offline map is accurate.
7) Read up on airport scams
Unfortunately, airports are prime locations for scammers. People there know that you’re tired, just walked off a flight, and might not know where you’re going. Avoid this by being prepared. Read up on the scams before you go on WikiTravel and never take an unmarked taxi.
8) Know the exchange rate
If you land with no idea what the local exchange rate is, you’ll be easier to scam. I use a free app called currency converter so that I’m in the know before I land.
When you land
9) Take your time, have a cup of coffee
Don’t feel the need to rush out the door immediately. If you need to stop and have a cup of coffee to feel human again after a long flight, do it! The arrivals gate can be overwhelming and there’s no need to rush into making a mistake or a bad decision.
10) Get cash
I’ve never met an airport arrivals that didn’t have an ATM. I never change money at airport counters because they’re pretty much guaranteed to give you a bad rate, but I do always stop by the bank at the airport to withdraw local currency. It offers me the best exchange rate and with Charles Schwab, all of my ATM fees are refunded. I already know how much I want to get out because of step #7. I usually go for the equivalent of $100-$150 to tide me over until the next ATM.
11) Get a local SIM
Most arrivals gates also have local SIM cards. It can vary by country, but most of the time it’s the same price or only slightly more expensive to get a SIM at the airport. I usually pay the difference, if it’s small, because wandering around in a foreign and confusing place looking for a SIM once I get to my accommodation isn’t worth it to me. If you have an unlocked phone, go for a local card. That way, you can order an Uber taxi if need be.
12) Be careful who you ask for advice
It’s always better to have a route in mind before you even land for getting to your accommodation, but if you missed that step, just be careful who you ask for advice. Many taxi and limo stands are marked as information desks but in reality they’re trying to sell a service.
I once asked a woman at an info desk in Bangkok what the best way to get to the other airport was and she replied that a $30 taxi was best. Then I asked if there was a bus and she, looking disappointed, pointed me to the free bus transfer counter. I’m glad I asked, because otherwise I would have paid $30 for nothing!
13) DO NOT take an unmarked taxi
Lots of airports have taxi stands before you exit the doors. They will usually give you the best rate and you’ll be able to get into a legitimate taxi. I also use Uber whenever possible, if I have a local SIM, because I find it’s also cheap and safe. Many airports also have trains and shuttle busses, so look into what works best for you before you choose any particular method.
When you’re there
14) Learn some local pleasantries
If you haven’t looked into it already, ask the people working at your accommodation how to politely say “hello” and “thank you”. It really goes such a long way to make people feel respected and the effort is often rewarded with praise or even some local suggestions for food and fun.
15) Ask where not to go
If there are any shady parts of town that you should avoid, ask the people working at your accommodation to point those out to you on a map. They should have one to show you.
16) Ask where to eat
I always ask the people working at the hotel I’m at to suggest some ‘non tourist’ places to eat. I ask them where they like to go when they’re hungry and have found some great food as a result.
Sometimes they still suggest a touristy place to me, but in that case, I follow a few standard rules:
- If it’s on the beach, walk at least one, if not more, streets inland from the water. Same goes for the typical tourist streets
- Pick a place crowded with locals, not tourists
- The smaller and more unassuming but crowded with locals the better
- Bonus if the menu is not also in English. Try to learn the names of local dishes from the hotel staff, Google, or blogs before you explore.
Otherwise, check Yelp. This won’t work everywhere but is a good bet in most Western countries.
17) If you don’t have anything planned
If you decided to wing it and don’t have any plans, try hanging in the common room if you’re at a guesthouse, especially around dinnertime. You might meet others in the same boat who you can join for dinner or the next day’s activities.
In lieu of that, I usually search Google for the destination name plus ‘travel blog’ or just go for Trip Advisor’s top activities in the area. WikiTravel is also helpful for finding things to do. Eventually you’ll get in the flow but these are good ways to jump-start the fun.
18) Fight the jet-lag
It’s hard to fight jet lag, I know. I once combatted it for a week, only awake when it was dark and unable to fight through the day to stay awake. It resulted in anxiety and depression and now I do everything I can to avoid a repeat. Here are my best suggestions:
- Even if you’re tired, distract yourself until it gets late enough to be a reasonable sleeping hour. Stay outside, go to a restaurant, or find someone to hang out with. Don’t give in!
- Don’t have a phone easily accessible while you sleep. It’s too easy to wake up in the middle of the night and start checking messages and emails, and by then, sleep will be hard to come by.
- Eat meals at appropriate times. This actually has one of the largest effects on your ability to regulate what time it is to your body.
- If you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, have a glass of wine and read a dense book. It tends to do the trick for me!
19) Make friends and have fun!
The rest of the trip is just about enjoying it, so laugh it up and drink it down as they say. Take some photos if you feel like it, chill out if you don’t.
This is my method for planning trips easily and without too much hassle and headache. It usually only takes me a few hours of research and before I know it I’m already good to go. Use the resources here to help you out with that planning and if you have any tips to add, comment away!
Brianna says
I like your tip about leaving your itinerary up to serendipity. I’m a planner at heart, so it freaks me out a bit to just wing it. But I’m giving it a shot in my upcoming trip to Central America. I have a basic outline of where I want to go, but that’s about it!
Kristin says
That seems like a good place to go with the flow. Have a blast!
Ijana says
I usually have the tendency to underplan, so these tips are good to keep in mind. I love destinations that are easy to navigate and not logistically difficult so that I can do my underplanning thing, but that leaves out a lot of the world so sometimes you just gotta plan a little!
Kristin says
I’m totally the same! I love how I don’t have to plan anything until the day before or even the day of in Southeast Asia but Europe has taught me that planning ahead is important too.
Kassie says
This is awesome! There are some points in here I definitely need to keep in mind like taking a moment to stop and feel human again after a long flight. I had a particularly awful arrival at the airport in Bali where this advice would have saved me some tears (seriously the most stressful experience trying to get a taxi out of there!!). But really a cup of coffee to clear my mind and 15 minutes to get my bearing would have helped a lot. Need to make sure I do this on my next flight!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kristin says
I just went through that airport last week and it was one of the worst arrivals halls ever. I decided to take an Uber out of there and it was reallllly hard to find the guy – touts were going crazy on me while I was just staring at my phone, shaking my head ‘no’
They’re terrible scammers, too. A friend who didn’t realize told me he paid 600,000 Rupiah to get to the same hostel I was staying at and guess what I paid? 73,000. I didn’t tell him.
Yi says
I’m so happy to learn about maps.me! I’ve always been planning my travels on Google Docs and Google Maps. The former can easily be saved for offline use and gets very convenient when I need my itinerary details or addresses. I love Maps because I can plan out my itinerary by grouping attractions or places together, but it can’t be accessed without data so I end up saving screenshots of them when I have internet access. Thanks for sharing!
Kristin says
It’s not always correct but it’s really great to have it to cross reference and if you have the coordinates it’s even better.
Nic says
It’s nice to hear someone experienced saying that planning ahead un Europe is a good idea. I read so much saying to wing it, but because I’m not trying to stay at the rock bottom cheapest hostel, I’ve already seen places sell out when researching! I’m going August to October just like the rest of the world. Great tips thanks.
Kristin says
Yeah I’d definitely plan ahead in that case in regards to transport and probably accommodation too!
Stephanie Be says
Love this guide, it’s so helpful! These are definitely good tips to take with you on your travels 🙂
Christel says
Hi Kristin,
As a 46 year old female I start travelling solo for (only) 2 weeks in Indonesia (Bali/East Java) this december. It’s like a wish come true. My family (husband/kids) are a little concerned about me. I never was till I read your blogs (just kidding). The only thing I’m concerned about is how to meet other solo traveling females. Am I too old? Are there other women my traveling solo.
What are your experiences?
Kristin says
Hi Christel, I think it’s just about putting yourself out there. There was a 70-year-old woman at my guesthouse in Gili Air and she hung out with my group and I sometimes. We totally welcomed her. She was cool! I also think it’s great to join activities like snorkeling or diving trips. They’re great places to meet others.
Anonymous says
Thanks for all the information and all the encouragement. On my first trip to SE Asia in 2014 I had my son as my personal bodyguard! Now am off there, to places I didn’t get to last time, but solo this time. 60% excited 40% terrified! Friends said, “Walk through arrivals with your head held high. Head for the ladies loo… THEN you can sit and cry”. Your tip of heading for a coffee sounds much better 🙂 PS I’ll be 66 when I fly off. Boomers rule!
Kristin says
No need to cry! You will have a great time and you can do this.
Glen Main says
I completely agree on numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, and 19. The others are quite new to me, however. And since you look like a well traveled woman, I’ll trust what you say here. Thank you so much for sharing!
Andri Sukma Varoga says
Very very very great & helpful article, thank you Kristin! 🙂
Kristin says
Glad you found it helpful!
Tripidee says
I especially like the tip on asking where NOT to go. It makes complete sense and is so important.
Ross says
Hello Kristin.
Well done on all your success from your travel blog, I am sure you have inspired an entire movement to start traveling. You certainly inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and see the world.
My girlfriend and I are currently teaching English in Vietnam to save money to travel. We have been here for the past 7 months. We are currently using worldnomads travel insurance, which will expire at the end of this month. I know you highly recommend them and use them yourself. After lots of research they really do seem like the best. I have come across a few promo codes offering various discounts, as much as 30%. We need to extend our insurance for another year and I just wanted to know if you have used these promo discounts before and if they are legitimate. Or if you have any recommendations for other insurance packages. Our work visa’s expire next October, so we plan to be here for at least another 10 months, but can’t seem to find a simple health plan.
Any help (advice) would be greatly appreciated.
Happy traveling 🙂
Kind Regards,
Ross du Toit.
Kristin says
Hi Ross, I’ve never found or used any promo codes for WN, but if it works then cool!
Anonymous says
Ok thank you.
Chaya Deb says
First of all, I want to thank you that you wrote such a good post for us. Like you, I have a lot of interest to travel around the world. Like every travel lovers, there is a desire in my heart to see all the places in the world and therefore I have been travilng around some places of the world. Last month I went to the US and I have seen a lot of places and now I am thinking that I would go to see the new Seven Wonders.
Mark says
Any suggestions for travel insurance for 55 yr old with an underlying condition – crohn’s or cirrhosis for eg but otherwise very healthy
Kristin says
I have honestly not looked into it, but most are dicks and deny coverage for chronic illnesses. If you do find a good option please let us know!