I’m Spencer, and I recently went on my firstsolo traveltrip ever.

1.First of all, always put one of your shoes in the hotel safe with your passport.

This genuinely saved me from getting lost soooo many times.

A hotel safe with a passport and a sneaker inside

5.Another savior app with immediate results isGoogle Translate.

I used it every single day inFrance, and it was especially helpful with restaurant menus and directions.

6.If you’re a first-time solo traveler, go somewhere you’re semi-familiar with already.

A screenshot of my photo albums on my phone, with one labeled as "Paris and London," featuring the map of London's underground system

For me, that meant starting with a place where English is commonly spoken.

Again, I’m anxious about everything, so I plan whatever I can.

The first thing I did was set up alerts from different discount sites for flights (likeHopper).

A screenshot from hotels.com of the LGBTQ filter

But I found that the most underrated search engine is actually TikTok.

AI sites likeChatGPTandForgeMyTripcan create full itineraries based on your preferences, budgets, dates, and so on.

11.Always have at least one book downloaded onto your phone before you leave for your trip.

A map of Paris from where I was standing

Think of this like a jacket or a pair of shoes or even a cheap pair of earrings.

), but when I was on vacation by myself, I wanted to make the most of it.

I promise that this will change how you interact with and experience everything.

A close-up of the discounts offered on the hotels.com app

17.And finally: Be.

A screenshot of what I've been reading so far

me in a brown Rhone jacket in front of Big Ben

me sitting at a restaurant in front of three desserts

A painting of a woman touching another one's body