3 Easy Ways to Ease Anxiety About Traveling Alone in a New Place

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You can easily reduce feelings of anxiety about traveling alone when you follow some simple steps.

Because let’s face it: travel can be stressful even under the best of circumstances!

The most important things are to familiarize yourself with your destination and prepare for the unknown. It also helps when you go to the most solo traveler-friendly destinations.

Find out all this and more about planning a more relaxing experience in the article, below.

minimize anxiety about traveling alone
You can minimize anxiety about traveling alone with these tips

CONTENTS – In this article, you will find useful tips for managing feelings of anxiety about traveling alone, including;

Take The Stress Out Of Being In A New Place By Doing These Simple Things

You should always try to take the stress out of being in a new place when you can.

It will lead to a better travel experience.

Before you even arrive at your destination, you may be anxious about flying. To get off to a good start, consult a real-time global turbulence forecast and local weather updates. That can help diffuse your anxiety at the start of your trip.

But once you land, it can be difficult to navigate a place that is completely new to you without feeling stressed.

It can make you feel worried or anxious if you don’t know what you are doing or what to expect from the new destination.

This can be even more anxiety-producing when you travel solo. You’ll definitely want to practice your positive affirmations for anxiety.

In addition, you can take 3 simple steps to help minimize your travel stress.

In this article, you’ll discover some easy things you can do to achieve this goal.

Keep reading if you would like to find out more.

1. Work Out What You Want To See Beforehand

The first thing that you’re going to need to do is work out what you want to see in the new destination before you get there.

The easiest way is to do some research online to find out what there is to see and do when you get there.

But you can also enlist the help of a travel agent or trip-planning service.

It’s also a good idea to ask friends and family who may have already visited. They can offer some great tips!

When you make a list of the things you’d like to see, find out whether you should book tickets in advance. This is true of the most popular tourist destinations. After all, you don’t want to get all the way to Paris to find tickets to The L’Ouvre are sold out!

So, do the research upfront, and if you want to go on specific tours or visit certain attractions, book ahead.

Make sure that you get this sorted as soon as possible. Then, you won’t have to panic about missing a bucket list attraction later down the line.

You’ll also want to make sure you find the right place to stay. For instance, look up the best Iceland hotel options well in advance to ensure you’ll have a comfortable and convenient stay.

2. Look At The Local Cuisine And What’s Around

When you’re somewhere new, it’s always worth trying something new. That’s part of the fun of travel!

You might decide that you want to try some of the local delicacies and traditional foods of the place you’re visiting.

Creating a culinary bucket list is a great way to make sure you try the regional specialties. It will also help you identify what you are eating, rather than having to make a quick decision at a restaurant.

Or, you might decide that you just want to stick with what you know. That means that you need to see what kind of food places are around before you get there.

This is especially true if you are a fussy eater or have dietary restrictions. Doing some legwork online will help you narrow down the best options.

For example, you might want to know where the best Mexican food is in that location. Scope out where you’ll be and what’s available so you can easily find the best option for you. (And don’t forget to read the reviews!)

Sure, you can do this once you arrive. But if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll save the data on your phone plan if you do it before you go.

3. Do Your Research Into Public Transport In The Area

Last but not least, you may want to look into the public transport in the area.

Some travelers will prefer to rent a vehicle and self-drive, but not everyone does.

You’ll still need to be able to get around though.

So, look at all of the transport options to get an idea of:

  • How much they cost
  • What payment they accept
  • How often they run
  • Their routes

It’s good to have a backup plan, too.

For instance, taxis in Italy are known to go on strike. That’s when it makes sense to know the bus routes at your disposal.

Best Cities in the World for First-Time Solo Travelers

safe and friendly city with canal
Choose from the best travel destinations for solo travel.

If this is your first time traveling solo, you may also be worried about travel safety. Of course, whenever you travel, you need to be vigilant about your surroundings and be a smart traveler.

But here are 20 solo-friendly cities you might start with:

  1. Amsterdam, Netherlands
  2. Athens, Greece
  3. Boston, Massachusetts
  4. Brussels, Belgium
  5. Dublin, Ireland
  6. Edinburgh, Scotland
  7. London, England
  8. Melbourne, Australia
  9. Paris, France
  10. Portland, Oregon
  11. Prague, Czech Republic
  12. Reykjavik, Iceland
  13. San Francisco, California
  14. Sedona, Arizona
  15. Seville, Spain
  16. Singapore
  17. Stockholm, Sweden
  18. Toronto, Canada
  19. Vancouver, Canada
  20. Vienna, Austria

If you are confident in your driving skills and would love to explore beyond Reykjavik, consider renting a campervan for your solo trip to Iceland. There are many budget camper rentals available for hire locally.

Getting a camper takes care of both your transportation and accommodation concerns. It’s common to meet fellow solo travelers, including female solo travelers, getting around Iceland in their campervans.

So, give yourself time to look around and shop for the best value.

Final Thoughts on Anxiety About Traveling Alone

We hope that you have found this article helpful. Now, you know some easy things you can do to take the stress out of being in a new place as a solo traveler.

When you take the time to plan and work things out beforehand, it may help minimize your feelings of anxiety. A well-planned trip is usually the best experience.

We wish you the very best of luck!

Related: How To Ensure Solo Travel Safety: Top 7 Tips For A Secure Journey


Jackie Gately at the beach


About Jackie Gately, editor-IN-CHIEF

I'm Jackie Gately, your travel confidante and the creative force behind Enjoy Travel Life, awarded the "Best Casual-Luxury Lifestyle Blog (USA)" in Travel and Tourism by LUXlife Magazine for four consecutive years.

With 25 years of published expertise, I'm a seasoned writer, editor, and photographer curating inspiring travel guides and lifestyle tips for empty nesters. I hope to kindle your spirit of exploration, encouraging you to overcome obstacles and turn your dreams into reality.

Learn to minimize your pre-travel angst and maximize the joy of exploration with insights from my experiences. Let's make every adventure a celebration of this exciting phase of life! 

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Solo traveler enjoying the view
Serene travel landscape
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