Michigan travel coach offers 6 tips for first-time solo travelers

If you find yourself seeking adventure but not wanting to wait for other people, you’re not alone.

Forbes named 2024 the Year of the Solo Traveler and that can still ring true for you.

Forbes’ declaration was based on the Overseas Adventure Travel and Solo Traveler annual survey that found 68% of respondents considered themselves independent travelers. Similarly, a global 2024 Booking.com survey found 59% of travelers were looking to venture alone.

Travel coach Dawn Pick Benson transformed her life and career through solo travel.

After divorcing her husband of more than 20 years, Benson was looking to turn the page in 2018. She packed up and lived in Eastern Europe for three months.

She rediscovered herself in Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro and came home with the idea to guide others. She’s traveled to 42 countries and says each trip has changed her.

Today, she’s a mix of life coach and travel guru through her Grand Rapids-based company mentoring first-time solo travelers. She offers group and individual coaching to check in with travelers while they choose a destination, book flights, craft an itinerary and even checks in during the trip.

Benson puts emphasis on the intention of the trip, more so than the location.

It takes the idea of an American tourist and spins it on its head a bit. What if travel was less about what you saw and more about what you felt?

“The kind of trips that I‘m hoping to inspire women to take are different from the ‘let’s go see 75 spots in two weeks and spend no time being with yourself’ [trips],” she said.

MLive asked Benson for her top tips for first-time solo travelers. Here’s what she suggested to keep travelers safe, empowered and present.

Bring only the amount of luggage you can handle on your own

This might be the most important tip I have for women solo travelers. When you know you can handle your luggage on your own, come what may, it’s incredibly empowering. No matter your situation or your surroundings, this means you don’t have to wait for help with your bags or struggle to get on or off a train or a bus alone. Taking only what you can handle means you can always count on yourself — and that’s the most empowering feeling of all.

Walk with purpose, even when you’re lost

The surest way to announce to those around you that you’re a hopelessly lost or distracted tourist (aka a target for theft) is to wander around looking at your phone, confused. If you ever become uncomfortable or unsure of where you’re going while out, keep walking purposefully until you find a shop or a restaurant or even a hotel that you can duck into. While there, you can look at the map on your phone more carefully or even ask a local for help.

Trust your gut

If you’re ever in a situation that doesn’t feel right, don’t overthink it or worry about seeming rude to someone. Trust your instincts. If your gut is saying no or to get out of there, don’t ask questions, don’t feel bad — just go.

You have more power in any given situation than you think

A taxi driver once decided to change the fee for taking me to my accommodations mid-ride. The situation didn’t sit right with me because we had negotiated the fee upfront and I knew what the approximate cost should be to take me from the airport to the area in which I was staying. So I quickly looked at the map on my phone (I’d downloaded the area on Google maps before I left the U.S.), surveyed the surrounding neighborhood to see if it seemed safe to walk, surmised that my luggage was manageable enough on my own, and demanded either he honor our agreed upon fee or pull over and let me walk the rest of the way. He was so surprised that he immediately backed off the higher fee and drove me directly to the location — no questions asked. I even sensed a bit of respect on his part for the way I stood my ground!

Know approximate transportation fees before you arrive in a location—even if you plan to use Uber.

It’s easy for many travelers to rely on an Uber or Lyft and the ease similar apps can offer. But there are times and places where Ubers are not available, or for whatever reason, your phone fails. When this happens, you need to know an average rate to negotiate for your fare so you don’t get swindled.

Taxi drivers in many parts of the world don’t take credit cards, so having the amount in local currency avoids any extra confusion or hassle. These days many of us rely on credit cards and apps, but when traveling, there are always occasions in which you need cash. That’s why I always arrive at a location with some local currency in hand, or my first pitstop inside the airport is at an ATM to ensure I have some local currency.

Purchase a local e-SIM or SIM card

One of the most stressful situations for solo travelers is not having access to data (ie: Google maps) when you need it. Rather than adding an expensive international plan to your phone, consider using an e-SIM or physical SIM card, which are both considerably less expensive. Apps like Airalo are great in that you can search for your destination and choose an e-SIM for the location and time period that suits you.

If you require a physical SIM card, you can usually purchase one right in the airport from someone who will help you install it.

One caveat is to do your research beforehand and make sure you know whether the model of your phone accepts electronic and physical SIM cards (not all phones accept both).