Planning an Itinerary for the first-time Solo Traveler

*REvised version*
by Christine Ka’aloa

Boo! It’s Halloween and the perfect time to talk about the SCARY of planning my itinerary for my entirely solo trip to Thailand.

My Pre-flight Jitters
I leave for Thailand in a day and my solo fears are now starting to sink in!  I’m filled with all sorts mixed emotions and self-doubts that aim to sabotage my confidence. When friends ask me whether I’m excited about my trip, I feel numb. Frankly, I wish I did not have so much time to think about it, but I do.

Planning  Woes for the Soloist

When I said earlier that my friend, Regina, does not use guidebooks when she travels, I’ll let you in on a little secret… I haven’t really either. I buy them for the “in case” I want to open them. But only until last year when I was accidentally separated from friends had to go it alone in India and Nepal, did I actually open the book and use the information!  The fact I’m planning my first entirely solo (beginning to end) itinerary-  I feel a little shaky. And nauseous.  Seeing as this is my first trip to Thailand, I want to:

a) maximize my time for exploring the variety it has to offer,
b) minimize my solo stresses of navigating a foreign country safely, so that…
c) I can actually enjoy my trip  !

Sole Responsibility
…is not fun. I think of it as being paired with Sole Liability and the need to be level-headed and sober vs. carefree and playful.  When you travel with friends, you collaborate ideas for an itinerary, take turns sharing the responsibilities and trust that another pair of eyes will be looking out for your safety.  With planning a solo travel itinerary, its really ALL you. Like one of those Hindu or Buddhist multi-tasking gods, you feel like you need ten heads and an infinite number of hands to juggle the endless number of tasks… from decision-making, researching and planning route schedules, ensuring your own safety, …all the way to having to take your backpack into the restroom stalls with you when you have to pee at a train station!

Unlimited choices, limited time.
One of the luxuries of being a solo traveler (many soloists will tell you) is that you have the unlimited freedom to go anywhere and do ANYTHING your heart desires!

Well, my heart desires to do EVERYTHING.

Problem: I have an unlimited number of choices, a lack of sufficient information as to how to navigate my way about them and the awareness that I have a limited time in which to do them all. Can we say- “overwhelmed“?…

Creating a travel itinerary for ONE:
I’m not very good with creating itineraries for myself but I’ve been trying. Hard.  My guide book (Rough Guides this time) has ratted edges, highlights, hand-written notes and post-it bookmarks such that it looks like its been through war with Thailand without even making it into my backpack!

It feels like I’m studying for an exam…

Why? As children, we learn that our imaginations can draw monsters under our beds when we’re in the dark. Being a beginner soloist, with first time fears of “the unknown” and uncertain as to what will be encountered, it helps to create a well-lit and solid foundation of an itinerary to begin your trip from.

Creating a simple itinerary provides a reassuring “a safety net” for me. It makes me feel my travel bearings will be secure and safely directed amidst the culture shock of experiencing a foreign culture

Here’s how I create my solo itinerary for Thailand:

-  Planning my route <GRRR!>
-  Planning my daily itinerary

Voila- I finally have my starting itinerary! (…and it only took 3 weeks of mental strain)

Now *THE GOLDEN SECRET* that will make this itinerary work despite its loose gaps :
(this was imparted to me by my dad, who was reminiscing his hobo days, so listen carefully…)
The Mantra: I will make it my daily goal to TALK to everyone- fellow travelers, hostel desk managers, locals, my restaurant waitress and bus driver. If it moves and looks friendly and safe, I will talk to it. I will ask for recommendations about where to stay, how to get somewhere, what’s a recommended sight, etc… If I begin to feel shy, which I do at times, I will create little game-oriented personal dares for myself like “I will speak to at least 6 people today!”.

Okay, so that’s it!  Wish me luck as put my completed itinerary(with holes) into effect tomorrow!

Until,
Christine

P.S. I will post my final itinerary below my pre-trip itinerary (below) when I’m done with my trip! (There should be a dramatic difference).

pre-trip- 11-2 Thailand ITINERARY001