• 
  Aleaya Duran
  
  
  shares her top advice for heading on your first solo trip abroad
  
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  EXPLORE FURTHER: Time Out ranks the globe’s top 20 cities for cuisine in 2025
  

Single female traveler Aleaya Duran
@aleayabella
It offers numerous suggestions for your bucket list if you enjoy traveling solo as well.

However, before we begin, she wants to issue a caution regarding two well-liked backpacking spots that she believes solo travelers should steer clear of.

‘I faced some tough times in the Philippines, particularly in Palawan,’ the 22-year-old shares with MailOnline Travel. ‘My visit coincided with the typhoon season, making things challenging due to frequent flight cancellations.’

Apart from the natural concerns, I was also more worried about my safety there because of the harassment I faced from certain locals.

The bold explorer similarly advises against visiting Cambodia for women travelling alone, noting that it was a place where she ‘felt least safe’.

Therefore, where should aspiring solo travelers add to their bucket list?

Aleaya, from
Oregon
, explains: ‘Switzerland, Iceland,
Singapore
and
Japan
was like a dream because I felt incredibly secure traveling there solo as a woman.

‘Those were the sole nations where I ventured out alone after dark, entirely because of the sense of security I experienced.’

She also advises first-time solo travellers to start with ‘very touristy places’, as she did.

‘Paris,
Italy
“And Bali served as fantastic initiations into solo travel,” she notes.

This does not imply that Aleaya avoids distant locations, as she found herself ‘agreeably impressed by Laos’.

She clarifies: “Although it isn’t as significant a tourist spot as its neighboring nations,
Thailand
And Vietnam, it boasts an abundance of attractions.

‘The amazing locals along with the natural beauty and wildlife – it truly made this one of my favorite countries.’

Aleaya mentions that despite growing up in ‘a very small town’, she always had ‘an urge to leave’.

She goes on: “I was curious about what lay beyond and eventually grew weary of waiting around for company.”

‘I believe that prior to traveling, it seems extremely daunting and frightening. However, when you step out into the world, you understand that it would have been much scarier not to take the chance at all.’

When Aleaya initially shared her aspirations for traveling alone with her family, she acknowledges that some members had their reservations. However, she emphasizes that it’s crucial to “trust your intuition and not allow others’ opinions to hold you back.”

She has a great compromise that works for her and her loved ones, which she advises others to take note of.

She clarifies: “I typically employ Google Docs to create an initial version of my daily schedule, followed by assembling a PowerPoint presentation for my relatives to inform them about my whereabouts and plans for each day.”

‘This gives them a sense of comfort and reassurance that I know what I’m doing.’

Even though solo travel comes with significant costs, Aleaya shares that she managed ‘to save up by doing many unusual jobs’.

She says: ‘Most people don’t have extra money to be able to put towards travel and I was no exception. I found ways to make money at home, selling used clothes and working multiple jobs at a time.

‘Social media has also helped fund a few of my trips and I think it’s such a great avenue for people to make money sharing what they love.’

The thrifty explorer sidesteps the usual error of reserving through a travel agency to keep their journey expenses low.

She cautions: “Although this might be wise for your initial journey or if solo travel makes you anxious, keep in mind it will double the expense.”

She opts for carrying only hand luggage during her journeys, thus consistently dealing with ‘very restricted space’. How does she manage this?

She says: ‘I bring packing cubes to make my luggage more organised. I make sure to always leave for a destination with only half my bag full so I can save room for a lot of souvenirs.

‘I would say the most important essential is medicine as different countries have different brands which can make it hard to find what you’re looking for.’

While Aleaya insists solo travelling hasn’t always been ‘glamorous’, she’s never looked back since doing it the first time.

She concludes: ‘The best aspect of traveling solo for me is the complete sense of freedom. No one is around to spoil my adventure or hold me back.’

‘Usually, it feels as though only God and I are journeying through this world together.’

‘I can stroll through the streets and hills, simply immersing myself in my surroundings. This freedom enriches my experience of being present.’

Looking for more content from Aleaya? Follow her on TikTok –
@aleayabella
or Instagram –
@aleayabella
for more travel tips and inspiration.

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