How I Prepare to Travel Solo in My 70s
Travelling solo in my 70s isn’t just about booking flights, choosing hotels, or planning an itinerary. What I’ve learned is that the real preparation is preparing myself — my body, my confidence, and my ability to handle whatever comes my way.
I Prepare My Body for the Trip
Travel can be surprisingly physical. There may be long walking days, uneven streets, stairs, hills, or luggage to manage. Before I go, I think about what the trip will physically require and prepare in simple, realistic ways.
For me, that means keeping up with walking, yoga, light weights, and small ways of building stamina. I don’t think of it as extreme training. I think of it as making sure I feel capable when I arrive.
I Set Up Practical Tools Before I Leave
I also make sure I can manage the logistics of being somewhere new. That includes things like accessing my banking, booking transportation, using maps or transit tools, and sometimes using a language app.
The key is not waiting until I arrive to figure these things out. I set everything up at home, where it’s easier. I test the apps, log into accounts I don’t use often, and practice using the tools I may need. The last place I want to feel confused is when I’m tired and in a new place.
I Practice Being on My Own
One of the most helpful things I’ve done is practice being on my own before I travel. That might mean going out for dinner alone, taking a train somewhere, navigating a new neighbourhood, or trying a few words in another language.
These small experiences build confidence. They remind me: I can do this. I’ve already done this.
I Let Confidence Grow Through Discomfort
Solo travel can feel uncomfortable at first, especially after loss or a major life change. I remember the first time I went out for dinner by myself after my husband died. It felt awkward and a little sad at first, but then it changed. I became interested in what was happening around me.
That taught me something important. I don’t need to eliminate the discomfort completely. I just need to get used to it, trust myself, and remember that people are generally kind and helpful.
I Create Connection Before I Go
Even though I travel solo, I don’t want to feel isolated. Before I go, I often reach out to a friend, relative, or someone who knows someone in the place I’m visiting.
It doesn’t have to be a big plan. Sometimes it’s just a coffee or a conversation. But having even one point of connection can offer reassurance, local insight, and a greater sense of ease.
Solo Travel Is About Preparing the Person Taking the Trip
For me, preparing for solo travel is not just about the trip itself. It’s about preparing the person taking the trip.
When I feel physically ready, practically prepared, mentally steady, and connected in some way, travel becomes more open, more enjoyable, and full of wonderful surprises.
That feeling of stepping into the world on my own terms is one of the best parts of this stage of life.
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