After nearly a decade of my occasional solo travel across Asia and beyond, I've made my fair share of travel mistakes. From budget blunders, underestimating the weather, and vacation fatigue, those mistakes taught me valuable lessons. And most of them, the hard way. But looking back, I'm so grateful for those early mistakes. They've helped me become more intentional every time I plan a new trip.
Since I might not be able to travel anytime soon (currently settling into a new full-time role!), I realized this is the best time to reflect and write about my journey. Whether you’re just planning your first solo adventure or already have a few trips in, I’m sharing some of my biggest solo travel mistakes—plus the lessons I’ve learned—to help you avoid the same bumps in the road.
So, shall we?
How My Solo Travel Started: From Singapore to Seoul
While my first plane ride was when I moved to Dubai back in 2014, my solo travel journey officially began during an unplanned layover in Singapore in 2015. I stepped out of the airport to meet a friend, thinking it would be simple, but quickly learned that I had come unprepared. I was careless and moved around without WiFi, a SIM card, and even enough local currency. Still, I stayed calm and solved one small issue after another. That moment taught me that traveling alone wasn’t as intimidating as it seemed—it felt like finding my way around a new grocery store.
Two years later, I flew to Bangkok for a work conference. Though it wasn't a typical solo trip, it definitely tested my travel planning once more. Assuming everything was prepaid (including hotel room deposits), I arrived without enough cash and had to figure it out on the spot. Of course, I found the nearest ATM, but ended up paying a hefty amount in bank fees for withdrawing money abroad. Ouch.
Then came Seoul—a dream destination fueled by years of watching Korean dramas. This time, I did everything by the book. Applied for a visa, planned my itinerary, prepared extra money, and did all the research. But it still went sideways. I got lost right after arriving from the airport, got drenched in the rain, and dragged my suitcase up three flights of stairs. All of this happened at midnight, after nearly 16 hours of travel from Dubai (layover included).
While I did enjoy the city, I rarely talked about that trip. All I could remember were the mistakes and failures. I even promised myself a "revenge trip" and vowed to hold on to the lessons I learned. But did I actually apply those lessons right away?
Surprise, surprise—not really!
The Mistakes I've Made during my Solo Travel (and Keep on Relearning!)
Written from the most common to the least, here are the solo travel mistakes I made during my early days—some of which I still catch myself repeating!
1. Not Checking the Weather Forecast
My favorite travel blunder of all time (sarcastically speaking). This is the one I most often overlooked. I was always too focused on the itinerary, logistics, hiking opportunities, and dining options—all important things—but I forgot one tiny detail: the weather forecast.
What does this mean to me? It meant I was underdressed during my hikes. Here's what I mean:
- Due to spring rain, I cancelled my hike completely in Seoul (2018) and spent the day in the city without a backup plan or itinerary.
- With a sudden weather shift, my attempt at Komsomolets Peak in Autumn (2022) quickly went downhill—literally. I had no idea how cold 3,000 MASL could get at that time of the year and ran out of extra layers. Spoiler: it was freezing (at least for me), and I wasn't able to reach the summit.
- In Shymbulak, Kazakhstan (2024), I naively believed that summer meant sunshine and clear skies, so I packed with zero waterproofing. A weather update came in the day before, but it was too late to prepare. When the rain started to roll in, I had no choice but to turn back.
While I haven’t fully mastered this lesson, I’ve at least improved. I now carry a poncho or raincoat on all trips, whether I’m hiking or not. I also try to remember to check the forecast and pack for both warm and cold weather—even if it means overpacking. Better to be ready than sorry!
🔗 My Go-To Weather Tools for Forecasts & Severe Weather Alerts:
- AccuWeather – My go-to for a general idea of the temperature, especially for planning what to wear and pack. It’s reliable, available in most cities worldwide, and includes hourly and 10-day forecasts.
- Rain.ae – A live precipitation map I love for its real-time updates, especially when I’m based in the UAE or traveling nearby. It’s useful when planning hikes or deciding whether to bring a raincoat for the day!
👉 Tip: I usually check both apps the week before I travel and then again every morning while I’m on the trip. It’s a small habit that’s helped me avoid a lot of rainy surprises—well, most of the time!
2. Budgeting Too Cheaply or Not Bringing Extra Cash
The second runner-up? Money mistakes—one of the most important parts of travel planning.
I used to budget too tightly, bringing just enough cash and assuming I wouldn’t need more. I’ve mostly overcome this habit, but I still get surprised by things like hotel or Airbnb security deposits. These are often written in the fine print, so it’s easy to miss them until it’s too late.
If you have extra cash or a card for emergencies, this won’t be a big deal. But if you don’t, your budget will suffer a mini heart attack.
Also, while ATMs work worldwide (fees vary!), there are exceptions. One of them is Russia. Because of ongoing sanctions, ATMs issued outside Russia won’t work at all. I knew this beforehand, but still ended up borrowing cash from a friend in the UAE. Can you imagine my embarrassment?
🔗Related Blog Post: Travel to Russia in 2024: Experience in Safety Concerns, Sanctions, Travel Tips, and Highlights
3. Planning According to Energy but not Check-In Times
Back in my early 20s, I thought that sleep was just for the weak. My goal was to maximize every second of my trip.
With that mindset, I often booked overnight flights or bus rides and arrived at my destination with zero sleep (I’m a light sleeper while traveling). Then came the hurdle: waiting for check-in time. I’d have to find a place to keep my bags and wander around the city like a sleep-deprived zombie.
Eventually, I learned to be more intentional. I now choose better flight times or book a bed or a room a night in advance, just to rest. That extra cost is worth it—no more migraines, grumpiness, or mood swings while exploring. I also enjoy my time better when I’m well-rested.
4. Underestimating the Need for Rest Days
Slightly related to the point above, I used to feel this unspoken pressure of doing, seeing, and eating everything!
Going to South Korea without wearing a hanbok? Not visiting Namsan Tower? Not eating samgyupsal? Of course, I had to tick them all off.
Even now, I still follow the “do, see, eat” pattern, but I’m much more intentional with my pacing. I allow room for rest and flexibility.
With my increasing appetite for physically demanding activities like hiking, I space them out and sandwich chill days in between (if possible). Here are some examples:
For example:
- After completing Sections 1–3 of the Hong Kong Trail, I opted for a light sightseeing day—flower markets, parks, and slow walks. I even went to Macau just for a day!
- After the long day tour to Kaindy and Kolsai Lakes, I went for a Banya Experience at Arasan Wellness & Spa to relax before hiking Shymbulak.
This way, I could enjoy every day of my vacation and return to work not only with a full heart, but a rested body and mind too. No more statements such as "I need a vacation after a vacation!".
5. No Internet Connection or Local SIM Card
I used to romanticize the idea of traveling without internet by only relying on paper maps and GPS. But I learned the hard way that this isn’t always smart.
While hiking the Hong Kong Trail, I ran out of water and running out of daylight. To make things worse, I didn’t have mobile data or a local SIM card. Sure, there was a map at the trailhead, but once I was deep into the trail, I started to panic because I was fully unprepared for this situation. In case of an emergency, God knows what could happen, how do I ask for help? Heck, I didn’t even know what kind of transport was available or how reliable Hong Kong’s system would be in that area to get back to the city.
I held back tears and just kept walking, praying for some kind of miracle. Thankfully, I crossed paths with a kind trail runner who helped me on how to get out easily. But after that experience? Never again, especially as a female hiker traveling solo.
Since then, I’ve made it a habit to get a local SIM card or make sure I have internet access, at least when I’m hiking solo. It’s not about being constantly online but about staying safe and being able to check resources online when things don’t go as planned. Another layer of preparation for safety goes a long way.
My Go-To Travel Outlook as a Solo Female Hiker & Traveler by Now
Now that I have shared five of the most common travel mistakes I've made, I also want to share the mindset shifts that have made my travels smoother over time. These aren't hard rules—but they’re the small reminders I try to carry with me each trip.
- Someone else’s definition of “cold” or “hot” is not yours. So check the weather forecast and pack for YOUR level of comfort.
- Traveling on a budget is subjective. Your appetite, energy, and spending comfort will evolve—and that’s still valid budget travel.
- Your energy isn’t infinite. Plan around your own body clock. Make time for sleep (yes, even on vacation).
- Seeing three countries in seven days is impressive, but slow travel is therapeutic. Stay longer in one city. Breathe. Let the highlights stand out, not blur together.
- Get internet access—eSIM, local SIM, whatever helps. But also, remember to disconnect from the screen. Social media can wait. Your real-time joy can’t.
Final Thoughts: Travel is NOT universal—Even the Mistakes and Lessons
If you’ve made it this far—thank you. Honestly, it took me months to finish this post. I’ve added and removed so many points, rewritten the lessons, second-guessed the list, then revised it all again.
Because here’s the thing: travel is not one-size-fits-all. What feels like a huge blunder to me might be a non-issue to you. What I call a lesson, you might see as obvious. That’s completely okay.
We travel differently—based on our budget, comfort level, lifestyle, and priorities. But if you found even one thing helpful here, then writing this was worth it.
So go ahead—make your own travel mistakes, whether you're traveling solo or not. That's how we learn. Just don’t forget to learn from them. 😉
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