For women who’ve never been on a solo trip, often the most daunting task is figuring out logistics, booking hotels and planning an itinerary. It can be overwhelming.

I thought it’d be helpful to map out my latest solo trip to help first-timers see exactly how they can get started.

All trips begin with pinpointing a destination. I was in Switzerland in August 2022 when I decided where my next solo trip was going to be. I had just completed my first multiple-day trek, the Haute Route, and I was eager to plan another one.

I did some basic research on the best treks in the world and Scotland’s West Highland Way made many lists. It seemed a little easier and a little shorter than the Haute Route and I’d never been to Scotland.

I’d also never been to Ireland or London, so I decided to craft a trip that would include all three in the spring of 2023.

Flights: Wait for a good deal

Once I had my destination decided, I figured out how many days I could spend away and started searching for flights. I always begin by searching Google flights in incognito mode, scrolling through future dates to see what days are cheapest to fly. I like to start looking for flights at least six months in advance to give myself time to wait for the right price.

I almost never book the first time I look at flight prices. I use that first search and subsequent ones to get an idea of what average prices are to help me spot a good deal. Sometimes prices don’t budget but sometimes they go down or deals pop up for business class.

When I saw a good price for a flight to Dublin, I booked it directly with Delta and started planning immediately. I was able to save some money by flying to Dublin first, not Scotland, and booking in the off-season.

Itinerary: Prioritizing my passions

Once I had my flights, it was time to decide on an itinerary. I had joined a couple Facebook groups for Ireland and Scotland, read countless blogs and bought travel books to my destinations. That allowed me to make a master list of what my priorities were.

Because hiking is one of my biggest passions and I’ll still be training for the West Highland Way trek, I prioritized locations in Ireland with great hiking and beautiful views over too much city time.

My trip will begin where I land, in Dublin. I’ll stay for three days to give myself a good amount of time to acclimate to the new time zone and see some of the city. From there, it made sense to stop in Belfast for two nights before the best part of my Ireland leg would begin: renting a car and driving along the northern coast and then the Wild Atlantic Way, stopping in towns like Derry, Donegal, Clifden, Dingle and Killarney.

I’ll go up and around Ireland, ending in Cork to drop off my rental car and visit friends and before catching a train to Dublin and a flight to Glasgow, Scotland.

I’ decided to give myself a one-night buffer in Glasgow before beginning my eight-day trek of the West Highland Way in the Scottish Highlands. From there, I had watched Facebook groups and combed through guides to figure out how to spend my next two weeks before I had to get down to London.

Again, my priorities are places with stunning beauty and good hiking. So I decided to stick with the Scottish Highlands and its islands for about 10 days before making my way to Edinburgh, where I’ll stay for two nights before taking a high-speed train down to London for four nights.

Hotels, B&Bs, apartments and yurts: Finding memorable lodging

For places to stay, I decided to try to stick as close to $100 a night as possible but that I’d splurge here and there for a truly stunning booking.

Armed with a rough budget, I read blog posts and guidebook entries about my destinations. I also searched Airbnb and booking.com to see where I could find deals and what sort of quality I could get.

In Ireland’s County Donegal, I simply zoomed in on Google maps to see if there were any lodgings in the countryside. I came across fancy-looking, remote yurts at a place called Lough Mardal Lodge.

The yurts looked beautiful and cozy and the area scenery seemed epic. It seemed like it would be a unique and memorable stay so I decided to splurge, booking it for $476 for three nights, or $158 a night, a little over my ideal budget.

But I found a great price on a riverside cabin in Killarney on Airbnb. I’ll be right on a river and have a lot of space to myself for $339 for three nights, or just $113 a night.

In Scotland, I prioritized staying in a lot of bed and breakfasts because I’ve heard they’re so charming. I found many attractive prices, partially because it’s the offseason and I think Scotland is generally more affordable than other European destinations.

The point is, cast a wide net. Look at all types of lodgings to compare prices. Read reviews and book places with stellar reputations. If you’re a city girl, maybe your splurge is in a modern high-rise hotel with all the amenities. If you love the outdoors and quiet like me, you might be more drawn to countryside Airbnbs and B&Bs. If you’re on a super tight budget, it might be wild camping and hostels for you.

Budgeting: Spread the pain

Booking early is a great first step to spreading the financial hit of a big trip. I get the airfare out of the way, allow myself a month or so to recover, and then I start booking places to sleep.

Many third-party booking sites do not require down payments and stays often don’t have to be paid until arrival. Airbnb often allows guests to pay half now and half later.

Another way to save money is narrowing down what lodgings are available on sites like Booking.com and then booking directly with a property, which recently saved me $40 on a B&B on the Isle of Arran.

Another smart way to spread the financial pain is to book apartments for at least part of a trip. Doing so allows me to go shopping for groceries in a local market and cook some meals for myself. I like to have coffee, eggs, bread, cheese, meats and butter on hand for breakfasts and snacks.

As for eating out, I like to plan casual meals and an occasional splurge meal. For instance, I booked the best seafood restaurant with a window view in Fort William, Scotland on the last day of my trek as a celebration meal. But I found a cheap burger spot in Derry, Ireland on a long road trip day.

It’s all about balance.

Popular sites? I always reserve in advance.

For my trip to Ireland, Scotland and London, there are plenty of high-volume tourist sites that I don’t want to miss. I’ve learned from experience to book these well in advance to save on stress later.

These sites often have onerous processes to book in advance. For the Kilmainham Gaol prison in Dublin, for instance, tickets to visit open up exactly 28 days beforehand. I wanted to go on April 3, so I set an alarm on my phone for March 6 and snagged my spot.

On a separate trip to Italy this summer, I had to do the most to make sure to get a ticket to see Michelangelo’s “The Last Supper.” The museum had announced tickets for May would go on sale on March 14 and 12 p.m. in Italy, or 4 a.m. where I live in Los Angeles. I set the alarm for 3:58 a.m. and got four coveted tickets for only €22 each. Tour websites snag most of them at that price and re-sell them for minimum €52 and up to well over €120, though tours are typically included.

Chances are, if you’ve heard of it, getting in without waiting in line for hours or getting turned away will be an ordeal without advanced planning. Think the Louvre in Paris, Florence’s Duomo, the Taj Mahal.

Advanced planning like this isn’t just important overseas. When I had one day to visit Zion National Park, I had to apply to a lottery in advance to score a permit to hike Angel’s Landing, a heavily trafficked, stunningly beautiful trail. I applied for the permit weeks in advance, chose a day I thought wouldn’t be so busy and got it.

Transportation

One final bit of booking I always do well in advance of any trip is finalizing transportation.

I try to avoid renting cars to save money but it often is unavoidable. Since I like going to wild places, I often rely on getting myself there in a car. When I’m in cities or traveling between popular areas, it’s usually public transportation.

In Scotland, I’ll be taking public transportation from the airport to Glasgow and then to the start of the West Highland Way trek in the Highlands. For the next nine nights, I’ll be completely on foot. But the morning after I finish the trek I decided to make my way to the Isle of Skye several hours away. Hence, the need for the car.

I’ve booked my car reservation well in advance and also have my bus ticket between Glasgow and the start of the trek. A great way to save money on public transportation abroad is buying train tickets early. They’re often cheaper and have seat selection available.

Now that I’ve booked my airline tickets, itinerary, accommodations, activities and transportation, all that’s left is to daydream until I leave.

More reading:

Before you book: How to start planning your first solo trip, step by step
Before you fly: 10 things I won’t leave the country without as a solo female traveler