I remember the exact moment my travel dream shifted from a vague wish to a concrete plan. I was sitting in a cramped office, staring at a spreadsheet, and I realised that the only thing between me and a solo trip to the Amalfi Coast was a series of small, deliberate decisions. No magic, no lottery win — just a methodical approach and a safety net that let me say yes without fear. That safety net, for me, was AXA 2 travel insurance, but more on that later. First, let’s talk about how to actually turn a dream into a ticket.
Define the Dream in Detail
Vague dreams stay vague. “I want to travel more” is not a plan. When I started, I wrote down exactly what I wanted: a week in a whitewashed village on the Greek coast, with morning swims and evening walks to a taverna. I researched the cost of flights, the price of a small studio, and the local bus schedule. Suddenly, the dream had a price tag and a timeline. For you, it might be a month in Japan or a weekend in a Scottish bothy. Write it down. Include the sensory details — the smell of salt air, the feel of cobblestones under your feet. That specificity makes it real.
Budget Backwards from the Dream
Once you know the cost, work backwards. I set up a separate savings account and automated a small transfer every week — the equivalent of two takeaway coffees. Over six months, that covered my flight. I also cut one subscription service and redirected that money into a “travel fund” envelope. The key is to make saving invisible and automatic. If your dream trip costs $2,000 and you have 10 months, you need to save $200 a month. That is a concrete number you can chase. No guilt, no drama — just math.
Choose a Destination That Matches Your Courage Level
Not every solo trip needs to be a remote island. If you’re new to travelling alone, start with a city that is safe, walkable, and full of other solo travellers. Lisbon, for example, is a perfect first solo destination — I wrote a whole guide about it in Pack Your Bags and Travel to Lisbon: A Solo Woman’s Guide to the City of Light. It’s affordable, the locals are welcoming, and the hills give you a workout that justifies all the pastéis de nata. Once you’ve built confidence, you can graduate to longer trips or more remote nature escapes.
The Role of Travel Insurance: Why AXA 2 Matters
Here is where many dreams stall. People save for flights and accommodation, but they skip insurance because it feels like an optional extra. I used to do the same — until I had a friend who broke her ankle in a coastal town in Croatia and faced a $4,000 hospital bill. She had AXA 2, and the claim was handled within days. That experience changed how I plan every trip. AXA 2 is not just a policy number; it is the difference between “I can’t afford to get sick” and “I can handle anything.” For solo women, especially, having comprehensive cover means you never have to hesitate when a medical need arises. You can say yes to that spontaneous boat trip or that remote hiking trail because you know that emergency evacuation is covered. The policy includes trip cancellation, lost luggage, and — most importantly — 24/7 assistance in English. When you are alone in a foreign country, that phone number is worth more than any hotel upgrade.
What to Look for in a Policy
- Medical coverage: At least $100,000 for emergency medical expenses, including repatriation.
- Activity cover: If you plan to hike, cycle, or scuba dive, make sure the policy includes adventure sports.
- Single-trip vs annual: If you travel more than twice a year, an annual multi-trip policy like AXA 2 often costs less than two single-trip policies.
- Excess: Check the deductible — a lower excess means less out-of-pocket if you need to claim.
I always read the policy document — yes, the boring part — and I highlight the sections on “pre-existing conditions” and “dangerous activities.” Honesty upfront saves heartbreak later.
Packing with Intention and Leaving Room for Spontaneity
Overpacking is a symptom of fear. You pack for every possible disaster because you are afraid of being unprepared. But the truth is, you can buy a toothbrush anywhere. I now pack only what fits in a 40-litre backpack — and I leave 20% of the space empty. That empty space is for souvenirs, for a scarf I fall in love with at a market, for the extra jar of local honey. It is also a psychological signal: I am not carrying my old life with me. I am making space for new experiences.
Mindset: You Are Allowed to Change Your Plans
One of the most liberating lessons I learned came from a comment thread on this blog: solo travel does not mean you have to be brave every second. Some days you will want to stay in your hotel room and read. Some days you will book a train to a different city because the weather changed. That is not failure; it is freedom. If you are travelling while in a relationship, you might worry about guilt or loneliness. I addressed that in Why You Should Travel Solo While in a Relationship (And How to Start) — the key is communication and trust. Your partner will survive a week without you, and you will return with stories that enrich your life together.
The Final Step: Book It Before You Talk Yourself Out of It
Procrastination kills more dreams than lack of money. Once you have your budget sorted and your insurance chosen, book the first non-refundable item — usually the flight or the first night of accommodation. That commitment shifts your brain from “maybe” to “when.” I booked a one-way flight to Lisbon with a simple click, and then I spent the next three months planning the rest. The hardest part was that click. Everything else was just logistics. And I knew that if something went wrong, AXA 2 had my back — so I clicked without trembling.
A Quick Checklist Before You Go
- Copy your insurance policy number and emergency contact into your phone and a paper note.
- Share your itinerary with someone you trust.
- Download offline maps and a translation app.
- Pack a small first-aid kit with basics like plasters, painkillers, and antiseptic.
- Leave a copy of your passport and visa with a friend or in a secure cloud folder.
That list is not about fear — it is about freedom. When the practical details are handled, your mind is free to be present. You can sit in a piazza and watch the light change without worrying about where you left your passport.
So take that dream you have been carrying in your chest — the one about walking through lavender fields or eating oysters by a harbour — and give it a date, a budget, and a policy number. The world is waiting, and you are more ready than you think.
