Planning your first solo trip can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be!

In this episode, I walk you through the essential logistics of booking a trip, breaking it down into flights, accommodations, activities, and transportation. Learn how to use tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Hostelworld, weigh the pros and cons of hotels versus hostels or Airbnbs, and discover ways to plan a balanced itinerary that leaves room for spontaneity.

I also share my go-to hacks, like leveraging frequent flyer programs, maximizing travel credit cards, and using group trip itineraries for inspiration. Whether you’re traveling on a budget or looking to make the most of your PTO, these practical tips will help you book your dream trip with ease.

And if planning still feels overwhelming, don’t worry.

Grab my exact travel itineraries for destinations like London, Japan, or Costa Rica or consider a trip with a group travel company. Save yourself the mental load and start exploring!

---

The Young Travelers Podcast is Hosted by Gabby Beckford and Produced by Gabby Beckford and Taylor Inglut.

Sound Design and Editing by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Stacey Book, Dominique Ferrari, and Avi Glijansky

Find more of Gabby and her solo adventures, travel tips, and delusionally confident lifestyle…

On the Web - packslight.com

On Instagram - @packlight

On TikTok - @packslight

Plus, you can watch video versions of this podcast on Gabby’s YouTube Channel.

To connect with other young travelers who opt out of the status quo and live life for the plot, join Gabby’s Young Travelers Network Facebook Group (the original inspo behind this podcast!): https://facebook.com/youngtravelersnetwork.

Want to learn more about what Paid Travel Opportunities (PTO) are and the different types of PTO that exist? Head to SeekPTO.com for all things related to traveling for school, for work, and for fun… for FREE!

And, are you looking for more of the absolute best in travel podcasts? Visit cercatravel.com to discover all our Cerca Originals, or head on over to youtube.com/@CercaTravel for more podcasts and shorts to stoke your wanderlust and give you the local perspective on some of the greatest places on earth.

---

Gabby Beckford is the award-winning travel influencer and Opportunity Expert at @packslight. Starting her pursuits at just 17, she is a solo female traveler who's visited 50+ countries and is on a mission to make the incredible accessible to the younger generation. She’s also grown her community to more than 600K+ across platforms–including 10K+ young travelers in her Young Travelers Network! Beckford’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Good Morning America, CNNTravel, National Geographic.

---

At Cerca, our goal is to help you explore the world like never before. Visit www.cercatravel.com for Immersive audio travel guides to some of the most amazing places in the world - written and voiced by locals - articles on everything from the best places to eat in Havana to a guide to all of Helsinki's underground bunkers, and the best travel podcasts you can find... like this one!

Download the Cerca App for free now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.