Going Places: A Conversation with Nicole Phillip

Going Places is a series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips.

The first time Nicole Philliptraveled solo, she was studying abroad in Europe-hopping on low-cost flights and traversing the continent by train.

"At the time, I traveled by myself because I didn't have the budget to travel in the same way as many of my classmates," Nicole told me. "But I'm glad for that experience. Solo travel is so freeing. I could go out-or stay in-and not feel obligated to take other people's preferences into account."

To this day, solo trips are still Nicole's preferred way to travel. Not only does she avoid overspending, she also travels when and where she wants to-maybe inviting others to join her, but only after her plans are made.

Indeed, Nicole is no stranger to striking out on her own; she recently launched her own consultancy business. A former journalist, Nicole now offers social media strategy and content creation services to brands. She's also an influencer, sharing her experiences and tips with thousands of followers on Instagramand TikTok. Her niche? Travel, of course.

On the solo trips that shaped her

Spain. Morocco. Colombia. Antigua. Those are just some of the destinations Nicole's ventured to on her own.

Her most memorable trip? "Colombia. I always feel most at peace and most comfortable there."

Nicole first visited Colombia in 2021; she spent a week-and instantly knew she'd be back. In 2023, she visited for a month. And this time, it was memorable for a different reason.

"I was exploring the Getsemani neighborhood in Cartagena, and I fell in love with a piece of art. The painting-featuring a Black woman as the focal point-was the first that ever spoke to me in such a way that I knew I needed to buy it."

But it's not just Colombia that Nicole recommends to her fellow solo travelers. Another top destination? Antigua.

"It's amazing. I'm from Florida (reminder: it's flat), so I'm a big fan of topography. The mountains there are beautiful; the beaches are beautiful. It's a gorgeous island that's not yet on a lot of people's radar-but it should be."

Related reading: TripIt Survey: Summer Travel Plans, Solo Trips, and Safety Risks

Thinking of planning a solo trip? Nicole had some advice: "If this is your first time traveling solo, start close to home with a domestic trip," she said. "You already understand the culture and language, but you'll still get the feeling of being on your own."

And, don't overthink it. "If you wait on people, you'll go nowhere," she quipped. "I always tell people: 'English is an international language'-and that's especially true if you're traveling to a popular tourist destination. Plus, pretty much all airports function the same, so you already know the ropes."

This is great advice for the many travelers heading out on solo trips in the year ahead: According to a recent TripIt surveyof 1,800 Americans, more than a quarter are planning a solo trip in 2024.

Staying organized-whether you plan ahead or book on the go

Solo travelers like Nicole can rely on TripIt to help them make informed decisions while on the go. Features like Neighborhood Safety Scoresshow the level of daytime and nighttime safety for the neighborhoods you're visiting. You can also share your travel planswith loved ones so they know where you are and how to get in touch.

Tip:You can access safety ratingsalong any point within your TripIt itinerary for more than 65,000 cities and neighborhoods, including scores for overall safety, health and medical, physical harm, women's safety, political freedoms, theft, and LGBTQ safety.

Part of staying safe on a trip is also being organized.

"Imagine planning a trip without having to lift a finger-that's TripIt," Nicole said. "Sometimes I book things and forget about them, but TripIt automatically keeps track of everything for me, creating a seamless itinerary I can access anytime."

A helpful feature when some of your itineraries come together at the last moment. "I'm always on the lookout for where elseI can go to get the most bang for my buck. When I was in Spain, I found an affordable flight to Morocco-and that's how I ended up in Marrakech."

Whether you plan ahead or book impromptu trips, you can automatically add your travel plans to TripIt by turning on Inbox Sync. That way, all of your plans-no matter where or when you booked them-are in one place.

And Nicole's final tip for staying organized on a trip? Set alarms. "I'm setting a 6 AM alarm to wake up, a 6:30 AM alarm for breakfast, and a 7 AM alarm to catch the bus to the airport."

TL;DR: When it comes to travel-and launching your own business-timing iseverything.

Want more of Nicole's solo travel tips? Follow her on Instagramor TikTok. And catch up on all Going Placesfeatures to learn new travel tips, discover underrated destinations, and more.

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