Blog – Flying Solo to an International Conference? A Survival Guide

If you are a PhD student or postdoc, conferences are just part of the job. Your university and your supervisory team will likely encourage you to attend multiple conferences so that you can tell the world about your fabulous research. However, there may be occasions when you are asked to go alone. Whether your supervisor has other commitments, someone falls ill, others in the team don’t have the right expertise for the scope… it happens. This can seem like quite an intimidating experience, especially when the conference is overseas. You have to get to the airport, board a plane to another country and navigate around somewhere brand new all by yourself. However, there is no need to be afraid. A solo conference trip can be a truly enriching experience.

The first time I did this myself I, too, was quite scared. I can be quite an anxious person with a tendency to catastrophise. Now, however, I have travelled solo to international conferences more than ten times and, in some ways, it can actually be better than going with a group. Today, I want to share some of my top tips that can help you ease the anxiety of a solo trip and hopefully allow you to get the most out of your international adventure. I must note a disclaimer, however. I am male, 6’3 and thus, I have to recognise that I have a level of privilege that other attendees may not. There are certain situations I can put myself in and not have to plan for the worst case scenario because I am a man. I will, however, do my best to pass on tips that are useful to all.

Get the trip started the RIGHT way

What do I mean by this? It’s simple. If you can start with the lowest level of anxiety that is possible, you set a much better tone for how the rest of your trip will go. That means getting the airport portion of the trip perfect. Airports can be a stressful place, especially when you are by yourself. The beauty of solo travel though, is that you are the only person that dictates your schedule. Pack the day before, if you have a carry on make sure you comply with liquids rules and get to the airport one hour earlier than the recommendation for your flight. You have two choices, wait an hour at home and then leave, or leave 1 hour early and wait on the right side of the stressful security checks with a coffee (or wine) with the knowledge that all you have to do now is walk to your flight. The latter sounds much nicer doesn’t it?

Sort out an e-SIM before you go

A lot of bad things are said about mobile phones and, a lot of the time, the criticism is justified. When you are travelling solo, however, your phone is a great mental and social crutch. That is a crutch that you will need for your trip. There is a level of comfort that comes from knowing that, no matter where you are in the world, you have the ability to contact people, find a route back to your hotel, find an interesting place nearby or book a taxi right at your fingertips. But beyond practicalities, your phone can also help you stay socially connected while traveling alone. Whether it’s joining virtual communities, engaging with other conference attendees on social media, or simply sharing updates with friends and family, your device becomes a bridge to the world when you need it most. Instead of being just a distraction, your phone can enhance your experience, helping you navigate, stay informed, and make the most of your solo adventure. This is why an e sim is so important. In a lot of countries your phone access is limited. Get an e sim and it will work just like it does at home. When I was in Korea I spent around £25 on one via an app called Airolo and it was the best 25 quid I have ever spent. Before you go, find out if you need one, buy it and learn how to use it so it is ready when you need it.

Long haul flight? Time to relax

When you travel solo it’s easy to look negatively upon a long-haul flight. In reality, it can be an absolute blessing. It seems like these days it gets harder and harder to find time where you can truly unplug. On a long-haul flight, you can’t really do much else. Your phone is disconnected which means no constant stream of notifications or demands. The pressures of everyday life are on pause, and you can just sit, relax and watch a film or two. It’s a chance to have a bit of you time and gives you the opportunity to meditate on the trip. I like to get a Lonely Planet travel guide to wherever I am going in the airport so that in this down time I can earmark some touristy stuff to do around the conference. On top of that, a flight can spark inspiration. Sometimes, just sitting with nothing but a view of the sky inspires creative thinking or allows for mental clarity. In a way, the long flight transitions from being an inconvenience to a form of freedom – a space to recharge, reconnect with yourself, and truly unplug in a way that’s hard to find in our constantly connected lives.

Arrive a few days before the conference and get to know the area

This next tip brings multiple advantages. Firstly, anxiety about a solo conference trip is commonly a result of fear of the unknown. You are heading somewhere totally new by yourself. Getting there a few days early and checking in to your hotel allows you to time to establish a base camp. A place you can retire to each evening that is familiar and comfortable. You now have a few days to go and see where the conference venue is and work out the easiest way to get there that causes you the least amount of stress. Furthermore, you have time to get over any jet lag and enjoy the experience of being in somewhere totally new. You can go and see some of those tourist attractions you might have looked at on the flight, try the local cuisine and generally get accustomed to this new part of the world. By the time the conference starts you will be going in from a position of comfort, not one of anxiety. It’s the best way to do it in my opinion.

Speak to people and ask them questions

I could spend another 10 pages with travel tips but I will end it on this one because I think it could prove to be the most important. You have travelled alone to this conference but it does not need to remain this way. A conference is a networking experience so go to the socials and get to know people. If you’re not comfortable going up to people at large events, attend the poster sessions. Poster sessions provide a structured environment where you can approach presenters, giving you a clear entry point for conversations. The people there are expecting attendees that they don’t know to try and talk to them. Discuss shared interests or challenges based on the research presented, which helps keep the conversation flowing naturally. You’d be surprised by how often this can evolve into wider conversations. Before you know it, you have multiple familiar faces that will relieve that sense of isolation when attending the conference each day. People you can sit with, have lunch with, socialise with after the conference; this makes a big difference.

Traveling solo to a conference can seem daunting but it is a genuine opportunity to grow personally and professionally. While it may feel challenging at first, embracing the journey allows you to discover new places, form valuable connections, and engage with your field in a deeper way. Get it right and you expand your horizons and make new connections. Every time you do that you create opportunities that could shape where your career goes next.

Dr Sam Moxon

Author

Dr Sam Moxon is a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham. His expertise falls on the interface between biology and engineering. His PhD focussed on regenerative medicine and he now works on trying to develop 3D bioprinting techniques with human stem cells, so that we better understand and treat degenerative diseases. Outside of the lab he hikes through the Lake District and is an expert on all things Disney.

Follow @DrSamMoxon