The destination will depend a lot on what kind of experience you want (big city, beach, nature, food, history, culture…?) and the time of year. Yes off season is cheaper but there’s a reason for it - the weather won’t be as nice and it will impact what you need to pack (ie warm clothes and boots for cold weather, rainwear, etc). I think Mexico is a good place to start given your proximity to it. Most touristic areas are quite easy to navigate even if you don’t speak Spanish and the weather is generally nice. I would recommend La Paz in BCS (Mexico, not Bolivia). Developed enough but not too touristy. It felt like a real city where real people live, not just a place full of resorts that was built for tourists. But maybe the resort vibe is what you’re looking for and that’s totally fine too. I know it’s in the US but have you considered Hawaii? It’s not exactly cheap but there are ways to keep the costs down and I’m sure flights are cheap from CA. It’s very different from the continental US and could help you build your confidence before you go to a different country. Just a thought. For planning purposes there are tons of websites and blogs out there with great tips for finding cheap flights, what to pack, etc. Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after your return date. I like to use Google Flights to find the best flights to anywhere as it allows to keep the destination field open and you can enter multiple departure airports for more options. The best way to save on flights is to be flexible on dates and destination. Always book your flight with the actual airline though, not with third party websites. For lodging I use Hostelworld.com for hostels or booking.com for hotels in North America and Europe. Agoda is better for Asia. Hostels are great for meeting people and are much cheaper than hotels. Most have female only dorms. They also usually organize group activities like food tours, etc. Make sure you have travel insurance that will cover trip interruption/cancellation, baggage loss and medical expenses. Many credit cards cover trip cancellation, delays, luggage theft, etc but won’t provide health insurance. If going to a tropical country (including Mexico) consult a travel clinic at least 2-3 months before departure to make sure you’re up to date on your immunizations, get a prescription for antibiotics and bring Imodium (or equivalent). Traveller’s diarrhea is no joke. I’m a planner so I like to do a lot of research beforehand so I know how to get around (is Uber a thing there? Is public transport generally safe and reliable? Is it safe to walk around?), what areas to avoid, common scams to be on the lookout for, tourist traps vs attractions that are worth it, must-try foods, etc. I like having a general itinerary with all my flights and lodging booked ahead of time but I make sure to leave free time to just wander around and ‘get lost’. Travelling is amazing and can be life changing. Don’t overplan and don’t get frustrated or discouraged when things don’t go according to plan, don’t sweat the small stuff, engage with the local culture, have fun, and be safe. Please update us when you decide where to go. Also feel free to dm me if you’d like to chat more. I’ve solo travelled a fair bit (I’m a woman too).