Travel can be educational, enlightening and fun – doing it alone can be probably the most liberating things you can do in your life. However, traveling alone must be well planned and researched so that your adventure goes according to plan, and you are protected from potential hazards. Here are 5 great tips for solo travelers
Plan
Before you go on any adventure, you should make a plan of action. Decide where you want to go, how long it will take and how much it will cost.
Once you know what your budget is, you can decide which places you want to visit. Do you want to live in your own country, or do you want to travel overseas? Do you want a week in the sun, a few months of backpacking around the globe, or a weekend city break? If you want to have a structured and arranged adventure, you may want to consider a cruise where each excursion is prearranged and all you must do is wander on and off the ship. Whatever you decide, the very first thing you need to do is locate accommodation and transportation.
Look for accommodations that accept single guests and don’t charge for one person. Make sure the place is in a safe area and perhaps ask for a room on the ground floor or at least near the elevator so you are not walking alone down long abandoned corridors. Sometimes a bed and breakfast or Air BnB is friendlier than a large hotel, and you may feel a bit more safe and at home in such accommodations.
Book flights or other forms of transportation that will arrive at your destination during the day, so you haven’t got to look for lodgings in the middle of the night and unfamiliar territory. Try traveling with a large group of individuals rather than taking a taxi alone. After your flight, pre-arrange transportation to take you from the airport to your hotel so you are not stranded at the airport for hours waiting for a ride.
Arrange some travel insurance before you go that will cover you for medical emergencies or other unexpected circumstances that may occur.
Take care
Safety is of the utmost importance when you’re traveling alone, and particularly if you’re a lady. When in a foreign land, you do not all the time know one district from the next and you may be in a less healthful area. Before you travel, it may be helpful to attend self-defence classes or even bring personal protective equipment such as pepper gel or an electronic personal alarm, so you are better prepared should the worst occur.
When exploring new environments, be smart and stick to well-lit areas at night or start early in the morning, eat your main meal at lunch and then go to bed early and do not go out at night at all. If you actually want to go out at night, try not to get drunk on drugs and booze, stick to bars and restaurants in crowded places and trust your instincts if you feel something or someone is not ‘right’ .
Before you leave, give family and friends copies of your itinerary in addition to contact details of all the places you are staying. Make sure to regularly contact your loved ones either by phone, e-mail or online social platforms.
Pack Properly
Always have plenty of additional cash for emergencies. Buy some local currency in addition to some traveler’s checks and credit or debit cards. Carry your cash in a money belt that you can hide under your clothes. Keep valuables in the safe if possible, or lock them in a suitcase when you’re away from the accommodation.
Pack some emergency first aid supplies in your suitcase and a wide range of clothing for every kind of weather and eventualities. Bring enough of your own toiletries to last so long as possible as you may not be capable to get the same brand at your destination, and if you have sensitive skin, surrogate foreign creams can be disastrous. Remember to pack any medicine you are currently taking or may need in an emergency.
Don’t pack too much and carry lots of heavy clothes and shoes because you’ll find it difficult to carry all of your belongings and there will be nobody to help you.
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Try not to look like a tourist when in a foreign country, otherwise you may end up being ostracized by robbers and the low life. Try to blend in with the locals by dressing similarly, and if you are a woman, do not show off an indecent amount of meat. Check the beliefs and customs of the destination before you go to see if you’re required to dress or act in a certain way when in public.
Before your trip, you can study local Language, which will help you blend in and better understand signs, menus, locals and tv, making your journey easier and possibly more enjoyable. Try chatting with the staff at your hotel or cafe as they may offer you advice on good places to go and places to avoid.
EnjoyF
OK, so you should take extra care when traveling alone than you would if you had a companion, but do not let that put you off the adventure of a lifetime. When you are traveling alone, the world is your oyster. You haven’t got to answer anyone else, and you can go wherever you want every time you want. You can skydive one day and laze on the beach the next without having to fulfill anyone else’s demands. Remember to document your trip well for your and your grandchildren’s future enjoyment. You might want to keep a diary, start an online blog about your travels, or simply post lots of photos on social media sites – just remember to pack selfie stick!
