“You must go on adventures to find out where you belong”- Sue Fitzmaurice
Solo trip is not a simple vacation but an adventure, a lifetime experience you keep treasured in your heart and mind. It is one of the best experiences for a person who seeks thrill from life. Travelling alone lets you into a whole new spectrum of life, gives you a new perspective and outlook at life and is also one of the finest opportunities to discover all of your prospective talents, flaws, and life possibilities. Solo travel is the ultimate self-indulgence. The trip enables you to do whatever you want, go wherever you want, choose your own challenges and activities, make your own mistakes, learn from them, and, in general, triumph through it all with a sense of exhilaration. Furthermore, if you go on a solo trip, the one thing you will enjoy is freedom. The feeling is incomparable, and you’ll be glad you went on your own.
This, today, is all about the simple tips, hacks and ideas that I wished someone had given to me before I took my first ever solo trip, before I stepped out to explore the world all by myself. It’s just a slight bit of guidance a first timer could use while planning for a solo trip, some safety measures, especially for the solo female travellers, while on the trip and some ideas to help them make their trips more exciting and more memorable.
And while one thing might be subjective for another person, I bet everyone will find something in here, by the end, which will help them make their trip a little better and their experience a unique one.
The first step towards a solo trip and by any means the most important one is to plan the trip. Planning about the journey, the destination, the accommodation, the duration of the trip, or atleast the estimated duration of the trip. Start thinking about the possibilities that come with travelling alone. Make that a part of your plan. If you want to have a creative travel experience, I recommend you to plan for everything until you get there. It is recommended that you have everything in order before embarking on your adventure since you are travelling alone. The plan does not need to be highly thorough, but the traveller should have a general idea of what is going on in order to avoid a rocky ride. Getting your hotel reservations in advance is an essential part of the preparations.
It is critical that you learn more about the location you intend to visit as part of your preparation process. Therefore , it is strongly essential that you conduct extensive research about the location you will be visiting. This involves knowing about the area’s nooks and crannies. To avoid getting fooled by the locals, find out as much as you can about the location, the food, the means of transportation, the cost of certain places from where you’re staying, and so on. Spend some time here to save time on your journey.
You may even opt for hostels for your accommodations. When you’re travelling alone, hostels are a terrific location to meet other travellers. They are frequently packed with tourists of all ages and provide free events where you may meet and befriend people who share your interests. Like you, the majority of individuals you’ll meet at hostels are single travellers. Hostels are an excellent way to learn about the location you’re visiting. You may simply ask other tourists and hostel staff for recommendations on things to do, see, and eat.
However, don’t over-plan and keep your options open. Allow for some exploration time. You can only spend a bit more time at the market, linger over a coffee in an outside café, or take that journey into the mountains that you hadn’t considered if you have additional time in your plan. Be flexible enough to act on recommendations or possibilities that come from these fortuitous meetings. There are times when you need to be flexible and toss the timetable out the window.
Also read: Travelling Alone? Explore The Challenges Of Solo Travels
The next step or and a potential travel tip from one traveller to another, pack light, and this I can say from my own personal experience. When planning a solo vacation, one of the most important things to remember is to pack light. Distances on such trips might be enormous, and sometimes there is no way to go around them. You don’t want to be carrying huge luggage when you have to travel somewhere, especially if you don’t have somebody to help you. Bringing as little as possible is essential.
Setting out everything you want to carry and then taking out half of it is one travel tip for packing light. Keep just the travel essentials and items that you really need with you, like the portable chargers, camera and the medicines that you would need. If you can simply pack a carry-on and a small day bag, your excursions will be a lot easier. As a result, packing your luggage according to what you can carry yourself in an easy-to-handle way is preferred. Bring nothing that will attract attention to yourself. When you’re on the road, it’s better to leave all of your lovely jewellery at home and stick to more earthy jewellery.
Another crucial point to remember is to arrive at your location throughout the day. It can be a little dangerous while travelling to a new location. As a result, arriving at the location during the day is preferable. Apart from big metropolitan centres, most areas are empty at night, thus it is recommended that travellers arrive during the day to enable them to navigate an unknown place with the support of residents.
When travelling alone, strangers are the only companionship you have for the duration of your journey. As a result, it is advised that the traveller mix with the other people along the path. Trains and buses have been the cornerstone locations of enduring friendships on several occasions. The major goal of a solo vacation is to explore without inhibitions, and the best way to do so is to get to know the people, not just people you meet on the trip but also the locals of the area you’re travelling to. Apart from mere exploration, such encounters can also guide the tourist better than travel guides.
Apart from knowing people, learning the language of the country you’re going to is also crucial, since it will allow you to immerse yourself in the culture and make friends with the locals. It can also help you feel more confident while asking for directions, making a purchase, or dining at a restaurant.
Observing, investigating, and discovering new things while travelling solo is an essential recommendation. When you’re alone, it’s your observation skills that help you make the greatest decisions. Everything is a learning platform preparing the traveller for what may befall him, whether it is a talk among strangers or an event along the route; learning along the way will only benefit the traveller in unfathomable ways. Going out alone is a unique and interesting experience in many ways. Any location, whether it’s the movies, pubs, clubs, or theatre, may be visited on its own. It is strongly advised that the lone traveller immerse himself in fresh experiences at every stop. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new language or something else. Everything works well as a means to learn about the place and pass the time.
Going off the beaten path and exploring the unknown is one of the finest ways to meet an offbeat traveller like you. It’s not the popular tourist destinations, which are overrun with people, but the off-the-beaten-path destinations, which have less visitors, that attract travellers eager to discover areas on their own. It’s also a good idea to join organised trips where you’ll be able to meet other tourists. Such passengers assist in the exchange of information about the location and the trip.
A major tip for all solo travellers is to carry proper identification documents and avoid carrying large sums of money and constantly stay in touch with someone back home, keep them informed of where you’re going and about your whereabouts. These might come off as unnecessary but are of utmost importance for one’s safety.
A little self-assurance may go a long way. When you appear to know where you’re going, you’re less likely to be targeted by someone attempting to exploit the weak. Keep your head up, establish lots of eye contact, and seem as though you’re familiar with the area. Don’t appear lost if you’re strolling along an unknown street or if you’re lost. Always present yourself as though you know where you’re headed. Act as though you own the area or have lived there for a long time. Confidence is crucial, especially when travelling alone. It will enable you to ask questions and connect with people. It’s also a good idea to learn how to read a map so you can better grasp your route and position and to avoid places that are dangerous for you to venture in, alone.
Another important tip is to blend in. It is one one of my favourite solo travel tips since it is both courteous and enjoyable. There’s no better way to learn about a new culture than to follow in the footsteps of the natives. Dressing like a native will also help you blend in, which may be very beneficial when travelling alone and fitting in is the greatest method to avoid attracting the notice of purveyors and fraudsters. It’s a bonus to be able to blend in and appear to be a local. Do extensive study about the location, its surroundings, and the types of clothing worn by locals; otherwise, you will appear to be a tourist. It’s not difficult, and you’ll be able to do it.
Learn how to strike up a conversation with complete strangers. It’s difficult to strike up a conversation with strangers, especially if you’re an introvert. These interactions, on the other hand, may be game-changing, if not life-changing. Make use of the knowledge and expertise of the individuals you encounter. You’ll encounter more people and locals as a single traveller than as part of a group. Inquire of a traveller or a local about the best thing they’ve done so far, or the finest hidden gem restaurant in the neighbourhood. Your journey will be immensely enhanced by the individuals you meet and the advice they provide.
I would also advise all solo travellers to experience everything native, from the food to the mode of transportation in the destination. There’s nothing like trying out some of the local food. It provides you a fresh perspective on the culture, history, and geography of your chosen location. There’s always a purpose for a certain cuisine, which you may discover with your taste senses and your thinking. Also travelling long distances in a foreign country might often be too expensive. Before leaving, it is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the local transportation system or obtain full information from your lodging.
Shop in the same places that the locals do. Go to the supermarket or the street where all of the specialised merchants are. Explore the shops frequented by the locals. Participate in local events. Whether it’s a street festival or a sporting event, these are chances to rub elbows with locals, gain insight into their culture, and maybe strike up a discussion.
Also read: What’s your motivation to travel?
However, as important as connecting with people and letting people know about yourself is I would suggest you to not overdo yourself and to overindulge in conversations that require you to overshare about yourself to a stranger. One of the silliest mistakes you can do is to start with your specifics and reveal everything about yourself without knowing who the person in front of you is. Being a little wary of the individuals you encounter can help you assess them fairly and hence protect you from any traps or pitfalls.
One of the most basic laws of solo travel is not to show off your pricey jewellery and electronic equipment to strangers. Such a display of your possessions puts you at a significant danger of being robbed and attracting unwanted attention.
When a traveller is alone, he is responsible for his belongings. As a result, it is critical for the solitary traveller to take the best possible care of his goods. It is recommended that you keep all of your things in one bag, including your passport, wallet, camera, phone, and cash, and that you take special care of it.
One of the most difficult aspects of travelling alone is the inability to take your own images, and I don’t mean selfies. A lone traveller must master a variety of new talents, one of which is the ability to capture your own photographs for the perfect memories. It’s not just the locations that matter; it’s also how you interact with them.
Be proactive. Make a request for assistance. Standing about bewildered will not get you where you want to go, and it may attract the wrong kind of attention. Ask for assistance with a smile.
I would also put in a tip to give you more time to make memories on your solo trip. Get an early start on your day to make your vacation a bit more thrilling and memorable. Find others who share your passions and interests and connect with them. Tours and courses are available during the day. When you pepper your autonomous travel with city tours, culinary courses, and other activities, you’re giving yourself opportunities to learn more about your location while also getting some social time.
Another thing to keep in mind when travelling alone is that The first and last days of a journey can be quite stressful. While the first day is filled with worry as you adjust to being alone in a new city, the last day is filled with sadness as you prepare to leave the new city that has been your home for a while. During these two days, sentiments and emotions will undoubtedly be at their highest. As a result, it’s critical that you realise it and refrain from being too harsh on yourself. Do not spend all of your money on your first day in the city. Arriving alone in a new place might be challenging. try to take as much time as you need. Take a day to unwind, see how the city operates, and settle in. Similarly, don’t put all of your effort on the final day. Leave it to rest and savour the memories of a wonderful journey.
Lastly, One of the finest pieces of advice I’ve ever received is that solo travels might be daunting, at first, if you’re not used to spending time alone, but they’re one of the best things you’ll ever do for yourself. I propose that everyone attempt travelling solo at least once in their lives. You can and should plan a single trip even if you’re married or have children. You discover a lot about yourself, including your likes and dislikes. It makes you a stronger and more self-assured individual. It’s one of the most fulfilling things you’ll ever do.
Also read: Dealing With Post Vacation Depression? Here Are Some Tips
