Travelling alone is one of the greatest ways to travel, as it enables one to tour more with less hindrance. Solo travel allows for the ability to do as one feels, decide on the fly, and travel to exotic places free from the influence of others.
But first-time travelling solo also comes with some challenges. Being on our own for safety and security as well as getting lost can cause lots of stress; nonetheless, one should prepare himself or herself to travel, as travelling is one of the best things that make a person change.
Pre-Travel Preparation
1. Research Your Destination Thoroughly
- Research the recommended time to travel to reduce cases of crowded or unfavourable weather conditions.
- Before the trip, choose buses, trains, or taxis and familiarize yourself with the city transport facilities.
2. Plan but stay flexible.
- Booking accommodations and the major attractions can be done beforehand, but do not hire a guide to schedule all the hours of the day.
- If you are flexible, anyone might find themselves cheering for their favourite band or making new friends.
3. Keep important documents safe and secure.
- Let a travel wallet contain your passport, flight tickets, visas, and other documents that are important on your trip.
- While it’s recommendable to have a physical set of these documents on your phone and in cloud storage, it’s wise to give someone at home photocopies of all these papers.
4. Book Accommodation in Safe, Well-Reviewed Areas
- Check before you give your business to anyone, especially if you are travelling solo, by going through reviews on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
- Think about choosing hostels or hotels where the majority of guests are individuals who travel alone since such places can provide more great opportunities.
5. Carry a backup credit card and some cash.
- Keep the backup credit card in some other place than where you keep your main wallet or purse.
- The practice would be to make sure you have some cash on you in local currency in case you meet entrepreneurs who do not accept cards.
Safety and Security
6. Learn Basic Local Language Phrases
- Even a set of basic words, including “Hi,” “Thank you,” and “Where is…” are very useful in such interactions.
- For translation, you may download apps like Duolingo or Google Translate to help translate words or phrases more suitable for everyday use.
7. Trust your instincts
- People should be most cautious when something or someone makes them uncomfortable to share the same space with them.
- Always remember that it is safer to look for your feelings than to second-guess them.
8. Stay connected with family or friends.
- Try to follow some sort of plan of calling or texting a family member or friend at a designated time during the trip.
- To communicate with others, do so in the use of energy-wasting apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and FaceTime even without cellular energy use.
9. Share Your Travel Itinerary with Someone Back Home
- Flights, where you will be staying, and what you intend to do while in the country.
- You should then update them if you change your mind about your plans or you wish to expand to new locations.
10. Pack Light but Smart
- Wear weather-friendly clothing that is simple, stretchy, and easily folded so that one can put on layers as the weather changes.
- Take things like mini packs of basic toiletries, a portable charger, and a mini-first aid kit.
Financial and Document Safety
11. Have copies of important documents (passports, IDs).
- Copy your passport, identification, and visa on paper.
- Maintain hard copies on your mobile phone and also send them to your email account for quick reference.
12. Use a money belt or concealed pouch.
- It’s best to wear it under clothes and avoid situations where you pull it out at different places.
- Have all of your money and all of your cards in the pouch, along with emergency money in the 1-inch wallet.
13. Avoid flashing valuables
- As much as possible, refrain from using your phone and camera, especially in crowded places popular with tourists.
- Avoid ostentatious accessories such as necklaces or rings, and avoid walking around with fancy-looking handbags.
Navigating Your Destination Safely
14. Stay in Public, Well-Lit Areas at Night
- Only park where there are lots of people during the day and where there are a lot of lights around.
- Do not walk for long distances, especially at night, because it is not so safe. Try using public means, or even better, hire a boda-boda.
15. Join group tours for company and safety.
- Search for one-day trips or guided trips with well-reviewed tour companies.
- Select tours that suit your passion for either the viewpoint, the action point, or the culture point.
16. Be Confident When Interacting with Locals
- Swallow a lot and be assertive in your body language and when interacting with other people.
- If any of you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, do not shy away from getting up and leaving the place.
Communication and Technology
17. Use a Reliable Travel App for Directions
- When it comes to navigation, get apps such as Google Maps or Maps. If you’ll be going off the beaten track or you prefer walking.
- Most travel applications have offline maps, so as you plan, pre-download the maps of your intended destination in case you run out of internet connection.
18. Avoid getting intoxicated in unfamiliar places.
- When alone, the fridge matters; stick to the session drinking or limited amounts of alcohol.
- Do not share a drink with others and do not lose sight of your drink.
19. Know local emergency numbers.
- Find emergency services such as police, fire, and medical emergency numbers.
- The people of the country should copy these numbers on their phones, and they should also be written somewhere because one does not know where one will find a dead phone.
20. Dress Modestly to Blend In with Locals
- Be mindful of daily cultural practices that are common in the country you are visiting, including dress codes.
- It may be required that, in some countries, you dress conservatively or wear clothes that reveal your shoulders, knees, or head.
Personal Safety
21. Take Photos of Taxi Plates or Drivers If Unsure
- Take a simple picture before entering and then share it on your accredited social media account.
- It’s safer if you order your taxi through an application such as Uber or Lyft because all the rides are tracked.
22. Stay at Accommodations That Cater to Solo Travelers
- When searching for accommodation, concentrate on the hostels or guesthouses for individual tourists with positive feedback.
- There are some hotels and Airbnb accommodations, which provide an opportunity to organize a social area or a specific event to communicate with people for lonely travellers.
23. Register with Your Embassy in Case of Emergencies
- You should also look if your country has any travel registration service (like STEP for Americans).
- Registration makes it easier for the embassy to get to your aid in case of an emergency or contact your family.
24. Learn About Local Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Discover which tourist scams are common for the country or city you are going to visit.
- Trust your instincts and do not fall easily for people who approach you, claim they are loyal, utility personnel offering assistance, or those who want to get close and personal with you.
Smart Travel Habits
25. Stay aware of your surroundings
- Prescribe against activities such as the tendency to be very much involved with your phone or have earphones on while you are in public places.
- The locals are friendly, and one has to take care, especially from pickpocketing and conmen when touring particularly crowded attractions.
26. Join Online Travel Communities for Advice
- Review sites such as TripAdvisor have pages for forums and conversations that cater to the topic of single travel; there are pages on the Reddit platform dedicated to this topic (r/solotravel); and even travel groups and communities on Facebook.
- These communities are also good for getting the latest information about your desired destination.
27. Avoid Sharing Too Much Personal Information with Strangers
- Do not say where you are lodged, your full name, or tell anyone the details of your movements.
- If someone shows extraordinary interest in your private life, then just tell them that is off-limits for conversation without further argument.
28. Try to arrive at new destinations during the day.
- Avoid travelling, especially during the night, to increase your chance of confronting the spirits.
- Daytime arrivals also mean it is easy to locate your hotel or other form of accommodation, and movements in major cities are facilitated through railways, buses, and other forms of transport.
Staying Healthy and Energized
29. Keep a Portable Charger for Your Phone
- Buy a good portable charger and always have it with you, especially when you are touring most of the day catching sightseeing specials.
- Also, always make sure you fully charge your charger before you leave for the day.
30. Bring a Small First Aid Kit
- Bring duplicates of first aid kits, disinfecting wipes, pain medications, and any other prescription drugs you may require.
- Carrying kits are portable and convenient to be carried along in your backpack or any small travel bag you may have.
31. Stay Hydrated and Well-Nourished
- Bring a reusable water bottle and make regular drinking water consumption, especially when you are in very hot countries.
- Ensure you take your meals and pack fruits, nuts, and other economical foods in case you will be travelling for many hours.
32. Learn About the Local Customs and Etiquette
- Learn about the culture: tipping, distances to keep, and how to greet the culture’s people.
- Depending on the level of conservatism in the country, one should closely follow the behaviour of residents to prevent being in very close contact.
Navigating safely and comfortably
33. Choose Familiar and Reliable Transportation Options
- Avoid using unfamiliar transport services, for example, random cars or unsanctioned taxi services.
- Whenever it is possible, one can inquire about the transport potential and availabilities and even book a means in advance.
34. Carry a small personal alarm or whistle
- Carry the alarm or whistle with you in your pocket or hang it from a keychain.
- To keep away from the guy you do not know or if you are in a place you do not feel safe, you can use it.
35. Have an Emergency Contact Saved on Your Phone
- Designate an emergency contact with a close family member or a friend and make sure the label is well understood.
- Create codes on your phone that would inform someone in case you are in a fix.
Connecting with Others
36. Make Friends, but Be Cautious About Trust
- Be friendly and ready for communication, but always trust your intuition, and don’t share any information that you don’t want to share with strangers.
- Be cautious with people when proposing that you live with them or go on vacation together.
37. Download offline maps
- To explore the given areas, one should download map applications such as Google Maps or Citymapper.
- It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the downloaded maps before going out.
38. Keep a List of Important Local Contacts
- Keep a record of local area hospitals, police stations, and also your place of stay contact numbers.
- It’s useful to keep a printed list of the vaccine names, especially in your documents and phone contact list.
39. Try Not to Look Like a Tourist
- Adhere to their dress code, and as much as possible, ensure that you dress almost like them.
- Do not bring big cameras or cameras in general or wear ostentatious jewellery.
Managing Stress and Expectations
40. Take a Break If You Feel Overwhelmed
- Take time to relax and meditate during those travel plans you have made for yourself.
- Take a break and find a peaceful café, park, or hotel to sit in; sometimes just a break is enough.
41. Use public Wi-Fi Carefully; Avoid Sensitive Transactions
- To safely browse when you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network (VPN).
- Minimize the use of sensitive accounts, such as banking apps, or typing of personal details while connected to them.
42. Always Check Reviews Before Booking Services
- Relevant information should also be accessed using TripAdvisor, Booking.com, or Airbnb to read about other people’s experiences.
- This means that to determine what prospective visitors will be getting, one should focus on the reviews posted within the year.
43. Be open to new experiences, but stay cautious.
- Take risks, but be smart when it comes to opportunities concerning your work or personal life. If the situation is making one feel uncomfortable, they shouldn’t feel like they have to stick it out.
- Attend group exercises or sightseeing to mingle with the rest as well as develop tour sources of experiential learning.
44. Stay in Hostels to Meet Fellow Travelers
- To enable students to create times for socializing, choose hostels that have good ratings from other users or shared areas such as kitchens or living rooms.
- Most of the hostels also have trips and things to do and see set for travellers, so finding people to share the experience with is also easy.
45. Have a List of Things to Do If Plans Fall Through
- Don’t sit inside a theme park for long; search and write down other attractions, restaurants, or experiences that appeal to you.
- DO NOT lose focus on your list, as it will assist you in a change of plan if the initial plans fail.
46. Don’t Be Afraid to Say No to Uncomfortable Situations
- Do not accept invitations that make you feel uncomfortable; you should kindly say no to strangers or anything suspicious.
- Hold the line and do not apologize for deciding to take care of yourself.
47. Keep Small Bills and Change Handy
- Use small change or request the change when paying for something with bigger money.
- For the bus or a cup of coffee, pay with a coin to avoid the fact that you do not have small changes with you.
48. Take Pictures of Important Landmarks for Reference
- Take pictures of your accommodation, station, or popular places to avoid getting lost while going back.
- Do not just use the camera to capture events and moments, but turn on your mind and be aware of people around while taking pictures.
49. Get Travel Insurance
- Always be keen and consult and compare the insurance policy that will meet the activities you will be undertaking.
- It is recommended to always carry the details of your insurance policies when you are travelling in a pocket in case you need to claim something on the road.
50. Relax, Enjoy, and Trust Yourself
- Spend time and look forward to seeing the world, make friends, and always cherish every moment as it happens.
- Use your head and your common sense for a lifetime; it will help you.