Tips for traveling solo

Are you someone who likes to travel, live adventures, walk through the city, try new things...but never alone? Don't worry, leave fear, anguish, dread, and worries of being alone behind and start living one of the best experiences in life: TRAVELING ALONE.

Surely at some point in your life you have considered traveling alone with your backpack on your back and exploring the world; but when the time comes to do it, doubts start to arise: How do I...? Or What if...? and a thousand more questions. You, STAY CALM, because now we are going to give you some tips to stop asking yourself so many questions and start walking alone around the world.

1. Simple Planning:

You don't need to plan every detail of your trip, not the accommodation for every night. The basics are to book the first night, as a solo traveler, what you will need is a safe place upon arrival, so you can settle in, get to know your location, adapt a bit, and start planning your itinerary for the following days.

Photo: mindfultravelbysara

2. Choose a destination according to your experience:

India, Australia, or some place in Africa are probably at the top of your list of destinations to visit, but don't worry, the time will come to travel to those places; As this is your first solo trip, we recommend evaluating your travel skills and experience, choose a destination that aligns with this and your travel expectations.

Photo: Turismomundial

3. Arrive early at your destination:

Arriving at night makes any place look more intimidating. Arriving late in the day makes it difficult to change your accommodation if you realize it wasn't a great choice. Try to schedule your trip so that you arrive not too late and have more options to go out and explore or make any last-minute changes.

Photo: Styleshockvisual

4. Secure everything you carry:

Make sure everything is locked or at least stored in a VERY secure place. If you are going to share a hostel room, you CANNOT go without a couple of padlocks to secure your belongings. You can also hide your money, documents, and cards in different places like inside your flashlight or a pill bottle. If someone snoops in your backpack, they probably won't take the "aspirin."

Photo: Lavanguardia

5. Slow down your trip:

Enjoy your destination, you don't have to see EVERYTHING in a city in just one day. Prioritize your interests, your tastes, and your budget. It is very common in a new city to try to go from one place to another non-stop and end the day too tired to remember the places you visited. Take your time to enjoy each experience, not all memories and sensations fit into a photograph: Go out, walk, look, eat, smell, touch, explore, and discover this new world around you.

Photo: Mochilerostv

6. Learn a little of everything:

In every trip, you have the opportunity to meet new places and people, take advantage of each moment to exchange ideas or plans, in accommodations you will learn a lot about the customs and cultures of your roommates, don't be alarmed if something seems too strange, you are experiencing and learning, take it that way. Be flexible and make your trip an enriching experience for your whole life.

Photo: Cairnsunlimited

7. Always stay safe:

Solo travelers are responsible for their own safety, so be attentive at all times. Safety is a big issue, but basically, you should follow your instincts and the safety rules you use at home. Have emergency numbers and details of where you are going to stay. If you go out at night to have fun, choose very carefully who you are going out with and stay sober, remember that no one can take care of you better than yourself.

*Extra Tip: Have Fun

There are thousands of bits of advice that can be given, but in reality, a little common sense and a big smile are what is really needed for a good time.

 

See also:

• 10 apps every traveler needs.
• How to camp in the rain
• How to combat altitude sickness
• What to pack in your adventure backpack?