Nothing is as exciting as traveling alone because you travel on your own terms and you don’t need to vote for which place you need to visit first. Therefore, traveling alone is easy, and you get time to think outside your daily life.
However, it can be challenging and scary if you have never traveled solo. Here are some travel tips that will make your own journey successful.
Save Enough before the Trip
Traveling as a group is cheap because you get to split up most of the bills. However, when traveling solo, you take care of everything by yourself. For this reason, if you want to have a successful trip, you need to save up enough money to avoid being stuck at any point.
Also, this is the stage where you plan your budget. Have a written budget and be responsible enough not to go above it. Chances are, by this time, you already know your destination and the hotel that you will be booking. Therefore, all you need to do when budgeting is checking the hotel’s meals prices and the amenities that you can afford in your destination.
Carry a Neck Pillow
When traveling alone, you may spend most of the time sleeping during the travel itself and a few minutes chatting with your neighbor. It’s often awkward to rest your neck on the seat itself, so you may have neck pain once you arrive at your destination. As such, a neck pillow supports your head in a straight posture, giving you a comfortable sleep.
Also, the pillow holds your head, preventing you from falling side to side when sleeping, which also contributes to neck pains. If you are on a very long flight you may be watching the inflight movie or playing on a tablet, if you are, then you may find it hard to drop off to sleep and become cranky and restless. This can be reduced by using blue light glasses when watching screens as it will block these rays and protect your eyes.
Carry Earplugs for Sleeping
Humans have been wired to sleep in silence. Consequently, it is hard to sleep during periods of loudness and busy noises when traveling. Buy the best earplugs for sleeping as you will get total silence when sleeping. Earplugs help you get quality sleep, and in turn, you will arrive at your destination in a very relaxed state.
Learn the Local Language
This sounds obvious, but it will significantly save you confusion. You are traveling alone, which means that you will need to talk to the locals asking them about their culture. Many people speak English, but it feels good greeting someone in their local language before asking him or her questions about the local culture.
Learn how to say phrases like “Hello,” ”Thank you,” “Excuse me,” “Sorry,” and “Please.” This will help you connect easily with the locals, who will, in turn, make your travel experience more fluid.
Keep Challenging Yourself
Boredom and loneliness can get the best of you when you are spending the whole day alone. Therefore, you need to challenge yourself to try new things. Before leaving the hotel every day, write down the new things that you are going to try.
It can be anything from eating new foods to going to museums and learning history. This will make your trip entertaining and you will yearn for the next day’s new challenges.
Take Your Time in Every Activity
It is nice to travel with other people, but its downside is that you rush doing activities to ensure that everyone’s activity has been done. The advantage of traveling solo is that you can take all the time in one activity until you are satisfied. Therefore, take time in the museum by studying every exhibit that fascinates you.
Embrace the freedom of being alone by taking your time in every activity you do. Walk around the city until it’s late because you don’t need to negotiate with anyone about sleeping time. Enjoy your freedom and do things that you would not do when traveling with family or friends.
Carry A Camera
Taking pictures during your journey is vital. Therefore, carry a good camera and, if possible, a tripod, as you will be your own photographer. Buy a Bluetooth remote that allows you to set a timer on the camera so that you can pose and take shots of yourself.
Capturing memories is important. Therefore, do not forget to carry your photography equipment. If you don’t have a camera or a tripod, do not worry, as your smartphone and selfie stick are also effective in taking pictures and videos.
Expand Your Skills
Expanding your skills involves taking an educational program to learn more about your destination. Take classes to learn about the local language, how to cook local cuisines and baking cakes, how to make local wines, and how to maneuver the city like a pro, among other topics.
Take morning classes, which last for about two hours so that you may have enough time to explore the city. Another added advantage of taking these classes is that you get to interact with other travelers, and you can catch up for a night out.
Trust Your Intuition
Putting yourself out there can be scary and confusing. It is normal to have one or two negative experiences, but this should not keep you from exploring the city. Trust your intuition if it tells you that you are going to have an excellent time if you visit other places.
If your inner voice tells you that you feel uncomfortable in a certain place, leave and find a place that excites you. Traveling solo means making decisions on your own. As such, trust your gut; it will help you make wise decisions in the new places.
Relax When You Eat
Visiting a hotel to eat is the best time to relax before continuing to visit other places. This is the time to relax and think about all the experiences that you have had since the beginning of your trip. Also, this is the time to talk to the waiter, bartender, or other patrons, which can help you learn about their experiences and the places you can go at your destination. Do not forget to say hello to them using the local language.
Take your time in the eatery and try new meals. If the hotel offers a session where you can cook for yourself, take it, and have fun. Leave the hotel when you feel relaxed and ready to go to other sites.
Traveling solo is the new cool as it gives you a chance to connect with yourself deeply. Do not be scared to travel alone as it boosts your self-awareness. This guide gives you tips that will make your solo travel exceptional.
Resources: Lonely Planet, Solo Traveler