Gathering people for a trip can be a very exhausting task. Especially in adulthood, everyone has different obligations; be it financial, parental, spousal, and the “I just don’t feel like it”. Whatever the reasons may be, it can often put a damper on your plans, preventing you from exploring all of those locations you’ve always wanted to see. NEWS FLASH! You are fully capable of crossing off things on your bucket list by yourself. After all, it’s YOURS! Trust me, I understand that it’s such a wonderful feeling to create memories with friends and family, but if no one wants to partake…do you have to sit at home daydreaming about the possibilities as well? Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back from fulfilling your dreams. Instead of beating yourself up with regret, take those chances now and follow your heart. Below are some things you should keep in mind before and during your solo expedition.
1. RESEARCH! RESEARCH! RESEARCH!
Knowledge and awareness of the location you plan to visit, is vital in ensuring your safety and your level of pleasure. Researching ahead of time, positions you to have a more enjoyable trip, as you won’t be as shocked when you are faced with things out of the “norm”. Understanding the city can help to safeguard you against dangerous regions, health concerns, local laws and regulations, and even potential fraudulent activities. Also, if you are traveling outside of the country, be sure to research the currency exchange. Nothing worse than being stranded without buying power.
2. CONNECT WITH OTHER SINGLE TRAVELERS!
Tours of the city, social media, travel apps, and many other avenues to connect; there are many ways for you to link with other travelers during your expedition. Traveling alone offers you so many chances to live outside of your comfort zone. If you are somewhat shy and have been trying to gather the courage to be more social, this is your chance. Please let me be clear, of course everyone does not have your best interest at heart, but that’s what our discernment is for… and background checks through travel apps.☺️
3. SHARE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS WITH SOMEONE BACK HOME!
Even though you have left your family and friends back home, you should be sure to keep them aware of your itinerary. Provide your point person with your flight details, ground transportation, lodging, and scheduled outings. Also, if you are traveling abroad, it may cost you extra, but be sure to activate a travel plan on your phone. You never know if you need to contact someone back in your home country…and you can’t do that without service!
4. CREATE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST TO KEEP ON YOU AT ALL TIMES!
Along with keeping your phone activated, be sure to have a way to identify your emergency contacts in your phone. A good way to do this is by placing ‘ICE’ next to the desired contacts. (ICE = In Case of Emergency) Also, I would encourage you to store this information in your wallet, in case something happens to your phone. Unfortunately, technology can disappoint at times.
5. KEEP DOCUMENTATION AND MONEY IN A SAFE PLACE!
Decide how you want to carry your documents and money on your trip; your ability to protect these assets, will determine the health of your trip. Especially if you are traveling abroad, keep your passport secure. This is your way of identifying yourself as a citizen of your home country and you don’t want to deal with drama behind losing it. Before going on the trip, go through your wallet and remove the items that are not necessary. Do you really need a Dave and Busters card in Santorini? Just in case an unfortunate event occurs and you get robbed, you will have less items to replace when you return home. Along with keeping your personal items safe, be sure to notify your bank and credit card companies that you are traveling to a different location. One of the most cringe worthy things on a trip is to hear that your card does not work. Don’t let this happen to you!
6. ARRIVE DURING THE DAYTIME
I encourage you to arrive at your destination during daylight, as you are able to better judge your surroundings with the proper lighting. This will allow you time to make adjustments to your accommodations if necessary.
7. DON’T LET THE MAI TAIS GET THE BEST OF YOU
If you are into libations, please don’t over indulge. I’m not telling you not to have a drink, but do not allow yourself to be susceptible to being taken advantage of. Be sure to understand your body and your limitations.
8. TOUR THE CITY
Get out and see what the city has to offer. Typically, there will be different options for tours around the historical and popular parts of the town. Guided tours are a great option, as they help to reduce your stress level by already designing your voyage around the town. They are informative, engaging, and normally pretty humorous. Also, this is another chance for you to connect with other travelers and maybe even some residents of the town. If you decide to embark on a solo tour, please refer back to your research of the town and be sure to avoid high risk areas, touring only during the daylight.
9. LET YOUR HAIR DOWN
One of the greatest benefits of traveling solo, is the level of awareness and personal growth that is achieved. On your trip, be sure to breathe and enjoy the moment!
If you have ever traveled alone before, tell us about your experience below. We welcome all tips, after all, we are on this journey together!
4 Comments
Love this!! Great article.
I love these tips! Even traveling with my husband, we do #3! I make sure to share our itinerary with both of our parents so they know where we are supposed to be just in case!
It’s so crazy that I came across this because I’m traveling out of the country for the first time. Thank you for these great tips 💖. You have a new subscriber.
Super helpful tips – I normally travel in groups but if I ever travel solo I will use these tips.