It can be frightening to go out to the great, wide world on your own. From the carelessness of eating alone, to the possible security concerns of finding no one to take care of your luggage when you're in the loo. Traveling with an individual involves a lot of problems regarding decisions, meals, tickets, etc. On the other hand, traveling solo wouldn't require anyone else to make decisions. We can make our own decisions which would bring new experiences and new memories. These experiences make us grow into better and energetic human beings. That is why I believe everyone should know the basic tips if they ever decide to travel alone. Here are those 10 tips highlighting the important things one should do.
Essentials
In today's age, the essentials are also our necessities. In this Covid infected world, we have to be accustomed to carrying some things with us no matter where we go. Things like sanitizers, tissue papers, masks, etc. We also need to be clean every time we go to a crowded place. While traveling alone, the essentials need to be carried in a large amount in case any sort of difficulty arises. And if these things run out, one must buy medical essentials from pharmacies or well-branded stores.
Country Condition
While traveling abroad, we must know the situation of borders and restrictions of the country they are visiting. Because of new strains arising, travel restrictions are being changed daily and if we aren't sure about the procedures, things may take a turn for the worse. Furthermore, a lot of the countries need covid reports during their entry. In that case, one's need to make sure that the reports are done and have their required validity
Emergency Contact
No matter where you are and who you are with, always notify a couple of friends about your whereabouts. Also, knowing the local emergency hotline number is a must because we never know what lays around the edge. Emergency hotlines like the police, the immigration office, etc can be found on the internet and should be searched as soon as the plane lands
Accommodation
While traveling solo whether alone or in a new group, accommodation can not be overlooked. Accommodation can make it or break it point when it comes to budgeting. Order a fancy room and you may miss out on a lot of trips (not saying ordering fancy rooms are bad but checking out exciting places are a better bet). Apartment Hotels and B&Bs are cheap and can be found in almost all the countries of the world. Living beside a food court wouldn't require to travel a long time so that cuts transportation costs. Living near a busy street would mean bus stops, markets, food courts are near. These cuts eventually will lead to making big trip decisions which is the very aspect of traveling; a journey.
Public transport
Uber or the local riding sharing platform is a big no when it comes to other countries. Most of the times, any cabs or sharing platforms can identify people that are new to the society and can lie their way out. In this case, public transports like the bus or train is a better and safer bet. And public transports also provide connecting points across the country so moving from one place or another is also easy.
Luggage
Packing is always so confusing. Do you take extra clothes or do you take your fancy clothes? Do you take more shoes or do you use that space for more shirts? Whatever you desire may be, packaging less is the way. Always remember; less is more. Having a portable and easy suitcase can make traveling loads easier since you aren't carrying a big suitcase. In this case, one needs to firstly pick the essentials then take extra clothes as they seem fit.
Experiment
Traveling abroad, one of the most exciting things is to try out different cuisines and see new places and meet new people. If you don't experiment with meeting new people or trying out the local cuisine, you can not expect to enjoy the travel. To do what we're used to at home sometimes doesn't work while we're on the road, so we have to adapt. Gather the vocabulary and try not to stick to what you're accustomed to. Look for a restaurant that serves ethnic food and skip the tourist restaurants with equivalent food from home. Does bungee jumping sound fun? Try it out. Don't feel like eating at burger king? Great; go out and eat street food. Street food in an Asian country is usually a different platter altogether.
Natives
Observing the locals is a great way to know about the culture and traditions of a society. Sitting in a roadside restaurant, one can know about their character, movement, actions, etc. They can also ask for help from locals and request their advice when it comes to checking out historical places and places of interest. One should very respectfully approach the people of other cultures and religions.
Guides
Want to travel but is google maps is showing a complicated manner? A guide can help you. Whether you are living alone or alone in a newly formed group. a guide is a savior. A guide can show all the ins-outs of the locality and can make you learn a foreign language even if it basic communication. And that's important because speaking the native language would impress the natives and in turn, the natives would help. A guide can also be a companion and can act as a hub to connect with more people. But if a guide seems like too much trouble, you can also quit traveling with a guide if you feel like it anytime
Interaction
Traveling is tough but traveling alone is even tougher. That is why one should always ask for help when it gets tough. Asking for directions, asking for the nearest restaurant, or asking for the direction to the nearest mall isn't harmful. However, one can choose not to interact with others if that person finds the local people different and can travel alone.
Enjoy your next solo travel adventure!
