Yvette Brown Read on for our writers’ and editors’ top twelve pieces of advice for making it through a solo trip to calm your fears.
Access to the world is provided by solo travel in ways that other modes of travel cannot. At least occasionally, it is a necessary form of transportation. But not everyone responds to it naturally. Traveling alone causes some people anxiety. Concerns about loneliness, safety, and other issues abound.
These twelve tips for solo travel can give you the confidence boost you may need, so don’t stay at home out of fear that traveling alone won’t be enjoyable.
Know Your Strengths
It should go without saying that your pre-solo travel apprehensions will depend on your personality and the goals you have for your trip.
Does the idea of stepping outside of your comfort zone excite you or does it make you nervous? Are you a gregarious person who likes to be in the center of everything? If that’s the case, find a place where the language is spoken because otherwise, you might lose your mind.
Avoid Lodging With a Single Supplement
Some hotels and cruise lines might insist on two-person occupancy. If you want it all to yourself, you will have to pay a single supplement so the travel provider can still make their anticipated revenue as if you brought a travel companion.
Prior to booking, these costs will be made known. If not, make sure to find out before reserving.
Stay Somewhere With Multiple Positive Ratings
When you’re alone and in a strange place, you might feel more exposed. Before booking a place to stay, do a little research and only stay at a hotel or Airbnb property with multiple positive reviews.
These reviews will give you a good idea of what to expect from the host, neighborhood, and if any other tenants might be sharing the property with you.
Get Travel Insurance
Defend against unforeseen events both yourself and the money you’ve spent on your trip. You may be entitled to compensation for covered losses, such as those brought on by inclement weather, natural disasters, some illnesses, and other problems, thanks to trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Other types of travel insurance can help shield you from unforeseen medical costs, evacuation costs, and other losses like baggage delays, theft, and more.
Stay Somewhere With Free Wi-Fi
Depending on what time of year you travel, it might get dark early which means you do not want to be outside exploring as long as you might on a summer evening. Choosing a hotel with free wi-fi is important if you plan to spend a lot of time there.
You can use this time for Skype or Facetime your family and friends back home to recount your adventures for the day.
Additionally, you could use your wifi to browse the web, send and receive an email, and stream movies. Staying at a hotel where you have a higher membership status and can take advantage of in-room wi-fi as a free perk may allow you to avoid paying a fee if you visit a location where there is a fee to use the wi-fi hotspot.
You can also use the American Express Platinum Card to gain access to more than 1,000,000 Boingo wi-fi hotspots around the world. You can find out where to find wi-fi access when you need it most by performing a quick search on the Boingo website.
Meet Other Travelers
Meeting other travelers is another way to break up the monotony of solo travel. Your conversation doesn’t have to end when you land and deboard the plane.
In fact, Couchsurfing (which works similarly to Airbnb) and Meetup are two excellent resources that can help you make connections with other travelers and even locals. These services allow you to stay with local homeowners, where you might also have the opportunity to meet other travelers.
No matter where you stay when you travel, you can use Meetup to discover regional events and activities that are taking place in the area. If none of the guidebooks mention it, you might be able to hang out at a particular cafe or even go to a local festival. Every city offers a variety of opportunities, so be sure to look into this before traveling.
Just Say No
The attention you receive when traveling alone can occasionally be a little overwhelming, especially in more hospitable and fascinating cultures. Learn how to say “no, thank you” in the local language, as well as “absolutely not” – plus the local nonverbal gesture for “no”, which is often more effective than both.
Also have local help numbers, such as the tourist police, saved in your phone. The knowledge that you have them, whether you’re embarking on a South American solo trip, traveling around Australia on a budget, or taking a road trip through Europe, can give you the courage to handle uncomfortable situations.
Make An Emergency Plan
Ideally, you won’t ever experience a health problem, an accident, or a robbery while traveling. But it’s wise to be prepared for the worst and know who to contact. Prior to your trip, look up nearby hospitals, police stations, and other emergency facilities.
Learn some emergency words in the language of the country you’re visiting so you can call for assistance if necessary.
Before you travel, make an appointment with your doctor or a travel clinic to make sure you are properly immunized. Bring a supply of any prescription medications you might require, face masks, hand sanitizer, and items to shield yourself from mosquitoes and other insects that might carry diseases when you pack.
To help you stay healthy while traveling, it is a good idea to do some research on the quality of the drinking water, fresh produce, and restaurants at your destinations.
Secure Your Valuables
Bring only what you need when you venture out — like your phone, a credit card, some cash, an ID, and a copy of your passport. Keep these hidden in a safe bag that you can always see. Keep bags containing these items up and in your direct line of sight.
You should also have a copy of your passport on hand in case of emergency in case the original is misplaced or stolen. Keep the copy secure and away from your actual passport in a safe location.
Think about also leaving a copy with a friend or relative back home. It’s also important to stay alert and keep your belongings close when riding trains, buses, or other forms of transportation.
The hotel safe is a good place to keep extra cash, jewelry, your actual passport, and other important papers.
Avoid Reckless Behaviors and Use Common Sense
Anywhere you travel alone, including your hometown, many of the following pieces of advice are applicable.
- Keep your drinks in your line of sight and don’t consume too much alcohol. Avoid going anywhere alone with a stranger.
- Pay attention to those around you when you are walking, hiking or driving.
- Enter a public area like a restaurant or meet up with a big group of people if you start to feel uneasy.
- If someone asks if you are traveling alone, say you are on your way to meet a spouse, relative, or friend.
Do Something You Normally Wouldn’t Do With Others
When you’re by yourself, you might be hesitant to try new things for fear that they won’t go as planned and you won’t have anyone to lean on. Alternatively, now might be a good time to try something that others in your usual traveling group would not.
They might prefer to spend the day at the beach, whereas you could spend the entire day touring an art museum. Maybe there’s something you can do alone that you can’t do if you bring the kids along.
This trip may be a great chance to cross something off your bucket list.
Make a List of Your Emergency Contact Information
Every traveler should consider the last piece of advice. Make an easily accessible list of your emergency contact information. The list can include your own personal contact information, the name of an emergency contact back home, and any other pertinent phone numbers you might need.
For example, you might include the toll-free number for your credit card company in case your card is stolen or you have to activate the travel protection benefits if your plans are interrupted.
A photo of your stove would be a good idea as well. As you check your luggage for any missing items, it can be simple to forget to turn off your stove, coffee maker, or iron before you leave for the airport.
Check the image of your stove’s dials once you get to the airport to make sure everything is off. If not, ask a neighbor or your landlord to turn it off for you so that you won’t have to worry about it while you’re away.
