The solo travel guide to easily follow
Essentially solo travelling is when you get up leave behind family and friends and go on a trip. When you travel alone, you do it on your own terms. It gives another level of independence. You get to do what you want, when you want. You can meet and connect with people or avoid them.
There are so many benefits to solo travelling, it courages you to easily gain confidence and overall become a more interesting person.
Are you ready to solo travel?
Before embarking on your trip you need to figure out are you ready to just get up and go? Or do you need to ease into the solo travel world. If you need to ease in then you need to prep! Decide where you want to go, do your research. Look up information on the area your going to and do research on Solo travel for that destination.
If your looking to meet people, join Facebook groups for example “solo travelling in Australia” it’s a great way to meet people, find out what’s going on in certain areas and for tips/tricks.
Plan ahead
Before embarking on your journey it is crucial to plan ahead. Check out the places your travelling to, these will give you a good idea on if there safe areas or not. Make sure you have all the correct travel documents, is your passport in date until after the end of your trip? Do you need a via for the country your travelling to? Does the country your travelling to require proof of vaccines? All these things are good to have planned in advance to avoid disappointment.
Get firsthand information from people that have solo travelled
Communicate with people who have already solo travelled, they have experience and can help you when you are planning your trip. They can give insight on what to do and what not to do. I can be contacted at hol@journeyzens.com if you ever have any questions!
Flexibility
One thing I learned is do not have a set schedule! I personally didn’t like having a set schedule of when stuff was happening as when your travelling, so many opportunities can head your way. Unplanned hikes, beach trips, camping trips and all the rest. The best days are the unexpected ones!
Chatting to strangers
I’m an introvert so this was completely new to me. Talking to strangers can be scary but so necessary to make friends. It can be life changing, this might sound over the top but If I didn’t sit down and talk to strangers when I was travelling, I wouldn’t have met some of my closest friends today.
Different perspectives of where you are
Take in the different perspectives, by saying this I mean do it like the locals do. This was a realisation for me when I done my regional work, I spent so much time with the locals and it was much more interesting than doing it like a tourist. You get to see how they do life and the difference between where you are and home.
Book tours and excursions
It’s nice to socialise with people while solo travelling, by booking tours and doing excursions your not only meeting new people but your also having a break from planning everything.
Hostels are the way forward
Hostels are a great way to meet people, especially other solo travellers. Many hostels offer private rooms if you want comfort and privacy, you can expect these to be a bit more expensive. Personally I find that if your in a communal room rather a private room it’s much easier to meet like minded people. You’ll meet people who are eager to exchange travel stories, tips and tricks. I’ve met people in hostels that are now my closest friends.
Public transport
Get familiar with the public transport system for whichever city your in. I always found public transport daunting and hated the idea of using it alone, but once I got used to the system I would use it daily and you will save so much money from not using Uber.
Location
I would always have my location shared with at least one person at home, for peace of mind. It’s reassuring but also nice for family to be able to see where you are and what your up to. Buy a local SIM card, these can be bought in supermarkets or gas stations in a lot of countries.
Feel your feelings
It’s okay to cry, your out of your comfort zone which can be scary. I’ve cried more than I’d like to admit. It’s completely normal to feel homesick. Your far away from home and it can be daunting when your alone. It’s so worth it though when you meet amazing people and get to see the world.
This won’t be the only Solo travel guide as I still have lots more to share, it would be great if there was anything specific people wanted to know about?
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