I love travelling solo, but some people don’t like the idea of travelling alone or have some concerns, so I am here to give you some tips on making it fun and safe, as well as advantages to travelling solo.
I have been travelling solo for over 18 years now, and have gathered some great tips and things to watch out for.
The freedom to do whatever you want, when you want
The main advantage of travelling solo is that you can do what you want, when you want. You don’t have to worry about being bored at something you friend or partner is doing, you can eat where you want and go to bed when you want. No negotiating needed.
I love travelling solo so much that I only travel solo now!
Meeting people while travelling solo
If you want to meet people while travelling solo, you could stay in hostels as it is an environment where people are staying in the same rooms, and often eating together. It is a great way to meet new friends and save a fortune on hotel bills as hostels are always much cheaper than hotels.
Another way is to take tours such as walking tours or group tours as you will meet people who are interested in similar things.
Safety travelling solo
Some people worry about their safety while travelling solo, but as long as you aren’t travelling to somewhere that is unsafe (check your government travel website), you have no need to worry. As always, check your governments travel advice page to see if it lists a country as safe or not as some countries recommend against travelling to them due to safety concerns.
Make sure you tell a friend or family where you are going, where you are staying and when you will be back. This means if the worst happened, they would know where you are supposed to be and when you should be back.
I also use a free travel safety app called Hollie Guard which lets you send an alert if you are in danger as well as gathering evidence using photos, videos and audio. I thankfully have never needed to use it, but I have tested it and it works well. You can pay for more features if you like too.
Depending on the country you are travelling to, you maybe able to carry self defence tools as well. Be careful though as places such as England do not allow carrying of things such as knives, pepper spray or anything that could be used as a weapon, so check the laws of the country you are travelling to.
Be flexible with plans
I personally take each day as it comes. I make a list of things I would like to do, but I don’t schedule them into each day as some days you may be tired or wanting to relax. So be more flexible with your plans.
The weather can vary too, so flexibility is great in situations like that.
Just carry a list of your plans or use an app such as Wanderlog, to collect places and attractions that you want to visit, so you won’t get bored as you have a list of things you can do.
Try taking a tour or walking tour
This can be a great way to learn a bit about the place you are staying as well as finding new things to do. Not only that, but you can meet new people, so it is a great way to socialise if you would like to find some like-minded friends.
Download offline maps
I always recommend taking an offline map or use an app that lets you use maps offline, such as Maps.me. This way you always have an idea of where you are, even if you have phone issues or no signal. This way you don’t have to stop to ask directions as you will have them to hand.
Evenings don’t have to be boring
You can still do the same things you would with someone, even when alone. You can still attend concerts, comedy shows or events whilst travelling solo. Don’t be afraid!
You can also still eat at restaurants and enjoy the local food. Don’t worry about what others are doing. Enjoy your vacation!
Be aware of your surroundings
Always keep an eye out as there are pickpockets in most cities all over the world, and they often target tourists. Keep your valuables safe and don’t leave your bag on the floor when eating. I keep my bag close at all times and put my leg through the crossbody strap of my bag, so they can’t just take my bag.
Don’t over indulge if you go out drinking and just be aware of your surroundings.
Save on roaming costs and get a data eSIM
By buying an eSIM for the country you are travelling in, you can have internet at all times and save on expensive roaming costs. This is really helpful for finding things to do, or places to eat whilst you are out.
Roaming is very expensive and buying an eSIM is not only a much cheaper way to use your phone abroad, and it also gives you more data than they usually allow. I would never roam again.
Plus you can’t always rely on hotel WIFI, so this way, you always have internet! It is also cheaper than hotel that charge you for access to WIFI, plus you can use it anywhere in that country, in countries all over the world.
I only ever use aloSIM as they have great prices, great customer service and they have eSIM’s for everywhere.
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