Hi there, traveler !
My name is Divanshu Kashyap, being a newbie to solo travel, it wasn’t all easy. By experience things the hard way has helped me become a smarter and better traveler, and has given me some truly life-changing experiences along the way.
People who have never traveled alone often describe their first solo trip as an almost religious experience. To take in new surroundings unfiltered by the prejudices, tastes or preferences of a traveling companion can be heady stuff. Traveling alone gives you the chance to indulge yourself fully.
Of course, single travel has its perils too — such as safety concerns, loneliness and the dreaded single supplement. But a little preparation and common sense can save you money and get you through the rough spots.
Why Travel Alone?
Solo travel can be the ultimate in self-indulgence; you can rest when you want and pour it on when you’re feeling ambitious. Another benefit is that your mistakes are your own, and your triumphs all the more exciting. Also, you can do exactly what you want to do — all the time.
You need not be an intrepid traveller to enjoy taking a vacation solo, nor do you need be part of a group tour to discover all the cool and exciting experiences that this great big planet has to offer. Regardless of gender, anyone can vacation alone and really enjoy it—in fact, sometimes even more so than when being tied to someone else’s agenda. You just need to follow some basic guidelines. So, gather your sense of adventure, and take that solo holiday!
Traveling solo has its pros and cons — and for me, the pros far outweigh the cons. When you’re on your own, you’re independent and in control. You can travel at your own pace, do the things that interest you, eat where and when you like, and splurge where you want to splurge. You don’t have to wait for anyone to pack up, and you never need to negotiate where to eat or when to call it a day. You go where you want, when you want.
Travelling alone can seem daunting from the comfort of home. What happens if you get stranded somewhere? Can you go out at night solo? Won’t it feel weird to eat in a restaurant alone?
All these worries and more (Will I get attacked by bandits? Or my vehicle stuck in a ditch?) plague most travellers before their first solo trip, but quickly evaporate, outweighed by the innumerable benefits.
Before you Leave to Travel Alone :
Here are ten of the most important lessons I’ve learned throughout the journey so far:
1) Pack lightly
Master the Art of Packing Light
“Have you ever gone on a trip and realized you only wore half of the clothes you originally packed? And that you were just lugging around the rest of that junk the entire time? There is no better advice than to take as little as you need with you when you travel. Not only will this free up space in your luggage and make it easier to carry, but you’ll also just feel less bogged-down.”
When travelling solo make sure all of your essentials are in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost. That means a complete change of clothes for hot, cold, and wet weather, walking shoes, medication, and all of your identification and important technology. Split up your cash and credit cards into different spots so if you lose one set you still have another. Dress for comfort and always have some emergency cash stashed on you.
One main allure of traveling on your own is the freedom it offers. Beyond the benefit of staying flexible in case you need to adjust your plans and schlep your suitcase for longer than anticipated, paring down your suitcase to strictly the necessities is key for comfort. – DIVANSHU KASHYAP
2. Plan in advance
Do some advance planning. You don’t need a detailed plan but you should know, for the first night at least, where you’re going to stay and all the information regarding the places that you are going to visit.
Do Your Homework !!!!!
Decide on your destination. Maybe you have a dream destination or maybe you just need to get away and the destination doesn’t matter that much.
Thanks to the Internet, it’s never been easier to preview a potential destination. But remember, official tourism websites have an objective to paint only the rosiest of pictures to attract visitors. Select your destination carefully ! – DIVANSHU KASHYAP
3) Meeting People
Vacationing alone is a great way to enjoy doing your own thing without restrictions, but eventually you might get lonely. A good way to meet people is to be a real “tourist” and join a group tour outing. Or seek out like-minded groups of locals that share a hobby you enjoy and attend one of their functions or go to a monastery, temple, mosque or local church service of your faith. Having something in common is a wonderful ice-breaker.
At most tourist sites, you’ll meet more people in an hour than you would at home in a day. If you’re feeling shy, cameras are good icebreakers; offer to take someone’s picture with his or her camera.
Take a walking tour of a city (ask at the tourist office). You’ll learn about the town and meet other travelers, too. If you’re staying in a hostel, check its message board — some hostels arrange group tours.
It’s easy to meet people on buses and trains.
Meet People
Walk! There is no better way to get to know a city and understand its culture than walking. It slows you down so that you can see the nuances of the society and understand how the city is designed.
Try meeting up with other solo travelers through social media. Like-minded individuals can find one another on Meetup, whose worldwide members welcome visitors to wide-ranging events such as photography walks, happy hours, and weekend skiing. Also consider joining a hospitality-exchange network, such as Servas, or CouchSurfing, its more low-key alternative. – DIVANSHU KASHYAP
4. Pack a Book
A good book, a magazine or even just postcards to write or your travel journal to jot in – are all legitimate activities at a bar or restaurant if you get to feeling a little bored/lonely/exposed, so carry one of them with you at all times. And as a last resort there’s always fiddling with your smartphone.
Read a book that makes you laugh out loud. Take a book that makes you laugh out loud and hold it so that people can see that you are reading in English. This often attracts people for a brief chat. In Palpung Sherabling Monastery I was reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and it got me into a few conversations.
Buy or download guide books geared to solo travelers.
The Lonely Planet guides, used by travelers of all ages, list accommodations and restaurants that will be full of other independent travelers, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to meet a variety of people. They also have a special section with advice to women traveling solo in each specific country. Start your research by posting a question, or just read what other travelers say about a destination. Go online to The Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Travel Forum.
Don’t bury your head in a book
It’s easy to be daunted by travelling alone. Retreating into the pages of a good novel can feel like the perfect way to escape curious stares on public transport or in restaurants, but it’s the worst thing to do. Going solo means you have a chance to really take in your surroundings, meeting locals and travellers alike along the way; be content to be by yourself, but confident enough to introduce yourself to people when you want to be sociable. – DIVANSHU KASHYAP
5. Beware of safety
Travelling solo can be both safe and rewarding, but be mindful of safety concerns as you would travelling in a group or couple. Take care in large cities at night, watch your drinks, be aware of any local scams and keep a close eye on your valuables. Being alert is a skill that every traveler should learn. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be paranoid or shelter yourself from all harm, but you do need to be vigilant, especially in areas notorious for crime. Don’t dress like an obvious “tourist” (fanny packs, cameras swinging, and home country flag patches) and don’t flash money, expensive technology or wear pricey jewellery. Be aware of your surroundings and stick to main roads and well-lit areas when possible, but walk with confidence and purpose if you end up in unsavoury locations.
Protect your identity on the road. If you’re going to be using public WiFi on your travels or if you expect you’ll need to do some online banking or use your credit card, it’s advisable to use a VPN.
BE AWARE :
Walking Around
My goal is not to blend in as a local (there are too many subtleties that I cannot learn), but I do aim to look as if I live there and know what I’m doing. My best hope is that thieves think I’m an expat and shift their attention to someone who looks easier to rob.
I have a very tattered bag that goes over my shoulder. On travel days, it carries my laptop, camera, and iPod, but you would never think electronics are in it because there are no special brand names on it or fancy padding. It’s a bag that has been torn and patched many times and never signals “expensive things are inside.”
Never wear your iPod while walking around. Not only does it make you less aware of your surroundings, but it makes you a target for thieves who will either pick pocket you or just confront you with a weapon.
Carry small change and larger bills in one pocket. Never flash big bills to anyone.
If you need to look at your map, never do it in a street. Pop into a store or restaurant—anywhere but on the corner.- DIVANSHU KASHYAP
6. Choose friendly accommodations
Book solo-friendly accommodation. Book a homestay, hotel, hostel, B&B or small inn that is particularly good for solo travelers.
Look for room rentals in an apartment, which gives an automatic connection with residents when you’re travelling alone. Even if your landlord doesn’t take you out on the town, you’ll at least scoop up a few local tips.
A five star hotel or chain hotel is not your best choice. Sometimes what really happens is that you select a fancy chain hotel based on their band’s reputation, the photo of the doorman, and how nice their linens were but you’ll end up in an impersonal hotel filled with couples and business people, totally isolated from other solo travelers. I would have been much happier in a family-run pension where I would have eaten breakfast with other independent travelers and had interaction with the staff who could give me a head’s up about local places as well as safety issues. When looking for accommodations, watch for words like “lively”, “friendly”, and “family-owned”. After reading your guidebook, double check the hotel on tripadvisor.in and filter the reviews by solo traveler. – DIVANSHU KASHYAP
7. Eating Out
Eat Alone and Enjoy It !
Dinner can be one of the most difficult times for the solo traveler. Here’s how to enjoy eating alone.
- Become a regular. Dine in the same place regularly so that you become friendly with the staff.
- Take your restaurant meal at noon. If you want to dine at a fine restaurant, do so at noon. It’s the same executive chef and quality of food but the prices are lower, the lights are higher, and the crowd less romantic.
- Eat at the bar or a communal table. A table for two or four leaves no opportunity for a solo traveler to be social. Eat at the bar or in a restaurant with communal tables and you could be mixing with the locals in no time.
- Be obvious. Place your camera, travel guide, or map on the table, making it obvious that you’re a tourist. Some people are concerned about looking like a tourist and therefore looking like a mark. In a restaurant there is a certain amount of safety. Yes, you should still be discerning in who you talk with but in most cases the person will be not only safe but also interesting.
- Take a book. It will not only occupy you but also signal to other solos that you travel alone.
And most importantly –
Eat Healthy While Traveling !!!! – DIVANSHU KASHYAP
8. Stay connected
Save on phone charges
Consider buying an unlocked cell phone so that you can buy a SIM card for your phone in each country as you travel. This will save you lots of money.
Use Skype
Load Skype onto your phone so that you can connect with friends and family for free when you have access to the Internet.
Take advantage of other useful apps
Download useful apps to your phone such as a GPS, a translator, a currency converter and some travel guides.
9. Travel Alone and Go Out at Night
Safety first
Some people are concerned about going out at night alone. It’s such a shame as it can be a great time. Before getting on to what to do at night, I want to mention a few safety tips on how to go out at night.
Plan your transportation wisely. If it’s light out when you go you likely won’t need a taxi to get there but traveling by taxi back when it’s dark is advisable.
Confirm that it’s safe. Before leaving, ask your concierge or the desk clerk whether the place you’re planning to go to is fun and safe.
Stay sober. Drink very responsibly so that you have your wits about you.
Leave a note. In your hotel room leave a note as to where you’ve gone and when you expect to be back.
Connect with the staff. Chat with the bartender or your server. They’ll have your back.
Be a bit coy. If a conversation starts, introduce yourself with your first name only. Leave by yourself and by taxi and don’t tell people where you’re staying.
Keep your valuables safe. Know where your purse is – or better yet, don’t carry one.
10. Travel Alone But Not Lonely
Travel Alone But Not Lonely, What this really means :
Smile. It means the same things in every language. It means you are happy, friendly, approachable, kind. A smile opens many conversations.
Learn a few words in the local language. Making an effort to communicate in the local language is always appreciated and often returned with an effort to communicate in your language.
Go to a local, independent coffee shop. Look for coffee shops with large communal tables or coffee bars along the window and sit near someone. I’ve often had great conversations with locals by positioning myself in this way.
Be curious. Ask questions and conversations begin.
Go far off the beaten path. Travelers who find each other where there are few tourists are more inclined to talk to each other. Meet someone on a hike or in a specific museum and you already know that you have an interest in common.
Have fun ……… !!!!!
Written by – DIVANSHU KASHYAP “VOYAGEWORLDBLOG“
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DIVANSHU KASHYAP
( Travel Blogger ) – VOYAGEWORLDBLOG
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