Travelling Alone? Ten Things You Must Remember
Want to travel alone but don’t know how? Planning a solo trip can be fun and exciting. However, it is important to plan in advance and prepare for any eventuality. And don’t forget to enjoy your freedom!
The top ten things you must remember are:
- One of the greatest advantages of solo travel is flexibility. Since you get to decide where to go, how to get there, how much to spend and the duration of stay, ensure that you grab the best deals by planning in advance. You can choose to stay in a discount hotel, hostel or B&B. City walking tours or bicycles are fun and affordable means to explore.
- Gather all the information you need through the internet, friends, travel agencies before you take off on your solo vacation. You will need all the information you can find on the language, culture, currency, immigration rules, local weather conditions, terrain and what you need to carry. For instance, if you are planning to take a solo wildlife safari vacation, you need to carry clothes which will work as Safari gear. You can look online or in bookstores for handy, language books to use when you are traveling abroad.
- Travel light because you will need to take care of your bag and belongings all by yourself. Keep you luggage locked all the time and store your passport, tickets and cards safely. Stay cautious and avoid people who take advantage of you and maintain a low profile so you do not attract unnecessary attention.
- If you choose to travel by bus or trains, it is a great way to interact with the locals and find out all you need to know about the place and things to do. However, if you choose to drive for the thrill of the open road, make sure that you use busy and well-lit roads, and avoid stops after it gets dark.
- Find out if there are any best, free and inexpensive pleasures in the city, such as, festivals, museum visits, etc. you are visiting. It is a great way to know the city and you could end up saving a lot too. You can also choose to plan your solo trip before or after peak times to avoid the rush and save money too.
- Take care of your health while traveling alone, avoid food you might be allergic too. Keep a stock of common medication handy and a first-aid kit too. Remember, precaution is always better than cure! Avoid unhealthy snacks and junk food while you are traveling alone.
- Carry sufficient cash but not too much. You can rely on credit cards because even if stolen, you can report loss and cancel it. Most hotels and supermarkets accept credit cards, so you would not face any issues due to lack of cash.
- Check online all inclusive holidays for solo travelers. Several tour group operators cater to solo travelers and offer special rates for solo travel too.
- Ask for help, when you feel the need. Tourist information centers are the best bet for all the information you need. If you don’t know that language, check if you can speak with someone who knows English and ask for help if you find yourself lost or in trouble.
- Keep your family and friends back home updated. Leave an itinerary before you leave (a tentative one at least). Take time out to call your family and friends back home to let them know that you are safe and doing well.
(from Global thoughts- This post was written by reethi on Monday, June 28, 2010, 10:21.)
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