When people travel, they’re often at the mercy of whatever their friends or family want to do. You’ve got to accommodate everyone and make sure they’re all happy with the plan for the day.
While compromise is good, that means you’re doing less of what you want to do…which is a bummer when you’ve got limited time to explore.
One obvious way to get around this and really get lost in a new culture is to go it alone.
Here are some bits of advice for travelers on their own.
Do Your Research
Before you cross the country, or state, or continent when traveling alone make sure you do your research. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with the area you’re staying in and figure out where the restaurants are, how close public transportation is, and how far you’ll be from the airport, if applicable. The last thing you want when you’re alone in unfamiliar territory is to get lost.
Make a cheat sheet of everything that is around you so you aren’t completely in the dark when you arrive. This can also alert you to whether you need to make any changes to your accommodations beforehand.
Learn the Language (At Least Some of It)
Knowing some of the local lingo will go a long way in making you feel more at home. It’ll also help when ordering food at a restaurant if you can communicate and tell them exactly what you’re looking for.
Learn the delicacies so you know what to try…and what to avoid. For example, in Iceland, if you decide to try the Hákarl you may want to know beforehand that you’re eating fermented sharks.
Excursions Can Help You Meet Other Travelers on their Own
Just because you’re traveling alone doesn’t mean you want to isolate yourself. If you book some excursions, you’re likely to meet other solo travelers during your activity, or even a friendly group that you click with.
There are ideal trips for traveling alone and one with a lot of excursions is going to allow you to mingle with other travelers and expose you to people you otherwise wouldn’t meet if you were traveling with your clique.
An excursion is a great chance for lonesome travelers to meet, recharge and then go it alone later.
Always Be Vigilant
Be aware of your surroundings. It’s easy to get lost when you’re alone in a new place, but that means you need to pay attention to what’s happening around you. If anything or anyone feels off, go find a crowded place and get reoriented.
Also, keep an eye on your hotel key and make sure you don’t lose it. You won’t need locksmith services for that but you’ll have to do the walk of shame to the lobby to replace your key…and they might charge you for it.
Most of All…Enjoy the Experience
The most important thing to remember on your solo trip is to relax and have fun. You have the liberty of setting your own itinerary and basically doing what you want when you want to do it.
You’ll see everything you desire because this trip is all about you…and you deserve it.
There are many ideas for travelers on their own. Check out our blog for more travel tips.
