If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already made up your mind that travelling is something you want to do sooner rather than later. But even the most adventurous of souls probably feel a little stuck at times. Sure, the world is your oyster and you can go anywhere, anytime. But at the same time, you need to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for prolonged and isolated trips by yourself.
Since we are all unique creatures with our own journeys, it’s hard to know what kind of traveller you are until you try travelling alone. Before jetting off on a trip of a lifetime, be sure that you’re aware of your own needs and what will work best for you before making any big changes in your life. So here are six tips on how to travel solo and get the most out of your trip without sacrificing your comfort or personal relationships:
Make Your Trip Meaningful
Something you can always do is plan out your trip well in advance. Before you head off on your trip, pick a destination and determine what you want to do there and how long you will be there for. This will help you save time and money by not having to plan everything from scratch each time you travel.
Once you have a destination picked out, stick to it. If you change your mind, you can always change it at the last minute and start planning a new trip. Another way to make your trip meaningful is to book tours that focus on a specific topic or city. For example, if you want to see a certain place, you can check out tours that focus on that place.
Read up on the places you are going to visit, the history and culture of the places, and the people you will meet. While you are doing that, try to get as much information as possible. Try to make time for your alone time. Go to a museum, take a walking tour, or go to a coffee shop and just hang out by yourself. Put some of your own music on and forget about the world around you. Enjoy your trip in a way that makes you happy.
Plan your trip well in advance
If you are planning a long trip, you should plan your trip well in advance. This way, you will be able to make rational decisions and not get too stressed about the unknown. Before you go, make a list of all the places, activities and people that you want to meet. If possible, make a schedule for getting in touch with people and make a list of places where people are likely to be found.
While you are planning your trip, keep in mind that you are building a life-long relationship with yourself. You will be much happier if you are able to look back on this trip with pride and be able to say that you did something that you truly wanted to do on your own. In the back of your mind, you should also be thinking about how this trip will make you feel on the inside and out. You will feel much more relaxed and confident when you are able to be real with yourself and don’t keep everything inside.
Save money on your travel budget.
Travel is expensive, both in terms of money spent and time spent. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to how to cut your costs on a trip abroad. Everyone is different and has different needs; for some people, a 5-6 day trip will work, while for others a 1-month journey will be more ideal. Whatever your preferences and needs, there are ways to cut your costs. Keeping travel costs as low as possible is very important, but you must also consider your own comfort and ease of travel.
If you’re on a tight budget and are looking for ways to cut expenses, try to avoid traveling to countries with the most expensive prices. Even if you want to splurge on a special vacation, you can still save money by altering your plans and staying somewhere cheaper.
Make the most of airfare and accommodations.
When you’re on your own, you have the freedom to choose what airfare and hotel rates you’d like to use. This is exciting because you get to choose the places that interest you most. You also have the ability to choose the cheaper route, which could save you a lot of money in the end. If you’re willing to sacrifice comfort for speed, check out the budget airline. They typically have the cheapest flights, but they don’t have room service or any other luxuries that make airfare more expensive. For example, you can find low-cost airfares to Bangkok from India.
Take advantage of cheap hotel rooms.
One of the biggest savings you can make on a trip is by booking a cheap hotel room. It shouldn’t cost you a fortune, but it should have room rates that fit your budget. Another way to get cheap hotel rooms is to book a hotel that’s not booked through any specific hotel chain. You can also try to book a hotel that’s not part of an official tourism association.
These are usually more affordable, as they’re not bound by the rules and regulations of the larger hotel chains.
Don’t forget about travel insurance!
Travel insurance is definitely a must-have during a solo trip. It’s important to understand your travel insurance requirements and make sure you have coverage for everything that could go wrong. You should also make sure you have medical insurance that covers you if you get into any kind of trouble while travelling.