Solo traveling is one of the best things you can do in your life. While the idea of traveling alone can sound scary and possibly even cause anxious thoughts, once you get the courage to do so, it can be a liberating experience!
If you’re already on board and about to take the venture into the unknown by yourself, here are some simple tips that you can apply to make the most of your solo travel experience!
One of the reasons why we travel is to simply get to explore new places. So once you’re there, feel free to do as much as you want and as you can. Don’t just stay in your hotel the moment you arrive in your destination country. Go out there and feel free to explore the place. It does not necessarily have to be a famous tourist spot; it could be as simple as exploring the street or visiting malls, cafes, and restaurants.
Before you travel, be sure to budget your whole travel plan – from accommodation and transportation to food, things, activities, and so on. Also, be sure to have extra money beyond your budget just in case you need it or you simply want to buy something.
Also, don’t just budget for your travel plans; be sure you have something left for home. Money stress is real, and you don’t want to get stressed after taking a great vacation because you have no money left once you return home.
One of the perks of traveling is getting a unique chance to immerse yourself in a new culture and environment. While it may seem overwhelming at first, once you open yourself to it, you may find that it’s one of the best things that you’ll ever experience in your life!
So, try out the local foods. Go and try out new activities, especially the ones that are not available in your own city. Go to a zoo and meet new animals you’ll probably not meet in your home country (e.g. if you’re in the Middle East, feel free to meet the camels!) There are a lot of things and experiences that you can try out, so feel free to do so!
Finally, when you’re in another country, feel free to meet new people, both locals and travelers alike. For starters, you can talk with people that you’ll mostly talk with such as storekeepers or street vendors. You can initiate a conversation by simply saying “Hi” and casually asking them about their place. You being the tourist, they’ll be very happy to share some information about their place with you!
Also, you can opt to learn the local language while you’re in the country. It’s a great opportunity to learn another language! And you don’t need to be fluent to speak the language, learning the basic words and phrases is enough to get started!
This being said, you should of course practice caution to avoid being scammed or being a victim of a crime. As with anything else, trust your gut. If the person you’re talking to makes you feel uncomfortable, then it’s best to stay away – yes, this is true even if the other person seems kind. Your safety and security should always be your priority.
Overall, feel free to meet new people! While they might be some bad guys out there, remember that the majority are always generally good!