Tips for being a Solo Traveller

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It happens. People who travel alone for the first time describe this experience as religious and an ultimate experience. Just taking it all in with only your own eyes. No judgments and expectations. No tastes and prejudices. No settling with the choices of your travel partner. Travelling Solo has many advantages that make you love this Solo Travel thing.

Thinking about Solo Travel has many concerns too. Some of the concerns include safety Concerns. Not finding the right accommodations and a feeling of loneliness. We will discuss all this and figure out the solutions to those.

Travel Alone. Why?

Stop Whenever you want. Move Whenever you want

-Globe Crusiers

Solo Travel will give you the biggest freedom that is possible. Stop whenever you want. Move whenever you want. You are tired, you rest. You are rejuvenated to explore the beauty of this planet again, just get and start exploring. No need to take consent of anyone and wait for no one. Move on your terms and stop on your terms. You need to a fine art gallery but your partner is not ready, so it will ruin the day of the partner. You are free to roam alone.

You just arrived at a beautiful beach and you saw some surfers enjoying the hard waves. You always had a dream for surfing down the waves yet you never cared for your passion. So, you just join some surfer classes. No need to take consent of your partner to join some classes. You don’t want to go some random falls that is a tourist attraction, just drive in front of it that it does not exist.

What about Travel Safety

The most important thing for any solo Traveller is safety. From Random scam artists to criminals to just simple health issues you are vulnerable to anything. When nobody is there to watch your back you are more vulnerable to simple concerns on travel.

But, keep all the concerns of safety and not having a partner is put to the side. A Solo traveller can easily blend in the crowds of people and this can be a great advantage for that traveller. Therefore, you attract least attention possible. Hell, a traveller group is more vulnerable for criminals then a Solo Traveller.

Some of the best tips for travelling alone:

1. Always calculate the distance from the airport, railway station or the bus station to your hotel. The taxi drivers or auto rickshaw walas (In case of India) are ready to get you to take you “On a ride” and give you a fare at the end of the ride that will make you go, What!

2. Always plan the route between two distances and negotiate the fare first so that you cannot be takes advantage of.

3. Google the distance between two places and ask the locals or people near the bus or railway station how to reach that place and how much it costs to reach that particular place. If you find that the fare is getting too high then change the cabs or you can opt for rideshare also.

• If something feels fishy or not good to you, don’t take that ride.

• Always choose public and crowded places at night time. No need to go to secluded corners or places in a new city if you know nothing about that area.

Walk with a Purpose

-Globe Cruisers(GC)

• Walk with a purpose and be confident on where you are going. Don’t show the “I know nothing about this city” face. Don’t bury your face in the guidebook and please don’t wear the tourist type t-shirts that make you seem like a “Tourist that knows nothing”.

“Know where you are Going”

• With the modern technology and smartphones available, know where you are walking.

• If you have no idea be more aware of the road or street names and ask the vendors or shops in that area for proper guidance.

• Stay away from flashy clothing and jewelry that attracts attention.
• Whenever you ask someone for directions, try to show that you are going to meet someone and or with someone. Generally, use “Can you tell me the directions to this place, my friend is going to meet me there”.
• Always check and double check your schedules for transportation and directions before leaving the car/train/bus/hotel etc.
• Be in touch with your loved ones when you are travelling alone.
• Be very careful with your money. Travel with wallets and purses that can be hidden and not visible easily. Make sure you do not put your money in only one place.
• If you are carrying a backpack then put some money here and some money there in your backpack. Always keep your money safe and HIDDEN.

Put Some Money here and there

-GlobeCruisers(GC)

Trust but Don’t Trust

The Biggest advantages of travelling alone is meeting new people and getting novel and new experiences every time. But don’t trust so much that you handover your money and came back to find out the person is total scammer and now vanished into thin air and you have no money left.

Beware of scam artists. They can be the friendliest but they can leave you penny less. It doesn’t mean that you start travelling with “I trust no one” mental shield. Be open and happy.

The World is a Friendly Place

-GlobeCruisers(GC)

You will soon realize that world is much more friendly then you think and people are lot more eager and happy to help and ready to make new friends all the time.

Everybody likes to make new friends and experience something different in their life.

Avoiding Double Beds

When you are travelling alone you don’t need that double bed. Sometimes, you book these hotels from the tour operators that charge you for a full room even though you will just be using only one bed.

Talk to the tour operators or search for rooms that have a single occupancy. They are much easier and much cheaper for you. Plus you get the added privacy that you need.

If you can’t find rooms with single occupancy then you can sacrifice the privacy for going inexpensive. Hey! You are going to meet a new person. You can search for hostels that cater to travellers only or in general normal hostels that just accommodate guests and charge per bed. You have to share the room with other random people but, as I told you. New opportunity to meet.

This also happens, where a tour operator is eager to fill the last spots of some accommodations at the last time. Simply talk to these tour operators and push the price further to fill up the last spots. You get an accommodation at a cheaper rate and the tour operator gets his money. Both parties are happy.

Solo Dining

Eating alone is not the favourite thing if you are Solo Traveller. Generally Solo Travel gives you the opportunity to have total free will while you travel. But, it also comes with a disadvantage of loneliness to dine alone.

Most travellers when alone hate the feeling of grabbing a bite with no one sitting in front of them. And they even feel that world is looking at them as if a wiredo is sitting alone in a restaurant.

When your eyes move around you see people are enjoying their meals with friends and family and you feel alone.

Don’t worry. You can choose the option of open restaurants and coffee shops that have tables outside. You can enjoy your meals or cup of your favourite beverage without the need of having a travel mate.

Generally, you can be certain that the open coffee shops and sitting outside the restaurants or cafes will not make you feel alone while travelling.

There are some restaurants and eating joints with private spaces.  You can use these spaces to sit and enjoy your meals.

Read a Great Book

-GlobeCruisers(GC)

Bring some great materials and books for reading so that you can enjoy the meals and read a great book.

The other option of not feeling alone while eating is to order food and eat in your room only or the option of take away.

You are constantly on Guard

The major drawback of travelling alone is that you are always on guard. The constant feeling of sensory input and always vigilance wears you down. If you start feeling that this constant vigilance is wearing is breaking you down or wearing you down, take a break. It’s good when you are doing Solo Travel

Stop for some time. Just stay in your hotel or in a comfortable place and enjoy some time alone and relax totally. You need this. Generally, all you need is some relaxation.

If you are travelling in some city, generally there are bars and clubs in that city that have tourists from your country and speak your native language. Go to these bars and clubs and kick it with the people from your country.  If you don’t know any, ask the local people from that city. They will tell you where to go and how to go.

While traveling in an area where you are famiilier with the locals of that city you can enjoy the city much more.  Sometimes you just need to take that hot shower and totally enjoy the stillness of the moment and just sit in your room and enjoy that hot cup of tea.

Solo Traveling is an incredible experience to be had and to be enjoyed. So, what are you waiting for pack your bags and get out and see the world through your own eyes.  

No partner, nothing. It’s just you and this big whole world waiting for you to get explored.  Be an explorer, a transcender and explore.  Be an Explorer. Be a Globe Cruiser. Travel Alone.

Because we Love Freedom. Globe Cruisers

The images taken are from Pexels.com