I have done a lot of travelling in my lifetime; some with family and friends and some by myself. There is a very big difference in these two types of travel. Your whole travelling process changes when you are going at it alone. When you are off on adventures with the family there is always someone to turn to for suggestions on restaurants, attractions, and everything else that you want to experience. There is also the obligation to fit things in that you may not particularly like nor want to participate in. While travelling alone you gain complete freedom of choice which is why I would like to share some of the lessons I learned while travelling alone.
Lessons Learned While Travelling Alone
Do Not Plan Everything
I cannot stress this first lesson enough. Travelling is all about gaining new life experiences and having a good time. If you plan and schedule every single thing that you are going to do on your trip it is akin to following a schedule at home. Experience the freedom that only travelling by yourself can offer. You need to plan certain things like accommodations and flights as these are tough to do on short notice. Everything else can be spontaneous and act like an adventure every day.
Wherever you are travelling to will have some hidden gems that are not in any of the travel guides. This is your chance to just walk or drive around an area and find things that may interest you and your mood for the day. You could set a tight schedule and wake up not feeling like going to a certain place that day but you will feel guilty for not following the plan. Don’t say no to anything before you have tried it either. I had a great time working on a yacht during a year long trek that took me to a lot of places and kept money in my pocket. Working while travelling is a smart way to see the world and gain something to put on your resume; and you may not have to worry about accommodation. Click here to see some yachting jobs, or search around the web for jobs that may be right for you. Gap year jobs are available all over the world!
Do Not Overindulge in Alcohol
You may be reading this next lesson and laughing to yourself but I am being completely serious. When you are travelling with friends or family, there is always someone else around to make the smart decisions and look out for you if you have had a few too many. Drinking too much while travelling alone can end very poorly for some of us. With the poor judgement and lowered inhibitions that alcohol consumptions causes you are a target for all kinds of unpleasant things. If you were to have a friend around they could act as a buffer and get you back to the lodgings unscathed. You have no extra security when alone so it is essential that you keep your wits about you.
Move Around
This lesson is something I wish I had learned many years ago as it could have saved me from some boring trips. Never stay in one area for too long as you will start to get comfortable with it and the excitement factor will quickly die down. You want to keep that excitement as part of your trip the entire way through to get the most out of your money. Choosing a new town or city to stay in every couple of days or weeks will add a sense of being on a new trip every time you move around. Not only does this keep the excitement level high it allows you to take in a vastly wider array of attractions during your travels. Keep yourself moving and you will certainly get more out of your solo adventures.
Plan For Extra Expenses
There is nothing worse than being in a foreign country and realizing you do not have enough money for something. This could be something material that would not kill you if it isn’t purchased but it could also be in the form of something more urgent. When you travel you always run the risk of getting ill or being injured somehow and may need to be treated at a local medical facility. You cannot risk relying on your travel insurance alone to cover any of these costs; unless you have read all of the fine print and have memorized everything that they will cover. It is always a good idea to have an international credit card or extra cash on hand for emergencies. It is very likely that you will never need to use this extra money but it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Review Your Cellphone Plan
Everyone has a cellphone at this point as they are such a convenient way of communication. I made the mistake of not calling my provider before taking a trip and I will never make that mistake again. Cellphone providers have specific packages that you can buy to make it affordable for international calls, texts, and data. A simple phone call to your service provider could potentially save you hundreds if not thousands in cellphone bills.
Some of these lessons have been learned as a result of me making mistakes as a new solo traveller while others I picked up while browsing some reputable travel sites. Click here for a great website dedicated to independent travel. You sometimes need to make a mistake to learn the lesson but in this case you can learn from mine. Following these four simple lessons can make your next solo trek a lot more enjoyable and safer. Now you can book your flight and pack your bags with peace of mind and a lot more knowledge to use in your travels.