5 tips for the solo traveller

by Sonia Milosevic 08, April, 2017

In addition to the standard travel tips, I’ve found the following 5 come into their own when travelling solo.

1. Pack light!

You should be able to carry it all yourself:

• a light carry on – I always travel with my trusty day pack, and either
• a suitcase or backpack – whichever you prefer.

Take into account the type of travel you’ll be doing. In my experience, cobblestones are better traversed with a backpack weighing no more than 18kg.

 

2. Learn key phrases

It always helps to know a few words or phrases of the country you’re travelling to. ‘Hello’, ‘Thank you’, ‘No thank you’, ‘Where’s the bathroom’, numbers for local transport. In Egypt, I had a sheet of paper with Arabic numbers on it so I could figure out the right bus number that would take me from the airport into and around town.

If you’ve made an effort it’s amazing how people will warm to a solo traveller, and often go out of their way to help.

 

3. Plan a little

Have a rough plan...that can change.

When travelling alone I’d always arrive during the day, and have the first night or two of accommodation booked. If I didn’t know much about the town I was arriving into I’d make sure the place I booked had communal areas so I could ask fellow travellers questions. Plus, it helped to mix with others like me when I was feeling alone on the road.

Also, make sure that you have all your important documents copied, and/or with someone back home, and carry the important ones on you. If you want to be all 1989 about it get a money belt, but if you want to upgrade to the 21^st century get a comfy pair (or 3) of 65fifty5.com bamboo travel undies with detachable ‘pock-its’ to securely store your passport, cards, and surplus cash.

 

4. Don’t be afraid to do stuff alone

If it's eating at a communal table, riding the local bus, or striking up a conversation with locals – DO IT!

One of my fondest memories is striking up a conversation at a local hawker’s market with a lady while waiting in a long line at a popular stall, and then being invited to sit with her and her friends and share a meal. JOY!

 

5. Trust your gut

If it doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not.

One of my dodgy experiences – an attendant in Pompeii enticed me with the opportunity to see a villa that was off limits to the public. He wanted to lock the security gate behind us, he said it was so that no tourists stumbled in – I felt uneasy and said ‘thanks, but no thanks’. He tried to explain further, I walked away. ALWAYS trust your gut. Stay safe.

 

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