In addition to the standard travel tips, I’ve found the following 5 come into their own when travelling solo.
You should be able to carry it all yourself:
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.
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.
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 21st 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.
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!
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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Imagine you’re in Phuket…sitting in front of a little restaurant beach shack sipping a Mai Tai, admiring the sunset. The feeling of sand slipping through your toes adds to your sense of contentment and peace, you’ve had a great day.
There are two proven ways to reach your fantasy holiday savings goal faster...
The best places to eat, drink, or see all come from research…the word is enough to send some people running! Whereas for others it provides its own joy.
There are so many different ways to research a holiday, below are my go to starting points…before I end up down an online rabbit hole!
Some like to plan, others prefer to shove a few essentials in their bag…with a casual ‘she’ll be right mate’.
This week we’re all over a 21-point comprehensive trip planning list for the planners among us… 😉
Measuring tips
Waist – Measure around the natural indentation/narrowest part of your waist. Insert your forefinger between the tape and your body to allow ease in fit.
Hip – Measure around the fullest part of your hips. Insert your forefinger between the tape and your body to allow ease in fit.
Between sizes?
If your measurements are between those listed on the chart, pick the next size up.
Women's sizing (centimetres) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Waist - at narrowest part (cm) | 67-72 | 72-77 | 77-82 | 82-87 | 87-92 |
Hip - at fullest part (cm) | 97-102 | 102-107 | 107-112 | 112-117 | 117-122 |
Women's sizing (inches) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Waist - at narrowest part (in) | 26-28 | 28-30 | 30-32 | 32-34 | 34-36 |
Hip - at fullest part (in) | 38-40 | 40-42 | 42-44 | 44-46 | 46-48 |
Measuring tips
Waist – measure around your waist, slightly below your natural waist, where you normally wear your pants. Insert your forefinger between the tape and your body to allow ease in fit.
Between sizes?
If your measurements are between those listed on the chart, pick the next size up.
Men's sizing (inches) | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
Waist (in) | 29-31 | 31-33 | 33-35 | 35-37 | 37-39 |
Men's sizing (centimetres) | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
Waist (cm) | 74-79 | 79-84 | 84-89 | 89-94 | 94-99 |
Sonia Milosevic
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