Going on a solo adventure around the world is not for the faint-hearted, but it is growing in popularity – and for good reason.
Certain destinations lend themselves to solo adventures more than others, particularly for female travelers.
Traveling alone can be scary, especially when stepping outside of your comfort zone, but that is where the magic happens. Leaving your comfort zone behind in dust is key for achieving personal growth and boosting your confidence.
If you are planning a world adventure on your own, follow these eight tips below to make your trip safer and more enjoyable:
Preparation
Traveling around the world requires plenty of research on your various destinations to enhance and optimize your overall experience.
While spontaneous travel may look good on paper, it rarely works out in practice unless you have years of experience behind you. Being able to anticipate some of the nuances of your destination cities will make you more prepared to deal with differences in laws, language, and culture.
For example, without research, how will you know that feeding the pigeons in Venice is illegal?
Arrival Time
Where possible, aim to arrive in each country during the day.
Arriving during daylight hours offers multiple benefits, including easier navigation, better first impressions, and enhanced overall safety.
It gives walking holiday travellers more time to orient themselves, find available public transportation, and get settled in.
To minimize jet lag while traveling the world, adjust your sleep schedule gradually in the days leading up to your adventure. Try to sleep on the plane during the night, stay hydrated, and eat meals according to the local time.
Shared Itinerary
Before you leave home, share your travel itinerary and contact numbers for where you will be staying with someone you trust.
No matter where you are traveling, always let someone at home know where you are meant to be.
Several countries have travel enrolment programs where visitors can register an overseas trip with their government back home. In case of natural disasters or emergencies, your embassy will be able to help you.
For more information on these programs, check your government website for details.
Visitors’ Insurance
The importance of safeguarding your travel investment with an insurance plan that provides trip cancellation insurance cannot be understated.
The right visitors’ insurance will offer financial protection against unforeseen events and reimburse you from travel mishaps or medical treatment to help you manage unexpected circumstances will abroad.
For added flexibility, purchase a plan with optional Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage for cancellation reasons that fall outside of standard policy terms and conditions.
Trust Your Intuition
Intuition is a powerful thing.
Your gut has a way of knowing when things just don’t feel quite right, and once you learn to heed those warnings, you will soon learn that it is often spot on.
If a place, vehicle, or person makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, walk the other way. Your safety and trip enjoyment are simply not worth taking the risk to talk to a creepy stranger or deviate from a known path.
Be Vigilant
Traveling alone can be intimidating at first, particularly in a new country.
The trick to tackling this is by staying alert and vigilant at all times. Maintain situational awareness, keep an eye on your belongings, and be mindful of potential scams.
Taking these precautions will help to minimize risks and allow you to enjoy your trip that much more. Pay attention to your environment, especially after dark, and avoid particularly crowded areas or dark alleys.
Keep valuables hidden or leave them in your hotel room and avoid displaying too many jewelry items, even if they are costume ones.
Pack Light
No one wants to be a pack mule during an adventure around the world.
Take the time to learn how to pack light before you leave so you can be more ‘free bird’ and less ‘travel turkey’.
Packing light helps to save time, money, and effort. Take a minimalist approach (no one ever needs six pairs of boots on a trip) and leave out the unnecessary items. Focus on packing versatile items that will be useful all the time and leave out anything that can only be worn for special occasions.
Make Friends
To make friends while traveling the world solo, engage in group activities that align with your hobbies and interests.
Most countries, particularly those that attract thousands of visitors annually, offer walking tours, tourist workshops, and other day tours that provide opportunities to connect with like-minded people.
Attend events, concerts, and festivals, and be approachable and willing to engage in conversation.
In Conclusion
Traveling the world on your own requires planning, preparation, and patience. Learn from experienced solo travellers and use these tips above for added inspiration.
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
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