Travelling alone can be a unique yet enthralling experience with a lot of perks.The feeling of being independent about your decisions and not worrying about somebody all the time can be a real break. If you are contemplating on travelling alone, you must let loose and go for it. You can do whatever you want to do, eat whatever you want to eat or go wherever you want to go. You will certainly enjoy the independence for yourself. In case you don’t like museums, you can avoid them completely and just pass by.
You are bored or tired of something? You don’t need to carry on for someone else‘s sake, just call it a day. You can set your own pace without somebody coaxing you or slowing you down. It’s the best way to practice self-indulgence. Meeting new people and making new memories without any prejudices can be a really fun. The experience would be very personal and you can open up to your surroundings, be more present and you can be your own guide.
Nevertheless, there are some perils of solo travelling as well. You have to keep your guard up all the time to avoid any kind of trouble that could potentially spoil your day. Secondly, you are going to be on your own, so can’t trust anybody and everybody with your cash or valuable stuff.
Moreover, you might also feel lonely in a big city where you are your only companion. These issues can however be taken care of if you follow some basic rules. We have chalk down some of the ground rules you need to consider to ensure optimum level of safety. These are:
1. Be prepared ahead of time: You need to prepare everything before time. Last minute preparations can be messy and frustrating. You might forget to take along your important things. So prepare a day ahead of your flight.
2. Makes a Checklist: Before leaving for your expedition you must make a list of the following and keep it along, so that you don’t end up getting aggravated on these minor details.
- What accessories or clothes you are going to take along (according to the weather)
- Are your documents complete?
- Have you packed your necessary medicine(In case you need any)
- Schedule of your tickets, bus or train tours
- What you need to do on that trip?
3. Be smart while packing:
Don’t pack everything you have, to go on a trip. Try to keep your luggage as smart as you can so that it would be easier for you to carry it. A luggage of your clothes and accessories along with a backpack, that you can carry is quite enough even, if you are planning to stay for a couple of weeks. You can quite easily find some laundry shops in case you need to get your clothes cleaned up.
4. Copy of your Itinerary:
Always get your itinerary copied and leave it at home with your family or any trustworthy friend, so that they should know where to find you, at times of any emergency.
5. Duplicates of travelling documents and identification:
While leaving for your excursion, try to get duplicate copies of your documents and identification. Leave one set with your family, one in your luggage and one with you. Just in case of any loss you can easily retrieve the documents back.
6. Emergency phone numbers:
Keep a list of your emergency contacts in your cell phone or in your purse so that in case you get yourself into some kind of trouble, anybody could inform your family back at home.
7. Be vigilant:
Always be wise and vigilant while talking to a stranger. You don’t need to trust everybody that crosses your path. Be careful who you talk to and don’t share your details. It’s ok to have a light conversation, but don’t get too much involved or trust anybody with your money or luggage. Be your own guard and keep your eyes open about your surroundings.
8. Be modest:
While travelling solo you must act with modesty. Avoid wearing flashy clothes or expensive jewelry to attract any unwanted attention. Wear what is appropriate and according to the surroundings don’t give an impression that you have money.
9. Install GPS or carry along a map:
Big cities can be very tricky and complex. There is a fair chance of getting lost, so do install a GPS in your cell phone and keep track of your location through google maps or you can keep a pocket map, which you can consult in need. That would be helpful, if you need to get to a place without asking around and getting lost.
10. Learn some expressions of the local language:
While you are travelling you come across diverse cultures and languages. Sometime communicating becomes quite exigent if you don’t know the local language. So it is recommended that you must learn some basic expressions of that language or keep a pocket dictionary, so that you don’t find any difficulty while hiring a cab or getting along with the locals.
11. Try to blend in:
It’s better if you blend into the crowd rather than stand aside and draw attention which is uncalled for. Don’t give an impression that you are total outsider. Because you don’t want any scam artist or criminal to notice you as a “newbee” in the town.
12. Avoid extra expenses:
In solo travelling, you can avoid undue expenses as well. While hiring a cab, do get some information about the rates of travelling so that the cab driver won’t take any advantage of you by charging you extra. Moreover, you can book for your accommodation in a hostel if you don’t want expensive lodging, so you can book a bed for you rather than a whole room. You can also get affordable hotel rooms by asking around. In addition to that, instead of spending too much money on Payphones, buy a cell phone and get a local SIM card wherever you go, but do let your family know your new contact number and location. In this way you can avoid extra expense and your family can keep track of you as well.
13. Try to choose group tours:
Although going alone on trips can be fun, but where you have no clue about the place, you can opt a group tour to get to know about the place without getting lost. This method is not only safe, but you also get to meet a lot of travellers like you who are travelling alone. And you can make new friends as well.
14. Avoid lonely places:
While moving around and observing the cities and towns try to be in crowded or open places. Avoid any dark, lonely streets at night. You may get you in some trouble if you come around a criminal. Especially at night, try not to wander alone and head to some happening place where you can find more people:
15. Don’t get loneliness engulf you:
Well, one of the biggest disadvantages of travelling alone is that you might get lonely at times. Especially while you are having a lovely dinner. In that case, don’t go to fancy restaurants where you have to wait for the food for longer and tolerate awkward gazes. Rather, try some self-service café joints, small eateries or restaurants where you can find other pleasant solo travellers like you, to share a cup of coffee.
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