And get the perfect experience
Traveling alone is often scary, especially the first time. We think that something dangerous can happen to us, that we will not be able to understand each other with the locals, that loneliness will weigh us down, that it will be difficult to meet people...
But it's not like that! Evidently, there are certain risks linked to traveling, but they are not much older for going alone. Also, if you miss having company, always you can meet people in your destination (we'll show you it's easier than you think) . and you know that The advantages of traveling unaccompanied are endless: you will be able to enjoy the freedom to choose your own path without having to give explanations, doing and undoing as you please; it will permit you meet yourself and incredible people, and in the end you will live An experience of those that change your life. Here are some tips to get it done in the nicest way possible:
Ready to live an experience that can change your life?
1.- Find out about the most dangerous or problematic places of the area you are going to visit. With this you will reduce feeling the fear that seems inevitably linked to traveling alone.
2.- Do not mount movies. And by this I mean that most places are no more dangerous than your own city (some are probably much less so), so don't let your imagination play horror-movie scenes every time you step outside. don't let that idea stop you from traveling alone. Asia, for example, is much safer than Spain in terms of pickpockets, and yet its traffic is much more dangerous. That is why it is crucial that you inform yourself before leaving, as we said before.
3.- It's normal to be nervous before embarking on a solo journey, as is normal before doing anything extraordinary in life. Don't worry! If you need help, there will always be someone willing to lend a hand, no matter where you are.
4.- If you get into a taxi and you're afraid it's going to take too long, **search your destination yourself on Google Maps**. This way you will see where it goes, if it deviates a lot, and how long it should take to get there. You can also give him the directions yourself, as if you knew the way, or explain that you have the route detailed beforehand, so he will know what to expect.
Hostels are perfect for meeting other travelers
5.- Hostels, hostels and bed & breakfasts are better than hotels for meet other people traveling alone. Spend time in the common areas and you will see how friendship arises. Coachsurfing and Airb'n'b rooms are better than hotels for meet natives
6.- If you prefer to sleep in a hotel room, but do not want to pay more than for a double (sometimes, they even add a supplement to the bill for traveling alone), you can do find you a roommate in tour operators such as G Adventures or Intrepid Travel.
7.- If you want to meet people, be honest. It's better to show that you're nervous than to try to brush your fears away and get embarrassed or be thought of as a lunatic. Try: "Hi, I don't usually do this because I'm really shy, but I'm traveling alone and I'd like to talk to someone here to ask a couple of things about the area. Can I have a seat?" It seems silly, but it works. Don't you think you'd let him eat with you?
8.- If you don't like to eat alone, go mealsurfing. You can start by searching for restaurants with communal tables (a trick: type "communal table" into Google along with the city and you will see several options). You can also sign up for tastings or organized dinners, in which everyone enters in the same shift at the same time -sometimes in private homes- or even find a partner for lunch. Do all this in Kitchenparty, N ew Gusto or MealSharing.
Mealsurfing will prevent you from eating alone
9.- When you get on public transport, smile and make eye contact with other passengers . This way they will see that you are willing to chat -if you are- and it will be easier for you to start conversations. For long trips, you can also bring a deck of cards and invite other passengers to play.
10.- Sign up for a guided tour or a course Of something. It will be very easy to connect with your peers!
11.- Enroll in a trip for singles with companies like Friendship Travel, Viajes Single or Viajar Solo. There are some companies that organize tours for girls only, such as WalkingWomen or Mujer y Viajera.
12.- Search the internet for people with the same interests as you and stay with them. A very useful website for this is MeetUp, although you can also search traveler forums, such as this one on TripAdvisor.
13.- Dust off Tinder (or similar) and maybe your trip will turn into something more... Here are more apps to flirt on the go.
14.- Do you know someone in the city but they don't have time to help you, or have they already returned to your country? It's okay: talk to him or her, probably he can put you in touch with her friends!
fifteen.- If you leave your room, especially at night, leave a note saying with whom and at what time , more or less, you hope to return. That way at least someone will know where to look for you if something happens.
Signing up for a 'singles' trip allows you to meet people easily
16.- If you are going to visit several different countries, buy a free mobile to be able to put a local SIM of each place. You will save money and you can always be connected when you need it.
17.- Do not arrive at new destinations at nightfall, try to do it when it's still daylight, especially if you haven't booked a place to sleep (it will be more difficult to find one, many receptions will be closed...) However, it is not advisable to do it too early either, especially if you want to arrive and rest in your accommodation, as there are many hostels and hotels that either will not have the reception available, or they will not be able to give you a bed until 12:00.
18.- If you feel that some "hustler" is harassing you too much, be firm in your answers. If necessary, tell him that you have met someone very close to there, so that he does not know that you are alone. Also, don't be afraid of talk loud or put on a number if you feel that you are in danger or someone is bothering you. Even if they don't know your language, you will have sounded the alarm.
19.- wear a padlock to close your backpack, especially if you are going to sleep in common rooms with strangers. It's also handy to have a chain so you can tie it to the bed or something similar, especially if you're carrying things that look valuable from the outside (like laptop sleeves).
20.- Scan your passport and important travel documents and send them to your email. This way, if you lose them, you can easily make copies.
Remember that, even if you arrive tired, you will not be able to get a room until 12:00
21.- Take music (the easiest thing is to carry it on your mobile) and a book to entertain you in downtime. You can also download games for your phone that don't need an internet connection, or bring a small console.
22.- If you are going to be away for a long time, or travel beyond the European borders, take out travel health insurance. Here you can compare prices.
23.- If you want to make a trip that involves long routes on foot or by bike but you don't want to carry your belongings all the time, don't worry: there are several companies that transport your things from one stop to another , like Headwater . However, remember that it is usually best to travel light!
24.- Do you want to hitchhike? Perfect! Find out in this hitchhikers wiki if it is a good idea to do it at your destination.
25.- Try to learn some basic words of the language of the country you visit, as it will be useful to defend yourself or understand basic signs, such as "hotel", "prohibited" or "exit". However, you can use mobile apps like Google Translate, that will not only help you make yourself understood, but will also be able to read posters for you and translate them instantly just by taking a photo. You can see how it works here.
*This article was initially published on 09/17/2015 and updated