6 Solo Travel Mistakes to Avoid on Your Trip
There are so many benefits of travelling around the world on your own. For one thing, you get to see exactly what you want to. No more wandering around that boring transport museum that you have no interest in! And when you solo travel, you don’t have to rush around different monuments.
You can spend exactly as much time as you want to look around areas. After all, there is often a lot more to the city than meets the eye. However, when you do travel on your own, you can be more at risk of getting in danger. Therefore, don’t make these common errors when you are flying solo on your travels.
1. Not Researching Enough
When you travel solo, the world opens up to you. As a solo traveller, you have endless opportunities to meet new people and explore places that would otherwise be difficult to visit in groups. That’s where being prepared comes in. But planning is time-consuming and can be a bit frustrating at times, especially when looking for flights or finding the perfect accommodation. But without proper research before leaving home, it can be more challenging once you are abroad.
This is especially true during these pandemic times when many countries now require proof of a negative Covid-19 test before you are allowed entry. Getting an at home Covid test in New Jersey or your departure city can help you get the documentation you need and avoid travel disruptions.
You may not know where to go and are unsure how to get there, making it easy for you to feel overwhelmed. If you want your first solo travel experience to be as amazing as possible, do some planning and map out every last detail of your trip before leaving home, know your passenger rights, review your travel insurance policy and remember to make sure you check out the local culture before you fly. You want to respect specific traditions too.
2. Not Communicating With Friends and Family
When you travel solo, it's crucial to stay in touch with your family and friends back home. Whatever your age, it’s so important to let someone know where you are while you are on your travels.
Whether it’s a friend or a family member, it’s best to check in occasionally. Let them know where you'll be staying and give them a copy of your itinerary so they can track your movements on your trip. That way, they can get help to you in the case of an emergency.
It’s also a good idea to tell the front desk about your plans for the day, especially if you are going on a hike or heading out into the wilderness during your trip. You can easily check in on Facebook now as well so that a whole bunch of people will know exactly where you are.
Being on the other side of the world can make you feel homesick and isolated – especially if you're travelling alone for a while so regular check-ins will benefit you and them.
3. Not Traveling With Enough Money
You don’t want to get caught out without cash when you’re travelling alone so make sure that you always have access to funds and that you have a good amount of money with you. You don’t want to end up in an area with no ATMs in the vicinity. Take at least two cards with you in case one gets taken by a bank machine and always carry some emergency cash whether that’s Euros or Dollars, depending on the destinations that you’re travelling to.
A travel cash card is a good option to take out cash with fewer fees than some banks. If you do have any money left over, make sure you get your money exchanged back in your own country. You don’t want to pay a significant premium doing it in the particular country you are travelling in.
4. Overpacking
Try to pack light when travelling solo. Lugging heavy bags around can put extra stress on your body and limit the amount of time you spend exploring new places. So before taking off to faraway lands for your solo trip, carefully consider what you'll be doing while away. Will you be hiking through epic mountain ranges? Spending days at famous beaches? Doing yoga in scenic natural surroundings?
Then keep in mind that the less luggage you bring with you, the better. You'll not only save money on baggage fees but also spare yourself hours of headaches trying to track down that yoga top that is somewhere in your bag.
5. Not Booking in Advance For Popular Attractions
You may think that because you’re on your own, you can get into attractions and onto tours quicker. But sometimes that’s not the case; you could end up standing in a long queue if you don’t book before you go, wasting time and feeling awkward waiting on your own.
Therefore, you need to look online and book before you go especially if there are particular things you really want to do and you’re travelling during peak seasons. Museum tickets are worth booking ahead and a city pass may contain a fast-track option so you can skip the queues on the most popular attractions.
6. Not Appearing Confident
it’s so important that you appear confident when walking around. Research the area so that you won’t always be checking where you are on a map and walk with your head high giving the illusion of looking confident even if you don’t really feel it.
One great thing about solo travelling is you often get to meet new people while you are out and about. You can make firm friends who will help you to get around the local area and show you all the amazing haunts but when strangers offer your help go with your instinct. Most people that you meet when you are solo are incredibly helpful and friendly but just be wary of who you trust.
Always keep your wits about you so you don’t put yourself in a position where you could get your drink spiked, and your possessions stolen. If you feel you are questioning their motives, listen to your intuition and walk away fast. You can always explain that you know where you are, and you can even say you are meeting someone soon. Being your most confident self will ensure you have an empowering experience.
Finally
Being a solo traveller means having the freedom to do things your way. When travelling solo, your only responsibility is yourself – which opens up a whole new world of possibilities so don’t miss out on being spontaneous too! Make friends while you travel, follow your whims, and discover new adventures every day. There’s a reason solo travel is so popular!
Discover our all How To Travel Solo articles here
