Tips for the New Solo Traveler

 

Oh, where will your solo travels take you? | Annapurna Basecamp, Annapurna, Nepal 🇳🇵

Thinking about doing your first solo travel? Yes, it would be nice if your friends and/or loved ones could come, but you could end up waiting a VERY long time for that to happen. If you do decide to give in to your wanderlust, congratulations, you're in for an experience of a lifetime. 

To help you prepare for your individual sojourn, here are some lessons I picked up as a nomad of a little over a year.

Some places in the Philippines are only accessible by fishing boats. | Balabac, Palawan, Philippines 🇵🇭

Be Open to All Experiences - There's more than one way to get to a place (plane, train, motorbike, boat, taxi, uber, Grab, tuk tuk), different kinds of stays (homestay, hostel, hotel, motel, monastery, couch surf, tent), and all of the delicious local delicacies to try. Part of the fun of traveling is figuring out how to get from A to B, where you'll stay, and what to eat. Sometimes I leave it all to chance. Sometimes I like to lay a lot of it out. However, doing some research and using Apps and sites like Travel.com, booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb, uber, grab, couchsurfing.com, etc have helped me save some money and allowed me to have some really unique experiences.   

My mindfulness practice kept me sane during extensive travel days. | Emeishan Museum, Emeishan, China 🇨🇳

Stay Grounded - We want to do and see it all, right? To those with that kind of battery, I applaud you. I've experienced heavy travel days where I'm on a plane for 3 days straight. I've also experienced where I've been on the move nearly every day. The days when I didn't have to pack were such a blessing. The constant movement and motion can take a toll on our bodies, and if we're not careful, it can lead to burnout and/or illness. Make sure you prioritize some time to take care of yourself, slow down, reconnect with your body, and give it a bit of care and compassion. Schedule TLC time as often as you can so you can stay fresh and continue to travel longer! For me, it was keeping my mindfulness practice, or just sitting down for some coffee. It could be doing a run or yoga. Whatever it may be, take some time for yourself.

This was the most expensive room I checked into 

Get the Insurance - Travel insurance? That is expensive. Yes, I know it's expensive. And luckily, many of us won't need to use it. However, you will never know what will happen on your journey, and that insurance could save you TONS of money. That picture of me up there... that surgery cost me thousands of dollars (I just died a little again).  Yes, it will take a little more budgeting, but that peace of mind is well worth it.

Photo by ConvertKit on Unsplash

Be Aware of the Visa Status - It's nice to dream about the places we want to go. When we travel to another country, we'll need to be aware of what our passport will allow us to do. Before you buy a ticket, make sure you do your cursory Google search "________ visa" and find out if you need a visa, what's needed to apply, and how much it costs. For instance, in countries like Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Indonesia, and India you could apply via an online website and/or app. Visa expenses aren't flexible, but they don't cost that much. The most expensive visa I got was for China, which was an experience on its own! It doesn't take too long to look at whether you need a visa or not, so do that before you jump to get a ticket.

Photo by Avery Evans on Unsplash

Notify Your Credit Card You're Traveling - I've been caught where I needed to use my debit or credit card and I couldn't because they flagged my potential purchase as a fraud alert. I appreciate how seriously the card companies take online fraud, we just need to ensure we do our part so we don't get stuck not being able to access any money! If your financial institution requires you to notify them of your travel plans, let them know. Also, be aware of the date. You could be a day ahead of your card company and that could delay your access to the funds. Lastly, if you're able to, look into whether a country uses mobile payment and if you're able to sign up for that. Some places won't recognize your credit card or take cash!

Photo by Vojtech Bruzek on Unsplash

Use an Unlocked Mobile - As I've gone from country to country, it wasn't financially feasible for me to keep my carrier from the US, as the monthly fees were just so expensive compared to just getting a sim card from the country I was in. You'd be surprised at just how inexpensive mobile plans are around the world compared to where you might be. For instance, I had monthly plans for less than $10 US with enough GB of data for the month I stayed. For me to do all of the switching, I needed a phone that was unlocked, meaning it was no longer tied to the carrier. Other options could be to invest in E-Sims or buy burner phones. This leads me to the next point...

Photo by Kostiantyn Li on Unsplash

Protect Your Phone - Buy the protective case, and the screen protector, and if you go in the water, think about getting a waterproof case. It will become a big hassle to have to get another phone if you happen to drop it. It becomes especially stressful if you need one in a foreign country. 

I didn't expect to do the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam...until I met this motley crew! | Ha Giang Loop, Vietnam 🇻🇳

Make Friends - This one is tricky, as some of us travel so that we can be and find ourselves. Even in a situation like that, I'd urge you to have a conversation with other travelers, locals, just other people from time to time. One thing that I found out was how enriched my travels became, how my perspectives expanded, and how my stories became more interesting when they involved others. Simple conversations can help uncover places to go, places to eat, invitations to dinner, or even new travel partners. You never know! Of course, always be cautious and look out for your safety first and foremost. But consider reaching out to someone and starting a conversation. 

Soak in the experience. You may never know if or when you'll ever get to do it again. | Routeburn Track, Aotearoa 🇳🇿

Stay Present - Be in the moment. It's easy to get caught up in all the hubbub from all the notifications on your mobile. Or have your thoughts swirling about things other than concentrate on what's in front of you. The time that you have seeing and experiencing a new place, culture, food, etc may be the last time you'll ever get to experience it. So while I do advocate to take plenty of photos and exchange numbers and texts with your new travel friends, try to put your phone away and take in what's around. Use all 5 of your senses to really be with the people, places, and foods you are with. What did it feel like to walk on the sand of the beaches of Bali for the first time? What did it sound like to be in the hustle and bustle of Nguyen Hue Street in Saigon? What did it feel like to hug a tree in the Daintree rainforest? What did that first whiff of durian smell like in Singapore? What was it like to see a Whale Shark for the first time in Donsol? It is only in the present moment that we live our lives to the fullest. Not in the past, not in the future, and certainly not when we're distracted by devices or other things. 

Lastly, I'll end with this reflection from Anthony Bourdain.

Photo: (27) Pinterest

What tips do you have for solo travelers? Let us know down below. Light and Aloha 🙏🏾🤙🏾