Solo trips are an emancipating yet sometimes intimidating experience, especially if it’s your first time doing it. You’re in charge of effectively planning and mapping out your journey, and staying safe is important when traveling alone. However, having the right advice on hand can make it one of the most liberating experiences of your life! Here are some helpful tips for planning your next solo trip.
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1. Get Travel Insurance
Traveling to a foreign country and ending up in a medical emergency or losing your passport can be very scary and may cause a panic. That’s why having travel insurance is imperative. Great for solo trips and when traveling in groups, travel insurance ensures you have all the coverage in the event of a medical injury, hospitalization, and even the loss of important documents. It also gives you access to helpful 24/7 support in what can be a very stressful experience. Allianz Travel and Allianz Assistance offers excellent travel insurance options for international travel, with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Don’t risk it – make sure you’re protected when traveling solo.
2. Do Your Research
If you want your solo travel experience to be care-free and immersive, it’s important to know as much as you can about your surroundings, how to get from the airport to your accommodation, how to stay safe, reviews about your destination, appropriate attire, languages and which local phrases to learn, personal document requirements, and more. Research is key to having a blissful and stress-free experience!
3. Plan Your First Few Days
Book your accommodation, research those must-visit attractions, get to know more about the local public transport infrastructure, arrange a few guided tours—you get the picture. Not knowing where to start once you land at your destination is very daunting, so having the first few days mapped out really helps to relieve unnecessary stress during what should be an otherwise exciting journey.
4. Go For A Location That Ticks All Your Boxes
Choose wisely when considering your travel location. If you don’t want to venture too far out for your first solo trip, opt for a destination that isn’t too far from home. Choosing a location that has an established tourism infrastructure helps, along with opting for centrally located accommodation that ensures you aren’t isolated. Once again, decide on whether you’re prepared to face language barriers, otherwise, go for a destination that speaks a language you are familiar with.
5. Practice Traveling Solo At Home
A little unsure of how you’ll handle your solo travel encounter? Start by practicing solo trips at home! Dine by yourself, visit your local museums on your own, catch a movie alone, and so on. It helps to get over those initial jitters and makes you feel more prepared mentally and emotionally when you eventually embark on your exciting adventure!
6. Opt For A Group Tour
Looking to meet new people but don’t want to stay in a hostel? Group tours are an excellent option for just that! Plus, all the finer details are already mapped out for you, so you can enjoy the experience without worrying about what to see or do next.
7. Pack As Lightly As Possible
Less really is more when traveling solo. After all, you don’t want to be hogging a load of luggage all by yourself! Get to know the local weather patterns while researching and pack accordingly, with a few essential backup items like a raincoat during otherwise tropical weather conditions or some lighter clothing for those potential summer days. Another great way to prepare is by layering your clothing so you can stay comfortable during tours, solo exploration and the like.
Now that you have some helpful tips to prepare yourself for your solo adventure, put your mind at ease and dive straight into planning! Solo travel can be so rewarding with a little preparation, so get ready to enjoy and let go.