10 Tips for Travelling Alone

Travelling alone may seem a little daunting; some people think it must be boring, while others believe solo travel is only for adventurous people but the truth is more and more people are embarking on this adventure. Are we losing our fear of doing things alone, or is travelling solo simply a way of challenging ourselves? If you plan on traveling by yourself soon, here are our top 10 tips to make the most of your travels. Keep on reading!

Lots of worries may trouble travellers before their first trip alone but they are quickly outweighed by the innumerable benefits. Indeed, doing what you wish, when it suits you and trying out new things is priceless.

One of the most valuable aspects of solo travel is self-introspection, as you get to examine your own thoughts, feelings and sensations when going it alone. If you like the idea and are considering taking this step, here are some top tips to turn your journey into an unforgettable experience!

1. Begin your adventure by travelling to a country with a similar culture to yours, especially if it’s your first time travelling alone. The US or Europe are the perfect destinations to start with: Amsterdam is the ultimate destination to travel alone in Europe, while the best city to do so across the pond is New York.
2. Look up the unsafe areas at your destination, so you know which spots to avoid and enjoy your trip with complete peace of mind.
3. Travelling alone doesn’t mean being antisocial. In fact, many friendships are made when travelling on your own! Sharing a room or couchsurfing are perfect ways to meet people while saving some money on accommodation.
4. If you don’t feel like eating alone, you have nothing to worry about: mealsurfing is also available in numerous countries, find out more on mealsharing.
5. Keep your passport and travel documents in a safe place.We also recommend scanning them and emailing yourself a copy, better safe than sorry!
6. Speaking English is always helpful but you will find some countries where the English language won’t be of much help. For this reason, we recommend writing down the address of the place you’ll be staying at in order to overcome language barriers.
7. Avoid excessive alcohol use: being in full possession of your faculties will help you avoid any unpleasant situations.
8. Always share with someone your location and estimated time of return when going out at night especially if you’re in an unfamiliar city.
9. One of the advantages of travelling alone is that you can organise your journey as you wish but it can also come with involuntary changes of plans. You should account for blips and prepare a list of possible alternatives in case something were to happen.
10. Travel hours are best spent in the company of a book, or if you want to make friends, playing cards is a good ice-breaker.

Travelling alone can be one of the best experiences of your life – not only does it help you take control of your time but also, it is the perfect way to get to know yourself better and improve your social skills. Have you ever travelled alone? What advice would you share?

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