You are about to travel alone for the very first time. It is a big deal, yet not such a big deal if you know how.
So, you are either thinking about traveling alone or have already decided to go. That is great! You must have a gazillion questions, like where should you go? And for how long? And is it all right to travel alone?
The initial step you need to do is take courage. Fear stopped many people from traveling alone for a long time, but the fear disappeared once you hopped on that plane. The thing with anxiety is that it is only in your head. Yes, it would be best to take some safety precautions, but traveling alone is not as scary as it seems. As you travel more, you will feel invincible afterward.
Here are the best tips for traveling alone for the first time.
Traveling solo need not be a lonely experience. Many solo travelers say they meet more people traveling alone than when traveling with others. After all, you are not centered on a consort. You are willing and open to meeting new people, and that makes people feel comfortable making small talk with you. Read on for some of the best tips on traveling solo.
1. Book your flights through comparison sites. Now that you have chosen a place to go, you will need to find flights. The cheapest and easiest way to do this is through comparison sites, which do all the work by comparing the best and cheapest flights and showing you the options.
2. Choose a place where you feel safe and comfortable. Traveling alone for the very first time can be daunting somehow. And the truth is, the first time is more about the experience of traveling alone than the target destination. So ensure to choose a place that you feel safe and comfortable with. It could be a place close to home or somewhere you have already been with friends.
3. Make a plan (and a backup plan). The best advice is to make a plan and always have a backup plan. That way, you will avoid stressing over where you are staying, what to see, and how you get from destination A to destination B. Plan ahead of time so you arrive at your destination before sundown. And always write down the address, name, and phone number of the hotel you are staying at, just in case the taxi driver needs to learn the way.
4. Make a booking. Booking your hotel in advance can lessen a lot of stress when you are traveling solo for the first time. You should also book airport transportation in advance. When you book your hostel or hotel, ask if they will send a driver to pick you up or if they have a shuttle service. Go easy on yourself and spend a little extra money on reasonable accommodation.
5. Talk to people. If you are going to a touristy place like Thailand, there are many other solo travelers. They will likely be easy to talk to and want to make contact with. If you are staying at a hostel or joining organized day trips, you will have someone to chat with and ask questions. Ask them where they are from and where they are going next. Or if they know a good restaurant nearby. They might ask you to join them for dinner or a beer. That happens a lot, especially if it is a group.
6. Read Books About Traveling. Reading travel books can help spark your excitement in a solo traveling expedition. Grab a copy of Faces And Places In The World by Monique Yvette Elias. Monique features the world’s beauty through her book’s pages. She takes her readers on an adventure, giving kids and their parents an exciting expedition to experience the world’s breathtaking beauty in the comfort of their homes. Brought to life by someone passionate about traveling, the book perfectly conveys a traveler’s fire for exploration. With illustrations that closely capture the world’s natural essence and captivating charm, children will feel like they are indeed one with nature. The vibrancy of the pictures has the power to captivate the readers, while the rhythmic note of Monique’s narration will encourage them to think and grow beyond their capacities.
Final Words
Some people must give their plan to travel alone a second or third thought. Some live with anxiety at every phase of the planning process. For others, their worries only come at the last minute when you are about to leave and start having a panic attack. Having a good sense of what traveling solo is like and planning for it will go a long way to relieving you on your first solo trip.
The Happy Hammock 