Along with knowing yourself more, there are a whole lot of things you will learn from travelling alone. Sure, the adventure is fun and a reward in itself, but it needs preparedness to ensure you’re getting the most of your trip. If you’re planning for a soul-searching getaway, these are some of the things solo travellers ought to do (or, at least, try) during their adventure.
- Research About the Weather. Whether you’re travelling to Southeast Asia or United States, it’s important to research about the weather of your destination. This may be an obvious pre-trip procedure, but forgetting to do so can seriously ruin your trip.
- Arrive During the Daytime. Traveling solo is exciting, but it could also be pretty risky. Before booking a flight, make sure to know you’ll be arriving at your destination. Pick a flight that allows you to land while there is still plenty of light when it is safer to walk around and everything is easier to see.
- Lie a Bit. When someone (like a market vendor or a cab driver) asks you how long you have been in the place, say at least two weeks. People may less likely take advantage of you if you seem familiar with the locality.
- Speak the Language. It can be really frustrating, if not embarrassing, not being able to speak even just a bit of the local language. A quick solution is to memorize a few basic words such as the local words for “thank you”, “please” and “hi” before your trip. Other than just being polite, speaking the local language makes you seem like a smart traveller, putting you at less chances of being scammed or taken advantage of.
- Be Self-Centered. Travelling alone is the only time you have the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want it. So, enjoy it! It can be surprisingly fun to be alone, listening to your own thoughts and taking care of nobody else but yourself. Take advantage of this time to be introspective and reflect about what you have and what you want in life. If you are worried about feeling alone and lonely, remember that there’s a whole new world of people around you. Try to make friends with fellow diners or chat with locals at the market.
Travelling is one of the best experiences we can have in our lives. It pushes us out of our comfort zones and teaches us many things about ourselves and the world around us. Relish this chance, but always be smart with your choices.
