So you have decided to travel solo for the first time without your significant other or friends. You are planning your first trip and a little nervous.
If you are a woman, you probably have read or seen on the news travel advisories and warnings against this, and am starting to have second thoughts about your brave decision.
I have been traveling solo for over 10 years and can say that by using common sense, being aware of your surroundings, and taking the necessary safety precautions, you too can gain the confidence to become a solo traveler.
Check out these fun facts to bring your confidence back up and prove you are not the only one going solo.
According to a Booking.com survey, 65 percent of women are taking vacations without their partner. Women are using the opportunity to travel at their own pace, breaking from the norm and immersing themselves in experiencing local cultures in unique destinations.
Advantages of Traveling Solo
Another advantage of traveling solo is, if you find something of interest, you have the flexibility to extend your stay. It gives you an opportunity to meet other people and women traveling solo as well.
Any time I eat at a restaurant alone, I always make friends with the guests sitting next to me due to their intrigue in me being “brave” and enjoying a meal by myself.
Eating alone not for, you, sign up for a cooking class to learn about the history of the local cuisine or go on a gastronomy bike tour and sample cheese and beer.
I guarantee by the end of the class, you will have a couple of phone numbers and emails wanting to schedule a travel foodie night out.
When asked for reasons why deciding to travel solo, according to the Solo Travel Society, 59% of the women said they wanted to see more of the world and were not willing to wait for others while 45% liked the freedom to do what they want when they want.
If you are flying by the seat of the pants type of person that just makes plans without blinking an eye, you fit into the solo traveler club.
8 Tips for Traveling Solo
Here are some tips to ensure your solo travel experience isn’t a one-time thing but becomes an annual tradition of curiosity, solitude, self-discovery, and adventure.
Budget-Friendly Accommodations
A good option for budget-conscious travelers is staying at a hostel, guesthouse or B&B versus an overpriced boutique hotel. Most hostels include breakfast and information on one day or multi-day tours that are cheaper than if you were to go online and book them yourself.
Share Your Travel Plans
Before traveling, make sure you let someone know back at home where you will be. Email the person a copy of the travel itinerary and hotel information.
Before venturing out into town, ask the hotel staff about the area of interest you plan on visiting and the best mode of transportation to get there. Jot down the hotel address, phone number and bring it with you.
Travel Insurance
Never, ever leave home without travel insurance. Accidents and trip cancellations due to weather or political unrest are unpredictable and can happen at the worst time.
Most health insurance plans don’t provide coverage overseas. Check the fine print of your coverage before traveling abroad.
Avoid Out of Pocket Medical Expenses
Paying out of pocket for medical expenses is a good way to ruin a trip. Travel insurance can help to offset the cost. It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong.
A couple of days into a trip to Ireland, my mother twisted her knee while kissing the Blarney Stone had to go to the hospital. She didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket.
You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads. World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers. You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
Travel Guidebook
A travel guidebook is a must-have travel companion. It sounds thrilling to decide to be spontaneous and just show up to a destination and see what happens.
Do some type of research on local customs, history, places to stay, prices for train and bus fare, and emergency numbers prior to arrival. Travel books can help plan your trip.
The spontaneity piece will show itself from picking activities you would not normally participate in, asking locals about the best spots to eat, and finding affordable bed and breakfasts not advertised online and only known by locals.
My favorite travel book go-to is Lonely Planet. Once I am done with the book, I leave it in the lobby for the next fellow travel to find enjoyment in planning his/her vacation. One less item to take up space in my carry-on.
Public Wi-Fi
While it is free, accessing public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or a hotel puts you at risk for hackers gaining access to your information through malicious means.
Adversaries can trick you to use a rogue Wi-Fi network, intercept your information from a man-in-the-middle attack, and distribute malware on your computer.
Hackers take advantage of an unsecured connection to obtain sensitive data such as your personally identifiable information, usernames, and passwords to gain access to your bank accounts.
Stay Connected with a Pocket Wi-Fi
If you plan on visiting multiple countries, renting a pocket Wi-Fi to get internet coverage worldwide is cheaper than paying expensive data roaming charges.
No more getting lost backpacking around Europe and having to use your data plan to make an emergency call.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
If renting or buying a pocket Wi-Fi or buying an international SIM voice and data package is outside of your budget and you have no other option than to free public Wi-Fi, you need to have something in place like a VPN to safeguard your privacy and protect your sensitive information when browsing the internet or submitting your credit card information at an online store.
What is VPN you ask? A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that hides your IP address encrypts all the data you send and receive through internet traffic and protects your online identity.
The encrypted data looks like gibberish to anyone who intercepts it — it is impossible to read.
I was on vacation in Europe a couple of years ago with my newly activated credit card. Two days into the trip, I got a notification from the credit card company asking me about some charges made online.
Looking at the merchant, I knew I didn’t make those purchases, but I did use my Visa to buy a coffee at a local coffee shop while I caught up on email the day before.
Luckily I listened to traveling guru Rick Steves and had another card to use while canceling the other one and having a new card waiting for me when I got home. Instead of enjoying my trip, I was worried about my information getting stolen.
Months later I read online that one of the companies I order things from experienced a data breach the year before, but I received no notification. No email, no letter in the mail, no phone call.
Online Privacy and Security
Until I started working for an IT department 6 years ago, I didn’t know what a VPN was or the importance of protecting my information. That is what I thought wireless routers were for.
If you travel to some of the developing countries, you will notice that the internet connection is slow and the same people visit that location every day. The owner has likely not changed the password so anyone can get online.
The company I recommend going with is NordVPN. Rated by PCMag two years in a row as Editors’ Choice VPN, you get 24/7 protection for your devices (smartphone, laptops, desktop) that includes Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Blackberry, and Windows Phone.
I pay $2.99 a month. That is 70% off what they normally charge. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. I finally have peace of mind when I travel that someone is watching my back. If you are interested in learning more about one of the voted best VPN providers in 2018, click on the NordVPN link above.
Countries I have traveled solo to with no problems are China, Hong Kong, Italy, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Canada, Ecuador, Japan, Germany, Greece, and counting for many years to come.
I hope some of these tips and tricks help you to decide to take the plunge and convince you to schedule your first solo trip with confidence. Before you go, check out my post, 21 Carry-On Bag Essentials For Air Travel To Any Destination. Happy traveling!
