Solo Travel 101: Why Planning Is Crucial
*Collaborative post
If you are desperate to travel and you have a wanderlust itch that needs scratching, then you need to start planning your next jaunt abroad. Travelling overseas on your own can be daunting but massively life affirming. Travel is one of the best ways to lift your mood, recharge your batteries and feel free. You can immerse yourself in new cultures, meet new people, eat new cuisine and live like a local. While you can choose to head to an all inclusive five star beach resort for a relaxing holiday, the chances are that you crave more of an adventure.
To get the most out of your trip, you need to plan well and hone your organisational skills. Ad hoc make do plans won’t work. If you don’t plan because you think of yourself as a spontaneous individual, you could end up with a chaotic jaunt. You could choose to opt for an organised tour, but this will only result in a generic package where you follow the tourist crowds. Instead, go off piste and plan your own spot of solo travel.
Packing
You may be tempted to pack your hard backed wheeled suitcase and check it into the hold of your plane. However, you can keep your luggage with you at all times by utilising a front loading backpack. At forty litres or so, you can keep this as cabin baggage. You will also find it easier to travel with something that doesn’t require you to drag it everywhere. Roll instead of fold and maximise every iota of space. Make sure you consider everything that you need to pack. If you have piercings, pack your barbells and belly bars in a side pocket. If you are addicted to photography, make sure your travel camera is to hand. And always make sure that you have space for your wallet. Even better, keep this on you in a money belt under your clothes.
Itinerary
If you are thinking of embarking on a longer getaway, you need to plan out at least a skeleton itinerary. If you don’t you risk wasting days sitting around not know where to go or what to do. You have to research your destinations and write a list of non negotiables that you simply have to see or experience. This could be the Great Wall of China in Beijing, the Northern Lights in Reykjavik or the Opera House in Sydney. Researching means that you won’t turn up at these sights on the one day of the week that they are closed. You can also utilise early bird offers and pay for tickets in advance to save money.
The same goes for your accommodation and flights. Head on comparison websites and search for some adequate accommodation. Many of these sites will now let you reserve rooms without paying up front. This can give you peace of mind when you are organising your trip. It’s a great comfort to know where you are resting your head each night. When flying, make sure that you book your flights early. If you are trying to save cash, go for those indirect flights that depart at ungodly hours. You can save yourself hundreds of pounds doing this.
Documents
When planning your trip, don’t overlook the need for documentation. Check every destination that you are travelling to and see if you require a visa. Don’t leave this until the last minute as many countries require you to visit an embassy or visa application centre a month before you are due to travel. If you need any jabs or medication before you fly, do your research. If yellow fever is present where you are travelling to, get your vaccination. If you need to take antimalarials, start early as they can have some unpleasant side effects that you need to overcome before you fly.
Ensure that your passport has at least six months left on it, and always keep it to hand. Don’t pack it at the bottom of your bag as you’ll end up rifling through your luggage at passport control.
Heading overseas on your own might be a novel experience for you. However, you will meet fellow travellers on the way, and you will enjoy getting to know yourself a little better. Stay in a destination and enjoy living like a local. Learn the lingo and head off the tourist track to see the more authentic side of a country. Follow this guide and you will soon be enjoying the solo trip of a lifetime
