7 Solo Travel Tips
I love travelling alone and think it’s a great way to explore a new place without being rushed by other people. Travelling alone is very freeing and efficient because you get to decide what you want to do, when you want to do it and how long you want to do it for. Of course travelling with others is equally as great but solo travel is something I think I will always do. With that said below are some tips that will make your next solo trip a little better and safer.
You’re not travelling alone
You probably heard this before however it’s important so I will mention it here as the first item. If you get into a taxi or get chatting to a stranger, never ever say you’re travelling alone. I know it’s a pessimistic view but you don’t know who the person is. Unfortunately not everyone has the best intentions and I would only disclose I’m alone to friends or people who I’ve met a few times and trust. Even online I never disclose if I’m travelling solo. If anyone asks, I’m with friends and family.
Not your friend
To keep the spirit of pessimism going, the next tip is one I learned through experience. I don’t want to say that every person that approaches you has bad intentions or a hidden agenda, however in my experience always question someone’s motives. The classic example is if someone tries to befriend you then ask you to go into their shop, a bar, restaurant or some other location away from where you are. This happened to me in Istanbul and initially I thought the guy was being friendly and wanting to chat to a foreigner, however he quickly started trying to get me into his shop and when I said no, he became aggressive and rude.
Before visiting a location it’s worthwhile researching the common scams that go around. Another example from Istanbul was when a shoe cleaner dropped his brush ‘without noticing’. My mum picked it up for him and he then proceeded to try and give me a ‘free’ shoe polish. When I refused because I had white trainers, he became verbally and physically aggressive. It took me getting very aggressive for him to walk away.
Another thing to keep in mind is people offering to help you. I arrived in India a few years ago and was trying to contact my hotel who organised a taxi that was yet to show up. For some reason I couldn’t get through and a local came up asking if I need help. When I explained what I was trying to do, he quickly pointed out that I was using the wrong dialling code. However after that he insisted I give him money and when I said I don’t have anything on me (I actually didn’t), he became aggressive and started to follow me everywhere. In the end I gave him a £2 coin I had and got into my cab.
With all that said it’s not always like this and while traveling through Japan, every interaction I had was genuine and positive. I’m not saying ignore every local offering you help or wanting to chat, but use caution and try to get to the bottom of their motive. I will never under any circumstances follow a local to their shop or bar or other establishment if they seem keen to get my attention. I’d rather risk offending someone than find myself in a situation I really don’t want to be in.
Keep someone updated
Make sure you have one or two people at home that you keep updated on your progress, whereabouts and plans. You can do that via WhatsApp or even share your live location if you’re concerned. I keep my mum, girlfriend and one of my close friends updated on what I’m doing and where I’m. If I haven’t replied in a while, they will check in. This gives peace of mind not only to you but also to those who care about you.
Don’t rely on one map
Don’t rely on one map application and have more than one installed. I always have 3 main map apps in my phone. Apple Maps, Google Maps and Maps.me. Some countries work better on Apple while others are much better with Google. I would also download an offline map for each app just in case. Finally I use Maps.me because it gives you a fully offline map of the entire country. I lost count how many times this app saved my arse when I didn’t have internet and the downloaded map either expired or was out of range. If you want to go an extra step, I also recommend Citymapper for public transport, Tide Pro for tide times and footpath to record your GPS track and retrace it if needed.
Essentials sling
I always have a small sling on me that has some essentials. I keep this sling during travel days or when I’m out and about. In an event that something happens to your hotel, this is the essential kit that you would need. It includes:
Local cash
Passport
Charger
Wallet
Prescription Medicines
Essentials backpack
Earlier this year I had an overnight layover in Heathrow when travelling between Dubai and Spain. At about 3am the fire alarm went off and everyone had to evacuate. Luckily for me, all my essentials were in my backpack already so all I had to do is throw some clothes on, grab my bag and go. These essentials included anything expensive or critical. For me this meant all my camera gear, laptop, tech pouch and sling as mentioned above. By having this more or less ready, you save time messing around if you need to evacuate in a hurry. Of course this is more of a hassle compared to laying all your stuff out, but I’d rather deal with a little hassle than run around like a headless chicken should I need to leave quickly.
Hero Clip
The final tip is the most practical one and that is to purchase a Hero Clip. A Hero Clip is a hook that allows you to hang your backpack and keep it off the floor. It’s a simple carabiner with an extending hook and I use it all the time when travelling. It’s great for keeping your bag off the floor or even attaching a bottle or something else if needed. One of the best travel accessories in my opinion.
Bonus - offline translation
My last bonus tip to have a translation app downloaded such as Apple or Google Translate. Not only that but I also recommend downloading the most popular languages to your device so you don’t need an internet connection. This way no matter who you bump into, chances are you are covered.
