By Chloe Balisacan
Solo travel can be one of the most transformative and cathartic experiences a person can embark upon, but it can equally be daunting and intimidating to plan. Below is everything I wish I knew before I started to solo travel.
Safety tips
Lie when you have to: It’s sad, but unavoidable: you’ll meet creepy people. If someone at a cafe or tourist site asked if I was alone, my go-to lie was that my mom was tired, so she’s waiting for me at our hotel. Never make it known that you’re alone to a stranger.
Don’t look at your phone while walking: If you need to look at directions, stop at the side of the path and put your back against a wall. Likewise, I like to walk around with one earbud in so that Google can read directions to me. You look less conspicuous as a tourist, especially in busy areas.
Tell friends/family your plans: Even if your family is thousands of kilometres away, update them about what you’re doing, where you’re going, and who you’re with. Share your location with them so they can track you. I bought an Apple Airtag for my backpack to track me and they’re also helpful in case your bag gets stolen.
Trust your gut: You know when something doesn’t feel right. Trust that feeling. Remember, you don’t owe anyone anything, so prioritise yourself and your safety.
Accommodation Tips
Stay in hostels. Staying in hostels allows for two key things while solo travelling: cheap accommodation and meeting other travellers. The most I’ve paid for a hostel room is around €30 and the cheapest was €8! You do have to share a room, bathroom, and kitchen with strangers, but once you start travelling, you eventually adjust.
Bonus tip for women: Most hostels have female-only dorms. I always spring for the extra Euro or two because I always feel more comfortable. Of course, be cautious and wary of the people in your room because they’re ultimately still strangers.
Work for accommodation. What’s better than cheap accommodation? FREE accommodation! Consider websites like WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms), Workaway, or Worldpackers that offer free accommodation in exchange for work. In Washington state, I worked for a month on a goat farm through WWOOF where I stayed for free in a little cabin in exchange for 25 hours of work on the farm every week. When choosing a host, do your research! Look at potential hosts’ reviews, call or Facetime them, and trust your instincts. It’s rare, but every so often scammers or generally shady people will be on these sites.
Packing essentials
A good backpack and a bum bag. The most important thing to consider when packing is what you’re packing your belongings in. I travelled with a 70 litre backpack with a waist strap – an absolute must. Waist straps will alleviate so much weight on your back, which you will absolutely need for all the walking that you’ll do. I found 70 litres to be a good size since it’s big enough to store enough clothes in for three months, but not so big that I couldn’t walk around with it for those three months. A small bum bag is also handy for outings when you don’t want to carry your backpack around.
Pack less clothes than you think. I wish I knew this before I started travelling – pack way less than you think. Quite honestly, the only absolute essentials you’ll need are a week’s worth of underwear and socks. At some point, you’ll stop caring about what you look like and you’ll just wear the same outfit everyday. If you’re travelling during winter, or to cold destinations, prioritise thin thermals over bulky items.
Bonus tip: Packing cubes are an absolute life-saver and I highly recommend buying a set before travelling anywhere.
Shoes: You’re going to be walking A LOT. Make sure you have comfortable shoes that can withstand all the walking you’ll do. Also, pack a pair of sandals for hostel showers. You do not want to use communal showers without something between you and the bathroom floor.
Electronics: The three most important electronics: adaptor, portable charger, over-the-ear headphones. You’ll need an adaptor for different outlets depending on the country you’re in. You’ll want a portable charger and over-the-ear headphones for long travel days.
A journal: The most prized possession you’ll have after your solo trip is a journal filled with your memories. Bring a journal and write in it every night. Journals are also great companions when you’re alone at a restaurant, plane, or train.
Tips to Meet People
Bring a pack of cards: Besides my passport, I think my deck of cards was the most important thing I brought on my solo trip. Play games with the people you meet at hostels, the person sitting across from you on a long-distance train, or play solitaire if the other two don’t work out. Someone always has a new game to introduce to you, or, if all else fails, everyone knows “Go Fish!”
Free walking tours: I love walking tours because it’s a fun and “free” (you should always tip your guides) activity that will introduce you to fellow travellers. Between stops, chat to the people around you and then invite them to a drink after the tour.
Bonus tip: Ask the guide the best and cheapest place to eat in the city then invite some new friends along!
Use meetup apps: Not like that… but there are apps for solo travellers to meet. Couchsurfing, Hostelworld, Facebook all have social networking features/chats for solo travellers to meet each other.
Embrace being alone every once in a while: This is a solo trip. Welcome the days when you can’t seem to connect with anyone. Do things alone. Solo days allow you to reconnect with yourself. Cherish the opportunity to do so.
General Tips
Student/ under 26 discounts: Ask anywhere and everywhere for student/under 26 discounts. Places like art museums or theatres often offer student discounts. It never hurts to ask!
Eventbrite: Use Eventbrite to check out concerts, markets, or shows in your city. I love using Eventbrite because you can find non-touristy, off-the-beaten-path activities to do. Use the filter to find free events!
Cook for yourself every once in a while: It’s tempting to want to try new restaurants everyday, but eating out is one of the easiest ways to blow through your money without realising. Cook for yourself as much as possible – and make it fun! Go to a local market, buy ingredients you can’t get at home, and have fun perusing supermarket aisles that have products you’ve never seen before.
Be willing for plans to change: One of my favourite memories of my first solo travel trip was a few years ago when I was in Bruges, Belgium. I met a girl at my hostel who told me about her plans to take a train the next day to Lille, France. I had plans to visit Antwerp, Belgium the next day, but at the last minute I changed my plans and went to France with that girl instead! I ended up staying in France for a month and made my way all the way down to Bordeaux.
All of this to say: nothing is ever set in stone while travelling. You might meet someone cool to become a travel buddy with, you might hate the city you planned to stay three nights in, you might love the city you just arrived in and end up working in a hostel. You never know what can happen, so be open to spontaneity.