It’s Solo Trip Time!!

Solo trip is everybody’s dream.

Taking some time out of your busy routine, spending some time with yourself is what everyone looks forward to. But, before all of this, there will be a lot of doubts piled up about how to go about with this huge step. Yes, pat yourselves. If you’re doing this for the first time, it is definitely a huge deal and definitely a moment of pride. The holiday season is soon arriving, so fasten your seat belts, because today I’m taking you for a mini solo trip experience. Presenting to you, top 10 tips for solo travel (India and abroad)

INDIA

Research

A good research is a must and the very first step one should be taking. If you are a woman, check how safe the place is for women and is it okay to wear shorts and skirts and so more and so forth. See if you know the language of the place, or if English works.

Loosen Up

It’s a holiday. Do not carry your study/work related things while on the trip. You may carry books, some good music and the rest of the time you can step out and meet new people. Don’t take unnecessary tension.

Less baggage more comfort

Always, always, always pack less. If you are planning for a 5-7 day trip, carry 2 pairs of jeans and 4 t-shirts/tops and 1/2 set(s) of pyjamas. More luggage will make it very difficult to commute. It is best to pack everything in a backpack so that you can carry it around with you so that you don’t lose anything anywhere.

• Chart out a schedule

Site-seeing and meeting people are the main objectives of a solo trip. Since there is a time constrain for all of us, jot down the places you want to visit well in prior. Try to cover places which are nearby on one day and plan at your own comfort. Remember, it is a time of leisure, and not a time of stress. So make a breezy schedule.

Liquid cash

Even though our country is proceeding towards digital payment gateways, there are still areas where cards or PayTM or GooglePay are still not accepted. So, carrying liquid cash is a must but at the same time be very careful about your belongings at all times.

ABROAD

Budgeting

Book your flight tickets well in advance for cheaper rates. Try to avoid other travel websites and try checking out the airline websites because most of the time, airline websites rates are much lesser. For stay, you can book off hostels or Airbnbs preferably, as both are way cheaper than hotels. The facilities offered by both are really good, so there’s nothing to worry about.

• Educate yourself

Travelling in European countries is quite exotic, BUT be alert at all times because it is the land of pickpocketing and mugging. As previously mentioned, research thoroughly about the place. If you’re a woman, try to wind up your day a little early if the city is known for any such crimes. Passport, credit cards, and money needs to be taken care of, like you take care of a baby. Losing any of these would put you in trouble because you’re on your own in a foreign land, so why take the risk?

• Clothing and Culture

Packing your clothes according to the weather is important. Always carry an extra cardigan/jacket if you’re travelling in winters because you never know when the weather can get brutal. If you’re travelling to a coast, girls, do NOT forget your bikinis and sunscreen. Another thing about clothing is that, certain countries might have restrictions (especially for women), so plan your outfits accordingly. As a tourist, it is important to pay attention and respect the culture and tradition of that country.

• Be Adventurous

You don’t get to take solo trips every now and then, so seize this opportunity and do the things which you would never do on a normal day. Try out different adventures like sky diving, bungee jumping, scuba diving, etc. to get a surreal feeling, because trust me, you will regret later in life if you miss on these adventure sports.

• Emergency Kit

Prepare an emergency kit which shall contain the essentials like foreign currency, your passport and other papers, your emergency contact numbers (if in case your phone runs out of battery, you shouldn’t be completely lost), local city map, medicines (if any), etc. This is a precautionary measure, and it is always good to take one.

Do not overthink if you want to take a trip all by yourself. The more you think, the less you actually end up going.  So, when you feel ready and confident about taking a trip, start Googling about places, read avidly and choose the best one of your choice. It is okay to take time off for yourself, there’s nothing more precious than some “ME” time.

So, where are you heading to this holiday season? Let me know in the Comments Section below!