I woke up confused, almost in Haze, questioning myself, “How the hell did I crack my iPhone’s screen?”
“Did I break it while I was sleeping?”
Then a closer look, still half asleep, and I realized that it wasn’t broken.
It was the new wallpaper that I’d installed a few days ago. It made the screen look as if it was cracked.
I was simply being groggy.
I couldn’t see clearly. Negative thoughts had held sway over my thinking process.
It had been a few long weeks since I was travelling alone, and having no one to speak with, I had become a lone, grumpy traveller!
This is how the gloominess of solo travelling first hit me. And as I remember, it hit me hard.
When I’d initially left for my first ever solo trip, I expected a fictional reality – based on my imagination and popular culture. I thought crazy things are going to happen to me every day. I will make a friend everywhere. Locals will invite me to dinners. It is just going to be one of those travel movies I saw. One adventure after the other.
But as I plunged on the journey, I got so busy with myself that the idea of socializing with others seemed irrelevant. At first, it was exciting. I could go where I wanted, and do what I wanted. But as the days wore on, and I started to forget what speech sounded like, I hated every moment of solo travelling.
In only a few days, I was feeling hopelessly alone. The excited traveller in me was almost dead!
As an introvert, it was not natural for me to just walk up to strangers and start a conversation. Though after a few years of solo travelling (as I’m writing this blog now) I have pretty much mastered that art, back then, the fear of speaking with strangers was very much alive. I had no idea how to start a conversation with strangers, let alone make friends.
Solo tourism has been gaining in popularity over the past few years. These trips alone, without company and family, attract travelers with freedom of choice and the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in their experiences. Every year, the number of such tourists is constantly growing worldwide, and today, solo tourism is one of the most important trends in tourism. Traveling alone teaches travelers to make new acquaintances more freely, improves social skills, and helps them gain self-confidence. However, this is not all you need to know about solo travel. In this article, I will discuss the advantages of this fairly new type of travel trend of travelling solo and share tips on how to get the most out of your trip.
Why You Should Try a Solo Trip One Day
Have you ever had to cancel or reschedule a vacation because someone in your company had a change in plans? Or maybe you have recently had to cancel a long-awaited vacation because your desire or capabilities did not match those of your companions? Today, there is a great way out of such situations: traveling alone. And if you also work online, for example, engaged in copytrading or freelancing, then this option will suit you perfectly.
Independence and Flexibility
Traveling alone, you make all decisions on your own, from the route and kind of transportation to the type of accommodation. You also set your own pace, decide when you wake up, where you eat breakfast, and how you spend your leisure time, whether it is walking in the countryside or a day at the beach. This is also a great opportunity to practice your skills and test your foreign language knowledge, as you will have to communicate with locals and other tourists on your own.
The Path to Knowing Yourself
Traveling alone is a kind of challenge that forces you to step out of your comfort zone and shake off the daily grind. It allows you to better understand your desires and realize your possibilities. It promotes independence and self-confidence and teaches you how to cope with difficulties on your own. Such enjoyable challenges promote personal growth and resilience.
Opportunities for New Acquaintances
Traveling with a company, you certainly have opportunities to meet new people, but traveling alone, it feels different. When you are traveling alone, the likelihood that you will start a conversation with a stranger is much higher. Those who travel alone are more likely to interact with locals and immerse themselves in the local culture.
Getting Ready for a Solo Trip: What You Need to Know
Whether you are traveling alone for the first time or have done it before, proper preparation is essential to an enjoyable travel experience. With good preparation and the right tools, you can make your trip a rich and informative experience. In this part of our article, we will cover the important steps when preparing for a solo trip.
Make a List of the Things You Need
When traveling alone, it is crucial not to forget anything. Your list should include documents and copies of basic documents, a mobile, and a power bank. Also, when choosing clothes, try to focus on versatile items, or create a few capsule outfits in advance, so that you don’t have to worry about that on a trip, and don’t bring extra clothes.
Plan Your Budget Carefully
This is an extremely important aspect that will determine your comfort while traveling. You should consider the cost of getting there and back, including transfers and possible taxi expenses. In addition, consider the cost of accommodation and potential local transportation costs, as you may need to take a bus, taxi, or rent a bicycle. It is also worth calculating food costs as you will be in a new area and you will definitely want to get to know the local flavors. These basic expenses will definitely be a part of your trip, but it is also important to have money to spare if you want to buy souvenirs or anything else.
Remember Safety Precautions
Wherever you go, you should always keep safety in mind, because it is the most important factor for a pleasant vacation. In order to avoid unpleasant situations and not to become a victim of pickpockets, try not to draw unnecessary attention to yourself, whether it is bright outfits or expensive jewelry. This is especially true in countries with conservative attitudes. In addition, do not keep your money in one place. It is best to take several cards and carry one with you, and leave another one in your suitcase. If you are traveling with cash, it should also be divided up: take some with you and leave some in your room. If you are traveling to another country, remember to keep the number and address of the embassy because you will need to go there in case of problems.
Research Local Traditions and Culture in Advance
Solo travel is the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Before traveling to a completely new place, it is a good idea to learn the traditions and customs beforehand to avoid getting into an unpleasant situation. You can also learn a few key phrases in the local language. This will help you in communicating with the locals and create a more organic relationship. The locals will definitely appreciate your awareness of the peculiarities of their country.
Turn Loneliness into a Resource
Some people who are traveling solo for the first time remark that it was the boredom and loneliness of the trip. To prevent this from happening it is important to be fully aware of the fact that you will be alone and, if necessary, prepare a list of things to do. This way you will be able to turn your loneliness into an effective resource. You may find a new hobby and also learn to appreciate the moment, which is good awareness practice.
Learn to see a solo travel not as isolation, but as freedom, and then you will have an unforgettable experience and learn a lot about yourself.
Learn To Break The Ice And Overcome Loneliness
While initiating a conversation, a lot of people wonder what other people would think, and I think it’s a valid concern. It takes a lot of courage to start a random conversation with those we don’t know. But remember, there are other travellers out there too who want to meet new people and extend their travel circle. Just say ‘Hello’ and everything will fall into place. While travelling, even the grumpiest creature on earth transforms into an amiable, socializing person, and that’s the beauty of it.
If not, you can always speak to the locals. The caretaker in your guesthouse or, the person who served you at the restaurant. Start by asking about places you can visit in the town and you’ll see the conversation will go forward on its own.
What I generally do now is Smile and tell the stranger how much I loved this town (even if I hated it). And it works every time. On many occasions, other travellers came up to me and said ‘Hello’. Why? Because they were looking to make friends too.
Travellers are a friendly bunch. We want to meet new people and make new friends. And one of those friends is you.
Still, if you find it too tough to start a conversation, and waiting for others to come to you takes too much time, I will suggest you use websites like Couchsurfing, or Workaway.info, which allows travellers to stay with locals and befriend them before they even start their journey. For example, I had a lovely time volunteering in Rome and in Germany, where I even learned horse riding while staying with a local family.
But I am sure, after a few solo trips, you will realise that travelling alone doesn’t mean being alone all the time. Still, if you end up being in a place where there aren’t many tourists or English is almost an alien language to the locals, there are always other things to get help.
Other Tips For Not Feeling Lonely While Travelling Solo
In the world of ever-connected devices, it’s impossible to feel lonely.
Additionally, while booking a guest house, book a place that has wifi. From the tech-savvy alleys of Tokyo to the Himalayan mountains like Everest – you find wifi-enabled guest houses and restaurants almost everywhere. Just find some connectivity and log on to Twitter or Facebook to connect with the world and the life you always knew better.
Other than this, it is always a good idea to carry something you like. A camera, a guitar, or a couple of books. You can also maintain a journal – full of memories and moments that have amazed you. Though unlike me, writing is not something that many people enjoy, if you have nothing to do for the moment, there is no harm in giving your thoughts some wings. A regularly maintained journal also gives you memories from your travels that last a lifetime.
In the beginning, you can also try things like playing online games to keep you entertained like you use to back home. You can check various such platforms online, offering a wide range of games. However please be very careful as online gaming can be addictive.
And well, I’m sure you don’t need many travel hacks to avoid getting lonely. This world is full of friendly and awesome people who will be constantly talking to you and inviting you out. After a few solo journeys, you yourself will realize that there was never a reason to worry about getting lonely in the first place. You will meet more people than you’ll know what to do with.
So take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the ride! Solo travelling is great!
And for some further motivation: Read Why I Travel Solo
