Tired of telling your friends that you want to go to a destination and they don't feel like it or simply can't? Forget about your fear and take a trip alone. You will discover a wonderful feeling of sharing moments of leisure with yourself and living a unique experience. So, pack your bag and write down these tips for traveling alone and safe. Will you dare?
1. Find out everything about the destination and choose the accommodation well:
Not all places are the same, so before you travel, you should do some research on the area. Find out about the most dangerous places, the area of your accommodation, what the culture is like, who you should go to in an emergency, etc. All this information is essential if you travel alone.
Try to find accommodation such as a "Bed & Breakfast", Couchsurfing or a hostel. Why? Because you will be able to meet new people, who are traveling alone, and they will surely be willing to give you tips about the place, places to eat and places of interest. Also, it is a good opportunity to make new friends.
2. Keep your money and valuables safe:
Your personal belongings are of incalculable value to you, and when you travel you must be careful not to lose them or have them stolen. Keep the money safe, do not carry all the cash on you, or show it in public. Nobody has to know how much money you carry in your wallet.
Carry out simple checks and always keep objects such as your passport, wallet, camera, or phone in a safe place such as an inside pocket of your pants. Also, it never hurts to have some photocopies of your documents locked in your suitcase.
You can distribute both money and documents as soon as you arrive at the hotel, and store them in different places so that, in the event that you are robbed, you have more money elsewhere.
3. Respect traditions and pay attention to your appearance:
Depending on the country you are going to, pay attention to traditions so as not to offend or cause trouble. For example, in India in many places it is indecent to walk around with your knees and your shoulders uncovered. In Muslim countries as well it is better to try to blend in with the crowd to not look disrespectful to their culture and religion.
Without going so far as to wear the veil, it is better to avoid wearing tight-fitting or very short clothes. You will quickly understand the clothing attitudes to adopt, especially by looking around.
4. Don't make yourself vulnerable:
When traveling solo, it is advisable to be very careful about what you drink or smoke and especially with whom! The more you drink, the more weak and vulnerable you become. And the more you become easy prey to rob and take advantage of.
Our advice is therefore to be careful who you go out with, who offers you a drink, and to plan your return to the guesthouse before you even start drinking.
If there are several of you returning to your hotel, everything is fine. If you are alone, it is better to avoid drinking indiscriminately to keep yourself under control. Sometimes it's better to take a taxi than to risk your life on the streets.
In case you plan to spend a night with someone you just met, it's better to check their social media profiles and check them on Nuwber. That way you'll have a better judgment on whether you can trust them.
5. Listen to advice from locals:
We recommend listening to the advice of the locals, they know better than anyone else the neighborhoods and streets where you should not set foot. When someone tells you to put your camera away because you are attracting attention, put it away. When you are told not to stay in a neighborhood because it is dangerous for tourists, leave it.
6. Don't show off your riches:
The majority of the countries you will cross, whether in Asia, Africa, or South America, are quite risky countries. We foreigners are a source of easy money. Stealing jewelry, a DSLR, or a laptop and reselling them can support a family for several weeks or even months. So it is better to think twice about what you take with you before going for a walk.
The fear of insecurity should not be a hindrance to solo travel but rather a motivating element to surpass yourself and push your own limits.
7. Smile and have a positive attitude:
A smile is undoubtedly an effective weapon. You can send a lot of messages with this weapon and, above all, open unexpected doors. Someone who has a smile seems to be more friendly and outgoing than someone who frowns.
It's the same all over the world! With a smile on your face, you will have fewer problems and attract the sympathy of the locals. People will come to you more easily.
A bonus tip:
Someone who does not have self-confidence exudes insecurity through their attitude and in fact, becomes easy prey. A foreign country seems more dangerous to you because it represents the unknown and sometimes the loss of bearings, but it is sometimes (not always) more dangerous.
We, therefore, advise you to always walk with confidence and assurance in order to ward off danger. How to do it? Advance with your head held high and your gaze sharp, looking for the slightest suspicious attitude.
Over time, you will learn how to turn on your problem radar and change the sidewalk when someone looks suspicious, enter a store when you feel like you are being followed, or approach someone you think is nice to avoid trouble. Over time, your instinct will guide you and you will simply create new benchmarks that will allow you to move forward with less fear.
Lastly, if you are going to travel alone or are going to be away for a long time, it is best to take travel insurance to enjoy your trip with the utmost peace of mind. They will make your trip much more comfortable.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
