Planning a little solo jaunt across the land? If this is your first time planning your virgin solo adventure, I understand completely how excited and nervous you are. I was once in your shoes.
Before you slap on your backpack and march out that door, here’s a small checklist of things you might want to do to ensure a better trip.
Image courtesy of bluetidalwave.com
Research, Research, Research
It doesn’t matter if you’re headed into uncharted territory or a bustling metropolis, it only helps if you already know what to expect when you set foot in your destination. A quick google search should give you enough information on things like the local culture, geography, weather and political climate to start with. Oh, and do not forget to check out the local laws, either-written and unwritten. People have in the past gotten into trouble for using the wrong gesture or for looking the wrong person in the eye. Did you also know that shaking your head can be interpreted as ‘yes’ in India?
“Hi, would you like to buy some drugs?
– Nervously shakes head –
“Great! Here’s two kilograms of cocaine!”
Kuh-Myoo-Nick-Ashion
Learn a few words and phrases from the local language and the appropriate situations to use them in. You would be surprised at how much a ‘Yallah’ or a ‘Habibi’ can get people to warm up to you in the Middle East. Also, knowing the language makes ordering food that much easier. Just saying.
Who Ya’ Gonna Call?
It’s very useful to have in hand a bunch of contacts that you can get in touch with if-knock on wood- you should ever find yourself in trouble, eg: Your home country’s Embassy/Consulate(stolen passports are a thing in some countries you know?), local emergency numbers etc. If you have friends or relatives in the country/area, make sure you have their numbers as well. There’s no telling what kind of emergency you might encounter on the road.
Link Up With Other Travellers And Locals!
This is for many people, the single greatest reward of solo travel-meeting new people. There’s so much you discover from engaging with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Yes, I’m being captain obvious here, but it’s a point that just had to be reiterated. Being alive in the internet age has its perks.
A slew of apps and websites have made it that much easier for travelers to get in touch with people at their destinations. It doesn’t matter if you’re just hanging out with your host from ‘AirBnB’ and ‘Couchsurfing’ or finding fellow travelers to share in your adventure from ‘Penroads’, you’re guaranteed to meet some cool people on your journey. As a matter of fact, Penroads is the best way for you to connect with international travellers coming in from all over the world, so it’s definitely a useful tool to have (It’s a shameless plug. I am so sorry. But it really works!).
Stay Healthy!
Last but never the least, take care of your body. Stay hydrated. It’s no good if your mind yells “Onward!” and your body groans “Hell no!”. Find out if you need to get vaccinated before setting off. Carry some basic medicines and bandages if you can, especially if you’re venturing into the wilderness. On occasion you might have to be careful about where and what you eat as well. Talk to someone who has travelled to India and you just might hear the story about how the delicious chicken Tikka from a street vendor gave them a bad case of ‘Delhi Belly’.
Happy tripping!
Parag Murali is the Marketing & Happiness Manager at penroads.com. He combines his love for travelling and people into a daily passion for bringing travellers together. You can contact him at parag@penroads.com for just about anything, so feel free!
AD: Top Rated Inca Trail, Lares Trail, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Rainforest Tours
Related Posts
6 Peruvian Words You Should Know Before Your Machu Picchu Adventure
Inca Trail Packing List: A Guide to the Essential Must-Haves
Essential Machu Picchu Hiking Packing List
6 Tips and Tricks for Hiking the Inca Trail
7 Things to Know Before Visiting Peru
4 Day Machu Picchu Trek: The Ultimate Peru Adventure
How To Get To Machu Picchu
Peru Vaccinations and Medical Checklist
Hey Adam, I am a Senior at Ithaca College majoring in Environmental Studies. Last Spring I stdeuid abroad in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica working with amazing nonprofits that focused on environmental and social justice issues. My trip was life changing for me and helped me get direction in life. However, ever since my return in early April I’ve been battling with Leishmaniasis. Luckily, it is the cutaneous kind and the lesion is on leg but it’s still been difficult. Things are looking up though, I finished my second round of treatment last week and it looks a lot better already! Hopefully this is the last round. I just wanted to let you know that I found your story consoling and I agree that although you take a risk while traveling it’s totally worth it! Good luck on your adventures!Your fellow leish buddy,Juliet
This gives an extra ordinary information about Solo traveling.Thank you so much for your effort
I think it is true and you explained it nicely.thank you very much for this informative article
I totally agree with you on this, especially this: “A slew of apps and websites have made it that much easier for travelers to get in touch with people at their destinations.”
Great article. I am a solo traveler because I’m a solo person. I will be sociable when I want to be, not when somebody else things I should be.
Nice info and clear explanation.Thanks for sharing such a informative content.
it was very helpful.Regards,
Nagarkottrekking
Great article .Thanks for sharing such a informative content.it was very helpful
I”ve recently ended a longer relationship, and I long to go on a trip by myself. But I’m also a bit scared. However, reading your post and also Dervi’s comment above strenghtens me. There’s a lot of women traveling on their own, so why wouldn’t I?
I’ve been fascinated with Peru for as long as I can remember, so your site is precious for me! It will be such an adventure, and I’m beginning to look forward to it so much 🙂
Thank you for your post. It’s so helpful for me because I am also interested in solo trips.
Simple and Relevant information.Really happy about this article thank you
I also love solo travelling. I want to explore the destinations alone because it will give me the opportunity to explore myself too. I really admire your posts. Keep going, bro!!
Solo travelling always gives a unique kind of experience. I would also love to explore some places alone, without anyone’s company….
Great post , thank you for sharing the blog.
Thanks a lot for such a helpful article. Great work. Keep doing
Great Information about Solo traveling. Thank you for sharing
Hi there, thanks for your helful sharing anout solo travelling. The thing which i impress most is stay healthy. Cause if i stay healthy, i will have good body status to travel to every where i want to visit. So, thanks for your article.
Wow! Incredible beautiful site with great informative content. thanks for sharing this…………post………..
Thanks a lot for sharing this perfect article.I really, really appreciate your time and efforts for writing such a quality article.
Annapurna base cam short trek
Greate Info , thank you for sharing the blog and would definitely let my friends also know.
Ooooh, I really want to go here. It has been on my bucket list for awhile now!
good sharing for tour packages
Travel Tourister is a Premier Destination for Domestic and International Tours, Travels and Holiday Packages. Choose India’s best for andaman holiday tour and andaman tour packages with pure jain veg good. For Booking Call on 9971482795
Thanks for sharing this useful article.Its Simple and Relevant information.
I have started my solo trips from this year, and I am loving it so much.
Thanks for sharing lovely and useful information, I am also planning a solo trip to andaman and googled some very interested travel portal but I like tourtravelworld.com is very helpful site for my next trip. I found best Andaman Tour Packages for my next trip. You can also try this site.
Thanks for sharing this useful article. Got great information about the solo traveling.
Gill Grewal Taxi Service provided best and cheapest taxi service in ludhiana and delhi to ludhiana one way taxi services, amritsar to delhi one way taxi service and also round trip from ludhiana to amritsar and chandigarh. Contact For ludhiana taxi service At +91-9914994200 .
Scorp Holidays is india’s top travel agency that provided cheap and best andaman tour package by local tour operators in andaman. Contact for andaman tour packages at 9679596631.
Shree Ashapura Travels is a celebrated name in the industry of tour & travels, providing a variety of travel solutions under one roof. Based in Gir Somnath (Gujarat, India), we came into being in 2009. Our trade activities are owned and controlled by Mr. Chandrasinh Jadeja, who serves the company as its CEO. Shree Ashapura Travels is a destination management company, providing value-for-money travel solutions to the business and leisure travelers, across the nation.View More:-Taxi booking service in somnath gujarat
Agra tour packages – Taj Luxury Tours is agra’s best travel agency that provided same day agra tour by car and same day agra tour by train. Contact one day agra tour at 9679596631.
VIEW MORE:- Same Day Agra Tour Packages
Travel agent in andaman – Andaman Dream Tour is the top travel agency in andaman that travel best travel agent in port blair. Contact for andaman tour At 8001133999.
Nice article. One of the best information. Very thanks to sharing such a great article. It is really helpful.
Travel of Dreams has been committed to bringing our clients the best in value and quality travel packages. We are passionate about travel and we provide best in class service to our clients. Our prime goal is customer satisfaction, thus, we believe in providing best services to our patrons at an affordable rate. We are a team of dedicated and hard wworking professionals and we all aim to have numerous satisfied customers. We know that our company depends upon fulfilling our clients needs every day and this is also our promise.View More:- Travel Of Dreams
Port blair tour packages – Get best deals on your andaman nicobar tour package including airfare or without airfare from delhi, mumbai, kolkata, hyderabad.
Travel agent in pune – Avdhoot Tourism is best travel agency in pune that provided cheap and best tour package for maharashtra. Contact for top travel agent @ 9404706563.
VIEW MORE:- http://www.avdhoottourism.com/
Are you want to cheap airline ticket in delhi?. We provided cheap airline ticket in uttam nagar and best airline ticketing service uttam nagar. Contact for airline ticketing service in delhi at 9873480126.
https://www.travelhigh.in/
great post thank you for share the details
We are india based best travel agency in andaman that provided tour package by top travel agent in andaman. Contact top tour operators in andaman at 9933277725.
VIEW MORE:- http://www.andamanexotictours.com/
Cheap nainital tour packages- Travel Tourster is best travel agencies in India that provided best travel agent in nainital and top tour operators in nainital.
Andaman Ocean and Hills is best travel agency in andaman that provided best tour package by local travel agent in andaman. Contact for tour operator in andaman at 9531915414.
The place you would always love to enjoy with many beautiful destination and water activities, one such place is Andaman and Nicobar islands. Visit: http://spotandaman.com/
The land of unique attractions of beaches and islands is something to be experienced once a lifetime: http://spotandaman.com/
Travel Tourister provided best and cheapest kinnaur tour packages from delhi and kinnaur tour packages from chandigarh and kolkata. Contact for local travel agent in kinnaur at 9971482795.View More:-Kinnaur Tour Packages
kodaikanal is famous for various adventure sports like cycling at the lake side, Trekking, Horse Riding, Balloon Shooting and its is most famous for the chocolates.View More:-kodaikanal Tour Packages
Mcleodganj is a popular Hill station in Himachal near Kangra District and enriched with the Tibetan culture with lots of beautiful monasteries.View More:- mcleodganj Tour Packages
Ooty is also known as queens of hill station where scenic beauty across the Nilgiri range are placed. Beautiful Hill station which attracts thousands of tourists with peaceful atmosphere and pinnacle beauty.View more:-Ooty Tour Packages
super blog
Andaman Ocean and Hills is best travel agency in andaman that provided best tour package by local travel agent in andaman. Contact for tour operator in andaman at 9531915414.View More:- Top Travel Agent and Best Tour Operator in Andaman
Mitali Travels is best tour operator in guwahati that provided honeymoon tour, family tour by top travel agent in guwahati. Contact travel agency in guwahati at 9101067735.
We just don’t simply believe in booking trips; we are in this industry since 60 years building ourselves and our expertise in creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences for our clients.We believe, going on travel or expedition is remembered forever and we hence believe that attention to detail and providing the highest level of comfort during travel is of paramount. We ensure to create an experience that will stay with our clients for the rest of their lives.
Great post it’s very helpful for traveller.
Are you searching top travel agent in himachal pradesh?. Mithu Tour And Travels provided cheap tour package in himachal. Contact best travel agent in una at 9816187531.