🧳 15 life hacks for traveling alone

Traveling alone is one of the best life experiences you can give yourself. Nobody bothers you on the road, you don’t need to coordinate the route with anyone, you don’t have to make compromises. I tell you how to travel with the best travel companion in the world – yourself.

Choose hostels to stay in

Hostels are a budget-friendly place to stay and a great place to meet like-minded people. Travelers of all ages stay here. Hostels are a quick and high-quality source of information about the city you are in. Feel free to ask other adventurers and hostel staff for advice on what to do, what to see, where to eat, and what places to avoid.

Even if you like spontaneous travel, I still recommend booking a room for the first two nights in advance. This way, you won’t have to think about where to spend the night after a long flight.

Keep it simple

It’s better to leave provocative clothes at home. Unfortunately, they can attract the attention of ill-wishers. It will be better if you leave expensive jewelry at home. Opt for simple and convenient things that will add comfort on the road.

One of the coolest lifehacks for solo travel is to dress according to the traditions of the city you are staying in. This will be respectful of the locals and add to the fun. Plus, there's no better way to get to know a new country than to do it as the locals do. Clothing similar to theirs will help you blend in with the crowd, which will add security to the solo traveler.

Learn a new language

This is an opportunity to truly immerse yourself in a culture and get to know the local people better – learning the language of the country you find yourself in. Also, knowing its basics will increase your chances of interacting with citizens. For example , when you ask for directions, buy something or order food in a restaurant. To learn the language, you can purchase a tutorial in souvenir shops, or use a translator in your mobile phone.

Be sure to tell someone where you are going

Contact your family and friends and let them know about your movements and current location. And also specify when and where you will go next time and for how long. This will give you and your loved ones confidence that if something goes wrong, you have people who can find you and come to your aid.

Also email them copies of your visas, passport, medical insurance. This will speed up the process of replacing lost or stolen originals. But it’s even better to print information about yourself in English and in the language of the country you are traveling through. Write a few words on your “business card” about who you are and where you came from, provide contact information for communicating with relatives. There, please indicate the details of the insurance company and your policy number. Keep this paper with you at all times so that you can easily find it if something happens. 

Be confident in yourself and your actions

Confidence should accompany you throughout your journey. Lost? Do not show excitement under any circumstances. Pretend that you know where you are going, but you would like to make sure that the chosen route is correct and therefore check the route. As I mentioned above, confidence is key, especially when traveling alone. After all, you never know where and who you might meet. Hold your head high and make eye contact with the people you meet along the way.

Use the rule of three when traveling

The rule of three means asking the same question to three different people. When you want to clarify the route, ask three local residents. If two out of three give the same answers, you will be sure that you are going in the right direction.

Buy a local SIM card

In most countries, SIM cards are very affordable. I recommend purchasing it as soon as you land at the airport. It's nice to know that you can always use your phone to make a call or use GPS if necessary.

Use community sites to meet other travelers

Community websites like Backpacker, Couchsurfing, and Facebook groups are a great way to meet other travelers. Where you can discuss your upcoming trip, get advice and recommendations from other people. There is a chance that you will find a travel companion there with whom you can meet or even stay overnight for a few days.

Ask for a business card

When checking into a hostel or hotel, I recommend asking for the hotel's business card. Why do you need it?, It’s simple! When you're walking around a new city and get lost in a strange area, you'll have the address of a place to return to at your fingertips.

Don't be afraid of loneliness

People sometimes feel uncomfortable being alone. If you're not used to being alone with yourself, this can be scary. However, traveling alone is something that everyone should try at least once in their life. You will learn so much about yourself – your likes and dislikes, desires and capabilities. This will make you stronger and make you feel more confident. This is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have in life.

Plan your route, but don’t neglect rest

When you travel alone, you do all the planning and decision-making. It can be tiring. This solo travel hack involves taking a break every now and then to just linger and relax. You can use the services of the spa center, drink a glass of wine on the terrace and simply recharge with the energy of the city.

But you should remember that you should work out the route in advance, buy tickets and book a hotel right away. If you are flying in transit, leave plenty of time for transfers so that you don’t have to quickly look for a place to stay overnight in an unfamiliar city.

It is important to have a first aid kit and useful mobile applications with you

Cuts, bruises and sprains happen, so it's best to be prepared wherever you go. Be sure to include painkillers, antidiarrheals, antivirals, antipyretics, and first aid items in your first aid kit.

Let everything be at your fingertips. Download offline maps of all the places where you are going to stay into your phone in advance. Take with you a guidebook with a paper map to quickly find the right transport, install a currency converter and translator application on your phone. It’s good when these services are able to work offline.

Bring a portable charger with you

The portable charger is easy to take with you in your everyday bag or pocket. Be it for safety reasons or when trying to get from one place to another. The last thing you want is a dead phone on a solo trip.

Use services such as Uber, Lyft or Grab

These apps, when used together, may be a better option than hitchhiking. You can even set your estimated time of arrival. The app also tells you where you are. If something happens, you can quickly send your location to your friends or family so they can see where you're going in real time. 

Trust your gut

When you travel alone, your gut feeling and intuition become incredibly strong! They are here to protect you. Listen to them. When you feel that something is wrong, you are most likely right.

I hope my 15 solo travel tips come in handy as you prepare for your big solo tour. If you're planning your first solo hike, you're in for some incredible discoveries!