Imagine this, you have just arrived at a destination and you decided to travel on your own. You are in a foreign country where you don’t know anyone, and all the writing is in a language you don’t understand. The people around you are all speaking this unknown language and you are relying on icons to find your way around and body language to know if you should attempt to engage in a conversation. Then it happens, you meet someone who speaks your language and helps out. Do you feel a slight weight lift off your shoulder, or those nervous butterflies begin to not flutter as much?
Solo travel can be extremely scary and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! There is so much that can be learned and experienced from traveling alone. When I was 18, I went on a solo trip around Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland and through that, I developed a list of tips based on what I wish I knew before embarking on this form of travel.
Before you leave
- Budget properly
One of the most crucial parts of travel is setting a budget. It helps to know the amount of money that needs to be saved up for the trip. Additionally, it can factor in the exchange rates for different currencies and ensure that the traveler is traveling with the local currency if credit cards do not work in certain countries. By budgeting for a trip, also defines the difference between needs and wants when traveling. Many destinations and attractions will offer free or discounted entry which is very useful and a cheap way to learn about the destination or attraction. The last factor of why budgeting is important is creating an emergency fund. It is rare for a trip to go exactly as planned and why having saved money strictly for emergencies. This will help to solve those situations quickly and decrease the amount of stress rather than being stranded with no sources to help get out of the situation.
- Pack lightly if you plan to move around a lot
If planning to bounce around Europe like I did, packing light and utilizing a backpack is very important. Using a backpack is one of the best ways to pack as it is much easier to travel with and carry when walking to and from hostels. Make sure to bring clothing and footwear for travel days and items that will match the weather and cultural norms. If planning to stay in hostels, make sure to bring a lock for the lockers or cages under the beds which will keep your items safe. Some hostels will charge for towels so purchasing a lightweight and quick-dry towel will be very beneficial and cost-saving.
- Back up your identification
Thefts can happen at any point during a vacation. It is really important to have backup copies of flight, hotel, and other transportation reservations that are not on your person. Keep these documents in separate bags and compartments of the bag so in the case of theft there is still a backup. Having someone at home who has copies of bookings and travel identification can also come in handy in the instance of losing or having these important pieces stolen.
- Learn some basics of the language
The biggest regret I had when traveling was not having any basics of the languages. There are many universal symbols that help to navigate around different countries. It is possible to get by without any knowledge of the language, but it does add a small level of stress to the traveler and in the case of an incident can elevate that stress. Most countries in Europe do have a large population of locals that speak English but most of them are younger and in bigger cities. The smaller the city, the less likely they are to know English so having some basics can be very beneficial. Utilize Duolingo (free) or Rosetta Stone (plans) to get a better understanding of the local languages.
- Adjusting to a new time zone
The day your trip starts, change your watch, phone, and whatever else you are using to tell the time to the time zone of the destination being traveled. This helps to fight the dreaded jetlag feeling. Sleeping on the plane when it is nighttime at the destination is also quite important as it is a small step to adjusting to the new time zone. Once at the destination, try staying awake if it is the daytime. Taking a short nap, 40 minutes maximum is okay but any more can mess up a sleeping schedule. It definitely takes a couple of days to fully adjust so try to not jam-pack those first couple of days.
When you arrive
- Awareness and smart choices
When traveling solo it is so important to be aware of your surroundings and make smart choices. These choices can be based on a gut feeling or a logical decision. Do not get involved in a situation if you do not feel like it is going to be dangerous. A money belt can be used to lower the chances of having items stolen. I used a bag from lululemon called the “All Nights Festival Bag” as it worked as both a purse for over the shoulder and around the body.
- Get a sim card with data
It is a good idea to find a way to have data or cell service. In Europe, it is very cheap for data as a large majority uses data for communicating and it is not limited to a single country. A prepaid plan is the best option as it can be refilled if you require more. This is also a great way to stay in contact with friends and family back home on travel days or when you are not around any WIFI.
- Meet people
Just because you are traveling alone, it doesn’t mean you need to explore your destination alone. There are so many ways to make friends. Staying in hostels and joining free tours is one of the easiest ways. When staying in a hostel, most, if not all of the others in a shared room are from outside of the city, and most often the country. The best part about this is that most of these individuals are in similar shoes to you and want to make friends. I remember being in Nice, France and I had gone to breakfast with a girl who was from Denmark and we were talking in English and another girl approached us saying “I heard you guys speaking English, can I sit and eat breakfast with you?”. A common language is a powerful tool and one of the most important pieces of the puzzle to make friends when traveling. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others when you hear a language you know! Who knows where the conversation might go? This can also help with adjusting to the new location and the more socializing that you get involved in, the more it helps to lessen the homesickness you might be feeling.
New friends in Monte Carlo. Photo taken by anonymous from Jeanine Yaworsky phone
- Utilize public transportation and trains
The trains in Europe are one of the easiest, hassle-free, and cost-efficient ways to get around in different countries. I would recommend using Eurail to travel around Europe by train. There are multiple passes offered that vary depending on how long and how many countries the visitor is planning to visit. In Germany, there is no need to reserve trains, just be aware of reserved seats that you might need to move from if the individual who reserved them arrives. The parts of Switzerland I traveled to did not require reservations either. France and Spain both required reservations. Conductors will check the tickets so make sure to fill in the information for the train right when you get into a seat or before you get onto the train and have your passport ready.
- Use a journal, take photos and videos
Hamburg harbor. Photo taken by Jeanine Yaworsky
The final tip is to document your travels. Whether it’s through media or pen and paper, it’s very fun to look back at the trip through daily journaling or photos and videos were taken. Often as humans, our memories do not include every single aspect of a journey. Having media to look back on and reflect on can be very useful for personal development. Below is a video I put together for my travel experience which is what lead to the development of these tips.
These tips can apply to all forms of travel and can be utilized to enhance your own safety and your experience. Solo travel can be very scary but it is definitely worth it in the long run. Take that leap of faith into the unknown because you never know what type of impact it will leave on you.
