SOLO TRAVEL: Top Tips & The Things They’ll Never Tell You About

“Go out there!”, they say. “It will be fun!”, they say. Everyone seems to always utter the good things and how awesome it is to travel. No one ever bothers to say out loud about the discomfort or frustration or the danger. In this age of social media where almost everyone is caught up in a web of Instagram fantasy, where every photo is drowned in presets to make it look perfect and awfully stunning, and where anything that shows otherwise is met with rebuke, a slap to reality is such an underappreciated rarity. Don’t get me wrong. Travel is without a doubt life-changing and amazing! The experience with people and culture is enriching. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The world in all its chaos is a beauty. But just like everything else, travel is not just all the good stuff. The world after all is a cruel one too. It’s a place where all sorts of predators abound and where the weak and naive are the prey.

Unfortunately, women are the most vulnerable. Not because we are weak but it’s just how the world is. Everyday, women face various kinds of evil. We struggle with harassment and oppression which the society is hardly aware of. Catcalls. Lascivious stares. Discrimination. Society feigns ignorance to these acts that keep us trapped. This stigma spares no woman no matter the race, status or color. Our circumstance as women makes it hard to travel. Even harder to go alone. Yet, we still see many women go on solo trips. Even to the remotest of places. Not because they are unaware of the danger but because they remain unfettered despite it.

I see nothing wrong with strong independent women who aren’t crippled by the sad reality of being one. It’s what we should try to emulate. However, we have to understand that traveling alone is not as simple and perfect as what some travel influencers would like us to believe. It has risks and the more you ignore it, the more susceptible you make yourself to it. So allow me to share some handy tips that will make going on solo trips a heap less dangerous and more fulfilling.

Research. Ask. Do more research. Read travel guides from reliable sources. Don’t just settle for info found in one website. Scan the internet. Read stories from people who actually paid their way to every place. You see, when you’re out there, there is nothing more powerful than a brilliant mind. What you know could save you in dire situations. When you’re well informed, you’re able to make better judgement. You have a better grasp of your surroundings and you’re able to sense danger even from miles away. So fire up that browser now and google all there is that you need to know.

We now live in the digital age so staying connected shouldn’t be an issue. Free WIFI is now available in public places such as the airports, train and bus stations, and restaurants in most countries. Portable WIFI is another great option if you hate downtimes. Although there are still places that even technology couldn’t reach but whenever you are online, always try to update. Not only your followers on social media but more importantly, the people who really care about you. Inform them of your whereabouts and where you are headed next, the mode of transpo you’ll be taking and who you’re with, whether you’ll be in a group of other travelers or some friend you met along the way or if you have a local guide with you. Let them know if you’ll be out of touch for a time and when should they expect to reach you again. That way they would have a clue when to alert authorities and ask help in case you really need it.

We can never be too cautious while out there as anything could happen at any time. We always need to prepare for the worst. One way you could do so is to get travel insurance. Having travel insurance is imperative for all travelers whether you intend to go on short or long trips. This is especially useful when you go to other countries. It helps ease your worries as most travel insurance covers medical emergencies, lost/damaged luggage, trip cancellation, and other circumstances that could have a heavy impact on your trip.

I’ve read so many horror stories from people saying that they were saved by their gut feel or instinct and that had they not followed it, they could have ended up dead. It’s the same for all of us. Our instinct is our subconscious response to the faintest signals from our environment. It’s a sudden fear or dread you feel amidst a cheery conversation with a stranger or a sudden pull while on your way to leave your hotel room to go somewhere exciting. It’s unexplainable and beyond reason but our gut instinct is like our sixth sense that exists only to protect us. So when you’re out there, take the hint and always follow your instinct.

People are drawn to peculiar things. Anything strange or new will always catch the most attention. When we travel to other countries, we will always be seen as foreigners and that makes us all the more vulnerable to people with ill-intentions. This will be the worst time to stand out, so as much as you could, try to blend in. Start with your clothes. You don’t wanna be showing some skin while walking along the streets of a conservative country. Other than being disrespectful, you just might stumble into uninvited company. You also want to keep that tourist image on the down low. Avoid referring to a map while you’re in the streets. Should you need to know directions, stop by a coffee shop and ask a barista for info. They’re more likely to lead you to your destination rather than some random guy in the streets.

Traveling alone is arguably the best time to loosen up. Throw away any inhibitions you may have put upon yourself. Just go out there and have the best of time. While you’re at it, don’t forget to still be cautious. You will meet amazing people and you just might hit it off right on the bat but just don’t let your guard down. Make it a habit not to trust people so easily. Let them earn it. Betrayal is despicable but it’s an inevitable matter. It happens between friends and families. It surely won’t be surprising if it happens with a stranger so trust no one.

I know that one of the reasons why we travel is to build connections and learn about other people and their culture. We long to have wonderful memories in those places we travel to and make the most out of our time there but that doesn’t imply being reckless. We need to also put our welfare in utmost priority. If you care about yourself and the people that care about you, start looking for ways to protect yourself. I have given some tips but I’m sure the internet still has plenty. Until next time. Ciao!