We have discussed and read a lot about how solo travelling is a journey of self-realisation and how it shapes our personality. It makes us self capable, self-reliant and instils in us the confidence that is needed to face the world on our own. But it only seems justifiable when you don't make some terrible mistake while at it. You won't have anyone to fall back to if you get trapped somewhere or in any other precarious situation. This brings us to the planning part and you can know more about it in the 5 Smart Strategies to Travel Solo. If it's your first solo trip, you may want to get hold of The To-Do List: A complete travel guide for your First Solo Trip. Now that you know what to do on your solo trips, it is equally important to have an idea of what not to do on your solitary adventure. We have come up with the 7 mistakes you should never make while travelling solo. These have been picked up from the diaries of solo travellers who have made these goof ups. Let's learn from their mistakes and make sure we don't ruin our trip.
1. Not Packing smartly
Yes, we understand you have to be on your own for everything but that does not justify over packing your luggage. Remember the trip is about how effectively you handle yourself with limited but essential resources. You don't have to pack everything. You have to plan in such a way that you get what you need in your way. Carrying too much will get very tiring for you and you will ultimately be cursing yourself for it during the rest of the trip. You can get the towels in the hotel you book or you can buy them at your destination as well instead of carrying one for the entire journey.
2. Not planning your expenses
You have to be precise when you plan for your expected expense. At many far-flung places, cash may be the only medium of exchange and if you don't research properly you will be left with no option to pay. You must also research on the internet about the expected cost of accommodation, cost of a dinner, lunch and breakfast in the restaurants there. Factor all of this into consideration before you decide how much you should carry as cash and how much you should spend on what. You might even take a factor of safety into your financial planning. It is better to be safe than sorry. You might even consider eating in a restaurant nearby to the hotel you book.
3. Choosing the right Accommodation
You will rely on the hotels you stay at a lot in a perfect plan for a solo trip. You can get many essentials at the hotels and that makes your bag lighter. So, it is important to choose the right accommodation. You have to neither be very frugal or very lavish. You just need to plan right. If you are making a stopover you need to rent hotels by the hour to save on a few extra bucks. You may also look for a 24 hours check-in hotel if you intend to reach on a specific time.
4. Not accounting for emergencies
You cannot plan for everything and there a lot of things that won't go as you intended. So we must plan for contingencies. Some basic understanding of the place and the road to it will be enough to hint at what kind of planing you must do to get there safely. Research on the internet about the place and the surroundings, look out for some notorious traps that are often put on tourists so that you are aware of it. read traveller diaries and blogs and also recent news of the region to see for anything of interest. Basic safety precautions like not disclosing too much to strangers and drinking light so that you can carry yourself are to be followed. You must also share your complete itinerary with friends and family and should regularly be in contact with someone to let them know you are alright. You should share the details of the hotel room where you stay or any other landmark nearby where you rent your accommodation. This can be very helpful in case you meet with some untoward instance. You should also divide your cash and stash it in different places so that you don't lose everything if somehow you misplace your wallet or bag.
5. Overburdening your schedule
We all get excited at the idea of travel and we wish to cover a lot of ground and plan for seeing everything. But in solo travel, you have to be on your own and there are certain limits of everyone. You will get exhausted if you try to accommodate everything. Therefore, you have to be wise and practical. Don't stuff a lot of things to do in a day. Rather, take some time to enjoy wherever you go. Remember, it is all about the quality, not the quantity.
6. Not asking for help
Yes, we agree that the aim of the whole solo travelling experience is to be self-reliant but that does not mean you have to only rely on yourself. Prior to the start of the trip, you must engage with your friends or family who may have been to the place you are planning to go. You might get some really handy advice from their experience which will definitely ease your trip. You can also check the social media and travel blogs to look out for some help. Once you reach your destination, you can also ask the locals or the staff of the hotel room booked for any kind of advice you like. Make sure you are open and welcoming and at the same time stern for the prying eyes.
7. Being lonely on the solo trip
Solo travel is not travelling alone. This is the time when you should be more open towards making new friends and meeting new people. There are many solo travellers who prefer to travel with like-minded strangers and even opt for such a group at their travel agency. Converse with people on the plane or talk to the person next to you on the bus. Catch up with a group at the restaurant and mingle with the person on the bar. While you don't have to be very intimidating and personal, you must sound genuine and friendly. People love to interact with travellers and sometimes, the tips that they give will not be found on any travel blog. However, you have to be wary of prying eyes and strangers who give negative vibes. Try to mingle with people as some friends that you make on trips turn out to be the best ones and for a lifetime.
Planning for your solo trip is really a big task and would certainly pay off if done diligently. However, you must be ready for any challenge. It won't matter how much you planned and things might go wrong at any point. Life is very unpredictable and so is solo travel. Don't make high expectations and don't take risks. If you are safe, you will definitely do it another day. Just look at the opportunities that you get in solo travel. There is no one to judge you, stop you or restrain you. It's just you and your thoughts. Just live every moment and embrace all that comes along. At the end of it all, you will certainly be a better version of yourself.