Solo travel: tips & anecdotes

First of all, don't wait for your friends or loved ones to plan the trip you've been dreaming of.

Personally, if I had waited based on this factor, I would never have done all these road trips over the last 10 years.

Although I understand that traveling alone, getting out of your comfort zone, can be scary.

So here are my tips and anecdotes from my travels to help you get started.

BEFORE THE TRIP

LEARN ABOUT THE DESTINATION AND ITS TOURIST TRAPS

Depending on the destination, be careful to find out about scams and common swindles against tourists. This way, you will be prepared for any eventuality. Traveling alone, you risk being a ready-made target.

ANECDOTE: During my road trip in Thailand, in Bangkok, the day after my arrival, when I Walking to the Grand Palais from my hotel, I was approached on the road. I was offered a sightseeing tour in a tuk-tuk of the city's so-called major sites..

I was aware of these scams offered to tourists and traveling alone, it didn't miss.

They even went so far as to tell me that the Grand Palais was closed that day to convince me. But by refusing with a smile, everything went well.

They give up quickly though. At least, if you don't show any hesitation and they understand that they won't be able to fleece you.

Yes, because the principle of these tours was ultimately just to show you 2-3 temples in the city. You only stay 5-10 minutes max on site. Often, they leave you stranded in the middle of the city once you have had a good walk around. All for a very comfortable price of course.

PLAN YOUR TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT

Find out about the routes to get to your hotel from the airport: hotel shuttle, public transport, etc. Finally, if like me you don't plan on renting a car on site.

Large cities often offer metro or train access from the airport to the city center, for a very affordable price.

BOOK AT LEAST YOUR FIRST NIGHT ON SITE

Plan your pied-à-terre when you arrive. Believe me, you will arrive with I don't know how many hours of flight time on the clock. And maybe a big jet lag to boot.

Tired and sometimes disoriented when you arrive, you will only dream of one thing: settling into your room.

Depending on your budget of course, you can book into a hostel or a guesthouse.

In some destinations, like Thailand, the prices are so ridiculous for everything, for a Westerner. So, personally I treated myself to luxury hotels at each stage of my road trip. I got the suites with rooftop infinity pools and so on.

ANECDOTE: Arrived in Bangkok after two flights lasting 6 hours each. Dropped off at my hotel early in the afternoon, I wandered around the neighborhood a bit.

I have to occupy the end of the day and hold out until bedtime to get into the rhythm of here.

After walking around the block and stopping for a drink at a small local bar, I feel like I'm not feeling my best..

The change of scenery is so intense compared to my previous trips. I wonder what I'm doing here and how I'm going to manage..

The neighborhood where I am is dirty, poor (despite its luxury hotels). The Grand Palais is not very far. But I can't find my way, no signs or only in Thai.

But after a good night's sleep, the next day my mindset had changed and my energy was back.

I later managed to do and see the things I wanted on my own, on foot and even by metro (where I must have been the only Westerner).

PLAY IT SAFE

Make a copy of your important documents (passport, important documents etc.).

If your accommodation has a safe, leave your essential documents and take your copies with you.

Otherwise, it is also possible to buy a small pouch worn under a t-shirt or sweater, quite discreet. You can never be too careful

BE PREPARED

Here of course it is optional, but personally, when I travel, I always have with me a city map of my destination. Thus visiting a lot on foot, I find my way through these very detailed maps by district. This can also allow you to create your itinerary from scratch based on one or two districts per day (the monuments and important activities are indicated there)

I find them very user friendly. This type of booklet allows, in my opinion, to develop one's sense of direction a little more.

More info:

https://www.guidesulysse.com/catalogue/Gallimard-Cartoville,336,collection.html

I reserve certain essential activities that I want to do a few months before the trip (Ex: every time I go to New York, I like to go see a show on Broadway. If I wait until the last minute, I often have little chance of finding tickets or they are very expensive. So I plan ahead for the things I really want to do).

ON A TRIP

BE FLEXIBLE

You have great flexibility in organizing your days. You can stay as long as you want in this place or just make a stopover there.

The advantage of being alone against a group of friends who might not have the same desires, for example. This would lead to a lot of frustration.

The key to solo travel is spontaneity.

You have the freedom to organize your own program, to stay as long as you want or as long as you want, according to our mood.

You can more easily reschedule your day based on unpredictable weather or other unforeseen events.

ENJOY YOUR SOLITUDE

Don't be afraid to eat alone at a restaurant. Forget about the other person's gaze. And if you ever need a little help to keep yourself calm, bring a book, play with your phone or write your postcards.

Never forget that people have better things to do than judge or scrutinize you from the back of the room.

MEET PEOPLE

Going alone does not necessarily mean staying alone. On the contrary, there are several possibilities to interrupt your moments of solitude and make acquaintances. And thus share quality time in good company.

• Staying in youth hostels allows you to meet people: whether through the promiscuity of the dormitories or the activities offered (tour of the local bars, games and activities in the hostel every evening, etc.). There is something for everyone.

• Book a group excursion for activities that are complicated to organize alone, or without a car, etc.

ANECDOTE: Following the encounters made during my travels in the United States, I had the chance to make acquaintances from all over the world: Australians, Danes, Germans, Koreans and so on..

II also left one summer with two Danish girls I met on one of my first road trips back to the western USA.

• Some cities also offer Free Walking Tours

ANECDOTE: In Chicago I took advantage of this solo tour with a Chicagoan, an expert on his city. He took me on a free walking tour of the city's must-see places and monuments with his anecdotes and information on the city's history..

II found it via Airbnb on the excursions offered in the city.

DARE TO ASK

Don't close yourself off from people and don't stay in your corner.

You will quickly see that the locals are friendly.

On the contrary, it is easier to meet people when you are alone, because you are more accessible.

Besides, in some cities, as soon as they hear the strong French accent, it hits the mark 😉

Everything goes there “Oh France! ", " I love you » or even « Paris, oh I love Pariiiiiis! ".

GET UP EARLY

I know this doesn't really fit in with the idea of vacations for many people, I agree.

But by getting up before the others, you will witness unusual activities or places empty of tourists for a very limited time.

You have to take advantage of this niche. It is not given to everyone to feel alone in the world and privileged in very touristy destinations.

ANECDOTE: Ex: Still in Thailand, in Koh Phi Phi, I had booked a boat with a local to take me very early in the morning to Maya Bay (made famous by the film The Beach with Leonardo Di Caprio and Guillaume Canet).                    

It was common to do this because from 9am onwards the excursion boats would disembark and the beach and its surroundings would be invaded by people..

No more spots to enjoy it and take beautiful photos. I had time to walk on the beach and its surroundings, to swim almost alone in this magnificent lagoon. Everything was super calm, and I was able to sit a little on the beach to admire the last minutes that I had left of calm.

Ex: Or this sunrise in the middle of Monument Volley, in the American West. At 5am, to the sound of wolves in the distance, accompanied by Navajo Indians, as part of an organized excursion (only 10 people in the middle of a natural park).

WALK

If you are in destinations where this is easy to do, take the opportunity to do everything on foot. Stroll through the streets, discover all the emblematic places of the city. You will see your sense of direction increase tenfold by adopting these visiting habits, while having a little bit of the feeling of being a local.

EAT LOCAL

This seems to me essential to immerse yourself in the culture of the country.

For example, if you go to Thailand, for the equivalent of 1 or 2 euros you have big typical dishes like Pad Thai. Or their street food with stalls that are just as varied as each other. If there is a destination where you don't have to be picky, it's definitely there

DON'T TAKE UNCONSIDERATE RISKS

Like going on solo high altitude hikes without telling anyone or going out in bad neighborhoods late at night, etc.

This may seem obvious, you might say, but in the end, quite often, some people feel like they have wings when they travel. They want to try as many activities as possible or have fun without measuring the possible dangers, far from their daily lives.

ANECDOTE: The only time I didn't realize the danger was in the Canyonlands in the Western United States, with my two Danish friends.

In general, it is recommended to start your hikes very early in the middle of summer otherwise with the heat it is not bearable. There are reminders everywhere at the entrances of the parks to provide enough bottles of water. The rangers are there to give us safety advice as well.

We left in the afternoon on a day when thunderstorms were forecast for the end of the day.

Naively, we misjudged the distances and durations of the route and we stayed there much too long, the storm started to fall, we were advised in these cases to lie down on the ground so that the lightning would not hit us (because in these canyons, it is like in a basin)

We were alone in the world, all the hikers had already returned, we had only met a few on the road.

We finally came back after several hours, tired as never before..

Morality, always follow the instructions given at the park reception offices. They are not optional..

DISADVANTAGES

Of course, we don't live in a world of teddy bears. It would be a lie to say that there are no problems when traveling alone. However, it can just as easily happen whether you're traveling with 2, 4 or 8 people.

ANECDOTE: My only big mishap was on the last day of my trip, in Miami. The only time I can say I was afraid for myself.

I was traveling in a small group with people from all over the world at the time on a road trip through the Eastern United States..

The last day we were all flying again, I woke up sick as hell at 6am. I had never experienced anything like that, my body literally gave up on me..

To the point of no longer being able to walk and having to be transported in a wheelchair to a room

The last travelling companions had to leave to take their respective flights home.

The hotel called a doctor: injections, medication...

I spent the whole day and night sick as never before.

It finally got better at 10pm, I had been feeling bad since 6am

The doctor called me every hour to see how I was doing.

When he called me at 10pm, I had finally fallen asleep and was feeling better.Sotherwise he told me that he would have had me hospitalized because it was not normal that there was no progress.

Result: I missed my return flight, had to pay for an extra night in a hotel and the doctor's fees in the USA (500$ for 2 injections in the ass, and medication...I'll remember that!)

But in my misfortune, I was pampered by the hotel staff. The doctors managed with my airline so that I could take a flight the next day free of charge (medical proof required). In any case, speaking English when I was at my worst was complicated. I didn't have the strength to speak and articulate anything..

In hindsight, I think it was the result of a heat stroke a day earlier at Disneyworld in the extreme heat that triggered all these symptoms..

So all's well that ends well but this is the first time I've ever been so happy to be back home 😉)

To conclude, I would tell you not to ask yourself too many questions and go for it!

Don't listen to those around you who warn you because they themselves would never dare to leave their comfort zone and necessarily see it as a danger.

We only have one life and so many beautiful places to discover in the world.

You will come back enriched by your experiences. Grown from having truly discovered yourself during this time spent alone in an unknown environment.

If you are not a very independent person by nature, or afraid of your own company, this is a good test. It will allow you to take a step back from yourself and rediscover yourself.

In future articles, I will do a retrospective of my different itineraries in the different countries I have visited. Of the magnificent places I have discovered (if this can give ideas to some of you to prepare your stay.)