Travelling solo is often a lonely journey for the soul. However, at times in one’s life, this can be a good thing. It’s a chance for your soul to self-reflect and an opportunity to know one-self better. You’ll quickly become aware of your strengths and weaknesses, as it’s not for the faint-hearted. Ideally, you are going to need to be a confident individual and possess great situational awareness. Travelling solo is no joke and you really do need to maintain your guard at all times. Sadly, in this world you cannot trust anyone you don’t truly know and equally the same goes for strangers that meet you. If you’re a woman, I’d advise that you take extra precautions and ideally do your research on the local laws and customs of the country you happen to be visiting. Women can be seen as second-class citizens in some countries and just because you might come from somewhere that upholds the value of equality, that mindset will just have to stay in the back of your mind for safety’s sake. If other women who live in these countries can cope and get by then I’m certain you can abide by the rules of the country just while you are passing through. Aside from the dangers, travelling alone can really do wonders and I’ll share with you my experiences and how to make all that uncertainty into a truly amazing experience.
For me, I spent three months travelling around the South of France and Northern Italy. I did have a goal and that was to seek work onboard superyachts as a deckhand/junior engineer, however, I was alone and this was the first time I had travelled alone. I did however have plenty of experience travelling and in the past was always able to suss out the local signs and information so that I didn’t miss my train or plane. I never had a lot of money and towards the end of two months, I did start to run out of cash and can remember living off just one solid meal a day. Yeah, not great, especially when Southern France is quite expensive. However, my experience was one I shall not forget as I met some truly awesome people, discovered a little more about myself and improved my French massively.
In terms of accommodation, I did book a Crew-house in Antibes before leaving home and stayed there for around a week as again, my money was limited and I needed to make it last by looking for somewhere cheaper. I believe at the time I was paying something like 150€ a week, which entailed sharing a room with two others. On my second week, I found another Crew-house not far, for 100€ a week which included having my laundry washed for me, however, I was sharing with up to ten others in one room. The guys I shared with were pretty awesome individuals and we were all sharing the same goal; to seek work onboard a superyacht.
France in general is a safe country and I had little reason to worry. Crime exists all over the world but travelling alone meant that I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. I mentioned situational awareness earlier and it’s imperative that you have it. You will naturally feel vulnerable as the likelihood is that you’re not in your home country and the language spoken around you often at times, won’t be familiar. If you’re someone like me that likes to limit my worries by having a plan then I recommend you do your research before you set out. Planning your first week will put you at ease and if you’ve got your accommodation sorted before you go then it’s one less thing to worry about. Have a rough idea of what you want to do when you arrive. Are you travelling for the sights or looking for work in the hope of making your adventure longer? Managing my money was a priority but I made attempts to meet people. Granted I wasn’t alone in my room so there was always a conversation to be had and at times a few of us would go to the local bars to socialise. Try and meet people, it really does help! One of the nicest experiences was when I treated myself to a meal in a restaurant all by myself of course and someone sat next to me doing the same thing and the pair of us starting talking. Usually, when you’re a foreigner, people tend to be more interested in you. It also opens up a great conversation especially if they are into travelling.
Start with a Plan
Spinning a desk globe and pointing your finger at any random country might make the adventure super awesome before even departing, but I do encourage you to have a plan. It doesn’t need to be perfect and often the best plans are flexible. Expect the unexpected as they say. Your adventure starts at home with all the booking of flights and seeking the best deals on travel insurance; and yes get yourself decent travel insurance! Read the small print and make sure it’s right for you. Personally, I like a policy that covers me for travel worldwide for a minimum of three months and includes winter sports cover. Check out a comparison website for the right travel insurance before you set off. Plan your first few nights or even weeks in advance and be sure to arrive during the day so you can get your bearings. Don’t beat yourself up trying to plan everything perfectly but do start somewhere.
Start with a Group or Friend
For those of you that are not so confident but do love the idea of packing a bag and heading out into the unknown in some way or another, try going with a friend or with a group. Who’s to say that you could stay on after the group has finished or if you and your friend decide to part ways. In fact, you never truly travel alone. Chances are you are constantly meeting new people and for some of it, may stick together for some events or even travel onwards together. It happens! and this is awesome. As much as you might want to be alone, meeting people from all walks of life makes the whole experience better. If you’re a woman, I’d strongly recommend that you at least start your travels with a friend or in a group. By starting off in a group, you can meet people of the same mindset and even explore together. Being lonely and constantly feeling vulnerable are two of the biggest concerns to travelling solo. The great thing about starting off with another person is that you should be able to trust each other and thus removing or rather lowering these two concerns.
When in Rome…
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. This line is probably the best travel advice anyone can give you. Avoid looking like a tourist and learn to blend in, not just for personal safety reasons but to embrace the culture around you and to embrace the travelling experience. Eat the best local foods and learn some of the local languages. Even dress like a local! Watch people around you and study what they do living day to day. It could prove useful when you wish to haggle for souvenirs or how the locals greet each other etc… Watching how people do things is something I do even in my home country. It’s just instinctive. And speaking of instinct, trust your gut. Instinct exists to help you make decisions when you can’t. If something doesn’t feel right then don’t do it. It’s that simple but still, too many of us doubt ourselves and still make silly mistakes. Dress appropriately for the customs around you. The idea is to avoid unwanted attention and so make sure you do your research first and know what is expected. If you are lost, try to walk confidently as appearing lost can make you vulnerable. If you need to ask for directions, head to a tourist centre, hotel or shop to ask.
Document Everything
Document your travels and adventures. This is so underrated and doing so is a nice reminder to your future self of what you have done. Photograph everything! A single picture speaks a thousand words after all. Write quick entries into a diary daily of what you’ve seen and done. Who knows you could write enough to start your own blog!
Value your Time and Learn to Relax
Don’t be afraid to spend time alone. This is your chance to break away from whatever lifestyle you’re accustomed to. Everyone is always recommending hostels which to some extend are very good and a great way to meet people, however, don’t rely on them. As much as staying in a crew house helped me combat loneliness, sharing a single toilet and shower with 10 people was not a nice experience. I did miss my comforts slightly and did long for a decent hotel room all to myself. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just simple single lodging can be just as good. These can offer a safe zone when needed, a bit more comfort when you are tired, and a place to unwind from exhausting travels. It can also be a more secure place to leave your belongings while you’re out exploring. Have a mix of communal and single accommodation so that you’re getting the best experience.
Challenge Yourself
You’ve come this far so why not all the way? Boredom was something I struggled with when travelling solo but I think that was mostly because I was mindful not to spend too much money. However, the highlights of my time alone were that I could do whatever I wanted without anyone slowing me down or putting me off. I walked pretty much every day and found hidden photogenic spots away from the crowds and that brought me a lot of joy. While in Southern France, I did manage to come across the Cannes Film Festival and watch a free movie on the beach. I also witnessed the awesome Formula 1 Racing in Monaco and got some great footage. This is your chance to do what you’ve always wanted to do. A few examples could well be; finding yourself in Paris and always wanted to scale the Eiffel Tower, then go for it! Happen to be in China? Trek the Great Wall! Always fancied riding a horse western style, then go for it in the USA. No one is holding you back, get out there and take on the world.
Have Someone at Home to Help
Another great tip is to have a close friend or family member back at home ready to help you out in emergencies. I never had a lot of money in my early 20s but then most of us don’t. I left for Southern France with just 500 euros in my pocket and most importantly, my credit card. Although one should be wary of using credit cards in general, they are still a lifesaver at times. For example, the Consumer Credit Act 1974; Section 75 states that your credit card provider must protect purchases over £100 for free, meaning you could get your money back if there’s a problem. If you find yourself being scammed abroad or you really wish to make a transaction but are worried about being scammed then use your credit card. At home, my dad helped keep me going by paying off my credit card while I was away, keeping the interest away and when I did eventually come home, I paid him back along with nice souvenirs as a thank you. Of course, I didn’t want to rely on this but it helped for any emergencies where I was running out of cash and where I found myself for a long period of time without work. Another tip is to leave a copy of your itinerary at home with a family member or with a friend, and when plans change, stay in contact by keeping them up to date via a text or phone call. In France, I got myself a cheap SIM card that worked all across Europe, from https://www.lefrenchmobile.com/. This helped cut down unnecessary phone bills.
In conclusion, travelling alone is definitely a fantastic experience and it doesn’t have to be in some faraway place. It can be in your neighbouring country and you can still have an adventure. Look after yourself at all times, be confident, explore off the beaten track and you’ll have an awesome tale or two to tell when you return.
