How To Travel Alone

Travelling alone is something that can only come highly recommended from those who have done it. It’s a beautiful time to actually get to know yourself, get out of your comfort zone, as well as meet so many interesting people from all around the world. It’s also an amazing way to see the world around you because you aren’t tied to other people, their schedules, their lists, or their timing. Travelling with friends is fun and all, but there is just something special about doing it alone.

However, there are some obvious cons to those pros and there are a lot of things to take mind of while you are travelling alone- as it can be dangerous, specifically as a young woman

1. Preferably stay in hostels or hotels where there are larger groups of people around. Yes renting out your own Air BnB can be lovely and private, and provide you with that quiet time after a long and busy day of sight seeing. But you can’t always be entirely sure of the legitimacy of the place you are renting, nor the person renting it. If you are with someone else, you’re better off, but entirely alone- wouldn’t recommend.

2. Put on the friendliest persona you can. I swear, specifically if you stay in hostels, everyone is friendly, and almost everyone wants to meet people and make friends as they go along. Most of the people I’ve met were travelling alone and were so grateful to have someone to have dinner with at the hostel at night. If even introverted me can do it, so can you.

3. If you aren’t using your own or public transportation, use registered taxis. Do not, by any means, just get into the car of someone offering you a ride. There is a difference between generosity and friendliness, and shady as hell.

4. Try to make sure that someone knows more or less where you are, and when you move around. Yes, we don’t like being in constant contact with everyone back home when we are on holiday; we like to be off the grid- besides the instagrams of course- but better safe and messaging mum, than sorry.

5. Travel light. This obviously does differ depending on the style of your trip- but if you, like me, enjoy backpacking; the last thing you’re going to want to do is be stuck walking all over the place with a 20kg backpack hovering on your back. Obviously if you can shack up in a hotel room for a week or two- pack it all.

6. Stick to a two drink limit. Yes, it is fun to go out and party in a foreign country. And it is a social thing to do when you’re staying in a hostel and trying to make friends. But logistically, if you are in a totally foreign country, it is likely that any threat will know you are vulnerable. You do not want to be caught out, drunk of your rocker, in a dangerous situation- especially in a country that does not speak your language or that you are in no way familiar with.

All these warnings aside; traveling alone is a really beautiful experience and I do highly recommend it. Not only do you meet more people when you're alone, but you learn so much about yourself and the spaces around you, without others influences. Go it alone, just be aware and streetwise kiddos.