Solo traveling tips – some questions you need to ask yourself before visiting a foreign place all by yourself

Solo <3

Solo traveling is fun. Way more fun I would ever assume before I tried doing that. You have the full freedom of enjoying a place on your own terms: deciding where, when, by what means, how, doing what.. boils down only to your own preferences. Instead of waiting for people who are able to follow me on my walks in certain extreme environments, I just started walking alone. This brought me to so many special places, and I sincerely hope that I will continue with such practices.

Some of us are able to pack every possible needed item in one backpack which fits in the overhead compartment.
Some of us pack 3 suitcases for a period of 7 days.

Some of us love the cities, architecture, foodie experiences, cultural events, broadening the art horizons, partying.
Some of us want to sit in a tent on a godforsaken mountain pass, waiting for the sunrise to peak from behind the mountain tops.

Some of us want to grill ourselves on the beach, sipping cocktails in the shade, relaxing as much as possible.
Some of us want to test our limits in some insane environment, just because we can.

But, there are some common guidelines which keep us safe and able to enjoy the trip(s). I wanted to approach this from another angle, in order to make someone ask themselves some basic questions before entering an unknown place.

Do your research

There is something very grounding, reassuring and relaxing in planning a trip. It’s like getting several boxes of mixed puzzles (and probably incomplete), without the image of the complete work, and trying to find sense in putting the puzzles together.

There is something even more relaxing and rewarding in visiting the place and feeling that the puzzles are sitting as they should and gradually expose the entire image.

I was surprised by the amount of people around me who have the exact opposite approach – “I’ll learn where I am after I land to my destination.” I love to read and I devour material about an unknown culture. I like to understand where I am arriving, what can be expected, how the historical events shaped the country, politics, economy and the culture itself. How the local cuisine works, what is considered to be authentic, how the local environment reflects on traditional food… the subjects are endless. Understanding all this gives me the idea how the country is shaped and how my own behavior needs to be in order to tell the stories afterwards.

At every destination I felt at home, probably due to the fact that I researched those destinations so thoroughly that it all feels incredibly familiar while I am gliding in awe through some insane environment.

Here are some questions for which answers were found and made every one of my trips amazingly comfortable. Every trip is a chance to learn something new, and I look forward to every single update which lands on my lap.

You need to ask yourself some…

… technical questions…

1. Have I prepared the contacts of the embassy of my country and found the address in the country I am visiting? In which situations are they helpful, how can they be of use to me?
2. What happens when I lose my passport? How do I recover it?
3. Do I have travel insurance? Is it covering the country I intend to visit? Do I have the policy ready, along with phone numbers or any sort of contact of the insurance provider?
4. How is the hospital coverage in the area that I would be visiting?
5. Do I have saved in the phone contacts all the relevant local emergency numbers – police, ER, tourist police?
6. Do I understand the visa regime? Can I fill out the form beforehand and just give it to the worker on the border inspection?
7. Have I prepared a certain amount of cash in local currency? Is card coverage a usual thing in the country I am visiting?
8. How does the public transport work (in case where I will not be using a rented car)? How reliable is it?
9. Do I have some financial backup, in case something goes wrong? What amount of money do I need to return home?

… questions about the social aspect…

1. Do I understand where I am going?
2. Do I have some knowledge of the culture I am visiting? Are there some views which are not aligned with mine?
3. Am I able to be tolerant towards the local views on religion, politics, international relations, LGBT rights, whatnot? Am I able not to shove my own views down to someone else’s throats just because I feel entitled to do so?
4. Am I willing to behave according to the local rules and laws, and adjust my behavior and appearance?
5. Am I aware that not one single opinion which I might have is more worthy than my health, or even maybe my own life?
6. Are there any ongoing local conflicts in the country which I am visiting, or on an international level? Do I have an exit strategy for that? Is it even safe to enter the country?
7. Are the locals used to having tourists? What is the general attitude towards strangers roaming their country?

… personal aspect…

1. Am I able to be respectful of local people, laws and ways of doing things no matter how different their culture might be compared to mine?
2. Am I able to stay dignified?
3. Can I control my urge to escalate over any issue?
4. Can I mind my body language – am I perceived to be scared? Annoyed by the surroundings? Is this internal or caused by outside factors? What can I do in order to adjust?
5. Am I relaxed enough to communicate with locals who initiate a conversation with me? Would I see it as a threat?

… and, of course, safety.

1. Am I aware of my surroundings?
2. Am I safe? Are my belongings safe?
3. What would make me feel unsafe? How can I reassure myself?
4. Is the place that I am sleeping at considered to be safe? Can I entirely relax and enter deep sleep without worrying about my life?
5. What are risky behaviors?
6. Am I able to assess the risks and despite the desire to venture beyond the comfort zone to be able to pivot from the danger?
7. Are there any critical parts of the country/city/places I am visiting? Am I able to accept that it is better not to enter such places, and readjust my plans accordingly?
8. Do I know how to behave in the wilderness? Am I able to understand how my body works, what sort of challenges it is able to handle, and how the environment affects this?

You need to enjoy the trip

Worrying. Second guessing. Over analyzing. Scanning the environment and searching for cues which will reaffirm the fear which is maybe overloading you. Solo or with someone, you will feel like this at least once while traveling. But… Fear is good. It keeps us in check and second guessing makes us re-assess our plans and choices, especially when we are at the place we want to visit, and we see that all we planned, read about and expected does not look like it should in reality.

I was told many times that I am brave for traveling solo in places where I am alone. I am surely not. I am not doing anything out of this world. I just come prepared, as much as I am able. Research gives me an idea where I am going, what to expect in broad terms, and a certain safety due to the familiarity which comes with getting to know a place I intend to explore.