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Every now and again, we need some alone time. When it comes to travel, there’s nothing quite so liberating as jetting off on a lone adventure. It may seem daunting, being alone and exploring the world, but there are so many benefits to having a solo adventure that it’s always worth giving it some consideration. All that’s required is a little planning, and you could soon be enjoying your travel with no nagging voices, no demands on your time, and with free rein to do absolutely anything that you want. If you’re considering your first solo travel, then here are the best ways to prepare for it.
Where and when?
Your first challenge is to work out just where you want to go and what you want to experience when you get there. Depending on your destination of choice, you may have to start making arrangements for visas, or even make a medical appointment for some vaccinations. Remember to do some research into your destination, so that you can avoid landing somewhere awesome only to find that it’s monsoon season for the next three months. Traveling alone means that the research is totally down to you, and you should make considerable use of online resources to investigate accommodation options (check those reviews!), and find out about the activity options that you can choose from.
Learn how to pack
It doesn’t matter if it’s a weekend away or a six-month hiking trip, you’re going to need to pack some essentials. It’s a good idea to print up one of the many available packing lists that have been professionally compiled by seasoned travelers. Once you’ve decided on everything that you’re going to take, put it all on the floor and give it a good going over. Your first attempt to pack will usually result in overestimating what you need to take with you, and you’ll start to trim everything but the absolute essentials. You don’t need eight t-shirts if you’re going away for a weekend. Ideally, you want your suitcase or backpack not to be 100% full, so that you have a little extra room for the return journey and your souvenirs.
Be prepared
Of course, not everything is going to go smoothly. Dealing with the unexpected is part of the travel experience, so you should be mentally prepared for it. However, there are some practical suggestions as well, that can help to alleviate stress and help you to cope with even the most frustrating of issues. One of the most common is delayed flights, which can be a massive pain and can really put a dampener on your adventure. It’s worth noting that if your flight is ever delayed, it’s possible that you may be entitled to some compensation, and Fairplane.co.uk have plenty of advice when it comes to your rights. Be ready for emergencies, but don’t let the fear of them prevent you from embarking on your journey.
Many travelers prefer making solo trips because there’s nobody to please but yourself. You get to decide where to go, what to eat, and what to do. Traveling solo gives you a flexibility that is impossible when traveling with others, so make the most of it. For others, it’s also a chance to expand their horizons and find out exactly who they are.