This article is tourism topic.
Traveling is quite usually done with family, friends or some group, but many also travel alone. This can be a really nice experience.
Understand
Many others also travel alone, and many times you can meet other solo travelers in hostels, bars, day trips, or anywhere else tourists are usually found.
Benefits:
- You can control how you spend your time and money.
- It is easier to get to know the locals.
- Traveling alone can be a great opportunity to calm down completely and meditate.
- You don’t have to quarrel with anyone.
Disadvantages:
- There is no one to help or carry your belongings.
- Traveling and especially accommodation becomes more expensive when there is no one with whom the cost would be shared. A single room costs about the same as a double.
- From time to time you may feel lonely.
Come
Some destinations are better for solo travelers than others.
Move
Pack as lightly as possible. If you have a guy with you, one can monitor the bags while the other is buying tickets, drinks, or going to the bathroom. If you travel alone there is no such possibility.
If you travel by train instead of a bus, you can move more freely and chat with fellow passengers. On many long-distance trains, locals bring lunch; bring something too and keep dumplings with new friends on the train.
If you stand alone on a street corner reading a map in a foreign city you are attracting pickpockets. Read the map while sitting in a cafe, or use the map function on your mobile phone or PDA.
Eat
You can make new friends in the restaurant; eatwithequals.net is a service where you can arrange a meeting with other users (tourists) in a restaurant where you can have a good meal and company.
Sleep
- If the accommodation feels expensive you can try to meet other lonely travelers and share the room (and the price of the room). Of course, you have to be careful here.
Clear
- The more homely the accommodation, the easier it will be to make new friends. Go to a hostel and not a five star hotel if you want to meet new people.
- Guided tours are also a great place to find other travelers.
- In some travel forums you can find other travelers who happen to be in the same city.
- Staff at local bars and hostels are often happy to chat with foreign tourists. You can even learn a few words in the local language.
- Be matter-of-fact and kind.
Stay safe
- If possible, arrive at a new place during the day.
- Keep your spare cash somewhere other than in your wallet so you won’t be left completely cashless if your wallet is taken away.
- Healthy suspicion is good. If any place or person feels dangerous, go elsewhere.
- Don't drink yourself when you're traveling alone.
- If you are staying in a questionable place for a long time, you should definitely check out the local taxi driver who seems reliable, find a safe hotel and check out the staff, etc.