Although I cherish all my time studying abroad, I did not travel as widely, as frequently or for as long as might be expected. Instead, I often chose to take solitary four-day trips to European cities easily reached from Dublin. I loved traveling alone, and felt that most of my newly obtained self-confidence stemmed from this activity.
When traveling alone, I had to rely solely on myself to get from one destination to another, to communicate with locals and to take care of myself. Although my parents and friends certainly knew where I was, none of them were within reaching distance.
However, this is not to say that I took traveling alone lightly. It was something I debated for almost two months before choosing to venture my first trip to a city I was already familiar with, Edinburgh. I researched for weeks before my trip and tried to prepare for every possibility. Below are a list of tips that I found helpful when planning my solo travel experience! (Many of these are tips for any solo traveler, but some are specifically directed to women, who I believe face additional challenges while traveling in many areas.)
1. Location, location, location!!
When you’re deciding where to go, consider how long you want to go for and what types of attractions you want. However, also consider what cities is a more manageable size for one individual to cover and navigate. I chose smaller cities––Edinburgh, Milan, and Brussels––over cities such as London or Paris to travel to on my own.
In the same vein, when traveling alone, try to stay in a nicer hotel––cost can be an issue, but you’ll be safer in a real hotel where you have an individual room than in a youth hostel or an AirBnB. Also, try to make sure that wherever you stay is near to some attractions as well as some restaurants, in case you get tired early or want a slow start in the morning. For example, as pictured below, my hotel in Brussels was only a block from this cute square with food and entertainment!
2. Apps can be useful, even if you’re going somewhere without a data plan.
Try Maps.Me for navigating new cities without data––it’s not as accurate as Google Maps, but it’ll get you within a few blocks! I would also recommend trying to find a taxi app that applies to the country you’re visiting––not everywhere has Uber!
There are also many apps directed toward solo female travelers. GoGirl Network allows you to read reviews on certain locations and neighborhoods within the city, whereas apps such as Wandermate and Tourlina are basically Match.com for women travelers, if you want to meet up with people during your trip.
3. If you’re dreading traveling alone because you think you’ll look lonely or shy, bring a book or a journal along with you!
That way you have something to keep your hands and mind busy during meals. (Phones work too, but not everywhere has wifi and international data is costly.) As pictured below, I brought Wuthering Heights across Europe.
4. Avoid sleeping on public transport!
Not only are you probably not 100% confident of where you’re going, and missing a stop can be a complicated and arduous mistake to fix, but sleeping also makes you a more obvious target. (This obviously doesn’t apply to things such as overnight trains.)
5. Try to avoid wandering at night.
While I actively encourage wandering the streets without a plan during the day (within reason––still try to avoid empty back alleyways) and think it is one of the best ways to see a city and discover all its hidden secrets, at night walk with purpose to or from your destination.
6. Don’t engage in your normal “unsafe” behaviors.
Avoid wearing headphones, don’t stop to speak to random people and make sure you’re somewhere safe and well-in-view of others before asking for directions!
In general, try not to look at your phone or a map while walking––instead, duck into a cafe or bookstore and use it there. Otherwise, it’s a dead giveaway that you’re alone, a tourist and oftentimes can lead to the swiping of your cell-phone.
7. Keep up with your documents!
Leave photocopies of your passport and credit cards hidden somewhere safe in your luggage (another reason that it’s important to stay in a private, lockable room)––that way if anything gets stolen, you’ll be able to cancel your cards and go to the embassy with proof of citizenship. Or even better, put them into a safe online account, like DropBox, that can be accessed from any computer!
8. Try to blend in!
When packing, think about what clothing would be most appropriate wherever you’re going. Try to learn a couple words in the language of the country you’re visiting, even if it’s just “please” and “thank you.” Unwanted attention, contrary to any movies you may have watched, is not necessarily a good thing in an alone situation. Here’s photographic proof of me not drawing attention to myself in Italy by engaging in a local practice of drinking amaretto after a meal!
9. Schedule regular check-ins!
These can be texts, phone calls or emails with either members of your abroad program or your family––whether it’s just an “I’m in the hotel for the night” or “I’m leaving for [insert tourist site here]”––whenever you have wifi. You can also register your trip with the US Department of State, which will send you emails about the current safety conditions of your destination, to keep in mind.
10. Be smart!
Most of the dangers that can occur while traveling abroad alone are also dangers that can occur to anyone in the United States, alone or not. Make sure to get plenty of rest, as traveling by yourself can be both exhausting and restorative. You’re totally responsible for everything, so make sure to be as prepared as possible before leaving home and your hotel. Trust your instincts, but also make sure to have fun!
Image Credit: Feature, Writer’s Own