I never really had to travel alone until I got to college. I quickly began to realize that my parents weren’t always going to be able to pick me up if I wanted to go home, and my friends weren’t always going to be able to ride the bus home with me for the holidays. I also realized that I would need to learn independent travel tips for visiting friends at colleges that were out of state. Here are some of the things I learned while traveling alone!
1. Plan the trip ahead.
Traveling can get expensive, and prices tend to increase the closer and closer it gets to the day you are supposed to depart. Whether you decide to travel by bus, train, plane, what have you, you should buy the ticket far enough in advance. This avoids the possibility of the trip getting too expensive, as well as avoiding the possibility of the tickets being sold out.
2. Make an itinerary.
I realize how tedious this sounds, but I found that writing out an itinerary or schedule really gives me peace of mind and ensures that I won’t miss a thing. An itinerary helps you stay on schedule, which in turn avoids a missed connection. It is also a good idea to reinforce the itinerary by setting alarms or alerts on your phone at important times.
3. List the things you want to pack.
Yet another tedious, but helpful, tip for traveling. I’ve realized that listing what I need to pack reduces the risk of forgetting something before I leave. The same list also helps me from forgetting any of my things at the place I’m visiting.
4. Bring a variety of things to do while traveling.
It’s obvious that phones, laptops, and headphones are essential for long trips, but those can get boring when used in excess. Bring an interesting book or magazine to read! If you are missing school to travel, this is the best time to catch up on your homework, so you can relax more when you are at your destination. Puzzles or a notebook for doodling are also great for keeping you from going insane from boredom, especially if you are traveling far.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Can’t lift your suitcase into the overhead compartment? Aren’t sure what gate your plane will be, or what track your train is departing from? Don’t hesitate to ask for help! Asking for help from people when you need it makes your travel experience much easier. It may seem daunting to have to ask people for help, but what I’ve learned is that people are nicer than you think. Just put on a smile and ask politely!
6. Take time to relax.
All the preparations and actually traveling alone can be incredibly exhausting. It’s really important to take small amounts of time during your journey to rest your mind and know you’re doing everything right. Eventually, you’ll reach your destination and you will have successfully traveled alone!