4 Tips for Taking Your First Solo Vacation
Travel is an extremely valuable avenue for self-care. It exposes you to new places, people, and cultures. It helps boost your confidence and creativity and allows you time and space to escape, disconnect and recharge your batteries in a healthy way.
If perusing The Places Where We Go and other popular travel blogs has you sick with wanderlust, you may be thinking of planning a solo trip for your vacation this year. Travel to Wellness notes that traveling alone can do wonders for your health and wellness, but there are some additional risks, so it’s essential that you plan effectively. This guide offers 4 tips for taking your first solo vacation.
4 Tips for Taking Your First Solo Vacation
1. Choose a Destination Based on Your Tastes
When deciding where to go as a lone wanderer, you’ll need to ask yourself a few important questions. Are you an introverted or extroverted traveler? Do you want to see spectacular landscapes or stunning architecture? Are you interested in history, regional cuisine, or people watching? It’s important to nail down exactly what you want out of your vacation before you book tickets and tours so you’re entirely satisfied with your experience.
If you want to be a kid again, you can go to Disney World and take in all the attractions. This is a great choice for solo travelers because you can stay onsite, which is plus for safety, plus it’s convenient because you don’t have to travel far from the hotel to the parks. You may even make new friends while you’re there. Read more here to learn how to save when visiting the park.
2. Prioritize Your Safety
It’s never fair to judge a place before you see it, but there are some notorious cities and countries where you, as a solo tourist, will be at a higher risk for targeted crime, and it would be foolish to ignore warnings. To make sure you enjoy your travels and get back home safe, you should follow basic safety protocols:
- Research the State Department’s country information before you plan your trip
- Tell someone you trust where you’re going, and have an emergency plan to get home safe
- Schedule arrivals and departures during daylight hours
- Don’t stay on the ground floor of your hotel, and don’t tell strangers where you’re staying
- Use the deadbolt when you’re alone in your room
- Lock your luggage when you go out
Additionally, when you’re solely responsible for getting yourself back to your room each night, it is necessary to know your limits when consuming alcohol or substances. It’s okay to party while you’re out in the world, but remember that not everyone has your best interest in mind.
If you like an area enough to visit frequently but have concerns about hotels, you may want to consider purchasing a vacation home. This can be a good investment, allowing you to rent it out to other travelers when you aren’t using it. Keep in mind that there are different mortgage requirements when purchasing a second home.
3. Be Patient and Flexible
Arriving alone in a new city can be overwhelming, even if your journey was well-planned. While you want to see and do as much as possible, overplanning can strip the joy and relaxation from your vacation. If you’re not quite ready to hit the ground running, it’s okay to take your time and relax for a day. Visit a local café or bar, and strike up conversations with locals or other travelers. You may learn there’s a festival downtown you didn’t know about before, or you may pick up some smart travel advice for the area. You might even find a friend group to hang out with during your stay.
4. Protect Yourself Online
Depending on where you go and how long you’re gone, you may choose not to purchase a data plan for your phone during your trip. Unplugging is great for the soul, but you might still need to do adult things like pay your bills and check your bank balance. This means you may have to rely on public Wi-Fi during your travels, which can mean unsecured networks and cyberattacks. To protect your private data from hackers, blogger Dan Calugar advises using a virtual private network and enabling two-factor authentication on all your online accounts.
There’s much to consider before embarking on a solo adventure, but don’t be intimidated. With these tips and a brave spirit, you’ll be an expert traveler before you know it. Remember to check online for deals, prioritize your personal and online safety, and be flexible.
Get ready for a memorable adventure and remember these 4 tips for taking your first solo vacation.
To follow along with our travels and learn tips along the way, visit The Places Where We Go today!
This article was submitted by Kim Thomas at USHealthCorps.org
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