Have you ever dreamed of getting away to Europe or some distant land, but your friend that has promised to go with you has failed to save enough money to come along or has backed out once again because of some other obligation? Are you letting that keep you from venturing out on your own? Before you defer your dreams or give up on them completely, start packing your bags for a trip of a lifetime. Following the tips below should prove useful in planning an adventure that is both fun and safe.
The Planning Process
Step 1. Plan ahead for your trip. Contact the U.S. State Department to find out if the country you plan to visit is safe. Even if the country is given the green light, proceed with caution. There are some places in the world that a woman should not travel alone, such as those nations with a poor human rights record or countries that hold women in little or no regard.
Step 2. Before you set off to travel, read about where you are going. Be thorough in your research. Visit a travel agency for more indepth information about the locale. Get advice on where you should stay and what you should avoid. Pick up maps of the city, and its subway or transportation systems, if available. Make reservations at hotels in advance and understand cancellation policies. When selecting a hotel, ask the travel agent to try to find locations that not only adhere to your budget, but are in well-populated areas and close to restaurants, transportation and attractions. If you have to pay more for such accomodations, it may be well worth it. Utilize the Internet to find out about specific places of interest and find out others opinions of various places if the website offers a survey.
Step 3. Query friends that have traveled to the places you are planning to visit. They can offer first-hand, invaluable insight on sites to see, places to eat, areas to avoid and common sense tips.
Step 4. If time permits before your departure date, take a beginning or conversational language class or buy a tape on key words and phrases used in the country on your itinerary. If you are fluent in the native tongue don’t worry. However, if you can barely comprehend or speak the language, but don’t have the time to take a class beforehand, go to a bookstore travel section and buy a translation manual to help you communicate with the locals. Treat it like a travel survival bible.
Step 5. Purchase a calculator that can convert the foreign currency exchange rate and visit a bank in town that deals in foreign currency. Also exchange some American currency, say up to $ 100 dollars for equal currency in the country where you will be arriving first. For example, if you plan to start in London, it is a good idea to have a few pounds to make it through your first few hours for simple things like a snack, a newspaper, subway or train fare from the airport or a cab. Don’t count on there being a foreign exchange office in the airport. Although there should be one and probably there is, come prepared with the correct currency already in hand. Likewise, on your return journey, be sure you have some U.S. dollars to secure a cab ride home.
Step 6. Make certain you purchase travelers checks, preferably, American Express because they are the most recognizable and accepted throughout the world. Follow the instructions on how to sign and use the travelers checks, store them safely and keep the information containing the the serial numbers on the travelers checks in a separate area, in the event that the checks are lost or stolen. As a back-up, bring a major credit card that can be used for emergencies or if you run out of cash.
Step 7. Work out your itinerary before you leave. Example: Week one at ABC hotel in London. Provide at least three people that you trust with copies of your itinerary, and be sure to include the city, country, hotel location, phone number and address. Before leaving, contact the American Express Travel office to determine if there are locations in the country where you will be traveling so that loved ones can leave a message for you if the need arrives.
Step 8. Get any required shots and address any medical concerns before departure. In addition, get your passport months in advance. This is crucial because there may be delays in processing and sending your passport, and you don’t want to miss a trip of a lifetime because your passport hasn’t arrived. Another argument for getting your passport early on is that if you have never had one, you have to submit a birth certificate from the state office where you were born — a process that may take some time to expedite. Unfortunately, a hospital issued birth certificate will not suffice. Once you receive your passport, check to make sure your name and other vital information are correct and sign it. Even if you already have a passport, check the expiration date. When all is in order, keep your passport with you at all times.
Step 9. Pack only the essentials, which include an adapter to plug in your hair dryer or other electrical items. Bring a journal, camera and clothes that are appropriate for the region’s climate. Include clothes that are easy to wash, require little or no ironing and can be worn in a variety of ways or are dark enough to hide dirt. Avoid packing too much to spare your arms and back unnecessary stress. The room you save can be space for souvenirs. So clear a corner in your luggage for rare finds.
Step 10. Find out where the U.S. embassy and/or consulate office is located in the country that you are visiting. If you should run into any difficulties abroad, it helps to know where there are U.S. officials.
Common Sense Tips
Don’t act like a tourist. Look as if you belong. Respect the customs and traditions of the country you are visiting. Drink bottled water, as a safety precaution. Call home from time-to-time to update loved ones on how you are doing. Never travel alone in isolated areas. Walk with a sense of purpose in all of your travels. Keep your eye out for any and everything. Be aware of your surroundings. If you carry a purse, make sure the zipper or latch faces towards you. If someone wants to take your purse, by all means, let them have it. You are more valuable than something that can be replaced. Don’t go out with men you don’t know to a location that is desolate. If you want to go out, meet in a public place and let someone know your plans. If you get bad vibes about someone, trust your intuition and get away.
Other tips include planning activities for the day, so that you will be back in your hotel before nightfall. Book a hotel that has nightly entertainment so you don’t feel deprived of a nightlife. Or better yet, join a tour group for evening outings. Go to a tourism bureau in the city you are visiting and join an organized tour for a day or two. It is a great way to learn about the history of the city and meet fellow travelers.
Let the Fun Begin
Take your camera and journal to record your impressions, experiences and feelings. Capture what happens in that moment, so that you can look at your journal of pictures and words five or ten years later with joy and awe of your bravery. Visit museums, shrines and public gardens. Take in a theater matinee and pay half-price. Pack a picnic by going to the local deli and getting bread, fruit and cheese and eat it in the park. Sit in the town square or favored attraction, and engage in some heavy duty people watching. Shop all day at outdoor markets and shopping districts. Treat yourself to a glass of wine or an espresso at a outdoor cafe. Take an organized tour to learn more about a certain attraction or the history of a place. If you are in a city with train access, plan a day trip to a nearby enclave. Dine in a good restaurant recommended by the locals. Buy tons of postcards and write to your family and friends state side.
Traveling alone opens up your world to new experiences and exposure to people from a different regions of the world. It provides opportunities that are hard to find when you are traveling with a companion or tied up with another person’s travel plans. Alone you can soar and explore and rely on your own instincts and resources to the see the world at your own pace. If you choose this path you may savor every minute of your journey and just may learn to love the idea of traveling on your own.
Written by tzoni