Solo travel: 4 tips to make it a trip of a lifetime
It would be fair to say that travel is one of those industries which rides a rollercoaster of trends. One decade it might be the Costa del Sol, while the next it might be quick weekend getaways.
One trend which has quietly emerged is traveling on your own. Known by the classic travel blogs as "solo travel", this is something which has made a surprising rise.
Of course, it's not for everyone. At the same time, some introverts who would have perhaps never entertained the thought of traveling on their own, have started to well and truly bask in the philosophy. It means it has most certainly opened up to a large market of people, although to make the most of it the following guide will take a look at four key tips.
Stay on top of paperwork more than ever before
You're about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, so the thought of tying yourself up with paperwork sounds ridiculously mundane. Unfortunately, it has to be done.
Firstly, let's discuss insurance. Again, it's a bland topic, but like it or not the risks are higher when you take to travel on your own. This is why it is crucial you arm yourself with the appropriate insurance. Whether it is insurance when travelling with an existing medical condition, or something far more standard, it doesn't matter. The point is that you need to be protected as a lot of countries just won't cover your health if something does go wrong.
Try and stay in social hostels
Now, let's turn to the more interesting things. You might be an introvert (or you might not be), but for the purposes of solo travel you should be turning your attention to social hostels. These aren't necessarily party hostels, where you won't get a moment's sleep, but they tend to be accommodation which almost forces people together. There are plenty of shared spaces, and everything is geared towards making travel a more social affair.
If, on the other hand, you were to stay in a hotel, you would have to search high and low to find like-minded solo travelers. This will make your trip much more difficult, and probably lonelier.
Take photos... and then take some more
For some of you, this advice won't apply. You'll be taking photos left, right and center - and they'll be appearing on Instagram in a flash.
For others, taking photos isn't as natural. However, when traveling on your own, this is crucial. You have only yourself to rely on for memories, so turn to the help of a camera as well. You might have to take selfies, you might have to enlist the help of others, but it will make your lone travels so much more rewarding.
Do everything on your own terms
Forget Trip Advisor, forget what Dave says at the pub - you are traveling alone for you and no-one else.
This is effectively the USP of doing it alone. You don't have to listen to anyone else, and you can roam at your own pace. Make sure you stick to this, even if you meet people along the way, as this is what makes solo travel so interesting.