{"id":34108,"date":"2014-08-12T09:00:07","date_gmt":"2014-08-11T23:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/blog\/?p=34108"},"modified":"2015-01-30T14:29:48","modified_gmt":"2015-01-30T04:29:48","slug":"top-5-solo-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/top-5-solo-travel-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 solo travel tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Solo travel is awesome, but a little planning can make a world difference to your enjoyment. I say this from experience! After a few years of research and practice, here are my top solo travel tips. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\"Solo.\"<\/a>

Solo.<\/p><\/div>\n

1. Have a cheat sheet.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sort of like an itinerary\u2026 but if your itinerary isn\u2019t fully planned, having an idea of WHAT TO DO NEXT when you arrive in a new location can reduce STS (solo travel stress), which can be very \u2018me against the world\u2019! I\u2019d especially recommend this for solo female travellers. Fill the sheet with the basics for each destination (I also recommend emailing it to yourself):
\n\u2022 Language<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 hello, please, thank you, goodbye, do you speak English. I recommend learning them, even if it\u2019s on the plane ride into a new country.
\n\u2022 Arrival<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 note the date, time (including ETA local time arrival) and the flight\/train\/bus\/ship\/donkey-ride in booking details.
\n\u2022 Port map\/notes<\/strong><\/em> (i.e. airport, train station, bus stop etc.) \u2013 which exit do you need? Where is the subway? For airport maps check out OneWorld <\/a>or FlightStats<\/a>.
\n\u2022 Transit option<\/strong>s<\/em> \u2013.Do your research ahead of time. The place you\u2019re staying might have some recommendations too.
\n\u2022 First place of accommodation<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 note the address and contact details. Even if your itinerary is vague, having the first night pre-planned can greatly reduce stress when travelling alone.
\n\u2022 Departure<\/strong> <\/em>\u2013 have the date, time and booking details of your departure? Winning! Try to deal with international departures a few days in advance; you can get caught out with simple details like preferred seating selection or baggage limits when hopping from country to country.<\/p>\n

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\"Just<\/a>

Just like solo travel, getting to the top of mountains in Baff is easy\u2026 with a little planning.<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Go to the people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finding people to strike up a conversation with is relatively easy if you\u2019re staying at a hostel<\/a> or in any sort of shared situation. Try looking for accommodation with a bar or games area. Generally people in these spots are chatty, and fellow solo travellers! Huzzah!
\nAlternatively, try joining small day tours or classes<\/a>. Often you\u2019ll find a mix of local, international, group and solo travellers to chat to.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a>

A day tour out to Lake Louise led me to dog sledding, ice castles, and meeting some great fellow solo travellers.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you end up by yourself at a pub or caf\u00e9 and there\u2019s an opportunity to sit up at a bar (in front of the bartenders or chefs), this is also a quick win. Hospitality staff are no strangers to conversation so if you\u2019re feeling a little isolated, this is great.
\n3. Bring a book.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a solo activity, bring a book. If you don\u2019t mind bringing your tech gear (remember to specifically list your devices on your travel insurance policy<\/a>), there\u2019s always the Kindle or the Kindle app for Apple<\/a> or Android<\/a> devices. Having a book helps when you\u2019re bored in transit, when you\u2019re by yourself in a bar or restaurant, or when you just want to relax.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a>

Time to unwind.<\/p><\/div>\n

4. Bring playing cards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

To help you make friends, playing cards are great. They\u2019re light and serve as a great ice breaker. Going through the 20 questions game can become arduous city after city! If you don\u2019t know many games you\u2019ll usually find someone very happy to show off their skills and teach a crowd too. It\u2019s like moths to a flame.
\n5. Ask people about themselves.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Repeating the same information city after city can be epically tiring after a while. Remember that you are not on show \u2013 get people talking about themselves. Some conversation starters include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Where are you from? Where are you going? Stay city specific, try not get all stalkerish sounding by asking about their accommodation location.<\/p>\n

\u2022 How long have you been here \u2013 they could give advice about what to see and do.<\/p>\n

\u2022 What\u2019s the city\u2019s favourite sport \u2013 do you follow it?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Where do you want to travel to in the future?<\/p>\n

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\"You<\/a>

You talk\u2026 I\u2019m going to sit here, listen, and devour my crepe and champagne<\/p><\/div>\n

Preparing for a solo travel adventure can feel overwhelming (well, it did to me), but plan a few basics and you\u2019re set. Get cracking and check out our Secret Hotels<\/a> for some great deals.<\/p>\n

Enjoy!
\nHave you been on a solo adventure lately? Tell me about it in the comments.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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