Ahhh solo traveling...
There is something so raw and liberating about packing the most important items you have, narrowing it down to fit into a small suitcase or backpack, boarding a plane, and wandering around a foreign place for the first time. Completely alone.
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It is an incredibly exciting, gut wrenching, thrilling experience I hope everyone, at some point in their lives, has the opportunity to attempt for themselves. But, as glamorized solo travel is by social media these days, I wish to inform you it’s not THAT easy and at times it will feel impossible.
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However, that in itself, is part of the adventure. So, with this being said, I hope to provide you with a genuine perspective and 13 tips earned from my own first hand experiences on what you can expect from your first solo traveling adventure, how to prepare your attitude and well-being for the open world, and help you plan the best trip of your life. Now, let's take a look at what's happening behind those travel instagram posts, shall we?
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1.) Do Some Research, Prepare for this like an Exam.
Go online, and ask Google directly about the country you are thinking of exploring
and let the world wide web show you, well, a world wide view of your future trip. It's a good idea to start off by reviewing a broad understanding of a countries's cultures and environment. After getting the general vibe, grab your little swimming goggles, and dive deep into the sea of free information available online. There is nothing worst then traveling a new country for the first time and learning afterwards that you missed key points of interest because you didn't open yourself up to the available information that's FREE online. (Very guilty and still very mad).
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Social media is another great resource to utilize, and one that influences people's travels often and for good reason. Go onto TikTok, Instagram or Pinterest, and simply type your destination into the search engine. Not only will you see an insane amount of media coverage, beautiful scenery, and incredibly cinematography but very current and relevant information on places you should check out. This information is likely coming from people or bloggers who were recently there, if not, are currently there documenting their journey. Even better, these tourist sights tend to be lesser known or new attractions the mainstream internet isn't reporting on just yet. Less Hype = Less Tourists = Better Experience.
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Another useful resource to find great tours and excursions is GetYourGuide. I've become a fan of GetYourGuide, because this travel platform shows a generous overview of dozens of different activities and attractions I can experience in the exact country I'm traveling to. I also like to browse GetYourGuide to see an overview of what kind of adventures of available in general. That way my expectations are true, and I'm not disappointed when a food destinations doesn't offer more extreme sport cliff diving activities. I hate when that happens.
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Lastly, hop onto ChatGPT for some travel advice as well. AI is a great tool for quick general information but dig deeper when certain cultural topics or destinations stick out to you more than others. Remember ChatGPT is influenced by your inputs and can't do all the work for you. But alas, a nice starting point and guide to push your research in the right direction.
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Taking the time to learn about your destinations local customs, cultures, and all the important landmarks you don't want to miss or not experience for yourself, will help you prepare for this exam and pass with flying colors, without cheating yourself out of the important information that will influence your adventures success.
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2.) Plan Your First Couple of Days, But Be Flexible and Open to Life.
After embarking on your long distance flight and finally arriving to your destination, unless you are a superhuman, you will feel like shit. You are going to be jet-lagged, disoriented, and maybe experiencing some culture shock. My first solo trip? I was 20 years old, and my first destination was Bangkok, Thailand. Did you know Thailand is 12 hours ahead of California, and Bangkok is the third biggest city in Southeast Asia? The perfect recipe for some serious culture shock and disorientation.
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However, after some solid parenting from my father, who is an experienced traveler himself, he convinced me to give myself a few days to relax and regroup in privacy (like in a hotel or hostel private room) before embarking on the shared living accommodations and mixed dorms in hostels.
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I typically take advantage of sites like Hostelworld and Booking.com to find the best rates and places to regroup while pressing my travel reset button. Booking.com is great if you are looking for more quiet family friendly accommodations such as small hotels or family own bed and breakfasts. While Hostelworld, being the haven for hostels around the world, is perfect if you are looking for some peace but also some human interactions. Hostels sometimes offer private rooms along side their dorms, so if you are eager to start making new friends but don't want to share a dorm just yet, Hostelworld is a great option to explore!
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Now for your itinerary. There is no harm in creating a rough plan on what your journey is going to look like, and some of my closest friends plan each second before embarking on their travels. Shit, I am also guilty of organizing every second of my time, negating any opportunities for impromptu adventures lurking around the corner. But as one of my favorite sayings says, "man plans, and God laughs," or in other words, "shit can change without our control, even with a concrete itinerary." This reminds us to stay flexible and open to what's to come. Whether it's a medical emergency or invitation to hang out on a private yacht, your trip is likely to experience some hiccups or unexpected allurements, be ready and accepting to them.
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The first time I traveled alone in Thailand, I had all five weeks of my trip planned, booked, and paid in advance. Sure, this gave me a sense of security and stability as I explored Thailand alone for the first time. But after week two, I met other travelers who were suggesting different areas of Thailand I should visit, then I was extending my stay in new cities I was falling in love with, and just like that, three weeks of pre-booked and prepaid accommodations became pointless holes in my pockets.
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Luckily, Thailand is an incredibly affordable country to travel, so my wallet wasn't dry from these choices. But if I was backpacking Italy and lost three weeks of paid accommodations, that would definitely take be dipping into my Aperol Spritz pizza fund, no bene.
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If you are traveling long-term and want to experience a new country for the first time, allow yourself to invite spontaneity in. My most spontaneous travel moments, I have found the most rewarding and memorable. Who knows, you may make some new friends during the first couple of days, who invite you to do the extraordinary later on. Be open. Let the extraordinary in.
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3.) Pack Light! Give Your Back a Break.
The less...the better. I know this can feel like a really taunting task, especially after buying seven new outfits that you just know would look so perfect in front of the Trevi Fountain in Roma. I hear you. I see your pain. I know the feeling.
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But you know what will cause you more pain and will NOT hear your cries for help and does not care how cute those boots are? Your back, your wallet, and your ego as you are lugging your entire spring collection from international airport to hostel, praying nothing gets lost, stolen, or damaged.
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Bring only what you really truly desperately need. This can vary depending on the destination or time of year. For example, when traveling through SouthEast Asia, I prefer to wear my primary shoes while on the move (sneakers, boots, hiking boots), and then pack a thin pair of sandals for the beach and those "clean" communal showers you may encounter in party hostels. Europe can look a little different, with a slightly elevated wardrobe for dinners, museums and especially churches, but let me remind me you of one thing, "YOU CAN BUY IT THERE."
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These countries have people living there you know? They sells shoes, and dresses, and tank tops and everything you are trying to shove into your carry-on. I'm not only guilty of overpacking, but I'm also very guilty of having to pay expensive last minute fees for exceeding luggage weight (xoxo Ryan Air), or buying one too many vintage coats that I am now layering seven jackets on top of one anther, and wearing them as a carry-on, because I didn't have the luggage space or ability to ship these pieces home last minute (guilty, but low-key worth it).
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Just remember, unless you have a personal butler or very helpful partner, you will be in-charge of your shit. There is nothing more annoying than traveling with someone who is complaining about their luggage they chose to bring! Pack smart and own that decision.
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4.) Stay Connected with Social Media, WhatsApp & Sim Cards.
Call your damn mom please. Seriously call your mom, your parental guardians, friends, extended family, people who are close to you and care about you. Not only because you will be traveling alone and people want to know you arrived safely and are continuing to be safe, but also, to live vicariously through you our brave little solider!
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Use social media to your advantage. If you are missing phone calls because of time differences and life, well Instagram and TikTok is a great tool to show your loved ones you are still alive and having fun, without causing worry or concern when you occasional miss a call (my grandparents are on Instagram now for the soul purpose of seeing what I am doing day to day on my travels).
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Ever heard of WhatsApp? It's an app owned now by those guys over at Facebook, that allows you to text and call (with internet) for free INTERNATIONALLY... FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS AND TEXT! HELLO! VERY IMPORTANT. That way, you or your loved ones will not have to worry about those N A S T Y international fees when making sure everyone back home is alive and well, and vice versa. All you need is some wifi and maybe a place where you can comfortably chat on the phone for hours. WhatsApp has also allowed me to stay in touch with friends from Asia, Australia, Europe, and the states while traveling abroad. As much as Facebook is becoming boomer headquarters for social media, WhatsApp is changing the way we stay in touch with others while traveling overseas, especially on a budget.
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Now, being that this is your first solo adventure, I also recommend sharing with your loved ones your travel itinerary as it evolves and changes, so if anything goes wrong, people will know where you are and how to help you as quickly as possible. But what do you do if you are in a remote place, need assistance, and there's no wifi for WhatsApp? Or you forgot to make arrangements for an international phone plan for your phone? This is where having a SIM card or eSIM card can really save your ass when traveling. Let's talk about your phone connection, what options you have, and why this matters:
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The first option, you can choose to stick with your current phone carrier and arrange for an international plan that affords you minutes but more importantly internet data. Remember to sort this out in advance so you can travel with ease and peace and always have a signal when a signal may be needed.
- The second option, is my favorite and preferred option. Buying a sim card upon arrival at the airport or buying an eSIM in advance. Why? Because having a SIM card or eSIM immediately puts you into a position of safety and control, and you won't immediately be relying on the kindness of strangers hoping their little cafe on the side of the road in Thailand has wifi (spoiler alert, they don't). You will know where the fuck you are at all times. You need an unlocked cell phone to use those physical SIM cards at the airport, but thanks for companies like Airalo and DrimSim, it's easy and convienent to buy an eSIM card, and to start looking and comparing different eSIM plans and roaming rates as well so you are well prepared for your trip if anything goes south.
If you have an unlocked cell phone, arriving to your new travel destination, you will see kiosk and signs advertising "SIM CARDS." Walk up to the booth, review the plans depending on how long you plan on traveling that country for (you will usually see a plan for 7 days to 30 days), choose one, and they will help you install your sim card into your phone. Sometimes, they even give you the "key," which looks like a thin paperclip to pop the sim card tray out and place your new international sim card in. I 100% recommend this option for a two simple reasons:
- It is going to be a-lot cheaper to buy that sim card than pay for your international phone plan
- The service is going to be 10x better.
This applies to eSIM cards as well, and in the future I will be switching to an eSIM for the speed and convenience of not having to stop at the airport as soon as I arrive.
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- The third option is well... risk it and find free wifi. Most places in the world offer free wifi. I think wifi is more important than water or air conditioning when seeking travel accommodations but, don't rely on that. You never know when you are going to be taking a bus ride in Thailand, and suddenly you get kicked off the bus because "your connecting bus is arriving shortly," and the next thing you know you are sitting on the side of the road in an old shack with no water, no internet, and no way of knowing when this "connecting bus" is arriving...true story folks.
Out of all of my tips, this is in my opinion the most important preparation task for solo traveling. We live in the 21st century guys, take advantage of these resources to mitigate peculiar and possibly dangerous situations that would not only ruin your trip but put you in danger. No bene. As the goat from Hoodwinked would say,"Be prepared, be prepared."
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5.) Be Alert & Mindful of Your Surroundings.
You are bound to get a little bit lost in the sauce of traveling, especially in beautiful places that I know will be visually stimulating and emotionally overwhelming BUT you still need to be your own travel companion, your own best friend, and watch your back. Always be mindful of your environment, surroundings, the people you are mingling with, and watch your drinks... seriously watch your drinks. When I was first traveling overseas as a solo female, it was recommended to me to only drink beer out of bottles instead of cocktails. Which makes sense, it's a lot harder to spike my drink in a narrow glass bottle than a plastic bucket filled to the rim with rum.
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6.) Learn a Few Phrases in the Local Language.
Ciao (Italian). Bonjour (French). Bok (Croatian). Hola (Spanish). Sawadee Ka (Thai). Hello... you get the picture. Learn a few new words in the local language of the country you are exploring! Especially if you are going to a place where the language barrier is thicker than my thighs.
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Not because you are so above us and need to flex your linguistic abilities. It will simply make you feel more connected to the experience, assist your travel concerns and questions, and will be a nice indirect way of showing the locals you respect their country and their native tongue.
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When I first moved to Italy, I made an effort to learn how to order a cappuccino and a meal in Italian. I knew I was going to be asking this question everyday and at times, I would be dining at restaurants or cafes where English wasn't on the menu (side note; no English, better food and prices in Italy).
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It is not everyone's job to speak your native language, and if you are a native English speaker than lucky for you, that is conveniently the language of travel. But, be courteous and open your mind to foreign languages. Knowing a few common phrases in the local language can help you communicate better, navigate more easily, and connect with new people who may end up having lasting impacts on your travels, stories, and overall experiences.
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7.) Secure Your Belongings and Documents (in other words, Watch Your Shit).
This seems pretty obvious, but it's still really important to highlight. The second you are feeling a little too relaxed about your personal belongings, is the exact moment that you might lose or misplace your gear and important documents.
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Buy a lock (which will be very handy as most hostels and share accommodations provide lockers to store your belongings). Hostels typically sell or rent locks for a small fee, but consider buying yourself a nice lock to have for future adventures and safety.
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Use locks, lockers, or security devices such as air tags to protect your luggage and valuables. Travel wallets and pockets with zippers are other great accessories to cary and secure your things. You don't need to buy everything I'm suggesting, but have a lock at the very least. Just don't have your valuable things just hanging around loose pockets or in your hands or poorly zipped backpacks. Don't be the easy target and you'll be fine.
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When I was living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I was doing work exchange in a hostel. The hostel was on the very busy, popular, and somewhat sketchy street in Saigon named, "Bui Vien." Bui Vien is famous amongst tourists and locals for bars, clubs, and for being a place where you can easily lose your things, and by lose, I mean getting robbed at any time, day or night.
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Personally, I never had anything stolen or lost while living there, but almost everyday I would have new backpackers arrive in complete dismay as their phones or worst passports had been stolen in broad daylight right outside the steps to the hostel doors. I'll never forget the two french backpackers who were 5 feet away from the hostel's front porch, passports in hand, preparing to do their booking check-ins, and before they could bat their eyes, someone on a motor scooter zoomed by at high speeds. The scooterist ripped the passports out of their hands and was never to be seen again.
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Now, Don't let this scare you from being in more rouge areas, but know where your shit is at all times. Make sure it's secure and in a safe place. Double check zippers, pockets and ATTENZIONE PICKPOCKETS!
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8.) Trust Your Gut, for the Good and the Bad, and be Open-Minded
If something seems too good to be true or doesn't sit right in your stomach, trust it. I have ignored these signs before, and ended up in the middle of the jungle in Thailand, stranded, with no idea where I am and little clue what to do.
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If a situation or a person feels unsafe, trust your gut and remove yourself from the situation as quickly and calmly as possible. My incident getting dropped off in the jungle could have been avoided, if I trusted my gut. On the other hand, trust your gut when you are meeting new people but be openminded to different cultures and perspectives. Don't be afraid to make new friends or interact with people from different countries, especially solo travelers. Stereotypes are not accurate, and your new best friend could be traveling along side with you, but you have to start it off with a simple, hello.
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9.) Stay Updated on the Local News and Holidays.
While you are on holiday, the world is still moving and grooving, regardless of your vacation or long term country hopping goals. Make sure you have a way to stay connected to the local news in the different places you are visiting and public holidays occurring as well.
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Public Holidays and national emergencies can halt your travels in different ways, especially if you are travel during random times and off seasons throughout the year. When I was doing work exchange in Melbourne, Australia, I was incredibly surprised to learn that Australia takes a public holiday for the Queen's Birthday, as in Queen Elizabeth of England, and I had work off the next day. Another time, while I was traveling Thailand, I went to buy a beer to cool off from the unforgiving Southeast Asian sun and was surprised to see the fridge, that held all the beers, had a giant gate covering it. I asked what was happening, and I learned that day was a Buddhist holiday, meaning no alcohol sales were allowed out of respect of the Buddha. This is a pretty minor inconvenience interrupting my mid-afternoon beer, but imagine if you were in London, England when Queen Elizabeth passed away... and you didn't know. The sheer chaos you would be wondering into because you didn't check the local news or a local social media feed that day.
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Another note on holidays, check and see if there are any holidays with festivities or festivals happening. I arrived to Vietnam in early February of 2019, and my travel companion and I were very confused to see the city covered in Chinese new year decor. We thought it was cute and charming, but a little confused why it looked like Christmas time the way the city was adorned in decorations and giant golden pigs holding signs that said,"Happy New Year." We were so clueless and quickly informed that the Vietnamese, celebrate the own variation of the Chinese New Year called "Tết," in Vietnamese.
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The Vietnamese New Year. Turns out Tết is a very big deal in Vietnam (go figure), and by big deal I mean the whole country shuts down for 2 to 3 weeks. Which means any plans, restaurants, cafes, or tourist attractions my friend and I had been dying to explore for months, are fucking closed for the coming weeks.
The Vietnamese New Year. Turns out Tết is a very big deal in Vietnam (go figure), and by big deal I mean the whole country shuts down for 2 to 3 weeks. Which means any plans, restaurants, cafes, or tourist attractions my friend and I had been dying to explore for months, are fucking closed for the coming weeks.
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Now if we were more informed prepared backpackers, this information probably would have influenced our travel plans or at least been welcoming information we would have appreciated before getting off the plane. Lesson learned? Yes. Remember these countries don't actually care about your travel plans, just your wallets. You want to travel like a local? Then stay updated and informed like a local.
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10.) Stay in Places Where Other Solo Travelers are Staying, like Hostels.
Feeling lonely? That's expected, but you don't need to feel alone. Go stay in a backpacking hostel. Remember when you were a younger, and you would go to sleep away camps for the summer or watch movies about kids who would spend summer break in cabins filled with bunkbeds and strange new friends from all over the country? Making memories, sharing experiences, and getting into all kinds of trouble? Okay hostels are like that BUT everyone is an adult, with real adult money, and looking for a good time but not a long time. I have done work exchange in hostels around the world from Vietnam to Thailand, to more recently Croatia. While traveling overseas, I have often stayed in hostels because they are often more affordable, have really fun interior aesthetics, and are designed for travelers and backpackers to meet while on the road. Hostels also usually have bars on site. Which is great if you are feeling shy and socially anxious, and need a little liquid courage in a safe place to muster up that first greeting.
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Stay in hostels. To this day, I still keep in touch with at least 30 different people from around the world whom I met in various hostels. Friends for life. Fun romantic fact? I met my husband while I was working in a hostel in Croatia. You never know who you are going to meet!
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Stay in hostels. To this day, I still keep in touch with at least 30 different people from around the world whom I met in various hostels. Friends for life. Fun romantic fact? I met my husband while I was working in a hostel in Croatia. You never know who you are going to meet!
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HOT TIP: When you are looking for hostels online, you will probably find yourself browsing through several popular hostel search engines like Hostelworld for example. These are great tools to FIND the hostels while comparing prices, locations, and overall ratings. But if you want to save a few extra bucks, look for the hostel's website and book directly with them. It will cost you less money, (remember hostels have to pay those search engines) and you will support a local small business directly!
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11.) Act like a Local, Take Public Transportation, and Always Take Trains.
Look, in my opinion, there is no shame in booking a taxi or an Uber as soon as you arrive to your new travel destination, especially if you are tired, discombobulated, and you no longer have the desire to carry your oversized luggage anymore. However, if you are looking to be extra brave and save some extra money, look into public transportation options, like metros and trains. Most international airports around the world have trains or subway stations that will take you from the airport, directly into the main city center. In Singapore, they have a gorgeous high speed train that drops you off in downtown Singapore from the arrival terminal at the international airport.
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Other cities may offer a shuttle or bus that will take you into town, such as in Melbourne Australia. In Melbourne, there is a SkyBus Express, that runs every ten minutes. This bus drops off all over the CBD of Melbourne and is very cheap compared to a ride share or taxi into the city.
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Familiarize yourself with the local transportation options, such as buses, trains, or taxis, or trams to get around affordably before arriving and immediately burning a hole in your wallet. Knowing the different rates and forms of transportation available will also make you feel less anxious and confused when you arrive to a new place. You can either spend the time or spend the money. Sometimes it's better to do one or another, just know your options, and do what's best for your travel needs.
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If you are traveling around Europe, especially in Italy, taking the train is a quintessential form of transportation by the Europeans and for good reason. It's convenient, affordable, comfortable, and the most spectacular way to see any country, especially the back country of Tuscany (mamma mia). Keep in mind, the trains are not perfect, and some countries have giant inside jokes on how late the trains arrive *cough, cough* Italy.
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Quick tip, because Italy is know to have very tardy trains, I use the app Trainline to not only buy my tickets but to track the trains in real time. There are two benefits to this:
- When you buy your train tickets for Italy on Trainline, you don't need to manually validate your ticket before entering the train. If you buy a physical train ticket at the train station and need to physically validate your ticket before boarding. If you forget to do this, and the train patrol comes to check your ticket, you may be facing a fine and even asked to get off at the next stop (yikes). But with Trainline, my tickets are immediately validated and even sent to me as a digital ticket for ease and convience when showing my ticket to the train patrol.
- Trainline is also a great app when searching for trains, comparing prices, and being updated on your train's arrival. Italy is unfortunately notorious for having late trains, I've heard tales of the train being over 300 minutes delayed before, but what's great about platforms like Trainline, I can track the train's status in real time! Which is great, especially if I am running late or craving another cappuccino before hitting the road. Trainline makes me feel like a real local when traveling in Italy, even when I could barely say "grazie!"
Take the metro in Paris, order a Grab scooter in Vietnam, and ride the infamously late trains in Italy. It will enrich your experience, save your money at times and you can't miss those views.
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12.) Travel Insurance, Embassy, and Emergencies
Get yourself some travel insurance, for the love of God, please do. I have been lucky (so far), and have not been severely ill or injured to the point of requiring emergency assistance in foreign countries where I don't speak the local language (I did have one visit to the emergency room in Italy, but they have free health care for emergencies, so it worked out for me). However, if something goes wrong, it's not good to have no coverage or no plan on how to deal with such unexpected accident that may end up costing you a lot of money.
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I have been traveling with friends in the past, who have been involved in such accidents (cough "scooter crashes" cough cough), and it's an even bigger party foul seeing the bills for uninsured medical treatment while overseas. Luckily, there are heaps of different kinds of plans and places online to find all kinds of travel insurance packages to cover your specific needs.
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EKTA travel insurance is a great service to look at and it's of particular interest to me because EKTA meets the requirement for obtaining a Schengen visa and other visas (some visas require proof of insurance coverage before accepting your application). EKTA has covered my international escapades perfectly but you may want something stronger or different depending on what you plan on doing! Just have a plan, don't make a potential future situation more stressful by not knowing what to do.
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HOT TIP: At least know what the national emergency number is in the country are in (but you can also always just search it on the internet at a moments notice). Fun fact in Italy, if you dial 911 to will direct your call 118, which is the emergency hotline number.
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13.) Have Fucking Fun, Enjoy Your Journey!
Look, the whole point one goes on a solo adventure around the world should be to have fun. Have fucking fun. Seek fun. Be open to fun. Enjoy your adventure. Take in the lows and breathe in the new highs. Ask questions. Don't be scared about not knowing the answers either. Be humble. The first time I traveled alone at 20 years old, I felt like Thailand cracked the righteous whip of truth onto me, my ego, my pride, my perspectives, and changed me for the absolute better.
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It's going to suck some days, and other days you will overwhelmed with joy and happiness to be experiencing moments, first hand, you only thought existed in your dreams or on travel influencer instagram feeds. Have fun. Be Smart. Take care. And good luck. Or as the Italians would say, "in bocca al lupo."
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This is the Italians way of saying, "good luck," but it actually translates, "into the mouth of the wolf," meaning I hope you survive the battle in the mouth of the wolf (I'm not kidding). When you hear this saying you respond with, "crepi il lupo!" which means "may the wolf die!" So as you embark on your first solo backpacking journey, I hope you remember these tips, stay open to the adventure, and kill that fucking wolf.
Cheers,
Ally from Cali
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