10 Best Practices for the Solo Traveler

Solotraveltips

Lifelong traveler and former diplomat and foreign correspondent Leyla Giray Alyanak helps women travel smart, safe and solo by sharing her own experiences on WomenOnTheRoad.com. Here are her tips for first-time solo travelers.

Related: I Quit My High-Paying Job, Lived Out of a Backpack for 6 Months, and Now I Couldn’t Be Happier

1. Do your research.

Knowing about your destination is your best travel investment.

2. Make a plan.

But be prepared to throw it away when a better alternative comes along.

3. Share your travel itinerary.

Leave all your contact addresses with a trusted friend or relative at home.

4. Dare to do things differently.

Take advantage of being on your own.

5. Leave fear at home.

Solo travel is no more or no less dangerous than any other kind of travel.

6. Beware of over-packing.

Remember, you’ll be carrying it all yourself.

7. Meet locals.

Ask about their favorite dishes and trust them.

8. Look confident and use common sense.

No need to tell the world you’re traveling solo.

9. Trust your instincts.

If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right.

10. Be open to new experiences.

That’s why you travel, after all.

Related: The Real Reason Traveling Makes You Happy

 

This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.

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Alison Miller is a North Carolina–based freelance writer whose work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Southwest: The Magazine, The Local Palate, Our State, Southern Living and others. Contact her at alisonlynmiller.com.

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