1. Hide your money in multiple spots. If you want, you can buy a money belt that you can wear under your clothes, tuck some bills in your bra or a tight sock, leave some money and credit cards in the safe at your accommodation. On the beach, store your cash and cards in a waterproof plastic container that you hang around your neck.
2. Make photocopies of your bank and credit cards and passport and keep them in a safe place, separate from the originals. In case of theft, you’ll have all the information you need to get replacements.
3. Carry enough cash. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are great for giving you the cash you need in the proper currency, BUT they do break down sometimes. So don’t wait until you’re broke to withdraw. You may want to inform your bank before you leave that you’ll be withdrawing from abroad, and perhaps even increase your weekly withdrawal limit. Take a major credit card so you can borrow cash if necessary.
4. Leave your jewelry and other valuables at home and hide your camera in a purse when you’re not using it.
5. Limit your luggage to one small suitcase and a backpack. That’s all you’ll want to carry.
6. Carry an emergency kit and more than enough prescription drugs to last your trip.
Accommodation
Since most hotels charge by the room and not per person, solo travellers pay more in accommodation than those traveling with companions. But here are some ways to save money.
7. Consult a travel agent to find accommodation. Then book at least your first night ahead of time at a recommended hotel. The next day you can go out and look for cheaper local accommodation, the ones that aren’t listed with foreign travel agents.
8. Avoid commercial web-based third-party hotel booking agencies. If there are any problems, both parties (the hotel and the booking agency) will try to pass the buck. (I learned this the hard way.) Try to book directly with the hotel.
9. Find out what the cancellation fee is. Make sure there’s an affordable way out of your booking. Get it in writing.
Finding your way & Transportation
10. Learn as much as you can about your solo travel destination (starting on this web site is a good first step!). Choose a wide variety of sources. Photocopy material and stick it in a duo tang. If you need to look up some information on the street, a duo tang doesn’t shout “TOURIST” the way a travel guide does.
11. Plan ahead and cluster activities by neighborhood to save travel time and energy. Balance the day with active and non-strenuous activities.
12. Get a detailed street map. Split the map up into sections and photocopy the sections you plan to visit each day. On a street corner, it’s easier to consult a small map than it is to unfold a large unwieldy one—and less conspicuous.
13. Double-check your information. Public transit can be especially tricky. What time do the buses run? Ask several people for directions and you may get several answers! Call or check the website of the transit company.
14. If your spoken English is a bit rusty, you can overcome language barriers by carrying a picture or brochure of the day’s destination with you. That way people can recognize the place and point you in the right direction. If you have no picture and can’t draw, write the name and address down, so you won’t have to worry about mispronunciation. That's what I do when I'm travelling abroad.
15. Ask about local holidays that can affect bus schedules, hours of opening for attractions, etc.
16. Join a local guided day tour (usually by bus) if you prefer to leave the transportation issues to someone else. Join a hiking day trip in one of the conservation areas. A little socializing can provide a nice break from solo travel and give you some indepth insight into the place.
17. Expect some glitches. Travel has taught me how to accept the limits of my control – sometimes even gracefully!
Solo dining
For many of us, dining solo in public is uncomfortable, but there are ways to enjoy the experience.
18. Invite an author to dinner. Use the time to read some local literature or history, a local newspaper, or your travel guide. Plan your next day. Write in your travel log or journal. Write out postcards or letters to those at home. Digest the experiences of the day.
19. Find a room with a view. Contemplate a lakefront view or a lively street scene while you eat.
Enjoy Solo Travel!
20. Please yourself. Tailor your activities to your own interests. Spend three days in that museum if you wish, instead of the ridiculous 90 minutes that some tour groups allot.
21. Treasure your freedom and flexibility. Remember: You’re not on a tour group schedule. If it’s raining, skip the zoo, and visit the museum instead.
And most of all, Have Fun!
