Traveling Solo: How to Plan

Certain activities just don’t feel right to do alone. It varies person to person. A few years ago, friends and I had a conversation about what we would be comfortable doing alone. Whether it’s a movie at the theatre, a sporting event or traveling, it’s a way to push your personal boundaries. Where to begin.

Business travel is one method. Work related travel can be lonely. It can be a bore. At least by doing so, one is acclimated to the rigors of being a traveling army of one. No one to split that gargantuan meal. Mini fridges are your friend on the road. Taking turns hauling the suitcases down to the curb, maybe that’s assigned to you regardless, nothing added to the win column on that one, or your companion handles all the itineraries, now another task. Alright, so being the adult more often than you want is a fair criticism. That’s about as rough as it gets.

However labor is divided, when traveling solo, now it’s all up to you. The upside, no one is going to complain, you decided to spend half a day in a museum or a couple hours meandering through an interesting bookshop. No one is going to blast angry emoji texts about it. There are benefits to traveling alone.

Now, how to plan. Depending on how long and where you are going, there are numerous travel bloggers covering planning, packing, and on the road helpful hints, here are a few (no endorsement, just a quick list of popular travel writers):

https://www.thesoloist.travel/solo-travel-blog/solo-travel-packing-hacks

https://www.worldpackers.com/articles/traveling-alone-for-the-first-time

https://www.girlabouttheglobe.com/solo-travel-essentials/

A common packing tip you will read, pack light. The less you have, the better mobility you will have. A luggage set is a modern-day equivalent to a solo traveler’s ball and chain. It adds additional planning, where to leave your belongings while you are in between cities, for instance on a layover. There are many options, for example knowing in advance if the airport you are transferring through has luggage lockers, storage by the airline, or other solutions. Try an airport information kiosk for solutions. I have learned useful tips from the airport concierge. You are traveling solo, you’re not on an island, unless you’re really are on an island, then it’s meant rhetorically.

Getting to the airport, train station, or other port of departure. Flight, train, cruise, every trip begins with getting from your home to the port. There are numerous options:

· Phone a friend, maybe a promise of a cool trinket or cold hard cash will persuade a “volunteer”

· Taxi, rideshare — both are suitable options, no waiting around for your former college drinking buddy

· Private car service. Some locales call these, “black car service”. Easily found by an online search. A middle option between a ride share and a limousine

· Public transportation. When all else fails, the local transit authority can get you from A to B, beforehand, check the schedule, not every day is the same schedule, particularly if you are traveling outbound on a weekend

Now you have arrived at your destination, transportation can be a tricky one. For those who are concerned about a fair fare, or their safety, checking the destination airport website transportation page, for example:

https://www.flylax.com/lax-traffic-and-ground-transportation

Some arrivals create heightened levels of stress because it’s your first time at this airport. Who knows what shuttle to take. Is it the “A” bus or the “C” bus? A safe option is selecting a hotel that offers a free shuttle service door to door. If you are staying a distance from the airport and choose to rent a car, most rental agencies have a shuttle, many airports have a rental car center, one shuttle for all rental agencies. Saving time and energy on what to do when you arrive, know these details before you walk out curbside and stand ill prepared for what’s next.

If sharing is caring, then knowing is going.

Forward, to the next step toward your awesome solo adventure. How to know which hotels have shuttles? When booking your hotel, the amenities section often includes detail about transportation to their property.

A question heard often, “how do you meet people?” The road can be lonely. It will absolutely stretch your comfort zone. Simple advice, make yourself available. Meaning, make eye contact, ask a question. Not all people are eager to be chatty, as a safety measure, start in well-lit, open spaces with lots of people about, it will make a potentially awkward encounter easier to move past. You could say something like, “sorry, I thought you were my barber’s cousin, my bad”. Or something that defuses the conversation to nowhere. A couple ice breakers:

“What is that you are reading?”

“Have you been here before?”

Thousands more questions could be asked. A rule of thumb, what to ask is a leading question. One that is not a “yes/no” or too private. That too could be off-putting to a new acquaintance.

What will you have in common? To start, you are both in the same place at the same time. That is one. Maybe they are wearing a hat of a sports team you like, holding a book you read recently. One question could lead to a friendly exchange. At times a short conversation will turn into adventure buddies around the vacation location.

That brings us to the last stage of planning, now that your checked in, bags unpacked, and a deep calming breath. What now? A good first activity is walk around the neighborhood where are staying. How many times, feeling rushed to get out there and immerse in the new city, an hour later, you’re ready to go back to your hotel and relax, and you forgot how to get back to your hotel. Not fun. Three ideas. Before you leave:

· text or email yourself the address where you are staying, you can map it later.

· using your map program on your smartphone, pin your hotel location.

· A third and smart contingency, write down the street address. Good old pen and paper. It won’t lose a charge; it won’t require a signal. And it doesn’t need to have your name or any other identifying information should the slip of paper get lost.

Now that you are ready to try the liberating solo travel experience, where are you going?

*****

Thank you for indulging my writings.

I write about three topics: music, tourism, and sustainability.

By profession, I am a: Travel Designer. My goal is creating for you: a vacation, holiday, road trip or travels as epic as possible.

Open to collaborate!

My personal website, find me @ https://uxfol.io/joshblackprofessional