A Guide to Solo Travel II
I just did a solo trip to Hawaii and honestly it was amazing! I love to travel solo because I don’t have to worry about anyone else and can literally do whatever I want! It is also so refreshing to just be alone and enjoy your own company. I promise it is so therapeutic. Solo travel could be a little nerve-wrecking and I know for women there is always a concern with safety while traveling but I am here to give some tips to the solo travelers to have a fun, safe, and smooth solo travel trip!
Tip number 1:
Don’t let anyone know you are alone! When booking an Airbnb or hotel for a solo trip, always put for 2. Just as a safety precaution don’t let anyone else know you are alone.
Tip number 2:
It is important when solo traveling to plan out before, map out the places you wanna go. Have an itinerary, even if you don’t follow it all the way. It is good to have ideas of what you want to do or where you want to go so you do not waste time figuring that out there. I hate wasting time on vacation lol so I made an itinerary prior, even though I didn’t follow it all the way.
Tip number 3:
Make reservations (for restaurants, etc) in advance! Yelp has easy booking online for most restaurants that take reservations and it is a good idea to make reservations prior to ensure you’ll get a seat, or ticket. I was able to get into a couple restaurants without reservations, or I opted to sit at the bar.
*If you can’t get a table for one at a busy restaurant, ask if the bar serves the full menu and opt to sit at the bar instead. It is usually no wait!
Tip number 4:
Be discrete! Do not post your flight information on social media! I think it’s even smart not to post what day you are traveling. Resist posting that flight picture on IG. I read somewhere that someone posted their flight info on social media and someone called the airline and cancelled their flight! Do not tell random people where you are staying!
Also, be weary about using geo-tags on social media while solo traveling. Geo-tags are an easy way to access you and sometimes even allows people to pin-point exactly where you are at. An example of a Geo-tag would be the ‘location’ widget on IG.
Tip number 5:
Share your location w/ at least 3 people you trust! Text someone to let them know where you are going to be going, send them your itinerary in advance, just so someone else has a general idea of where you will be, and what you had planned, or where they can find you in case of an emergency. I would text my mom and let her know what my plans were and where I was headed that day.
Tip number 6:
Give out a fake name and don’t tell people where you are from! I know this may sound a bit extreme, but no one needs all the info on you! I usually give a fake name and tell everyone I live somewhere else, even when I am calling in a food order. The less personal info people know about you, the better!
Do not be afraid to do a solo trip! It is a great way to explore, to step out of your comfort zone, and to have a personal retreat. I swear it is such a nice experience and I wish everyone could enjoy their own solitude. Hawaii was the perfect place for me to travel by myself because it is paradise and it is a very different vibe. The vibe there is a lot more laid back and people don’t seem to be in a rush, they are just enjoying life. When you are there you are literally moving on island time, it is 3 hours behind California. The people there are so nice, welcoming, and genuine. Being there made me do some self reflection and even check myself at times, to remember to be patient and not to be in such a rush. I definitely will be back!
XX - JTui
