The hobby of traveling is one of the greatest hobbies an individual can acquire. It helps us to explore the world and its hidden treasures, and also provides a getaway from the monotony of daily life.
Yes, traveling in groups is fun but solo trips vibe on a different level. They are absolutely therapeutic and help to unwind from your daily hustle-bustle.
Solo trips let you explore a place, in your own unique way without any judgments. Yes, traveling independently can initially be overwhelming, but once you experience the fun of it, it’s addictive. You would want to go on more solo trips and soon it’ll turn into a hobby.
Solo traveling is fun but is actually very hard to plan. In a group, different members have different tasks and everything is done in a group. But here you have to do it all alone.
So, once you’re on the flight or train to the chosen place, here are some tips to make your travel memorable.
1. Try local foods instead of Michelin star restaurants
The local cuisines of a particular place reflect a lot on the culture. These foods are the ones that prove the uniqueness of a particular place, and say a lot about the place and its people.
Traveling solo means no one will be able to judge whatever you are doing on the trip, so eat to your heart’s content!
Get down onto the streets and explore the unique delicacies that the place provides you. This hits so much better than a “regular” Michelin star restaurant, with the same menu and the same kind of food. This will make your trip so much more interesting yet economical.
2. Choose homestays over hotels
When you are traveling solo, you get the opportunity to mix with the local people in a way that wouldn’t have been possible in a group. And a great way to do that is to look for homestays to stay in, rather than hotels.
Homestays are a kind of accommodation that helps you stay in a somewhat home setting away from the home.
These places are generally run by the locals, and let you observe the locals’ lifestyle much more closely. This will make you more familiar with them and their culture and can be of great help as you’re traveling solo. And if you love the place, you can get a timeshare and visit it every year. And if you don’t need it anymore, you can just send a letter to cancel timeshare.
3. Research the place beforehand
Unlike going through a travel agency, this time you have the liberty to plan out your whole tour. That means you get to choose where you want to stay, the places you want to visit, and so on.
So, before you make the calls, make sure to research the place you would be visiting. Learn about the famous attractions there, the activities you can do, the restaurants, hotels and so on.
Rather than coming unprepared, it’s better you at least have a map in your head, and try to navigate through it. And while on the trip, if you want to add another place, you’re free to make a detour!
4. Explore!
The best way to get familiar with a place is by exploring. While researching about the place before your travel, make sure to make a note of all the popular tourist spots. You can even try out the local marketplaces of the city or town – it will give you a taste of the culture.
For instance, if you’re in Adelaide, don’t forget to miss out on the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Adelaide Zoo which is home to around 2500 animals and 250 kinds of exotic and native mammals and birds; you can even check out the Adelaide Central Market and the Rundle Mall if you have a knack for shopping.
But for all of this to happen, you have to first come out of the hotel room and get on your two feet, and explore!
Over to you…
Solo trips are not just vacations, they are actually a sort of an escape from reality to many. In today’s busy life, people hardly get time for themselves, for their thoughts, their likes, dislikes, and so on.
But solo travels give you the time to be yourself and embrace your emotions. It is almost like meditation; it is truly filled with goodness and ecstasy.
So, taking such trips from time to time is crucial for an individual to function properly. Use the tips given above to make the trip even more memorable.
