How Ane Query My Solo Go Destinations
Posted: 1/2/2019 | Jan 2nd, 2019
Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo woman someone travel. It’s an of import topic I can’t adequately cover, therefore I brought inwards an practiced to part her advice for other women travelers to assist encompass the topics of import in addition to specific to them! In this month’s article, she shows y'all how she researches in addition to plans her trips!
What’s the best agency to become almost researching your adjacent trip when all of the decisions volition autumn to you equally a solo traveler? Where should y'all go, what should y'all do, how volition y'all navigate inwards your novel surroundings? Where do y'all fifty-fifty start out to acquire answers to these questions?
Over the past times half dozen years, I’ve been mostly nomadic, traveling solo for the volume of that time. Since I’ve been master copy decision-maker for all of those trips, at that topographic point are tricks I’ve learned along the agency to assist me salve fourth dimension inwards the long run, avoid spending likewise much in addition to getting scammed, in addition to construct certainly I know my agency closed to earlier I fifty-fifty behave on down.
The next is a step-by-step organization to assist y'all inquiry your go destinations. Most of these tips only accept a few minutes but could salve y'all big-time inwards terms of money, headaches, in addition to confusion.
Ready to conception the solo trip of a lifetime? Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
- Initial online research
- Is the finish goodness for solo travelers?
- What is the visa situation?
- What is at that topographic point to do there?
- Downloading offline maps
- Booking the hotel
- Research the best agency to acquire to the hotel
- Research scams in addition to dangers
- SIM cards
- See if y'all already know anyone there
1. Initial online research
I acquire a lot of my ideas from Instagram. I mostly follow go accounts, in addition to when I view a house that looks peculiarly beautiful, I exercise Instagram’s bookmark characteristic in addition to seat it inwards an album. I receive got i for Japan, i for New Zealand, in addition to therefore on. When create upwards one's heed to go to i of those destinations, I expect dorsum through my albums in addition to consider if my budget, the fourth dimension of year, in addition to the activities I wish to do at that topographic point are all inwards alignment. (I advise taking a expect at Pinterest boards for those destinations equally well.)
Chances are y'all already receive got a few destinations inwards heed in addition to y'all but wish to construct certainly that they volition piece of occupation for you. Evaluate the cost of traveling, mean value almost the flavor it volition hold upwards there, in addition to construct a determination based on those factors.
If you’re really non certainly where to start, I receive got a listing of some of the best countries for solo woman someone travelers.
(I also accept to catch word-of-mouth suggestions. It’s what led me to Mozambique in addition to Patagonia. If someone I know has really loved a place, in addition to then I add together it to the top of my list.)
2. Is the finish goodness for solo travelers?
After half dozen years of solo traveling, I’ve learned that the next criteria are almost guaranteed to arrive at a more social experience for solo travelers:
- A well-known activity/draw: Is at that topographic point a argue why people come upwards to this place? Is it famous for surfing, stone climbing, scuba diving, or something else? When this is the case, y'all are much to a greater extent than probable to uncovering other solo travelers participating inwards that experience.
- A festival: If there’s some form of cultural final result or festival at the fourth dimension you’re visiting, y'all tin send away bet that a lot of other travelers volition hold upwards coming through equally well, therefore y'all are unlikely to hold upwards lonely.
- Popularity: While I love off-the-beaten-path travel, I also know that the further away from tourist centers I head, the to a greater extent than probable it is that I volition pass to a greater extent than fourth dimension alone. If I know I wish to receive got a to a greater extent than social trip, I volition caput to places that are popular, similar Thailand or Iceland. If you’re non certainly where to start, this listing has the most visited places inwards 2018.
Next, I travail to mitigate the possibility of beingness the only solo traveler at that topographic point past times researching whether I’m almost to caput to a honeymoon finish or hotel. That said, I had fantastic experiences inwards Maui in addition to Bali, which are ordinarily thought of equally couples’ destinations. I believe that equally long equally y'all pick a social action that attracts other solo travelers, similar surfing or scuba diving, y'all won’t experience similar the strange i out.
So if y'all wish to become somewhere beachy, don’t dominion it out automatically but because you’re afraid you’ll hold upwards the only unmarried someone there. Unless you’re going to a really tiny place, chances are at that topographic point are parts of whatever Earth or isle you’re looking at that volition hold upwards less “romantic” in addition to to a greater extent than social.
The only house I tin send away mean value of off the top of my caput that powerfulness really hold upwards primarily couples-only is the Maldives, in addition to fifty-fifty in addition to then y'all tin send away all the same caput to other islands, or to surf resorts, or do a live-aboard dive experience, therefore that your trip volition hold upwards less lounging on the beach in addition to to a greater extent than almost coming together people.
3. What is the visa situation?
Visas are the adjacent affair I wish to know almost earlier I acquire likewise far into planning. Do I demand a visa to see this country? Is that something I demand to apply for ahead of time? What does it cost?
Wouldn’t it hold upwards annoying to conception a trip to Bharat or China only to realize y'all can’t acquire the visa inwards time? Wouldn’t it hold upwards meliorate to acquire a longer visa ahead of time, similar for Thailand or Indonesia, instead of having to do visa runs, which are required inwards many countries to extend a typical 30-day tourist visa, if y'all conception a longer trip?
I do visa inquiry on Google in addition to the US Department of State website and/or the unusual diplomatic mission website, in addition to encourage y'all to do the same for your finish to view what the visa requirements are for you.
4. What is at that topographic point to do there?
Now it’s fourth dimension to figure out what I wish to do there. In some cases, I already know, because I picked the house based on its goodness diving or cracking hiking. But inwards some cases, I really receive got no idea, other than it fits my budget, it’s the correct fourth dimension of year, or I but wish to become somewhere warm.
For example, I late wanted to know what the best things to do inwards Tokyo were. So I but typed that exact enquiry into Google, constitute some appealing options, in addition to saved places inwards Google Maps amongst “want to go” flags for later.
(In some cases, there’s non a lot of data online. That’s when y'all know you’ve constitute a truthful adventure, someplace at that topographic point volition non hold upwards that many other tourists. I love this form of trip too, but y'all may receive got to construct peace amongst the fact that y'all volition hold upwards doing a lot of recon on the ground. This is the bespeak at which I encourage y'all to enquire yourself what your tolerance is for doubtfulness in addition to whether or non that’s what y'all wish out of your trip.)
5. Downloading offline maps
Now that I receive got seat markers into Google Maps for the places I wish to go, I construct certainly that I tin send away access these without an Internet connection, but inwards case. I ordinarily salve Google maps offline; if I’m going to hold upwards hiking, I really similar maps.me offline maps equally well. It’s cracking to receive got both d0wnl0aded spell y'all are all the same at domicile in addition to receive got a rigid cyberspace connection, therefore that y'all know they’ll hold upwards accessible when y'all arrive.
6. Booking the hotel
When it comes to accommodation, I almost ever exercise either booking.com or Airbnb. I type inwards my finish in addition to and then I become direct to the map function. Which house has the best reviews at the best cost in addition to is going to hold upwards closest to the things I’m interested inwards seeing or doing? Or if I know I volition hold upwards at that topographic point only for a brusk spell in addition to volition wing or accept the develop thereafter, which lodging is going to hold upwards the most convenient to grab that flying or train?
Generally, hostels volition hold upwards to a greater extent than social than hotels, followed past times Airbnb, unless y'all remain amongst a host who wants to demo y'all around, which I wouldn’t count on. That said, y'all tin send away expect to couchsurfing if y'all wish to hold upwards able to hang amongst your host – but read the reviews thoroughly get-go in addition to hold upwards inwards total communication to construct certainly it’s a comfortable situation.
It also depends what component division of the Earth you’re in. Bed-and-breakfasts powerfulness hold upwards quite social inwards South America, but a lot less therefore inwards Europe. I almost ever read reviews to assist me construct my terminal decision.
I also don’t pressure level myself to volume a house for my entire stay. I wish to hold upwards able to alter my mind. Unless it’s high flavor (you tin send away Google this too, but to a greater extent than frequently than non high flavor is when the conditions is best) or there’s a vacation that I know is going to construct it difficult for me to move, I volition but volume a few days in addition to and then create upwards one's heed to displace on or stay.
7. Research the best agency to acquire to the hotel
Next I weigh my shipping options. Does the Earth I’m going to receive got Uber? Is it meliorate to accept the train? Is at that topographic point an aerodrome hotel shuttle, or charabanc from the aerodrome to my hotel? In many cases, the hotel volition render this data inwards their correspondence amongst y'all or on their website. If it’s non listed, experience gratuitous to contact them in addition to ask.
I also uncovering TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet Thorntree, in addition to Nomadic Matt’s forums are helpful because people are ever bespeak this exact same question.
8. Research scams in addition to dangers
Unfortunately, airports are the epicenter of tourist scams inwards many countries. The Denpasar aerodrome inwards Bali, Indonesia, is i of the worst. In society to go out without getting scammed, y'all would demand to know that the SIM carte du jour they are selling is marked upwards almost 10 times what it would hold upwards in i lawsuit y'all leave of absence the airport. You would also demand to know that they do the same affair amongst taxi prices. (As a full general rule, acquire the names of reputable companies earlier y'all go, never acquire inwards an unmarked taxi, in addition to ever know what the cost of your ride should hold upwards earlier y'all acquire in. Google volition assist y'all amongst all of this.) And y'all would demand to hold upwards aware that y'all tin send away volume an Uber for much cheaper if y'all come across the automobile at the departures grade in addition to ignore everyone who tries to enjoin y'all Uber “isn’t allowed” there.
When I wing into Bali, I but walk correct through the mayhem amongst my caput held high, because I receive got already done my research.
To acquire this info, I Google the aerodrome shout along amongst the give-and-take “scam” to view what other travelers receive got experienced, in addition to and then I know to hold upwards prepared when I acquire there. This removes therefore much stress when arriving inwards a novel country.
9. SIM cards
I also inquiry what a SIM carte du jour should cost, whether the aerodrome is a goodness house to acquire it or not, in addition to which fellowship is the best. Again, Google in addition to online forums are ordinarily pretty helpful amongst this information.
I ever go amongst an unlocked telephone therefore that I tin send away acquire local SIMs. They are the cheapest method for staying connected, sometimes but a few dollars per gigabyte, in addition to it simplifies getting to the hotel past times allowing me to volume an Uber immediately. Most of the time, it makes feel to purchase a SIM carte du jour at the aerodrome if y'all can, although sometimes, similar inwards the aforementioned instance of Bali, it’s much meliorate to hold back until y'all acquire to town. If y'all inquiry this beforehand, you’ll already know.
It’s worth mentioning that y'all cannot count on at that topographic point beingness reliable aerodrome Wi-Fi. So travail non to leave of absence your taxi or SIM carte du jour inquiry until you’ve already landed, because in addition to then it could hold upwards likewise late.
10. Final step: See if y'all already know anyone there
Finally, I sometimes post service on my personal Facebook page to view if I receive got whatever connections at my destination. In the instance of South Africa a few years ago, I met upwards amongst a friend of a friend, which was the impetus for i of the most friendly in addition to social traveling experiences I’ve had. You never know who y'all powerfulness know in addition to where.
You tin send away also expect into Couchsurfing, fifty-fifty if it’s but for a social final result rather than really staying amongst the person. There are also enough of Facebook groups these days for connecting amongst others. Some are regional, similar Backpacking Africa, or y'all tin send away bring together i specifically for solo woman someone travelers, similar the BMTM Solo Female Traveler Connect.
Though I didn’t ever know to do all of this inquiry prior to my trips, after a few blunders, I’m glad to receive got in conclusion learned what’s of import to know ahead of time. Though it powerfulness seem similar a lot of research, these tips tin send away assist y'all avoid overspending in addition to to receive got a to a greater extent than relaxed in addition to slowly trip.
What are some of your favorite ways to inquiry earlier y'all go solo?
Conquering Mountains: The Guide to Solo Female Travel
For a consummate A-to-Z guide on solo woman someone travel, banking concern check out Kristin’s novel book, Conquering Mountains. Besides discussing many of the practical tips of preparing in addition to planning your trip, the volume addresses the fears, safety, in addition to emotional concerns women receive got almost traveling alone. It features over 20 interviews amongst other woman someone go writers in addition to travelers. Click hither to larn to a greater extent than almost the volume in addition to start reading it today!
Kristin Addis is a solo woman someone go practiced who inspires women to go the Earth inwards an authentic in addition to adventurous way. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 onetime investment banker who sold all of her asset in addition to left California inwards 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the Earth for over 4 years, roofing every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost null she won’t travail in addition to almost nowhere she won’t explore. You tin send away uncovering to a greater extent than of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram in addition to Facebook.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips in addition to Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flying past times using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my 2 favorite search engines because they search websites in addition to airlines closed to the globe therefore y'all ever know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You tin send away volume your hostel amongst Hostelworld equally they receive got the largest inventory. If y'all wish to remain somewher eother than a hotel, exercise Booking.com equally they consistently render the cheapest rates for guesthouses in addition to inexpensive hotels. I exercise them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance volition protect y'all against illness, injury, theft, in addition to cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection inwards instance anything goes wrong. I never become on a trip without it equally I’ve had to exercise it many times inwards the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for x years. My favorite companies that offering the best service in addition to value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to salve coin with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to exercise when y'all travel! I listing all the ones I exercise to salve coin when I go – in addition to I mean value volition assist y'all too!
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