Travel Tips Request
 

Hi all, I'm new to posting here, but have spent some time searching the threads for helpful tips. Most of what I've read are specific to a location or discuss how to avoid unwanted "romantic" attention. I was hoping to find more of the unusual tips that make solo travel easier for folks.

For example, I find that if I get maps of the locations I plan to go to, I can pretty much get the lay of the land before my trip, and when I'm there, I don't feel vulnerable standing on the street with a map in my hand.

Hi toedtoes,

I travel solo 95% of the time and I tend to memorize city map -- or at least have a good idea of where my B&B/hotel is, the names of some streets nearby and identify some landmarks. I usually plan my flight -- I'm from the tropical part of Asia -- so that I arrive at the destination with at least a couple of daylight hours to spare. That way, I can walk around and get some sun (to reset my body clock) and to orientate myself. At times, I will head off to the tourist info center first; it depends on my whereabout. In places where safety may be an issue -- eg downtown LA, near the Cuban areas in Miami etc -- I would actually draw a very simple map on a tiny piece of paper and refer to it instead of flipping open the map or travel guide. Look confident -- as if you know absolutely where you're going -- when you travel alone. When I sit down for lunch or coffee, I take the opportunity to look through my guide book and plan my next destination or to re-orientate myself. I usually get two guide books for any destination: one from Eyewitness DK (beautiful photos, great location map for walking around city/town, and one from Rough Guides (which has more info and maps). What else? Mmmm... play safe. I tend to do a lot of activities during daylight hours and go back to my hotel/B&B pretty early to rest my sore legs (I'm a walker/hiker). I'm not a bar-hopper; one good thing is that I'm allergic to both alcohol and smoke smell.

The best tip I can think of is always search out hostels, tour packages, etc. that attract other solo travelers. I hate being the odd man out when I travel solo.

Hi JB!

Your plan sounds a lot like me. I pick up maps of the places I go to, either through AAA, stores or online, and pretty much memorize the area. I'm also a planner. I plan out where I want to go and what I want to see months before I go anywhere. By doing this, I can write out driving directions for how to get to places so that I have a handy cheat sheet. I keep the maps with me so if I change my plans, I can write up new directions. I'm also a big walker/hiker, so once I'm in an area, I park the car and start out on foot. By studying the maps beforehand, I know the area pretty well and can maneuver quite nicely - even if I change my plans some.

For setting my clock, I either arrive in the early evening so I can go straight to sleep, or I arrive late morning and spend the day at a local park or nature area. It's a nice way to get into vacation mode and unstress before picking up the pace for sightseeing.

I agree on looking confident. It makes a huge difference. Head up, shoulders back and a smile on your face. I will use lunchtime to re-orient myself also. One place I found that is helpful is the post office - they know the area, and oftentimes they are eager to share suggestions on where to go and what to see.

Jorr,
That's definitely a good idea for those who want some companionship during their solo trek! I always try to do a few "touristy" tours during a vacation. I have yet to not find folks to enjoy a conversation with during one of these tours. My big rule for this is no matter how insecure, shy, etc. I feel, make the effort to smile and say hello. It can open the door for some great info. Ask your fellow tourists what they've seen - you may find something exciting that you didn't know about.

Hi Toedtoes,

I plan my vacation out as well but very flexible with it. Mostly I list places of interest which I would like to visit in a given day or period and that's it. Once I get to the destination, I'd see what works and what doesn't according to the weather, opening hours etc. On certain days, I just ignore the plan, sleep late, visit the market, lie down flat on the grass in a park or garden and read a book. For that reason I like to travel solo: I can do whatever I want whenever I want without having someone else telling me to do otherwise. Right now I'm planning a two-week vacation in Switzerland in October (after finishing with the business portion in Frankfurt) and I want it to be a very relaxed trip since this is my once-a-year getaway from work (I'm a freelancer and I love my work so much that my friends call me a workaholic! They don't understand that it doesn't seem like work to me ;-).

Oh, one travel advice which I have just posted on another thread: When you pack your luggage, don't pack along your cynicism or previous bad experience. Leave that behind if you can't make it disappear. Too often people had a bad experience while traveling somewhere and they tend to think that it will happen to them again... and again wherever they go. While it's fine to be vigilant, it's also equally important IMHO to trust in the basic kindness of strangers. Believe that everybody, given a chance, want to do good and be good. Smile, say 'Good morning' or 'Good day' in the local language to everybody and start the day happy... and feeling lucky to be alive and to be able to enjoy another great day.

That is great advice JB. I agree too often folks are disappointed in their travels - not because it was bad, but because they started out expecting it to be bad.

I plan down to the smallest details, but I will change it if I so choose. I also try to check operating hours, etc. of the sites I want to see before I go, that way I don't get there and find out it's closed. I tend to mix up my days - one day doing busy tourist activities, and the next a peaceful day in nature. I also like to find books that are about or set in the towns I visit - it makes the book come alive because you can see the places, and it can give you some nice insights and a historical perspective.

If you have a day when you feel the need to be part of a group, look for a day excursion or a local walking tour. London Walks is a great example of this. You will generally connect with other like minded folks and feel less isolated.

Don't give in to the urge to stay in your room at night and order room service. Everytime I've forced myself out, when I didn't really want to go out, I had an adventure.

Conduct yourself with a sense of purpose when you're walking around. You will find you are much more frequently taken for a local when you're traveling alone.

Great advice Catbert! I have a general rule NOT to order room service during my vacations. If I'm hungry, I have to go out and get food. Last year, I made an exception. I was very worn out and ordered delivery from a local place. I ordered the nachos, thinking it would be a nice light meal (salsa and cheese). Coming from California, "salsa" brings a certain taste to mind and it sounded just right. I got my delivery and jumped right in. In Ottawa, "salsa" meant "spaghetti sauce". Completely different taste than what I expected, but very good. I guess even room service can deliver new experiences!

I know some people are not as attached to their hotel room, but I always fix up my dresser with: fresh flowers, a few snacks, a bottle of wine or two, bottled water, local newspaper or magazines, etc.

I never force myself to go out in the evenings. My thought is that's one joy of traveling alone, you can do whatever you want. And if that's picnic dinner in my hotel room while watching really bad local TV, so be it!

Especially if I am not familiar with a city, I carry the business card from my hotel and make sure to have taxi fare, that way you will never be too far lost.

What a great idea Suze! Spend a day at a local marketplace shopping, add a bouquet of flowers to your bag and enjoy them for the rest of your trip. Makes the hotel room a little more homey and provides a nice sense of color to some pretty sterile looking places. I'm going to have to try that next trip.

I will always find space in my luggage for a pashmina or silk shawl. So I can wear black jeans with tank top and still look presentable in nice restaurant with a little help from my pashmina/shawl. It takes very little space, provides lots of comfort/warmth and some style ;-) And since I usually combine my business trip with vacation time, it is an essential item to me.

JB, that's a good idea. Just by adding one small article of clothing, you're prepared for anything. My trick is to refrain from bringing blue jeans. They are very comfortable, but they don't always dress up well. Instead, I bring twill pants in browns and olives. I also wear nice walking shoes (i.e., Cobbie Cuddlers) rather than tennies. They are nice and cushy, comfortable and don't stand out in a crowd.

Toedtoes, you are so engaging and kind, I have a feeling you're going to do GREAT traveling solo.

I know some people don't care to meet others on their travels. For me that's a big part of my journey. I think that being solo enables that more than being part of a group or couple. You will find your more approachable when you're alone, and less focused on a travel partner.

That said, some of my travel tips are about encouraging this kind of interface. The hardest thing for me to get used to was eating out alone. I found that if I bring a book, I tune out to the world around me and I become unapproachable. Bring a journal or a sketchbook solves that. They allow you to pause and look around. Also, eating at the bar might be a little more comfortable for a solo traveler (in places where this is done, of course). You can always chat with the bartender.

Thanks Catbert! It definitely gets easier to travel alone each time you go. I actually started out with very basic things:

1. Went to a play with a friend but didn't sit together. Found that when you're watching a show, you aren't talking, so it's not a big deal to sit apart. At intermission, you meet up and discuss the show so far.

2. Began going to movies alone. Again, you don't talk during the movie (or at least you shouldn't), so does it matter who is sitting next to you.

3. Take day trips to museums, galleries, etc. Start out with a local place that you can do in a couple hours, and then start stretching it out till it's a whole day.

4. This one's the biggie - eat alone. Get fast food and sit at a park, sit at a bar, etc. Just not at home and not in a car. Keep doing it. When you do 2 & 3, add a meal to the event.

5. Now go away overnight or for a weekend. Just one or two nights at a hotel on your own.

Once you've accomplished these things, you can travel alone.

I found that if I ask for a corner table in a restaurant, I can sit and watch the room, but don't feel everyone staring at me. Mostly because people aren't walking around my table for four with just me sitting there. It also lets me see what people are eating - which to me is what I miss most about eating alone, you don't hear about the quality of other dishes.

Great tips! Also, I find it much easier to travel to big cities alone. People go about their day to day lives in big cities and lots are alone.

As far as dining goes, I've been included in some amazing dinners and groups when I started out in the restaurant on my own. I know it's not for everyone but I just love meeting new people. I can have picnics in my room at home. I may never have another opportunity to have dinner in a restaurant in "........" (fill in the name of a foreign city).

That's true about the big cities - a solo person walking around, fits in very nicely.

I actually enjoy shopping in the small towns though. The clerks, etc. have more time and are usually more willing to talk to you. Lots of info can be gleamed from a small town shop keeper :)

I think these two are crucial in solo traveling: a self-deprecating sense of humor and the confidence to make eye contact.

If you can laugh at yourself, people will laugh with you or smile at you. I tend to chat with the waiter or waitress, and then subtly involve the other patrons sitting near my table -- unless of course they look like they want to be left alone. But if they look up and seem interested to hear the conversations between me and the waiter/waitress, then they are open to chatting and exchanging pleasantries.

The worse possible thing to do is to shy away from eye-contact. Appear interested in what the other diner is ordering or eating -- but not to the extent of staring impolitely. I often just asked, "Is that soup/salad/chicken good?" or "Do you think they can do smaller portions?" or commented, "Oh, that looks scrumptious!"

I think if you're an easy-going and approachable person, other people will instinctively notice that and be more open.

Catbert and jbtan, are the dining experiences you describe exclusively outside the US? I travel solo in the US, and I have never seen a "communal table" or had a group invite me to join them. For that matter, as a solo male, I have the distinct impression that if I smiled at the couple or family at the next table, smiled, pointed at a dish, and said "that looks scrumptious" the most likely reaction would be to whip out a cellphone and call the police. The exception might be if the people are clearly foreign, as they don't have the overwhelming fear that Americans have and thus may well be open to conversation even with a solo male.

I've enjoyed some good meals and good service at restaurants, but I can't say I've ever say I've had a communal or social experience with the couples and families at adjacent tables. I think I can count on my fingers the number of solo diners I've seen at US restaurants other than those frequented by business travelers-- which, by the way, are where you'll get the best service as a solo diner simply because they get lots of them.

You're right, JH. My experiences with being invited to join people have been outside of the US; Amsterdam, Rome, Dubrovnik, Switzerland. For that matter, I find that I get more ignored in London and Paris. In the US I am more likely to do the eat at the bar thing. It seems to be less common in the other places I've traveled. But in the US, it's always an easy option and there are usually other solos nearby and friendly bartenders.