Traveling alone is sometimes the best way to really immerse yourself into another country’s culture. It will force you to talk to the locals and give you the space and time you need to really get to know a place. However, traveling on your own will mean that you will need to be prepared to deal with any situations that may arise, good or bad. Here are some things you should think about before boarding your flight.
First things first, make sure you have a valid passport, that is in date, and that you have the relevant visas for all the countries you are planning to visit. It may be worthwhile to make a photocopy of your passport and any visas, just in case they are lost or stolen, emailing them to yourself will mean that you can get access to them while you are away, if you need to.
Also, make sure that you have a detailed itinerary of your journey plans; leave a copy with a friend or relative so that they will know where you should be and how to contact you if anything goes wrong at home. Once you arrive at your destination you should tell a member of staff at your accommodation where you will be going and when you expect to be back, this way they can raise the alarm if you do not return.
Before you leave for your trip contact your mobile phone provider to ensure that your contract covers you for overseas calls. It may also be worth asking your mobile phone provider if they have any short term contracts or add-ons that will make overseas calling cheaper. When traveling alone, keep in regular contact with your friends and family letting them know where you are and where you are going, again, so they can raise the alarm if anything goes wrong.
If you take any medication, make sure that you have sufficient supplies to last the duration of your trip, plus information about the drugs you are taking in case you lose them. Talk to your doctor and find out whether you need any vaccinations to protect yourself from local diseases.
It is not a good idea to carry around a lot of cash, especially if you are traveling on your own. Take a mixture of credit cards, traveller’s cheques and cash to protect yourself from theft and ensure that you are not caught out without access to money.
It is most vital that you have the appropriate cover, even if it is only single trip travel insurance, that way you will not be facing astronomical bills if things happen to go wrong. Look around for the right kind of cover for you, depending on where you are going, and what you are planning to do, ie . accidents resulting from skiing or water sports may not be covered in all travel insurance policies. Make sure you shop around for the best price too.
Have fun while you travel, but stay safe by planning ahead and making sure you are suitably insured.