H Y D A W A Y

This is a guest blog post in collaboration with our friends from Hims in honor of ‘Talk About Prescriptions Month.’

Solo Travel: 5 Tips You Must Know
If you’re traveling alone for the first time, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed with different emotions. Sure, you might be thrilled and excited to take on the adventure of a lifetime, but part of you might also feel a bit intimidated that you’re doing this by all by yourself. Don’t worry though — It’s perfectly normal to have some hesitancies about flying solo on this journey. Being surrounded by strangers in unfamiliar territory can be scary, especially when there’s no one around you to help you adjust to a new environment. But look on the bright side, this trip is all about YOU! You get to see what YOU want and experience what YOU wish to throughout all of your traveling excursions. To ensure you have the best time, there are five tips for solo traveling and how to make it successful.

Plan Your Trip Accordingly
After you finally pick a destination to travel to, your next step is to begin planning accordingly for your trip. Start by brainstorming ideas of what you’d like to do or accomplish during your solo-traveling experience. With these objectives in mind, you’ll be able to better plan for further details like where you’ll sleep, the luggage you’ll need to bring, and how you’ll get around. Depending on the length of time you’ll be traveling for, and the place you’re heading to, the number of plans you have may vary. For example, if you’re backpacking Europe for a month-long period, you might plan to hike eight unique trails and stay at different hostels throughout your trip. On the other hand, if you’re taking a weekend getaway to a relaxing health resort, all you’ll need to book is a room and schedule reservations to receive your favorite spa treatments. Some great planning resources are:

Rome2Rio-For planning transportation

HostelWorld or Booking.com: Planning your stay

Tripadvisor and  Viator: For planning excursions

Pinterest: For travel inspiration

What to Pack: Quality > Quantity
Now comes the hard part — packing. While it’s true that packing is usually a tedious, time-consuming task, it’s important that you take the proper amount of time to pack up everything you’ll need for your travels. Trust me; Your future self will thank you later. When it comes time to start getting your stuff together, follow these packing guidelines:

1. Starting with the Basics: Toiletry bag, medications, socks, and underwear
Toiletry bag – You should tailor your toiletry bag with the main hygienic products you’ll need during your trip. This will include items like your toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, and other showering supplies.

Medications – Now turn your attention to your medications. Any over-the-counter medications and other prescriptions should be stowed away with your luggage. If, however, you forget to pack a particular prescription, don’t panic! Rather than losing travel time by scheduling an appointment at a clinic in the local area, consider turning to a telemedicine company like Hims or Hers to speak with a doctor online and get any necessary prescriptions delivered right to you.

2. Determine Necessities for Traveling Activities:

Your packing supplies should be in alignment with your traveling activities. The equipment you’ll need for hiking will be completely diverse compared to the equipment you’ll need for a planned beach day. If you’re hiking, you’ll only want to carry the essentials, like a collapsible water bottle to stay hydrated. On the contrary, if you’re planning to spend your days at the beach, you’ll have more leeway in what to take, like a stylish swimsuit and a packable blanket.

Pack for Comfort:
The clothes you take with you on your solo-traveling journey should be fit for almost every occasion. That said, try to pack comfortable outfits that can be dressed up or dressed down. This way, you’ll not only have a lighter suitcase, but you’ll also be able to mix and match clothes much easier.

Set a Budget
Setting a budget for your trip will play a big part when planning your future travel experiences. It’s one thing to allocate enough money to afford a trip, but it’s another to budget for each day you’re there. However, constructing a budget isn’t just about setting aside enough money for food, a place to stay, and souvenirs. To create a sufficient budget, ask yourself:

How much do you need to save up to do everything you want to do during your travels?

How does your currency compare to where you are going?

How much cash do you want to have on you at all times?

Be Aware of Your Surroundings
When you’re on your own and in a new place, miles and miles away from home, it’s natural for you to get a bit confused with your surroundings. What you might consider strange or out of the ordinary, might actually be viewed as a “norm” for the community. Regardless, you need to be careful of your surroundings, especially since you’re alone. Pay mind to what time it is, how late you’re out until, how much you drink, and who’s around you. Until you get more settled in and meet people whom you trust, you need to watch out for stranger danger. Stay close to well-lit areas and share your itinerary with someone back home. Never forget to tell someone where you’re going; it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Ask Questions
Last but not least, ask questions! The only way to get acclimated with your surroundings is to try new things, meet new people, and engage yourself in the culture. It’s not uncommon as a solo traveler to be nervous talking with people you’ve never met before, but you have to start somewhere! Next time you need help navigating your way around, or are unsure of the best place to eat, ask someone! The worst that can happen is that they won’t have an answer.

 

In conclusion, as you can see traveling solo doesn’t have to be hard just by adding these few tips your solo trip should be a success.