Simple Travel Tips

When you travel alone, you only have yourself and the kindness of strangers to rely on. Here are some tips to make the trip safer and more enjoyable.

1. Let someone know where you're going. This is a no-brainer. It doesn't take much time or effort to send someone a quick itinerary in the event that if your flight doesn't end up where it's supposed to, someone will know about it. When it comes to appeasing worried parents, I always go with the "treat others as you'd want to be treated" policy; if it were my kid, I'd want to know the flight details.

It's also a good idea to send a quick e-mail or phone call once you've actually arrived at your destination.

2. Check in with your hostel BEFORE leaving your home country. Some hostels have earlier check-in times than others. If the hostel hasn't contacted me before my departure, I like to send a quick e-mail just to make sure my booking actually went through and to double-check if there are any details I need to pay extra attention to. (For example, if the hostel is really hard to find.)

3. Always have a paper set of directions from the airport to the place you're staying, with the full address and phone number written down. Smartphones are great, but they aren't always fully operational right when you get off the plane. It's always good to have something physical to show somebody if the situation arises.

4. Change currencies in the airport of your destination rather than the airport that you're departing from; you get better rates. In my experience, banks tend to give the best rates and the lowest fees.

5.  Try to carry some coins in case you need to use a pay phone. Many pay phones don't accept bills and it saves time not to have to break a bill in an airport you're unfamiliar with.

6. Make photocopies of all important documents/cards (passport, credit card, visa, etc.) and keep them in a safe place. If you lose anything, it's much easier to get a replacement if you have a photocopy with all the necessary info.

*Don't forget to call your bank before leaving and let them know you'll be in ___ for ___ amount of time, in case you need to use your card overseas. 

7. For the plane, always carry a pair of socks (if you're not wearing them already) and a scarf. They will do wonders. Hand sanitizer is also useful.

8. If you don't already know them, learn 5 basic phrases in the language of the country you'll be going to: "Hello," "Excuse me," "Thank you," "Where is the...?", and "Do you speak English?" It doesn't take long to look them up and they can end up being lifesavers. If your memory's bad, write the phrases down and keep the paper in your wallet.

9. Always carry something to write with and something to write on in case someone has to draw you a map.

10. Even if you have a phone with you, carry a watch. You can manually switch the time on your watch once you arrive at the airport, but electronics aren't always so reliable.

11. If you have long hair, carry a spare hair tie. Having sticky hair in your face and on your neck is never a pleasant experience, especially when you have to walk a lot.

12. If you're traveling to an Asian country, wear shoes that can be easily taken off, since you'll probably be taking them off a lot once you arrive. Makes it easier to get through security as well.

13. If you're the worrying type, carry a small lock and key so you can save yourself the cost of buying a locker at the hostel. No one's going to take your suitcase or bag if it has a lock on it. 

14. When going to a third world country or somewhere where the water may not be safe to drink, carry some iodine pills in your bag. 

15. Always carry a small bottle of sunscreen. You never know when you're going to need it.