Travelling Solo

Travelling alone is a growing trend, there's no doubt about it. Thousands of people take the plunge and travel solo every year and end up having a smashing time! When you are travelling alone you are the only one who will be making all the decisions daily, you call the shots!

If you are looking for the opportunity to meet other, like-minded people to share the holiday experience with, to make friends and, hopefully, to enjoy a truly memorable stay in the destination of your choice then travelling alone can open new doors for you. Solo travelling could also be a very liberating experience as well as a great exercise in personal development and a resounding statement of independence. Many tour operators provide wide ranges of "worry-free" singles holidays to a selection of destinations in the UK, Europe and also worldwide.

But it's not only about trying your luck against the challenges that lie ahead without any results. It could prove to be an important journey when we set off on an adventure alone for the first time and the pleasure of achieving such a goal does not come lightly. Certain qualities are required of a solo traveller to enable him or her to manage safely, securely and, as it says on your passport, 'without let or hindrance'. Travelling alone is probably one of the finest indications of an independent person. To know your capability and your restrictions is an invaluable quality to have when making decisions. Good self confidence also helps you win new friends and influence people. There's much information at your fingertips and a wealth of experience to be gathered - and lots of fun to be had along the way.

Familiarise Yourself with Your Surroundings

Doing as much research as you can fit into your life before you go helps to reap great rewards later on. Learning about your destination(s) lets you to have a good idea of what to look forward to and therefore a solid foundation on which to begin your adventure. Learning about the basic cultural differences is vital, and learning a few phrases of the language doesn't go amiss either.

Getting lost can open the door to an even more hectic adventure than you bargained for and it can often happen at the most inconvenient times. A little common sense coupled with a natural gift for perception is particular qualities of the expert traveller and a good map is invaluable and so is some knowledge of the public transport system.  Maps can be found online, courtesy of Google, and printed off before arriving at your destination, but most big cities offer tourist maps for free that can be found in brochures and in public areas like the train station. You could also make use of tourist information services and again, online research.

Always be aware of your setting and trust your instincts - just as you would at home. If a situation in some way doesn't feel 'right', just walk away. If you are walking about at night, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid potentially dangerous areas. If you are arriving at your destination at night, try to book your first night’s accommodation in advance, in so doing ensuring you don't need to start looking for a hotel in the dark.

Be well organised and get prepared for problems such as transport strike and allow yourself plenty of travelling time which can save you from missing planes and trains. Although some of us are naturally more organised than others, but at least bearing in mind that surprises could always happen along the way should give you a head start.

Keeping Safe

Taking care of yourself while travelling abroad on your own includes many things, from protecting yourself from harm to staying healthy to avoiding being robbed. How to go about it begins with your own self-awareness, followed by some thorough preparation, and rounded off with a nice helping of rationality.

If you are travelling alone it's important to follow basic common sense when it comes to your personal safety. If you are going to be moving around quite a bit it's a good idea to keep in regular contact with friends and family at home by email or telephone if possible - keeping them up-dated with where you are and what you are up to. Travelling alone on a gap year in many ways is quite similar to travelling alone at home - as long as you follow all of the usual golden rules about personal safety you are no more likely to come to any harm abroad as you would anywhere else.

Don't make yourself a prime target for would-be thieves! A good piece of safety advice is to always keep a close eye on your belongings, particularly in busy areas such as markets where you might get distracted and you should avoid flaunting money or any expensive looking items such as camcorders as much as possible. Never leave your bags unattended, even for a minute, or with someone you don't know or trust - and ideally lock it up with a padlock. Keep copies of all your important documents in a separate place from the originals.