7 Tips for Indepentant Travel
SOLO ADVENTURE
We all know that traveling with friends or family can be great. But traveling alone also has a lot of benefits that many people don’t realize. While the prospect can seem intimidating, it pays to think about what you can actually gain from traveling alone that you can’t necessarily benefit from if you’re tied to other people.
Indeed, traveling alone can allow you to meet new people, try new things, and have a totally different experience than you would have if you were with other people. Of course, there are some precautions that you should take.
But if you plan carefully, you can have an amazing trip. And transportation is especially critical. If you’re in the Emirates and looking for car rental, be sure to check out Renty for an affordable and reliable ride. Now let’s look at several things to keep in mind so that you can have a successful journey on your own.
Read up as much as possible
Before you head off on your trip, be sure you know what you’re getting into. This means several things: familiarizing yourself with transportation options in advance, and knowing how to get a rental car when you need one; learning about seasonal openings of restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions, etc. Do not forget to look at different sources – personal stories can be just as effective as official sites.
Think about your main goals for visiting a place
You might dream of going to Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but if this is your primary motivation and you’re not much interested in other aspects of French culture, perhaps you should reconsider. You don’t want to go to the world’s most highly visited country and find yourself stuck in traffic in your rental car all day. Think about what places will keep you occupied for several days or more, and which you will feel comfortable driving around in while getting from place to place.
Familiarize yourself with the culture
If you always wanted to go to India and love the idea of exploring a wild and wonderful place with exotic food and friendly people, that’s great. Be sure you know what you’re getting into with the pace of life and other subtle aspects of the culture, though.
If you’re a neat freak and like everything tidy and in its place, India might not be for you. And navigating traffic in a standard car can be murder if you’re trying to maneuver your way through a bunch of rickshaws!
Think about language
Language plays a bigger role than some of us realize. Of course, if you look at guidebooks and maps, they will give you a fair idea of where you are. But what happens when your phone coverage suddenly stops and you find yourself stuck on an unknown road in your rental car, with no idea where to turn?
Or when you see a mysterious dish that might be full of something you’re allergic to, but you need to find out for sure? All these things should be kept in mind.
Safety is critical
Many places are safer than they seem once you get to know them. But you can also have problems anywhere. Crimes can take place in small towns just as they can in major cities.
If you have a rental car, for example, that gets broken into, you might find yourself subject to a fat payment that you could have avoided. Be sure to take all the necessary safety precautions when arriving in a new place.
Be flexible
One of the fun things about traveling alone is that you’re not bound to someone else’s schedule. So you should definitely make plans, but also be prepared to be flexible.
If you rent a car, for example, and discover that the weather will be nicer than usual, perhaps ditch that trip to the museum and drive over to the beach for the afternoon. The museum can wait until it rains.
Go local
Don’t be afraid to hit the outdoor markets in the new countries you go to. High-class restaurants exist everywhere and are often similar from country to country. But as you’re driving around looking for stuff to see, don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path and try some local stuff, as well. You’ll be glad you did.
Give it a try
Traveling has gotten a lot easier in recent years. With the growth of the Internet, international communications, and increased travel possibilities in general, you’re a lot better off traveling alone than you would have been 30 years ago. So give it a shot, you never know what kind of experiences you might have!
