Tips For Travelling Alone

If you are considering travelling alone whether it's in your own country or overseas, local knowledge and your own safety are paramount for a fun travel experience.

Even if you are travelling in a small group, the same responsibilities are key to your own safety as well as your fellow travellers. Ensure you communicate with them all before you set out and arrange a way to contact each other if you split up or are going out alone at night. The same applies to communicating with family and friends back home.

If you are travelling alone to a city that you have never been to before, one great tip is to find some locals you can befriend before you go. This has a number of positive outcomes such learning all about their city, country and culture before leaving. You can get a heads up whilst you are still planning your trip and ensure it is right for you.

Learn as much as you can about the local laws and the culture to ensure you keep out of trouble. For instance, in some countries you are forbidden to photograph local residents or the women. In others, you have to keep your arms and/or legs covered in public. Another example is if you are a woman travelling to Saudi Arabia, you will need to wear a burka.

Also, whilst making friends, if you really get on well, maybe you would consider meeting up with them when you arrive in their home town. Not only is this safer for you when travelling alone, but they can show you around, take you to the best bars and entertainment, introduce you to their friends and family and also forewarn you of the areas to stay clear of, which you might not have known. Who knows, maybe you can stay with them for a while and grab yourself some free accommodation in exchange for doing some housework etc. They may even own a small business where you can work for a while to earn some extra travel cash!

If you do manage to get to stay or work with your new found friends, don't forget to tell someone where you are staying and how to contact you. This is always recommended whether you are travelling alone or with friends and family. Ensure your new overseas friends have a valid email, phone and home address. This is common sense but often overlooked as you may get on well with them, but do you really know where they are or what they are up to?

Ask lots of questions before you go and validate their information.

Ways to find these friends are normally through forums, blogs, social media sites and searching travel directories for pen friends, student exchanges and depending on your age group, you could try contacting the local universities or colleges in that home town.

Above all else have fun when travelling alone. You will meet lots of new friends, some of whom will be with you a lifetime.

Simon Hamilton has a passion for travel and meeting people from all over the world. His new website combines this passion and helps to connect solo and single travellers across the world.