Solo Travel: tips and tricks

By FFI staff Britton Holmes and Valerie Malfara

Best Practices for
Share your video: Avoid backlight from bright windows. Adjust your camera
to be at around eye level if possible.
Mute your microphone: To help keep background noise to a minimum, makesure you mute your microphone when you are not speaking.
Be mindful of background noise: When your microphone is not muted,
avoid activities that could create unnecessary noise.
Use the chat function: You can send a question or statement to everyone or
privately to a participant.
Raise your hand: If you’d like to speak or ask a question, use the ‘raise hand’
function that can be found on the list of participants.

Introduction and agenda
Goals: discussing basic tools to help plan a solo-trip, exchanging about ourexperiences and memories
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Meet your hosts
Why travel solo?
Is it safe?
Alone but not lonely
Where shall I go?
Discussions in breakout rooms

Conclusion

Meet your host : Britton Holmes

Britton’s Solo Travels-2016: Colombia, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Bolivia, Chile, Peru
-2018: Mexico (Zihuatanejo, Patzcuaro, Morelia, San Miguel deAllende, Guanajuato, San Luis de Potosi, Huasteca Potosina,Queretaro, Ciudad de Mexico)“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to ﬁndourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn
more about the world than newspapers will accommodate.”
Pico Ayer

Meet your host : Valerie Malfara

Valerie’s solo adventure-Latin America(Guatemala, Salvador,Honduras, Nicaragua)-South America (Peru,Brazil, Chile, Argentina,Uruguay)-Australia-Singapore-Burma-India

Why travel solo ?
- Empowering and uplifting , sense of achievement- Freedom- Meet new people, being more open to new encounters- Welcome new experiences - put down your phone!
- Step out of your comfort zone
- No need to wait for or compromise with a travel partner- Get to know or reconnect with yourself / face your demons!

Is it safe?
-Is it really safer to stay home ?!
Do your homework : research, learn about theculture, do’s & don’ts
Foreign travel advice : use with care
Guidebooks : good but can be outdated
Travel forums : recent feedback & tips from travellers or expats(Tripadvisor, Thorntree, Rick Steve’s forum)
Blending in, respecting the local culture to avoid
misunderstandings
Use common sense and follow your intuition :if something feels dubious, it probably is !

Is it safe?
Remember that 99% of the people are good but if things ever go wrong :- Have a plan in place (copy of passport, emergency funds,
family contact numbers, travel insurance details, embassies and consulates’
addresses) Don’t rely solely on your phone.
- Take a second to analyse your options before you react- Don’t let your emotions overwhelm you- Return to safety

Alone but not lonely●●Journal & take lots of photos
Use home-hosting or meet-up organisations to meet others andmake new friends○●Volunteer!
○●●

WWOOF, Workaway, Helpx, or talk to local orgs. to ﬁnd projects

Join groups for day-trips, city tours, classes
Research accommodations that are popular with other solo
travellers○●

Friendship Force, Couchsurﬁng, Women Welcome WomenWorldwide, Servas

Hostel private rooms, AirBNB private rooms, bed & breakfasts’

Talk to strangers!
○

But always listen to your intuition.

Where shall I go ?
●●●●Always research your destination ﬁrst!
Think about the experience you want - adventure, budget, outdoorsy,
Get experience with “easy” destinations that aren’t too diﬀerent than what
you are used to before heading to places that are more challenging.
Solo-travel friendly regions○

South East Asia, Europe, New Zealand etc.

Resources :https://www.smartertravel.com/single-travel-tips-going-solo/
https://www.adventurouskate.com/about-this-blog/about-kate/https://solotravelerworld.com/category/how-to-travel-alone/solo-female-travel/#2
https://www.women-on-the-road.com/ : an over 50 woman sharing her experience and tips
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/solo-travel/best-countries-for-solo-travelers

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”– Neale Donald Walsch