You’re bound to make mistakes on your first solo trip, but you can learn from previous travelers. Monica Stott, founder of thetravelhack.com, has learned a fair bit. Here she shares her top 10 tricks when you’re going it alone.
1. Order special meals on planes
Pre-order a special meal, such as a vegetarian or vegan meal, on flights. Special meals are served first so you’ll get your food faster, allowing you to nod off sooner than your seatmates if you’re keen to get some rest. The vegan meals are usually healthy, light and delicious, which helps you to avoid that groggy, bloated, post-flight feeling that tends to be a by-product of indulging in a rich plane feed.
2. Dress up for airport check-in
Did you know that solo travelers are more likely to get upgraded on flights? You’re also more likely to be upgraded if you look the part, so wear the smartest clothes you’re traveling with to the airport (you can always pack a more comfortable set of clothes in your hand luggage to change into after you check in).
It’s also worth asking at check-in if any upgrade opportunities are available. While it is more difficult to score upgrades these days unless you’re a frequent flyer, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
3. Use airport lounges
Airport lounges aren’t just for first class passengers — you can often buy yourself into them for a bargain. In the UK, airport lounge passes start from around $40 and include perks such as unlimited snacks and alcohol, Wi-Fi, magazines and a quiet and comfortable space to relax before your flight.
Using lounges during long layovers offers particularly good value, as it doesn’t typically cost much more than you’d spend on food and drink elsewhere in the airport.
4. Pack a portable charger
You’ll undoubtedly use your phone a lot while you travel, so pack a portable charger. Make sure to have a way to contact someone in an emergency and use your phone’s GPS for directions. Portable chargers are cheap and lightweight and you’ll thank yourself when you’re trying to call a taxi at 3 a.m. with only 2 percent battery remaining!
5. Disguise your gadgets
Flashy new devices with crisp, clean cases attract thieves, which is the last thing you want when you’re traveling solo. Avoid unwanted attention by making your expensive gadgets look less pricey than they really are — cover your camera in stickers and buy cheap cases for your smartphone and your tablet and scuff them up.
6. Mark your baggage as fragile
Slap a “fragile” label on your luggage to prevent it from being handled roughly in transit. Adding this label will typically also see your luggage delivered to the baggage carousel — it’s often the case that special luggage and equipment is the last to be placed in the aircraft’s hold, which means it will be the first to be taken out again.
7. Always carry a business card from your hotel
As soon as you arrive at your hotel or hostel, grab a business card from the reception desk with the hotel’s address and phone number. If you get lost, you can jump in a taxi and give the card to your driver to ensure you get back to your hotel safely.
If a business card isn’t available, ask a member of reception staff if they could write down the address in the local language for you. Make sure to then keep the information somewhere handy when you head out to explore.
8. Travel with an unlocked mobile phone
If you have a contract phone, ensure it is unlocked before you travel. This means you’ll be able to use any SIM card from any mobile network across the world. Pick up a local SIM once you arrive and you’ll avoid roaming fees and enjoy cheaper calls and texts — you can find SIM cards at the airport and convenience stores in touristy areas.
9. Keep travel essentials in your suitcase at home
Adopt this travel hack if you’re a frequent traveler and don’t want to forget those all-important essentials. When you return from a trip, leave key items in your suitcase.
Items such as your passport, plug adaptors, miniature toiletries and insurance documents can stay in your case because you won’t need them at home and leaving them in your case means you’ll never forget to pack them.
10. Use free walking tours to help you ease into a new city
Most cities have free walking tours and these tend to attract other solo travelers. Solos usually stick together once the tour is over and go for drinks or dinner together, so it’s a great opportunity to meet like-minded travelers while simultaneously avoiding the anxiety of dining alone on your first night in town.
This is an edited extract from “The solo Travel Handbook” (Lonely Planet, $29.99), on sale now.