Intro to Solo Travel: Tips for Your First Time Traveling Alone

[00:00] one of the best things about solo travel

[00:01] is what you learn about yourself along

[00:03] the way but booking that first trip can

[00:05] be daunting that's why we've put

[00:06] together some of our favorite tips to

[00:08] help you feel more comfortable when

[00:09] traveling alone hey i'm tom from pack

[00:11] hacker and if you're new to the channel

[00:12] consider subscribing and ringing that

[00:14] bell icon for notifications instead of

[00:16] waiting for your schedule to align with

[00:18] friends or family solo travel allows you

[00:19] to get up and go whenever and wherever

[00:22] you want plus it's a great time to get

[00:24] introspective eat pray love style this

[00:26] video is sponsored by backcountry a

[00:28] company that is all about getting out

[00:30] there and experiencing new things so

[00:32] stay tuned for an exclusive discount

[00:34] later on in this video and let's dive in

[00:37] [Music]

[00:47] solo travel is a great opportunity for

[00:49] growth and it's good to find the right

[00:51] balance between challenging yourself and

[00:52] having fun and the best is when both of

[00:55] these combine knowing what you're able

[00:57] to handle without getting overwhelmed is

[00:58] crucial if that means going somewhere

[01:00] that's fluent in your native language so

[01:02] that you can navigate easier that's okay

[01:04] don't feel bad building your way up to

[01:05] places outside of your comfort zone

[01:07] however if you play to your strengths

[01:09] you'll be able to solve a problem before

[01:11] it becomes one download maps on your

[01:13] phone ahead of time if you're bad with

[01:14] directions and leave early to avoid

[01:16] missing a train more confident types may

[01:18] feel comfortable striking up a

[01:19] conversation with strangers so consider

[01:22] staying in a hostel or bar hopping if

[01:24] you're more of a wallflower try posting

[01:26] about a restaurant patio where you can

[01:27] people watch without being disturbed

[01:29] personality types aside it is great to

[01:31] get some practice in before your trip go

[01:33] out to eat by yourself or take a day

[01:35] trip to an unfamiliar city near your

[01:37] home to get used to exploring solo

[01:40] [Music]

[01:42] we've said this before and we will say

[01:43] it again pack light unlike when you

[01:45] travel with a group you'll be carrying

[01:47] everything around yourself leave behind

[01:49] extra shoes and clothing to reduce the

[01:51] weight of your bag on the plus side any

[01:53] snacks you bring are all yours so no

[01:55] more hangry arguing with your friend who

[01:57] doesn't know the word share check out

[01:58] the links in the description below for

[02:00] some detailed packing tips on how to cut

[02:02] down another thing to consider is your

[02:04] luggage no one is around to watch your

[02:06] bag while you run to the bathroom so try

[02:08] to reduce it to a carry-on and personal

[02:10] item at most the osprey farpoint and

[02:12] fairview are great options for

[02:14] first-time solo travelers they're

[02:16] similar bags but the fairview is

[02:18] designed for smaller frames both have a

[02:20] 40 liter capacity which means you can

[02:22] stretch the one bag travel limits and

[02:24] bring that extra sweater if it eases

[02:26] your mind the sling is great for keeping

[02:28] a smaller gear like a passport wallet

[02:30] and phone close to your body you can get

[02:32] some shut eye while you're at the

[02:34] airport or on public transit without

[02:36] worrying about theft before hitting the

[02:38] road you want to make sure that you have

[02:39] your gear dialed in the best part about

[02:41] preparing for solo travel is finding

[02:43] what works for you both in what you pack

[02:45] and how you plan here at pack hacker we

[02:47] put products to the test through reviews

[02:49] and guides aimed at helping you select

[02:50] the best gear for you that's why we've

[02:52] partnered with backcountry they have

[02:54] hundreds of gear heads to help answer

[02:55] your questions via webchat email and

[02:57] phone those folks are just like us

[03:00] seasoned travelers committed to great

[03:02] gear for even greater adventures plus

[03:04] they have a solid selection of products

[03:06] to choose from use the code down in the

[03:08] description below pack hacker 15 for 15

[03:11] off your first order at backcountry.com

[03:13] some exclusions may apply that's 15 off

[03:16] gear bags and travel accessories so get

[03:20] out there explore and find your back

[03:21] country wherever that may be and let's

[03:24] get back into the tips

[03:26] [Music]

[03:27] when traveling alone you'll be footing

[03:29] the bill yourself that means no

[03:30] splitting meals or transportation costs

[03:33] with a friend unless you happen to make

[03:34] one along the way it may not be an issue

[03:36] for everyone but it's worth factoring

[03:38] that into your budget while you're

[03:39] planning some travel amenities will also

[03:41] charge for what's called a single

[03:43] supplement this is a premium fee for

[03:45] solo travelers who book tours or rooms

[03:47] designed for groups of two or more since

[03:50] they aren't making money off of a second

[03:51] person they'll charge you extra to make

[03:53] up the difference some companies will

[03:55] pair you with another solo traveler if

[03:57] you ask or you can just look at the fine

[03:59] print to see if the single supplement

[04:01] exists one last thing to consider is

[04:03] travel insurance it covers most

[04:05] accidents that happen abroad but some

[04:07] also reimburse you if you have to cancel

[04:09] you can find it through third party

[04:11] providers however make sure to check in

[04:13] with your own insurance first as they

[04:15] may cover things or offer add-ons

[04:17] certain credit cards will also offer

[04:19] coverage too though she was with friends

[04:21] our editor lauren was happy to have car

[04:23] insurance when they popped a tire while

[04:24] in ireland insurance won't stop things

[04:27] from going wrong however it can prevent

[04:29] that uh oh what now feeling

[04:32] [Music]

[04:33] traveling solo is a chance to be

[04:35] spontaneous however a little planning

[04:37] doesn't hurt so take the time to

[04:39] prioritize on what you want to get out

[04:40] of your trip that way when you get to

[04:42] your destination you can get started on

[04:44] your sightseeing and pick up other ideas

[04:46] along the way look up restaurants and

[04:48] destinations that you want to see before

[04:50] you get there mark businesses on google

[04:52] maps using their want to go feature so

[04:55] you can reference it when it's time to

[04:56] find food or an activity you'll cut down

[04:58] on time when deciding what to do next if

[05:00] you don't happen to find something

[05:02] better you can also talk to locals to

[05:03] see what places they recommend and what

[05:05] you should skip however be realistic on

[05:08] how much you're cramming in avoid

[05:09] burning out early by taking a night in

[05:11] if that's what you think you need since

[05:13] you don't have a travel companion

[05:14] there's absolutely zero pressure to keep

[05:16] someone else happy with your travel

[05:18] plans getting takeout and people

[05:20] watching from your local hotel balcony

[05:22] can be just as exciting as a night out

[05:24] in the city

[05:25] [Music]

[05:27] once all of your documents are up to

[05:29] date and you've confirmed any necessary

[05:30] visas you'll want to keep that

[05:32] information on hand at all times take

[05:34] photos and keep them secure on your

[05:36] phone or your computer so you have them

[05:38] on you at all times in case you lose the

[05:40] real documents it's also worth creating

[05:42] a spreadsheet with any key travel info

[05:44] you have including flights key dates and

[05:47] where you're staying share this info

[05:49] with select family or friends so that

[05:50] they know where to find you in case of

[05:52] emergency it'll also help keep you

[05:54] organized without someone to wake you up

[05:56] when you sleep through your alarm you'll

[05:58] need to make it to your flight all on

[05:59] your own however the great thing about

[06:01] traveling solo is that if you do miss a

[06:03] flight or tour it doesn't impact anyone

[06:05] else's trip that said there still may be

[06:08] consequences if you arrive late at your

[06:10] destination some hotels hostels and

[06:12] airbnbs have limited check-in times so

[06:15] make sure to factor that in when you're

[06:17] looking for places to stay it may be

[06:19] good to find something that allows for a

[06:21] later check-in time if you need some

[06:23] flexibility

[06:24] [Music]

[06:26] even when you're in a foreign country

[06:28] technology is a tool that can help you

[06:30] feel right at home if you get a local

[06:31] sim card or pay for travel wi-fi you can

[06:34] stay in touch with friends and family

[06:36] plus you may want to consider sharing

[06:38] your location with a few people so that

[06:40] they can check in every once in a while

[06:42] other small gear may seem insignificant

[06:45] but can make a huge difference

[06:47] noise-cancelling headphones or

[06:48] old-fashioned earplugs will help you

[06:50] sleep if you end up bunking with a

[06:51] snoring stranger on the other hand if

[06:53] you have an extra plug converter you can

[06:55] share it with someone and make a friend

[06:57] download an app like google translate to

[06:58] help with the communication barrier and

[07:00] make it easier to communicate you can

[07:02] translate by speaking or scanning a

[07:04] portion or text so you can quickly ask

[07:06] for directions or order at a restaurant

[07:08] and though it may make you look like a

[07:10] tourist consider bringing a tripod or

[07:12] selfie stick to take photos that way you

[07:14] won't have to hand off your phone to a

[07:16] stranger to get that instagram worthy

[07:18] pick

[07:19] [Music]

[07:21] we've already mentioned a few safety

[07:22] tips in this video however it's good to

[07:25] go into more detail you want to be

[07:26] careful when traveling with a large

[07:28] group but it's even more important when

[07:29] you're completely alone choose gear that

[07:31] adds an extra layer of protection so you

[07:33] don't always have to think about it the

[07:35] pacsafe metrosafe backpack is slash

[07:37] proof and lockable and one strap even

[07:39] detaches so you can secure the bag

[07:41] around a table or chair or check out a

[07:43] low profile lock like the hip block

[07:45] z-lock to add the same security when

[07:48] completing your booking look for places

[07:49] in more populated areas or with reliable

[07:52] transportation so you don't have to rush

[07:54] home before dark for added safety bring

[07:56] along a portable travel lock that you

[07:58] install from the inside to help prevent

[08:00] intruders they're also great for public

[08:02] restrooms or for doors that won't lock

[08:04] now that solo travel has given you the

[08:06] opportunity to get to know yourself more

[08:09] it is important to trust your gut if

[08:10] something doesn't feel right then don't

[08:12] do it full stop even if you've already

[08:14] paid for a tour or lodging it's better

[08:16] to be safe and miss it than run into a

[08:18] problem you can't get out of

[08:20] [Music]

[08:23] even if it's your first time solo

[08:24] traveling there are ways to make it look

[08:26] like it's not put in one wireless

[08:28] headphone and listen to directions as

[08:29] you walk rather than staring at a map

[08:32] you'll be able to enjoy the scenery and

[08:34] look like you know where you're going

[08:35] it's also handy for walking around at

[08:37] night but check your route ahead of time

[08:39] and stay alert our contributing writer

[08:41] randaya likes jaybird vista headphones

[08:43] because of the lasting charge and

[08:44] comfortable fit one of my favorite

[08:46] things to do while solo traveling is

[08:48] just to pick a direction and walk it

[08:50] allows me to get familiar with the area

[08:52] and see local culture rather than

[08:54] sticking to touristy spots my full

[08:56] attention is able to be on the sights

[08:58] sounds and smells versus walking and

[09:00] chatting with a travel buddy i even make

[09:03] notes of places to go later if i don't

[09:04] have time to explore them right away if

[09:06] you're less comfortable with alone time

[09:08] find some outdoor seating at a

[09:10] restaurant or public area read an e-book

[09:12] for something to do or opt for a

[09:14] physical book as a natural conversation

[09:16] starter with other patrons

[09:18] [Music]

[09:20] when you finally realize that you

[09:22] haven't spoken more than 10 words over

[09:24] the course of a few days it might be

[09:26] time to meet some people strike up a

[09:27] conversation with strangers whether it's

[09:29] a waiter bartender or other travelers at

[09:32] your hostel local folks will have great

[09:34] recommendations of places to see that

[09:36] you may have otherwise missed even if

[09:38] you've downloaded google translate like

[09:39] we mentioned earlier it's also a good

[09:41] idea just to learn a couple of common

[09:43] phrases in the native language some

[09:46] locals may appreciate the effort and

[09:47] remember this trip is about growth

[09:49] anyways you can also choose

[09:51] accommodations that are naturally more

[09:53] social apps like couchsurfing or renting

[09:55] a room at an airbnb save you money and

[09:58] are a great way to make friends if

[09:59] you're going to be in one area for a

[10:01] while or a hostel is filled with

[10:03] travelers just like you and they can

[10:05] point you in the direction of something

[10:07] fun they've already done you may even

[10:09] find a buddy who wants to do the same

[10:10] thing and that's how you beat the single

[10:13] supplement we mentioned earlier if

[10:14] you're the shy type now is the time to

[10:16] really stretch those wings and get out

[10:18] of your comfort zone

[10:20] [Music]

[10:22] one final tip and perhaps the most

[10:24] important one of all don't be afraid to

[10:26] make mistakes you can plan ahead and

[10:28] prepare though things may still go wrong

[10:30] sometimes that restaurant you are

[10:32] planning to go to is closed or a temple

[10:34] is under construction so as long as you

[10:36] roll with the punches those smaller

[10:38] inconveniences won't become bigger

[10:40] beasts solo travel is a chance to grow

[10:42] and challenge yourself whatever that

[10:44] means for you if you get scammed by a

[10:45] street vendor or miss a planned tour

[10:48] laugh it off and take it as a lesson for

[10:50] next time and since you're alone there

[10:52] is no one to please but yourself if you

[10:54] decide you want to sleep in instead of

[10:55] getting up early to watch the sunrise

[10:57] it's 100 up to you go luxury or stretch

[11:00] every dollar as long as you're having

[11:02] fun you are on the right track traveling

[11:05] alone is a great way to learn more about

[11:07] yourself and the world at the same time

[11:09] so let loose enjoy every second and take

[11:11] some time to breathe so there you have

[11:13] it our top 10 tips to get you started on

[11:15] your solo travel adventure make sure to

[11:17] check out the link down in the

[11:18] description below and use code

[11:20] packhacker15 for 15 off your first order

[11:23] at backcountry.com and remember some of

[11:25] the best tips come from you the pack

[11:28] hacker community right here on youtube

[11:30] so please leave your best solo travel

[11:32] tip down in the comments below or a

[11:34] funny solo travel story that you can

[11:36] share with the community thanks for

[11:38] keeping here at pack hacker your guide

[11:40] to smarter travel and we will see you in

[11:41] the next video