Finding gratitude in solitude, the traveler’s edition.

Let me first preface this post by saying I do not prefer solo traveling over traveling with a buddy but for most single people, it may be an inevitable reality at some point. The good news is solo traveling does not have to be lonely and at times it may just be the most optimal choice. As a person who has gone on multiple solo trips plus moved crossed country alone twice, I wanted to share some nics to help you plan for your next solo travel experience. Below I detail the gems that have helped me navigate my first international solo trip to Greece back in 2018.

Nic#1: Research is essential, I reached out to my former high school classmate who had just visited Greece a few months before me. I inquired about hotel accommodations and she graciously shared a list of 5 star hotels she lodged at while in Greece. In the end I stayed at The Stanley in Athens. It is a very nice 5 star hotel with great accommodations including an onsite bar and restaurant, complimentary breakfast, a friendly staff, and a beautiful view of the Acropolis.

 Nic#2: Encourage family and friends to download WhatsApp and/or Google voice to stay in communication at little to no cost. I borrowed my mom’s phone which had an international phone plan but I mostly used my boost mobile phone during the trip. I heavily relied on communication apps powered by WIFI to eliminate the need for an international phone plan. Technology has advanced exponentially since my first international trip in 2008 when I needed a calling card. Do you remember international calling cards?

Nic#3: Book excursions online and ahead of time. Oftentimes, tours may sellout quickly because of bulks sales reserved by hotels or travel agents. To ensure you can score tickets on the best tours and optimize your time, plan ahead. Plus booking activities a head of time adds an extra layer of protection for credit card purchases which does wonders for budget monitoring.

 Nic#4: In the theme of planning ahead, outline your trip in an itinerary. As a solo traveler you must always be vigilant and make prudent decisions regarding your safety. Preparing an itinerary will ensure your family and friends are aware of your whereabouts at all times. Also, be sure to print a copy for yourself in case of an emergency or if WIFI is inaccessible. This document should have pertinent details like the US embassy location, allergens, and emergency contact information.

 Nic#5: Use a fanny pack. A fanny pack may not be the most fashion forward accessory but it is practical especially since you will not have a travel buddy to watch your belongings while you’re preoccupied. This around the waist pouch will ensure important items such as your passport, money, itinerary, and phone are stored securely on your person. Furthermore, it is easily accessible to you while a deterrent to thieves.

Nic#6: Make necessary transportation arrangements before arriving at your international destination. Traveling abroad may not be as simple as hailing a cab or booking an Uber. It is a good idea to learn the best modes of transportation ahead of time so you can plan accordingly. I called the Stanley Hotel before my trip and scheduled a cab to pick me up at the airport. Also, you may want to consider strategically booking excursions that offer hotel pick ups. This will eliminate the need to figure out other transportation arrangements once you arrive at your destination. Most of my transportation arrangements in Greece were preplanned with the exception of my visit the Acropolis Museum, I took the metro.

Nic#7: Download a good translator app to communicate with others. Fortunately in most European countries I’ve visited there are British translations everywhere but I had my trusted Google translator just in case.

Nic#8: Pay attention to flight arrangements. I messed up in this area twice while on my trip to Greece. First, I did not realize there were 2 airports in Rome when I booked my flight to Greece. My initial flight to Italy included an 8 hour layover for an 18 hour total flight time. In hindsight if I knew then what I know now I would have booked my flight directly to Greece vs flying into Italy. However, that part of the error was not entirely my fault but what was my fault was the booking of the hotel. I was clearly jetlagged and delirious upon arrival in Italy only to discover at the hotel, which I strategically booked to be near the airport for my next flight was not near the same airport I would be flying out of in less than 4 hours. Thankfully, my friend brought this erroneous error to my attention just in time for me time to make alternative arrangements for a cab and a wake up call. It would have been better to discover this error sooner but I learned a valuable lesson which was to always check the airport location when booking a flight. Next, print your boarding pass. We live in a mostly digitized world but some modern day conveniences may not be available internationally. I ran into this issue when flying back to Italy from Greece. I will spare you the details.

Nic#9: Exchange your currency at your local bank rather than at the airport to save on exchanges fees. These fees tend to be higher at the airport. Also, you can reduce the amount of cash you will need to carry around by preplanning as mentioned in nic #3.

Nic#10: Fear forward, have fun, and make new friends. I have met several other solo travelers during my own solo trips and you will never be alone if you plan accordingly.