7 Tips For Traveling Alone

After a family vacation, sometimes you feel more exhausted than had you actually stayed at work for the week. Keeping up with the kids, your significant other, doing what everyone else wants to do, you almost need a vacation from your vacation! If you’ve never taken a trip by yourself, you may be surprised at how relaxing and enjoyable the trip can really be. There are a few things to keep in mind and prepare for if you plan to vacation by yourself. Here’s a list of the top things to be aware of when traveling alone.

1. No Group Discounts

While this may not be a huge deal, traveling alone means that you’ll more than likely pay full ticket price for everything that you do. While that may seem like a raw deal, wouldn’t you rather pay one full ticket price, than a partial discount for your entire family?

2. Do Your Research

Be sure you utilize all those travel websites you see your friends using. Yelp, TripAdvisor and UrbanSpoon make great resources to nail down exactly where you want to go.

3. Know Your Surroundings

Whether you’ve been to your favorite vacation spot numerous times, or you’re trying a new location, knowing where you are at all times is a MUST when you’re traveling alone. Stick to the parts of town you know and are familiar with. Remember what your mom said, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” This case holds true when traveling alone but then again, maybe we shouldn’t think about things mom said while we’re on vacation?

4. Know What You’re Doing

If you’re stumbling around, clearly lost and clearly in “tourist mode”, you’ll be drawing attention to yourself. Act like you belong and you’re part of the natural flow. Know where you’re going before you go. This is great advice for everyday though isn’t it?

5. Pack For Just You

We’ve all been guilty of overpacking for a trip. Never get caught without clean underwear, right? Another mom saying. If you’re traveling alone, odds are you won’t have any help with carrying your luggage. Sure, you could make multiple trips from the car to your hotel room, but that’s a lot of work and remember, YOU’RE ON VACATION. Pack just what you need and if something unforeseen happens, and red wine is spilt on your new shirt…just means it’s time to go shopping!

6. Keep In Touch

Yes, you’re on vacation, but people at home still wonder about you and may even be worried if you’re traveling alone. Put their minds at ease with the occasional check-in. No, not a Facebook check-in, actually send them a text or give them a call.

7. Make Friends

If you’re visiting somewhere new, or a place you’ve been multiple times, it’s always a good idea to make new friends. Whether it’s someone else who’s vacationing or a local, having that person to go to dinner with or sit by the pool and talk to can really add a whole new level to your trip.

And remember, don’t get overwhelmed or be overly worried about traveling alone. It’s a vacation. Enjoy yourself. There’s a really good chance you’ll learn something about yourself and become someone you didn’t know you could be!

Other blogs you might be interested in…
Plan the Ultimate Girls Trip to Pigeon Forge
Top 4 Things To Do Indoors in the Pigeon Forge Area
Spend the Day at The Island in Pigeon Forge