Packing - Always be
strategic. Keep it Light! Unless you
want to drag around an overweight 55 lb bag (and pay the $100 fee!) you will
need to have a plan for your packing. When I travel I always stay within 2-3 color themes so I reduce the number
of shoes and accessories packed. Ladies,
when it comes to handbags keep it simple: One large tote and a small clutch
will do just fine! My number one rule on long trips: Don’t be afraid to REPEAT!
Jeans and slacks can be worn at least twice during a trip.
Pre trip – Groupons, Living Social Deals and other city vouchers are a must! Before heading to your destination check out these sites for discounted deals at local restaurants. Most deals are between 30%-50% off for popular and newly opened establishments. Pre purchasing vouchers and planning out your meals will make it easier to stay within your travel budget.
Research - Know what you are
looking for in a hotel or resort. Close to the city center? Fitness Center? On
site massage services? What are your dealbreakers? When I
travel complimentary wi –fi, onsite restaurant and fitness center are must have
amenities for me. Depending on the nature of
your trip (sightseeing, family or leisure) narrow down your “must haves” and compare at least 3-4 hotels before
booking. You may be willing to sacrifice on site restaurant option if you know
the hotel is close distance to several restaurant options. Know before you go!
Safety First – This is very important when flying solo. While you are traveling you should always be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you pick a travel destination that is known to be safe and recommended for tourist travel. The U.S. Dept of State updates daily their international travel warnings and details on locations to avoid.
A few precautions I always take:
a) Ask for 2 keys when you check in and
let them know someone else will be joining you later.
b) Try not to be outside of your hotel late at night, if you do have a cab called ahead of time so you aren’t spotted walking down the streets alone.
c) When traveling overseas. Don’t leave the hotel with your passport, keep it locked in the hotel room safe. You don’t want to risk it being stolen or lost while you are out and about
Explore - Please don't go to
Rome and eat cheeseburgers everyday or get upset when you can’t find a Coca
Cola! This is a major travel pet peeve I have! You should immerse yourself in the local
culture and embrace new experiences. I love checking out "Hole in
the wall" restaurants! They usually have the best food at a more
affordable price point. Ask the concierge or "locals"
you interact with for their dining recommendations.
Be Friendly - Making connections while traveling can make the trip more interesting, especially when traveling alone. Don’t be afraid to casually chat with the hotel bartender or smile at other tourists you see while out and about. Maybe you can link up with another group of people to go to dinner or a local tour with. I find that when people are on vacation they are much more open to meeting new people and making “fast friends”.
Stay Healthy - Pack your gym
shoes and plan to workout on your trip! Even if your hotel doesn’t have a fitness
center there are options. a) Bring workout DVDs to play on your laptop
b) Download workouts on your smartphone or tablet c) Go for a walk outside.
*Bonus: Create a Bucket list –
Make
a list of all the travel destinations you want to experience. Your very own travel
bucket list. This is a great motivator to move you from dreaming to
planning that perfect trip!
Happy Travels!
~ Toya Nicole
Great tips! I think the "Be Friendly" tip is great because we as women travelers and oftentimes solo women travelers are hesitant to talk to the locals and are more apt to talk to other Americans we may meet along the way. While there is nothing wrong with this, (I have made great friends with people who live in my own city that I have met overseas), we can't be afraid to talk to the locals, they are sometimes the best "concierge" and know more about that hidden gem in their neighborhood or city that really speaks to the local culture.
ReplyDeleteAlso regarding the "Safety First" tip, another suggestion in addition to getting 2 room keys from your hotel is to also get the hotel's business card. Their business card has their full address and phone number that oftentimes the sleeve that carries your hotel room key doesn't include. So if you ever get lost or can't remember the name of your hotel you can always refer back to the business card (and it makes it easy to give to taxi drivers who may not speak English).
Thanks for commenting Kim! You are right on the hotel business card! I am going to do that next trip:-)
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