Solo travel is hard to resist. It is the process of self-discovery, discovery of the unknown and a chance like never before to discover oneself. However, prior to getting lost in the streets of an unfamiliar city and finding your zen surrounded by beautiful rocks on the beach, you face an important proposal, one that stimulates the first motion to set the tone of an essential first step, the flight. To the solo traveler, flying is not point A to point B: it is in fact the overture to your great adventure and learning how to do it properly determines the style of the whole journey. This handbook is the guide you need that will help you to fly smart as a solo traveler which will make your path to the destination as smooth and satisfying as the destination itself. Whether it is bagging great bargains to swerving through crowded airports with ease, the following guide will teach you the tactics and technique to turn your travel days in to a fully constitutive, and perhaps even pleasurable, component of your solo adventure. All right, strap yourself in and it is time to travel.
The economic side of travelling solo is quite intimidating, and the price of one flight is the only large expense in most cases. Nevertheless, with some level of knowledge and planning, it is possible to cut this initial investment by a substantial margin and have more to spend on things that actually count. Flexibility is the dogma of low cost travel. In the event that your travel dates are fixed, you are at the disposal of the airline pricing. But in case you have a margin you can beat the system. The cheapest days are usually Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, which means that by not flying during yet popular days such as Fridays and Sundays one can save a lot of money. Usually, traveling during the shoulder seasons, which are the time of transition between the high and low season, is associated with nice weather conditions, absence of big crowds, and, most importantly, low airfares. More so, numerous large cities will have more than one airport. It would not be sufficient to resort to the most recognizable one. Budget airlines are frequent in smaller, secondary airports which may be able to offer much cheaper flights.
The era of the net has brought forth numerous tools that can be used to track down the best flight offers. Your best friends are flight comparison sites such as Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Momondo as they enable you to compare tens and even hundreds of online travel agents and airlines with a single search. It you do not want to spend time on going price check up manually daily, you can allow technology to work on behalf of you. Register with your favorite flight price search engines (or flight search engines) on the route you want and an email will be sent out to you when the price is favorable so that you can book at the right time. The last yet the most important tip is to always use the incognito or the private mode in your browser to search flights. Airlines and especially travel websites use cookies and may raise the price when they detect that you have looked at the same flight multiple times. Low cost carriers are also an excellent source of fundsavings, particularly in the case of shorter trips. But watch out on their business model; they frequently get charging on everything including wheeled baggage, seat reservation, refreshments and beverages during flights. These costs should always be considered as a comparison with full-service airlines is actually worth doing.
It is an art of packing solo. The lighter and more organized you are the more mobile and less stressed you will be on the ground as you are the only one with your luggage of course. Always try to carry a carry on with you. It has many advantages: you will not have to spend money on additional luggage, and you will not face the possibility of losing it; you will be able to move around airports light-footed and stress-free. The first step towards doing this would be to invest a good carry-on of good quality that is of light weight and durable that fits into the small dimensions of most airlines. A backpack would be more useful than a rolling suitcase because a back pack makes you have your hands free and finds its way easily in rush streets and in transportation. Packing cubes can be considered a real game-changer when it comes to making the most of space and organization. These zippered pouches come in small sizes and they enable you to separate your stuff and can find what you want without having to take everything out of your bag and they also compress your clothing. Rather than folding your clothes, it is better to roll them saving space and helping to avoid wrinkles. To totally avoid liquid limits and liability of spills, adopt compact toiletries such as bar shampoos, bar conditioner and toothpaste tablets.
During pack up, it is important to be ruthless and assume the attitude of bringing only what is essential and posing the question whether you really need the item. Take a general-purpose wardrobe that can be combined and recombined into a variety of outfits; a neutral color scheme is good and one can add interest by accessorizing with a scarf or hat etc. Rather than wearing heavy sweaters, take a few thin layers and wear what you need depending on the wind or weather. The most valuable possessions and most important documents that one may have, like the passport, the visa, your wallet, and any other medications, should always be in your carry-on item, but never in checked luggage. It is also recommendable that you should ensure that digital copies of these essential documents are stored in a safe cloud storage facility. Lastly, you cannot afford to leave home without a portable power bank that will charge your gadgets when you are out. Keep in mind that means to keep yourself occupied on long flights and layovers, you can download movies, podcasts and music to your phone or tablet prior to going.
The airport can be daunting in itself and when you have to get through it all by yourself then it can be a tough situation but with a cool head and knowing how to get to the right place you can cruse through it seemingly like you have been doing it all along. You can also manage to check in online by most airlines 24hours before the flight, which saves you all the time at the airport and gives you time to pick your seat. The golden one is that one must reach in the airport, two hours before any domestic flight; and three hours before a foreign one. This will allow you loads of time to check in, pass through security as well as locate your gate without rushing. Once you have arrived, make sure you get your boarding pass or the departure boards of the airport to ensure the terminal and the boarding gate. Security at airports is an inevitable and at times stressful process in traveling. To ensure it is pain free at all costs, dress comfortably and wear shoes that can be removed easily, do not wear too many or too much jewelry or wear lots of metal based garments. When you are carrying liquids in a carry-on bag, they should be kept in containers measuring 100ml and are carried in a transparent plastic bag that is to be opened easily and is in resealable form. Other big electronics like laptops will require you to take them out of your bag and in a separate basket which will go through screening. During the process, follow the suggestions of the security officers and it is possible to expect such a situation as a random check of a bag; a pleasant and polite attitude will help greatly.
When you are in the plane and you are seated, then it is time to relax and have fun. The person will be traveling alone; this journey can be good time to wonder or simply update on reading or even start a conversation with another passenger. The first step in building your in-flight oasis is by doing a wise choice in selecting your seat. A window position is fabulous as a viewing seat and reclining, an aisle position is easy to use to stretch, or go to the toilet. The atmosphere on board is drier than dry thus take in lots of water during the flight. Long sitting is not comfortable and thus you should walk around the cabin and increase your blood circulation once per hour. Noise-canceling Headphones: A silent flight is a nightmare, you can block the engine noise and conversation with such headset. Although flying could be considered really safe still a few precautions are always better. Make sure you carry with you your passport, your wallet, and phone with you everywhere. Due attention to the environment and care not to lose anything. Most importantly listen to yourself. In the case that something or someone puts you in an awkward situation, do not shy away and talk to a flight attendant.
Your there! Your flight is done and now it is time to start your adventure. However, there are always some last steps to go by before you can just relax. In case you travel to a new country, you will have to pass through immigration and custom procedures. Make sure that you have your passport or other required visa papers at hand, ready to ask questions regarding your travel itinerary. Not to feel the pressure of attempting to get transportation after a long flight, think about booking a shuttle or ride-sharing service to the place to stay prior to the arrival. Alternatively, study about the local transport mode of transport before coming in as it may prove to be a lot cheaper mode of transport. Write down or store the name of your hotel or hostel address in your phone. After you have gotten there, shoot a quick text message to one of your friends or families at home to inform them that you have safely arrived. Go around your neighborhood so that you can acquaint yourself with the surroundings and your orientation. It is your intuition as a solo traveler, which is the greatest asset you should have. Take yourself out of a situation that does not seem safe.
When it comes to fly solo, it is not always a scary experience. A bit of preparation, a bit of street smarts and a pinch of fearless spirit will turn your travel days into a smooth stress free enjoyable part of your journey. Equipping yourself with the skills of flying smart will help you to save lots of money and avoid stressful situations, yet reach your destination with a feeling of confidence, empowerment and eagerness to experience all the marvelous things this world has to offer. Then book that flight, pack that bag and get ready to fly. The world is in wait.
The fascination associated with the possibility to explore on one-s own is indisputable. It is a voyage of personal discovery, a flirt with the unknown, and a never before experienced opportunity to grow as a person. However, prior to the process of losing your head in the cobblestone alleys of a foreign city and discovering your zen in a remote beach, there is the ever important requisite, the flight. To the traveling loner, travel through the air is not merely a means to an end but rather it is the prelude to your big adventure and thus, it is best to know how to do it right so that the rest of your journey will be all right. And this handbook is everything you need to know in order to fly smart as an individual traveler, so that getting to the place is as smooth and fruitful as the place itself. It will teach you how to catch the greatest bargains and how to negotiate your way in cramped airports with ease, making your travel days just one more part of your solo journey and, possibly, a positive element of it. Therefore, fasten your seat belts and we should set forth on this trip.
The financial situation of traveling alone may be scary and the the flight ticket may be the only huge expense. Nevertheless, and with some expertise and clever calculations, this initial firm budget can be saved down a great deal, leaving you more cash to spend on an experience that can actually count. Flexibility is the key to cheap travel. When your departure and arrival dates have to be fixed, then you are a slave to the airline prices. However, in the event you have an elbow room, you can play the system to your benefit. Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturday will tend to be cheaper so it is always good to avoid the busy travelling days like Fridays and Sundays which will save a great deal of money. Off season is also known as shoulder seasons; it is normally the period between peak season and the off peak season and sometimes travelling in a shoulder season can be a pleasant experience, there are fewer tourists and airfare is the most important factor which is lower. In addition, most of the large cities have more than one airport. It is not good enough to go with the most famous one. Larger, smaller airports Budget airlines are usually found in smaller, secondary airports that can provide cheaper routes.
In the era of internet, you have a whole lot of resources to find the best flight deal. Your new best friends are flight comparison websites such as Skyscanner, Google Flights and Momondo where you can search hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies and compare prices in one single search. You need not go through the hassle of checking on the lowering of prices manually; relevant technology can do the job on your behalf. Amazingly, price alerts can be set on flight comparison websites of your choice when it comes to your preferred route, so you can get an email notification the moment there is any fluctuation of the price to find out the perfect time when to book the ticket. One of the best pieces of advice is to browse flights using the incognito or the so-called private mode every time. Cookies can be used by airlines and travel websites; they monitor the searches you make and recommend them to be more expensive when they notice a repeated interest in a specific flight. In some cases, budget airlines are also an awesome deal, particularly when it comes to short flights. But watch their business model; it seems that they add a fee on everything, be it checked luggage, preferred seats, beverages, and snacks during the flight. These are some of the extra expenses that should always be factored in to arrive at an actual comparison of low cost carriers to full service carriers.
Travelling alone is an art of packing. You carry your own luggage and so the less you carry plus the way you have it packed, the more you will be able to move around and no stress. Always when you can, try to stay with a carry-on. Pros are many: you can save money on check luggage, you will never have problems with losing your luggage, and you will make a fast dash through airports without being embroiled. A good way to start is by investing in a good, light weight, and sturdy carry-on, which will fit into the size requirements of most of the major airlines. As a solo traveller you can use a lot of things and in many cases a backpack proves to be more functional than a rolling suitcase: it is lightweight and you never need to worry about finding your way on a busy street or in a crowded transport. Want to have more space and place everything neatly, then packing cubes are a game changer. These little zippered things enable you to organize your possessions in pockets so you need not dig out your entire luggage, to find what you need, and they work to take up some of the space between your clothes thereby allowing them to take up less space. Instead of folding your clothes, roll them up as this will save more space in addition to avoiding wrinkles. Multipurpose toiletries made of solids such as shampoo bars, conditioner bars and solid toothpaste tablets will allow them to easily get past any restrictions on liquids as it will be hard to spill it.
Packing is also about being ruthless and having an essentials-only mindset by saying to yourself whether you really need something. Use a convertible wardrobe, clothes that can be combined and united to form several different images, it is good to take a neutral color scheme and use brighteners with accessories such as scarves or hats. Layers of thin clothing are better than the large, bulky sweaters that you can risk wearing, and putting and taking away to gain or lose coverage. The most important documents and valuables that you own, like your passport, always carry your visa, wallet and any other important medications must be placed in your personal item and never put in a checked baggage. Backup of these vital documents in a secure cloud storage is also a good idea by Storing them in digital form. Lastly, you cannot afford to leave home without a power bank that fits in your pocket. Do not forget to download some movies, podcasts and music to your phone or tablet before you leave to have some fun in long flights and during layovers.
An airport can be hectic at least when you are in it by yourself, but a little preparation together with a composed nature will have you sailing through the process without batting an eyelid. The majority of airlines offer you the opportunity to check-in online, 24 hours prior to the flight departure and consequently save you time in airport and enable you to select the seat of choice. The golden rule would be to get to the airport two hours before any domestic flight and three before any international flight. That way, you will have ample time to check your baggage, go through the security and locate your gate without being in a hurry. Immediately when you arrive, it may be checked on your boarding pass or at the departure screens in the airport, to get your terminal and gate. Airport security is a thing that everyone needs to go through but that is also very stressful. To facilitate it, wear comfortable clothing and easy on and off shoes and wear limited jewelry or pieces of clothing with a lot of metal. When you are traveling with your carry-on liquids, ensure that you have put them in 100ml containers and packed them well in a clear and sealable plastic bag that you can easily have access to. Large electronics such as laptops will have to be taken out of your bag into another bin to be searched through. In the process, do as the security officers say and be ready that you might be checked in terms of the bags, being friendly and patient towards them may be of a great help.
After you are already in the plane, the moment to relax and enjoy the ride comes. The flight will highlight a great chance to have some peace of mind, read things, or even talk with a fellow passenger, as well. The first step toward setting up your in-flight oasis is by selecting the right seat. The window seat is perfect to see and lean on and the aisle seat is of good use when one wants to stretch or go to the washroom. The plane has infamously dry air and therefore, you should drink a lot of water during your flight. Being seated on a chair may not be comfortable in a long time to sit so you need to move around the cabin after every hour to exercise and maintain blood flow. A quiet flight can be saved with noise-cancellation headphones that can allow you to tune out the engine sound and the talk. Flying is on most occasions super safe, however a few precautions should be taken. Never leave your passport, wallet and phone unattended or in a big bag. Don t be onlookers of everything around you, watch your stuff. best of all follow your instincts. In case someone or something bothers you, do not be afraid of supporting it by addressing a flight attendant.
Well done you have arrived! The airplane trip is complete, and your journey will now start. However, it takes some more steps after which you can relax really well. In case you arriving to the new country you will have to pass the immigration and customs. Keep your passport and any related visa documents closer and be ready to be examined on the issues of your travel plans i.e. how long you will be staying and where. To prevent the panic on getting some transportation conveniently after a long-distance flight, you can pre-book a shuttle or a ride-sharing service to your accommodation. Instead, do some research of the local public transportation system so that you have a much less expensive mode of transport before you come as opposed to using taxis. Ensure that your hotel/hostel name and address are available either via writing or saved on your mobile phone. After you have reached and settled down, go and post a brief message to your friend or family back home and tell them that you have safely reached. Go on a tour around the neighborhood where you are staying to know more about the locality and orient yourself. When you are a solo traveler, the best thing you will have is your instincts. When a situation presents itself as unsafe, then leave it.
The issue of flying alone does not necessarily have to be frightening. Scheduling a bit, being quite smart, and adding an adventurous touch to the whole idea, you can turn the days of traveling into one smooth and easy portion of your expedition. With the art of flying smart, not only would you save yourself tons of money and their accompanying stress but you would also emerge at your destination feeling confident, empowered and more than ready to explore all the wonderful things that were in your way. Then book a flight, take out the baggage, get ready to fly. The world is in an abeyance.
In addition to these skills upon which solo travel relies, the really clever solo traveler develops a greater knowledge of the entire ecosystem of the travel industry and becomes a smart tactician who is no longer a passenger but a smart strategic visitor to Earth. Here is where the extra level of flying smart comes in, as personalizing utilization of systems that most casual travelers are oblivious to, as well as transforming layovers into an asset rather than a liability, making an unassailable foundation of safety and well-being far beyond the door-threshhold, into the realm of air travel. So now, it is time to talk about pro-level arts of single nomad that are foresight and knowledge, these are the best friends you can have. The search of low priced flights turns into more advanced game of points, miles and business coalitions. Enrolling in airline loyalty rewards is the most important step even when you do not fly on a regular basis. Individual travelers should count the possibilities of achieving the benefits provided by travel frequently surprising quickly. Pick one or two or more of the large airline alliances, say Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam and attempt to fly with their affiliates. That unifies your mileage earning under one strong account, instead of dividing it in a dozen feeble uselessly small balances. The benefits of such programs referring to earning a status will open the world of comfort providing you with such benefits and opportunities as a priority check-in, additional baggage allowance, and the ability to visit an airport lounge where you can find a world of comfort amidst the bustling activities of a frenetic travel day with plenty of free food.
