As I have traveled for a few years now, I have come across the best tips I can give a first time traveler. Use these to make your first adventure alone a successful one.
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1 ~ Leave your prescious clothes at home. Your clothes will take a beating while traveling. Make sure to pack for the right season. You don't want a heavy coat in August. A smaller bag that can fit 7-10 days worth of clothes is perfect for a year long trip. Be sure to pack average priced clothes and the other half should be clothes you don't care about. If you buy new clothes along the way, donate the older clothes to a Humana (the Goodwill of Europe).
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2 ~ Before you leave for your trip, pack all your gear into your bag. Walk around the block a few times with your pack. This will help access what you need and don't need. It sucks having too much weight on your shoulders.
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3 ~ Be ready to do things you've never tried before. Eat weird dishes in each country, try skydiving or paragliding and sure to always document your adventures.
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4 ~ When traveling, you'll make an impression on everyone you meet. Be a respectful person no matter who you are around. Opportunities can arise if your attitude and treatment toward others is positive.
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5 ~ There will always be a problem you'll face in each city, country and continent. There's no way around some situations. Make sure to stay calm and composed. The more you freak out, the worse the situation will get.
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6 ~ Always be open-minded to new things you come across. The whole point of traveling is to experience things you've never seen or done before. If you close out certain opportunities, you won't get the best experience while abroad. Never say no unless the situation will harm you, create an awkward situation or cost a lot of money. No one likes a party pooper.
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7 ~ Always have a spare roll of toilet paper... Especially in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southcentral Asia.
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8 ~ Leave all expectations at home. Don't expect anything when you are in another country. Most of the time you will be wrong. As you travel a second time in the same country, your expectations still shouldn't change. Nothing is certain.
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9 ~ Always have enough memory cards, chargers and power sources for your electronics. When you get out into this beautiful world, you'll want to document everything you see. I carry five SD cards that have a 10,000 photo max. Always be ready for the shot.
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10 ~ As a solo traveler, always read up on the hostels you stay at. Your first few hours in a new city are crucial. Make sure to pick a hostel that is known for meeting cool people. It's the worst when a hostel has a terrible meeting area. Don't be nervous about meeting new people in each city. They are in the exact some situation as you. It's not where you go, it's who you meet along the way.
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11 ~ Each country has a different culture and lifestyle. Never say a country's way of life is backward or terrible. Not every country has the same opportunities as the USA or Western Europe. There will be culture difference everywhere you go. Some countries you will have a culture shock and won't know what to do. Stay calm, accept the facts of the culture and make the most of it. The whole point of traveling is to immerse yourself in as many cultures as possible.
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12 ~ Make sure to buy travel health insurance. Also, be sure to have your valuables insured through cheaper avenues.
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13 ~ When transporting your gear, make sure to lock up the pocket with your valuables. And, when you set down your bag, make sure your leg is in one of the loops. That way if someone tries to steal your bag while sleeping, they won't get away with your passport and laptop.
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14 ~ Always trust your gut. If the situation doesn't feel right, more likely than not it's probably a bad idea. Jumping off a 50 foot cliff with jagged rocks nearby isn't a great idea. Always consider the situation with common sense.
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15 ~ Take photos of your health insurance card, passport, driver's license and any other important documents. Hostels, hotels and transportation to other countries will ask to see some kind of identification. If you lose anything, you'll have a back up.
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16 ~ Bring a language book to help you learn simple phrases in each country. This will go a long ways when ordering food and transportation.
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17 ~ Become friends with locals. Locals are the best people to know for hidden gems. I found a wakeboarding and white sand beach in the middle of farm lands in Warsaw, Poland because of a local. This is a must if you can make it happen.
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18 ~ Always try the local cuisine in every country even if it isn't your favorite type of food. Don't be scared to try weird food. I've eaten cow testicles, horse, sheep intestines, Taiwanese snails and more. These are the best stories.
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19 ~ Make sure to do things you'd never do in a million years. You'll look back and thank yourself.
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20 ~ Try to do something new every single day. It can be a new food, a new city or a new activity.
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21 ~ Never stay in your hostel unless you need to do some work. A hostel should only be used for sleeping.
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22 ~ When traveling by plane, bus, train, etc., be sure to pack your day bag for the trip. Always have water, snacks, entertainment and a pillow for those long rides. You'll thank yourself later.
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23 ~ Never be afraid to smile at random strangers. Locals in each country are friendly and open to foreigners. It will get you a lot further around the world than you think.
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24 ~ Do research a day or two before traveling to your next city or country. Always be prepared. It's hard to plan things a day before in Western Europe/USA and not spend a fortune. Always be one step ahead.
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25 ~ Enjoy every second of your trip. This experience will change your life. There's nothing better than learning the world as you go. No textbook will teach you the ways of love, peace, compassion and adventure as you travel. You'll learn who you are as a person the more you put yourself in uncomfortable situations. After your first trip, traveling will become easy. Traveling alone is easier than you think.
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