Here, in no particular order, are what I think are the Ten Commandments of non-resort/-cruise solo travel.
2. Expect little
3. Learn how to cope with stress
4. You will be discomfited
5. Don't eat in the main square
6. Savour the good moments
7. Be open
8. Don't become impatient
9. Don't be afraid to ask
10. Prepare mentally
1. People make a place great
No matter where you go you will encounter other people. Without other people the places you visit tend to be lonely and even the most beautiful places can be boring. The most remote nature hike is made infinitely better by having good company. Always try to meet new people and when you do meet good people - cultivate their friendship. The people you spend time with make a place fun, exciting and great - the place merely provides setting.
2. Expect little
When you expect too much you will always be disappointed. When you expect nothing you tend to know nothing and can miss out on things you'd like to see. Do the barest minimum of research, but keep your expectations as low as possible and you'll always enjoy the places you visit.
3. Learn how to cope with stress
You are going to make mistakes. You, and sometimes other people, are going to put you in positions that would normally cause you to panic at home. Find a coping mechanism to deal with that stress. Stay calm no matter the circumstances, forget past mistakes, even if they just happened, and figure out how to get on with it.
4. You will be discomfited
While traveling there will always be something bothering you. Develop a method for coping with frequent minor discomforts. Sunburn, sore legs & feet, cuts & bruises, bug bites, sickness, uncomfortable beds, wet clothes, freezing cold showers, scalding hot showers, no showers at all, a severe lack of privacy, annoying people and many other minor (and sometimes major!) discomforts will plague you constantly. Don't let them get to you, in the grand scheme of things, they are unimportant.
5. Never eat in the main square
The price of food in a main square, excepting shit American fast food, is always going to be two to three times the cost of the food one street over. Wherever you're staying find out from the hostel/hotel staff where the cheapest area of town is, or what restaurants they personally eat at. It's usually the next district over from the town centre - a 10 minute walk in most cases - and the food is often better AND local, in addition to being affordable.
6. Savour the good moments
This is why you travel. If you, like me, struggle to recognize them as they are happening - that sucks. But, the rare times you do realize how great a moment is - savour it. The few moments, days or periods make up for all the discomfort, stress and annoyance. The good moments are what other people dream about experiencing - capture them in your mind first and with your camera second (if even possible!).
7. Be open
Do you travel to experience what you could experience at home? No! Try new foods and drinks, say hello and make eye contact with random people (commandment #1!), and never let your fear tell you no. Take a chance on something you've never heard of and it might lead to one of the best experiences of your life. I'm not advocating being risky, still be wary, but never let your personal inhibitions or petty fears stop you from trying something new.
8. Don't become impatient
You will have to wait a lot. Wait for a flight, coach or train. Wait to check in. Wait in a queue. Wait while you travel from place to place with your butt parked in a chair for hours. Don't let yourself get annoyed. People that get annoyed by this tend to become angry and often annoy those around them - even if just through body language. Always have a means of entertaining yourself no matter where you are, and relax, you're on holidays!
9. Don't be afraid to ask
You will get lost. You will get confused. You won't know what, or even how, to order. Don't be afraid to ask for help or for recommendations. The people from the countries you travel to will see you as a curiosity, and more often than not, they will want to help you. Even if its just makeshift sign language and pointing at a map to get you headed in the right direction or you smiling and waving your arms around to order food. Most people will meet you half way, even if you can't speak a common language.
10. Prepare mentally
The most important of my travel commandments is mental preparation. I will emphasize nothing more! Always prepare yourself: whether its having stress coping mechanisms, point A to point B contingency plans or simple lies to get away from creepy people. There is no way to be 100% ready for everything, which is where #3 comes in, but the further you travel and the more experienced you get, the better prepared you will be to cope with whatever gets thrown at you.
Just because I can't stress this last point enough: you need to figure out which part of travel worries you the most and find a way to always be able to cope with it.
For me, I HATE being lost and I get unreasonably worried when I don't know where I am or how I'm going to get to where I want to be. I carry paper maps, google maps on my phone, local maps from hostels and I get directions from random people. So far, I've yet to be truly lost (I have been intentionally lost, though!) the entire trip and that has kept my stress levels so in check I have rarely felt stressed at all. Figure out what causes you the most stress and find a coping mechanism to deal with it.
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