Bren on The Road

Category: Travel Tips

How To Make Friends While Travelling Solo
It’s one of the big fears of every solo traveller – how will I meet people?

Don’t worry. I also have this fear every single time I travel.

Will it ever go away?

Probably not.

But I never let it stop me from getting on the plane. After all, that’s part of the beauty of travel – you never really know what’s going to happen. Maybe you’ll make a new best friend. Maybe you’ll meet absolutely nobody. Maybe you’ll fall in love. You never know until you go…

Of course, there’s a few specific things you can do that will make meeting people a little bit easier. Here’s a list of things that I’ve learned to do over the years:
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Stay in hostel dorms

There are many good reasons to stay in a hostel dorm, however networking with other travellers is one of the big ones. Some dorm rooms have up to 20 beds – how could you possibly not meet someone in a room that big? If you’re scared to say hi to them, just ask them a stupid question.

“Hey, do you know if this place does laundry?”

“Hey, do you know the wifi password?”

“Hey, do you know if there’s a post office near here?”

From there, it’ll just be natural to ask what their name is, where they’re from, how long they’ve been travelling, what’s good to do in the city. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting down over a beer and laughing about your hangover the next morning.

This is probably the best way to make friends while travelling solo – the backpacker/hostel community is always fun, laid back, sociable, and willing to meet someone new!

Couchsurfing

While some people are not crazy about the idea of sleeping on a stranger’s couch, most cities will have a ‘Couchsurfing drinks’ which happens once a week or once a month and this is a great place to meet locals and travellers alike. I’ve surfed couches and been to several meetups all over the world – Africa, South America, Asia, and it’s always been a great experience. I’m still in touch with many of those people today.

Best approach: Log on to Couchsurfing and find out when the weekly meetup is – then float the idea with your new hostel dorm mates and head down there together. Don’t be scared – the locals at the meetup are there for the sole reason of meeting people like you – travellers!

Alternatively, you could just post on the wall of the city you’re in that you’re a traveller in town and you’re looking for people to hang out with. Also, do some research first and be specific! I don’t think many people will respond to you if you write “I’m in Bangkok and have no one to hang out with. Message me.” That sounds kinda boring, right?

While in Bangkok I Googled some great street food places and posted up “I’m heading out to try Bangkok street food. Soi 38 is supposed to be one of the best places in town so I’m heading there tomorrow night to check it out! If you wanna join me just let me know.”

I ended up heading out there with a couple of other guys and we had an absolute feast, as well as a few fun nights out in Bangkok after that.

If you’re new to Couchsurfing, check out my beginner’s guide Couchsurfing 101: Everything You Need to Know.

Sign up for activities and classes

When I was in Spain, I took Spanish classes. When I was in China, I took Chinese classes. When I was in Peru, I took Spanish classes again. When I was in the Philippines, I took MMA classes. In Ecuador, salsa. In France, French. In New Zealand, surfing.

Basically, everywhere I go I try to come away with a new skill of some sort.

The plus side of doing things like this is that you will meet a lot of people! It’s very rare that you will be in a class by yourself – you will always have classmates, and naturally you will get along because you obviously share similar interests. Some of the best travel friends I’ve ever made were people I met during activities like this.

Ask the locals questions, even when you don’t have any

Just make a habit of trying to be social.

When you’re sitting in a cafe eating breakfast, talk to the waitress. Ask her questions, what there is to do in the city, what her favourite food is. More often than not, they’ll be just as interested to talk to you as you are to them.

When you’re on the bus, chat to the person next to you, ask where he’s going, what he does for a living. Ask him to suggest something in the city for you to do. Probably 99% of the locals I’ve met are more than willing to have a conversation and make you feel welcome in their city.

When I was in Cusco, I remember having a quick chit chat to the security guard of my Spanish school, asking him about the nightlife and the different parts of the city. That weekend he invited me out with his friends and introduced me to a whole bunch of people. That’s just one of a million examples.

If you make an effort to interact with as many local people as possible you’ll definitely make some local friends that will add a whole new dimension to your trip.

Volunteering

As foreigners, we generally only get to see one side of the city, and that’s because it’s typical for hotels and hostels to be clustered in the safer, more developed areas of town.

I stayed mostly in the Sukhumvit area in Bangkok and the Makati area of Manila, and these places really gave me a shiny view of those cities. The very few times I did venture out, I saw a far less glamorous side of things.

Volunteering is not only a way to give back, but also allows you to see both sides of the city; something I don’t always get to do. The bonus here is making new friends! Every time I’ve volunteered I’ve met amazing people – both foreigners and locals.

The challenge here is finding ethical volunteering opportunities. I advise people to tread carefully when volunteering, particularly with children and orphanage volunteering. Usually projects like this are best suited for long term volunteers and short term volunteers can do more harm than good.

Better opportunities for short-term travellers are adult-education, fundraising, conservation etc. Grassroots Volunteering is a great site that prioritises ethical volunteer projects.

Don’t overplan

This is something that goes far beyond the idea of making friends, but I can’t stress it enough.

Don’t plan everything!

For me, the ideal trip is to just have my flights sorted and everything else is open. I know what day I leave home and I know what day I arrive home. Everything in between is a mystery. Sometimes, I may book 1 or 2 days of accommodation to start with as well.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen travellers strangling themselves, in tears, screaming in frustration because they have to leave a place before they’re ready. And it’s always because they’ve already booked and paid for a tour or a hotel or a flight and can’t get a refund.

A lot of travellers are just wanderers – they usually make plans on a whim and then just go the next day. You might be sitting around the hostel lounge and a bunch of you will see something on the internet and be like, “Hey, guys, look at this island, let’s go there tomorrow and stay for a few days.”

Then your heart sinks. Why?

Because you’ve already pre-booked your plane ticket to the next city tomorrow, paid for your hotel room and put a deposit on a city tour. Silly you.

Keep your plans open, and the adventures with your new best friends will follow.

Understand that you are not alone

Travelling alone is scary, I know.

But guess what?

You’re not the only one.

There’s a whole bunch of you! Everywhere you go you’re going to meet people travelling alone, and funnily enough, they’re just like you. They’re also looking for new friends, new experiences, new adventures. They’re also scared to talk to strangers. They’re also worried about not having any friends.

That’s why travellers generally get along so well – because they understand each other. We’re all away from home. We all miss our friends and family. We all have no one to hang out with.

But now we do.

If I can do it, you can too

I’m an introvert. Talking to strangers is not a natural thing for me. I wasn’t the popular kid in school. I’m not the life of the party. I’ve come out of my shell a little bit since I started travelling, but I generally enjoy being alone.

If you’re like me, you’ll probably spend your first few days alone too. Maybe you’ll just lie in bed and listen to your Ipod or watch TV on your laptop like I did. But sooner or later, you’re going to think to yourself, “Am I really just going to lie here and watch cartoons, or am I going to do what a normal person would do and go and talk to someone?”

And then, when you finally do, you’ll realise all your fears were just ridiculous. You’ll be better for it too, and that’s what personal growth is all about.

Think about it logically. If you see another traveller eating breakfast in the hostel and you go and sit next to him, what do you think will happen?

Do you think he’s going to look at you weird, stand up, throw his plate on the floor, slap you in the face, jump up and down, kick the table over and then scream, “What the f*ck are you doing! Why did you interrupt my breakfast! How dare you talk to me! I don’t want to talk to you! I hate you!”

Or, do you think he’ll just smile at you and say, “Oh hi, I’m John, nice to meet you.”

What’s more likely? What would you do? What would every other person you know do?

Exactly.

So just say hi. You’ll soon realise, you have nothing to worry about.
Travelling soon?
- For affordable accommodation, I highly recommend using Airbnb. You can get $25 of Airbnb credit, absolutely free, using this link.
- Make sure you have travel insurance! If you haven’t bought insurance before, check out my beginner’s guide on what it is, why you need it and how to get it. It might be one of the most important things you ever buy.
- For more useful websites for cheap flights, accommodation and more, you can check out my Resources page.
March 17, 2014
How To Get An Extra 7 Months In Bali (And Save Money While Doing It)

While I was reading the newspaper today I came across this article, called Travel Deals of the week.

Here’s what it says:

“We bring you some of the best travel deals going – both in New Zealand and abroad. Bookmark this new page and check back each week for all the latest specials.”

Of course, this is right down my alley, so I browse through it and by the end of it I’m rolling my eyes. In fact, I’m kind of annoyed. It’s articles like this that make people think travelling is so impossible.

7 nights in Bali for $2,399 NZD ($2,050 USD)

Hotels in Tokyo for $351 NZD a night ($300 USD)

The biggest newspaper in New Zealand is trying to make people believe that these are the “best travel deals” of the week. That’s pretty shitty. Most people I know, including myself, would take one look at those prices and think, “Wow, travelling must be expensive. I’ll never be able to travel to those places! I guess I’ll just wait until I win the lottery.”

And it’s also why I get so many people asking me, “How do you afford to travel so much? You must be a millionaire!”

I’ll tell you right now – I’ve travelled quite a bit, and I would really struggle to spend $2,050 in 7 days. (especially in Bali!). And I’ve never paid anywhere near $300 for a hotel room.

Take a look at this Bali bargain:

“The Our Golfing in Bali package from Our Asia includes three rounds of golf including caddy and cart, or two two-hour spa treatments. It also includes airfares from Auckland, seven nights’ accommodation at the Pan Pacific Bali Nirwana and more. It’s priced from $2,050 USD pp, twin share and must be booked by March 28.”

Let’s bust this myth right now.

7 nights in Bali for $2,050?

You could have 7 weeks in Bali for $2,050.

In fact I’ll prove it right now:

Flights

Return flights from Auckland to Bali for 7 weeks (at around the same time as our “deal”):

$693 USD per person (found using Skyscanner)

Accommodation

7 weeks (49 nights) in a private room with en-suite, A/C, TV + DVD player, free wifi, hot shower, parking, complimentary breakfast, 24 hour reception, and security:

$588 USD per person (found using Agoda)

Proof? It’s for the Warung Coco Hotel, at $12 per person per night.

In case you’re wondering, it looks likes this:

$2,050 for 7 days in Bali?

With a few simple internet searches, and you’ll get yourself 7 weeks in Bali, including flights and a private hotel room, for $1,281 USD.

I put all this together in about 10 minutes. Actually, it was more like 5 minutes and then another 5 to take screenshots and upload the pics for you. If I was planning this trip for real, I’d browse a few more accommodation websites, do some of my cheap flying tricks and I’m 120% sure I could knock another few hundred dollars off that price. There’s a lot of places to go in Bali, so finding something even cheaper wouldn’t be hard at all.

Also let’s not forget; your “travel deal” also included two 2-hour spa treatments. Let’s throw those in, just so we’ve covered everything.

They were going to put you up at the Pan Pacific Nirwana, so I checked out their spa menu. Their 2-hour spas are $70 each.

Since you’ve saved around $800, I guess you can now have 11 spas instead of just 2. Which is good, because you also have an extra 6 weeks of vacation to enjoy them all, along with all the other great things in Bali.

Anyway, you get the point. Travel being expensive is a common misconception that we need to break, because it makes people give up. It stops people from travelling. It makes people think you need thousands of dollars to see the world, and you don’t.

So why do we think like this?

It’s pretty simple. The reason you only hear about fancy 5-star resorts and super expensive holiday packages is because they are the only ones who can afford to advertise. B&B’s and guesthouses can’t afford a newspaper advert. They can’t afford a billboard. Not only that, no one wants to promote them because there’s no money in it. If you were an agent, would you prefer to collect commission on a $500 room or a $5 room? It’s lame, but that’s just the way it is.

This is one of the reasons I built this blog. I wanted to show you that travel is not expensive or impossible. There’s a good chance it’s even cheaper than your life at home right now.

Take a look at this place in Bali, for example. Its dorm rooms are $6 per night, with free breakfast and wifi.

It’s not glamorous, but if you stay here, you can forget about 7 weeks.

$2,050 would pay your flights and accommodation for 7 months.

Wouldn’t that be nice? Paying for a 7 month holiday with one paycheck?

You’ll also notice it has a 79% rating on Hostelworld, which is pretty good (anything above 80% has been excellent, in my experience). If I were heading on a backpacking trip to Bali, this is probably where I’d stay.

This is how people travel for so long – if you look in the right places, be smart with your money and stop yourself from being too fussy, long term travel is not a mystery at all.

For you aspiring world travellers who have been putting your trip in the “too expensive” box, I hope I’ve changed your mind at least a little bit. If you’re planning on travelling somewhere this year, use my searching for flights guide to get a super cheap flight. Use my accommodations guide to find a cheap place to stay. Be your own travel agent and book it all yourself. And if you have any questions, just ask. Hopefully you’ll be able to do more travelling this year than ever before.

Oh, and please don’t bookmark that travel deals page. Unless of course, you’re a millionaire.

Enjoy your 7 months in Bali!

Bren

March 11, 2014
Why Travelling Alone Will Change You Forever
“Are you going by yourself?”

“Yes.”

“But…how do you do that?”

“I get on the plane. And I go. By myself.”

*confused look*

I’ve had this conversation about 900 times. Do I not have any friends? Am I crazy? Am I getting deported? Why am I going alone?

It’s simple. To me, travel is a personal experience. It’s a chance to learn about yourself; who you are and what you want from life. It allows you to see how different the world is and to put your life in perspective. When you remove yourself from your life back home, you’re able to take that time to reflect and see things in your life a little differently. However, when you take a bit of home with you (i.e. a friend), that becomes a lot harder to do.

And then, when you are alone, there are no limitations. You can go north or south, by boat or by train, you can just sit on the street for the whole day and watch the world go by. There are no rules, no one hour lunch breaks. There’s no one else to worry about and no one checking up on you. You can eat whatever you want and sleep wherever you want. For once, you can finally just ask yourself what you want to do today, and then do it. In the process, you’ll learn things about yourself that will surprise even you.

“The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait until that other is ready.”
–Henry David Thoreau

One very common reason people have for not travelling is “I don’t have anyone to go with.”

That’s not a reason. It doesn’t even make sense. Are airlines only selling double passes now? Is there a buy one get one free sale?

Let’s get real. It’s an excuse, and not a very good one.

I get you, though. I’ll be the first to admit – that first solo trip is pretty tough. You wonder what on earth you’re doing. You’re afraid you’ll have no friends and you’ll be sitting in your hotel room watching TV for two weeks. I know, because I’ve been there. Trust me.

My first solo trip was to Málaga, Spain, four years ago. I went there to take a language course, thinking it would be cool adventure to tell my grandchildren. As soon as I got to my room I just lay on the bed for five hours, staring at the ceiling. I fell asleep. I woke up and stared some more.

“I want to go home,” I thought.

I was terrified to leave my room. I wondered who would be out there, what I would say to them. I wanted to eat dinner but I didn’t want to sit in a restaurant by myself. I’d look stupid. I didn’t even know if there was a restaurant nearby. Maybe I’d walk too far and I’d get lost. Maybe people would look at me funny. I couldn’t even speak Spanish! How would I order my food, or ask for directions? My stomach was growling, but I just couldn’t get myself to get up and go.

In the end, I didn’t eat dinner that night. I stayed in my room, watched TV on my laptop and went back to sleep.

Needless to say, things got better. But the only reason things got better was because I started making them better. And I only started making them better because I had to start making them better. If I sat in my room all day like a typical introvert, no one would’ve cared. No one would’ve even known. There was no best friend there to come knocking on my door, to hang out with all day, to talk to at lunch, to go on trips with. The only person I had to depend on was myself.

I started being more sociable. It was uncomfortable at first, but I did it. I made an effort to talk to people and introduce myself. I got to know all my classmates. I learned to say YES to every invitation, no matter what is was for or where we were going. Slowly, I started to see a different side of me. I loved meeting new people, learning new things. I found a new enthusiasm for life. And in the midst of it, I suddenly realised how constrained and limited my life had been back home.

By the end of five weeks, I felt completely at home in Málaga. I remember sitting in the taxi on the way to the airport, trying to talk to my driver who couldn’t speak a word of English. In my broken Spanish, we talked about his wife and kids, his hobbies, what it was like to grow up on the coast. I was amazed that we actually understood each other.

I stared out the window and thought about all the things I’d learned, how different I felt and how much I’d changed in such a short time. Just five weeks earlier I had been a frightened idiot too scared to leave my room to eat. Now I was chatting in a new language with a complete stranger and had made a whole new network of friends from all around the world. When it came time to board the plane, I was crushed to leave, but I was so thankful for the inspiration. Just one short trip led to so many positive changes in my life, ultimately leading me to the journey that I’m on today.

“We cannot expect to grow if we are too afraid or unwilling to change and face challenges. When we exit our everyday, mundane lifestyles to do something different we can experience growth, undiscovered strength, and new abilities within ourselves.”
-Ashley Ormon

People will ask, do you really need to go alone? Can’t you take someone with you? Won’t it be just as awesome?

Well, yes. I’ve travelled with friends and it was a lot of fun. But when you have someone with you, it’s just not the same. You have to agree on where to eat, where to sleep. You need to discuss what sights to see, how long you’ll stay. In times of uncertainty or loneliness you have someone to depend on and seek comfort in. More often than not, you will learn more about your travel buddy than you will learn about yourself. There will always be compromises, and whenever you compromise you are, by definition, settling for something less than what you truly want.

For that reason, I always encourage people to travel alone at least once in their life. An adventure with no limitations, no excuses and no compromises. It might be the scariest thing you’ve ever done, but if you do it, I can promise you three things:
1. It’ll be one trip you’ll never forget.
2. You’ll return home a completely different person than you were before, and people will notice it.
3. You’ll want to do it again.
Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
-Terry Pratchett

Travelling alone has probably been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

I feel like a completely different person than I was 4 years ago.

I believe in myself now.

I can depend on myself.

I’m not afraid to chase my dreams and try and build the life I want.

If something seems hard or awkward, I’ll do it anyway.

Failure excites me.

I want to learn and grow.

I see everything differently than I used to, and I don’t need alcohol or television or video games to have fun.

When I need to, I am able to simply sit in silence and just enjoy the company of myself. The world has become a completely different place.

Have you travelled alone before? Did you love it? Hate it? What’s your experience? Let me know in the comments below!

Travelling alone and…

Looking for tours and activities at an affordable price? I use GetYourGuide! Always great deals and local perks.
For travel insurance, I always use World Nomads – get protected for just a few dollars a day!
Somewhere to stay? Booking.com gives you the biggest selection and the best rates.
March 8, 2014
Solo Female Travel: Ashley Fleckenstein Shares Her Travel Wisdom

I’ve had a lot (well, around 4) questions from girls about the intricacies of travelling alone as a female. Naturally, I’m not very well placed to answer these so I went looking for someone who was. Hopefully a lot of your questions were answered last week in the first interview of my Solo Female Travel Series with Anna Zalazar.

This week, I’m back with another female globetrotter to share her travel wisdom. I found this interview particularly interesting; it seems we both travel in rather different ways so it was nice to hear things from a different angle. Hopefully you guys will learn a few things from her as well.

Anyway, here we go! This week I’m excited to welcome to the blog Ashley Fleckenstein from Ashley Abroad.

Introduce yourself! Who are you?

Hi! I’m Ashley, a 23-year old travel blogger, yogi and francophile. I blog over at AshleyAbroad.com about everything from living in France to backpacking solo in Southeast Asia.

What was the first trip you took abroad by yourself? What was your inspiration?

When I was 20 I spent the summer working as an au pair in France. My boss gave me a week off for vacation so I hastily booked tickets to Ireland and England. When I landed in Dublin a girl working at the hostel told me she loved visiting Galway as a little girl so on a whim I booked a bus ticket there. There is truly nothing more freeing than solo travel!

What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself while travelling solo?

Two main things- that I’m an introvert and I need a community around me.

The biggest concern for solo female travellers is safety. How do you get over that fear? What steps do you take to make sure you stay safe while on the road?

Along with carrying a small can of pepper spray (which I’ve never had to use but gives me peace of mind), I just try to exercise the same caution abroad as I do at home: I don’t wear flashy clothes or jewelry, I avoid rough neighborhoods and I dress somewhat conservatively. I also am willing to pay more for my safety, such as taking a cab home late at night rather than walking.

Picnicking on the Seine in Paris, France

What tips do you have for packing light as a female?

Don’t pack too light- that was my mistake for years. I not only looked goofy in all of my photos, I also had to wash my clothes every three days and never knew what to wear. Packing too light is just as annoying as packing too much- trust me!

And also, this one applies to both men and women- use packing cubes. They make packing and repacking such a non-issue.

Many people are reluctant to travel solo because they feel like they’ll be alone and won’t meet anyone. What’s your experience?

Well, actually you will be alone sometimes. And that’s fine! Bring an iPod for long train and bus rides.

But you will also meet other people. When I travel I rarely have to day-trip or go out alone as I meet other travelers at the hostel. Being a solo traveler forces you to be outgoing and friendly and definitely improves your social skills.

And I only enjoy solo travel for about two weeks- any longer and I find it really exhausting to meet new people all the time.

How do you afford your travels, and what tips can you share for keeping costs down while on the road?

I actually just wrote a whole post about that! But my biggest tip is to sign up for a Charles Schwab debit card, use Mint.com to track expenses and book your flights really far in advance.

I afford my travels by saving up prior to my trips and then working as a freelance writer and blogger on the road. On the road I usually travel really cheaply: hostels, street food, the works.

But once in a while I splurge on a nice meal or hotel room- it’s necessary after a few weeks in noisy hostels! I also shell out for adventure activities like canyoning, scuba-diving or parasailing.

Canyoning in Dalat, Vietnam

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten in your travels?

Probably lamb heart in Istanbul or civet poo coffee in Bali. And I actually thought both were really tasty, believe it or not!

What is one place you have been that was completely different to what you expected it would be?

Southern Thailand was not what I expected. Instead of an untouched paradise I found flea-bitten dogs, snarls of phone wires and beaches filled with drunk backpackers. Despite my initial disappointment I had an absolute blast.

OK, a couple of fun questions – who’s your celebrity crush?

Eddie Redmayne.

And which country have you been to that, in your opinion, has the most handsome men?

Fun question! I really like tall men so I’d have to say Germany or Sweden. And I love an Irish accent.

Outside a temple in Ubud, Bali

Are you a nomad for life? Why? Why not?

Definitely not. I love having a home base and a community. I’d say I’m much more of an expat than a traveler. Ideally I’d love to be self-employed and spend nine months a year in one place and the other three traveling… but only time will tell!

Lastly, for those planning or considering their very first trip alone, what advice do you have for them? And where would you recommend they go?

Western Europe or Southeast Asia. They’re both safe, fascinating and frequented by plenty of other independent travelers. Needless to say Western Europe is much, much more expensive than Southeast Asia.

Ashley Fleckenstein is a baguette-partial freelance writer who moved to Paris at 21 and has been traveling the world ever since. You can read more about her adventures on her blog, ashleyabroad.com. Her ebook The Insider’s Guide To Au Pairing In Europe, which teaches others how to break into au pairing so they can earn an income while travelling the world, is available now.

February 27, 2014
Solo Female Travel: Anna Zalazar Talks Life On The Road

So often I meet girls on the road who say things like, “Gosh I wish I was a guy so I could travel alone too” or “How do you travel by yourself? I guess it’s different for you, you’re a guy.”

It upsets me, because I’ve met many female travellers who, with a little street savvy and common sense, travel the world solo and have the time of their life. In my experience, the world is a friendly place to both guys and girls, and travelling it solo seems to bless you with some of the most unique and memorable experiences that you will have in your lifetime.

Obviously female travel is not something I can write with authority on, so as a treat to my female readers, I’m starting an interview series where female globetrotters will share their tips and advice on solo adventuring around the world. Hopefully they can inspire you to break out of your shell, pack a backpack and hit the road on your own.

Today I’m excited to be joined by the lovely Anna from Annzventures.

Introduce yourself! Who are you?

I’m Anna and I’m an adventurer, storyteller and writer at Annzventures.com.

What was the first trip you took abroad by yourself? What was your inspiration?

I’ve always been an adventurer at heart and have always been fascinated by US National Parks. When I was a little girl, I used to just see these natural wonders in books and would day dream of one day seeing them. When I came to America, I said I’ll make my dreams come true. So in 2008, I took a break from work and went for a long weekend of nature adventure to Jackson Hole Wyoming by myself. Nobody believed me until I came back with pictures. To date, it’s still on the top of my most memorable travel experiences.

What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself while travelling solo?

That I’m always in good company. My solo travels have taught me to really enjoy not only life but also the company of myself. Fun has always been on top of my priorities and it’s something I take with me wherever I go.

Anna in Edinburgh, Scotland

The biggest concern for travelling solo as a female is safety. How do you get over that fear? What steps do you take to make sure you stay safe while on the road?

I think every female who has traveled solo, whether short term or long term will always have some fear and each one has a different approach to it.

Here are my tips:

Blend in – I spent a year traveling solo in Asia so I pretty much blended in. I’m naturally fair skinned which is ideal for Asians but I intentionally made myself as tanned as I can be so not to attract too much attention from locals.

Stay present – Try to stay as present and aware of your surroundings wherever you may be. Also, I cannot stress this enough but easy on the alcohol.

Walk tall – Knowing any form of self-defense is something I recommend every woman whether she wants to travel or not. I’ve had self-defense training from my years of practicing martial arts so it’s something I will always have with me. This has given me confidence that I can protect myself if need be.

Final tip – The best way to keep yourself safe is to avoid being seen as a target. Your posture can say so much about you and people can smell weakness from afar. But if someone sees you as a confident and strong woman, your chances of being on the safe side will always be higher. Of course anything can go wrong but knowing some form of self-defense puts you in a much better position.

What tips do you have for packing light as a female?

Dresses! If you’re traveling to warm or hot and humid countries, pack dresses. Not only is it one piece of clothing, it’s also a chic way to feel very feminine wherever you might be traveling.

Many people are reluctant to travel solo because they feel like they’ll be alone and won’t meet anyone. What’s your experience?

The beginning of a solo trip will be the most challenging, added to that the fact that you’re away from your comfort zone. But I always tell people that as long as you’re not traveling to places where no human being lives, chances are you will meet people. The truth is it will only take a few hours before you start meeting people in a similar situation and you will have instant travel friends.

Anna in Milan, Italy

How do you afford your travels, and what tips can you share for keeping costs down while on the road?

I worked in the US for five years saving money before I set off to do long-term travel. I’m also a big travel hacker and have saved a ton of air miles that kept my airfare costs to the minimum. In terms of affording travel, there really is no secret to it, you work, you save then you take off.

For keeping costs down, my number one rule is negotiate. I grew up in the Philippines so it’s something I’m naturally skilled at. But I know a lot of people are not comfortable doing this. They say you can only do it in Asia, but in my experience, I’ve also received better deals while I was traveling in Europe. Like for instance, I got free dinners included in my stay at a hostel in Portugal. Negotiating is simply just asking if they can give you a discount or maybe some freebies.

Next to negotiating is to travel slow. Constantly moving from one place to another is not only exhausting, it’s also more expensive. Staying longer at cities and islands I loved has enabled me to enjoy my travels more and keep my costs down.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten in your travels?

None. Food is probably the only thing that I’m not adventurous with. I’m very picky with what I eat and try to stay as healthy as possible even on the road.

Anna at Brighton Beach, England

What is one place you have been that was completely different to what you expected it would be?

London. I avoided this city in my trips to Europe for the longest time because I thought it was just too expensive and too cold. Alas, a friend invited me and I was surprised to find out that you can still travel on a budget in this city and despite the erratic weather, it’s one of the most fun cities I’ve ever been to. At first I hated it, then it became one of my favorite cities.

OK, a couple of fun questions – who’s your celebrity crush?

Bryan Greenberg.

And, which country have you been to that, in your opinion, has the most handsome men?

Ha! I’m answering this one for the ladies. If we’re talking people watching and eye candies, my girlfriends, gay friends and I enjoyed it the most in Spain and England specifically Madrid and London. I can even throw in Portugal and Switzerland for the runner ups. But I’ve always found American men not only handsome but also having the most magnetic personalities even in my travels so my vote actually goes to USA. 😉

Anna in Nevada

Are you a nomad for life? Why? Why not?

A nomad for life, no. If I want to travel forever, I can definitely do it and will for sure find ways in making it possible. But after having traveled for so long, I found myself craving having a home to build and keep my habits. I’m quite an ambitious woman so I tend to think long term. I’m working on different areas of my life and it’s more manageable for me to achieve my personal goals if I have a home base.

For me it’s all about finding your balance, following your bliss and not what other people think you should be doing. I don’t let other people’s ideas, no matter how shiny they might seem, define what my dreams will be. It’s all about creating a life I love and the one that suits me. I found that after leaving New York to see the world, I still find it to be one of the best cities in the world and have been enjoying life back here. Also, geographically speaking, it’s the best place to have a base for my future travels, just like Manila is my base in Asia. I’m very lucky to have the best of both worlds. Nomad for life, not for me. But traveler for life, definitely!

Lastly, for those planning or considering their very first trip alone, what advice do you have for them? And where would you recommend they go?

My advice for them is very simple. Don’t overplan, save as much as you can, book a ticket and just go. For first timers, go to Thailand. But if you can go a little further away from your comfort zone, I’d say Philippines.

Anna is the Chief Adventure Officer of Annzventures.com. She believes that every woman should do solo travel at least once in her life and her blog is all about inspiring women to do so. You can continue to follow her adventures at www.annzventures.com, or connect with her on Twitter at @AnnaZalazar.

What are your experiences with solo female travel? Tips? Questions? Inspirations? Horror stories? We’d love to hear them, write them up in the comments below!

Also be sure to check out her blog over at Annzventures. If you have a question, chances are she has already answered it!

Until next time, travellers.

February 19, 2014
17 Tips For First Timers In Africa

Travelling to Africa for the first time can freak people out. All we seem to know about the place is that it’s a land full of war, disease, poverty and starving children.

But that’s not really true.

Africa is a beautiful continent, full of fast developing nations and incredibly rich in culture and diversity. If it’s soon going to be your first time in Africa, it doesn’t matter whether you’re going on safari in Kenya, doing a road trip through Namibia, exploring Tanzania, visiting the winding alleys of Morocco, or photo bombing the great pyramids of Egypt; it’s surely going to be like no other place you’ve been on earth.

With that in mind, here’s a few things you’ll need to know before you take that first trip into the motherland.

1. Get travel insurance!

After almost a decade of full time travel I can tell you my #1 travel tip is this: Never (ever ever ever ever ever) travel without travel insurance!

And that advice is x100 when travelling through Africa, especially if it’s your first time!

Travel insurance usually will cost you between $2 and $5 a day but will literally save you tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in the event of an accident, and possibly even save your life.

If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Put your plans on hold and save for a few more months until you can.

What happens when you buy travel insurance?

If your bus crashes and you break a leg, break some ribs, go into a coma, or are going to die, your travel insurance will get you the highest quality care or evacuate you to somewhere that can provide it. If you die, they’ll get the body home for your family. If you’re riding a bike and you smash into someone’s expensive car, they’ll pay for it. If your bag gets lost, you’ll get a few thousand dollars to buy clothes and shoes and toiletries. If you get malaria or dengue and need to spend a week in hospital, it won’t cost you $50,000 like it costs other uninsured (and stupid) travellers. It will cost you nothing.

Travel insurance is the first thing you should buy before you even book your air ticket or hotel. That way, your trip is covered if you need to cancel! (It’s not covered if you need to cancel and then decide to buy insurance after).

If you’re looking for a travel insurance provider, I have been using SafetyWing for many years and still use them today. SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance designed specifically for nomads, and for a modest monthly payment you can stay insured while you travel, no matter how long you’re on the road. As a travel blogger who is constantly on the road for up to a year at a time, it’s perfect for me.

However, you can also buy travel insurance for specific travel periods, so they’re also great for short-term travels and your standard vacations too.

Their Nomad Insurance Essential Plan gives you full medical cover (up to $250k), you can upgrade to the Complete Plan for $1.5m medical cover and full travel cover to include things like lost luggage and trip cancellations (well worth it in Africa!). They cover 180 countries, so you’re well covered on the continent and you can even buy your policy in the middle of the your trip. You can get a free quote on a policy here!

I also have a guide explaining everything you need to know about travel insurance, which I highly recommend you read. Click here to open the guide in a new tab.

Sunrise in Namibia

2. Take new US Dollar Bills

USD is widely accepted in Africa, and for many visas you are required to pay in USD. Therefore it’s a good idea to carry a good stack of fifties on you for whenever the need arises. Some countries like Liberia and Zimbabwe actually use the USD for daily business.

Make sure you take large bills no older than Series 2009 and even newer if possible. On my first trip to Africa I took several bills older than this, and also some $5 and $1 bills, only to find out most money changers and tour operators won’t accept them. The only chance you’ll have to get rid of these bills is souvenir sellers on the streets.

Also, to avoid carrying large amounts of cash try and use the ATM’s where possible – they’re widespread and accept credit cards and Plus cards. This will save you the anxiety of carrying large bundles of cash in your pockets.

ATM withdrawals are safe and easy if you have a card designed for travel. For all my travels, I use an N26 card.

3. Take an unlocked smartphone

The first time I went to Africa I just took a very old brick phone, but times have changed a lot since then!

Cellphone carriers are now surprisingly good. 4G is now available in most places and cheap – you might only pay $10 or so for unlimited data for a month.

Some people think Africa is so backward that people are still sending letters by pidgeon, but those people have been fooled. The “Nokia revolution” has totally transformed Africa, and in many ways they’re ahead of the western world in this regard. Even farmers living in small huts way out in the villages have cellphones and even do business over Whatsapp and receive payments in mobile money.

Make sure you take an unlocked Android or iPhone, and buy a sim when you arrive. Basically every country on the continent has a decent cell and data network and it’s affordable. Your phone must be unlocked to use it. Alternatively, you could always just buy a cheap Huawei cellphone when you arrive.

Village life, Tanzania

4. Malaria Awareness

Malaria is no joke – it’s a big problem in Africa and millions die from it every year. However, don’t let the fear of this ruin your trip. Malaria is easy to prevent and with the proper precautions you’ll be fine.

Malarone and Doxycycline are the two most common anti malarials. Malarone is the more expensive option (around $7 a pill), but has the least side effects.

Also, since a malaria treatment was developed in 2015, it’s a less serious issue than it used to be. However, that doesn’t mean you want to catch it!

Thankfully, malaria is not easy to catch, it’s a specific species of mosquito that carries it and it struggles to live at altitudes above 1,500m. That means in places like Addis Ababa and Nairobi you can relax a little, however seaside towns like Zanzibar and Mombasa require extra vigilance. The obvious prevention method here is to use insect repellent whenever outdoors at night, in the bush, or wherever mosquitoes might be found. If you don’t get bitten, you’re safe!

5. Take Sunscreen

This can be hard to find in some African countries, simply because the local population have no need for it.

When you do find it, it’ll be expensive and you’ll be lucky to find your favourite brand. Take your own from home.

Sahara desert, Morocco

6. Protect yourself from Traveler’s Diarrhea!

This is one of my best Africa travel tips. While food hygiene is actually quite good in Africa, and there is a very strong culture around washing hands and washing dishes and washing vegetables very thoroughly, traveler’s diarrhea still happens.

The thing that lets them down is the potability of their water supplies.

Most tap water in Africa is not safely drinkable for westerners. However, luckily there is a way for you to protect yourself against unsafe water and stomach problems in general. I’ve travelled to some of the most undeveloped countries in the world and haven’t had traveler’s diarrhea for years.

What’s the secret?

Probiotics.

Probiotics are the gut flora in your digestive system that help build your immune system and break down any nasties in your stomach. Studies have shown that superloading with probiotics and taking them regularly during a trip greatly decreases the risk of traveller’s diarrhea, and is also excellent for your health in general. My favourite probiotic to take is this one, which has 50 billion cultures per tablet and works amazingly.

I have a full blog post on preventing traveller’s diarrhea which is mandatory reading for anyone visiting Africa for the first (and second and third) time. You can click here to go there now.

Street food, Mombasa

7. Always dress down!

Remember that poverty is still a big problem in Africa, and you’ll come across many people who struggle day to day, including an abundance of homeless people and street kids.

While they don’t present any danger in most cases, it helps to not flaunt your expensive things and draw attention to yourself. Assuming your face is not African, you’re already going to draw attention in rural places and often in cities too, so try and stay as low key as possible. This means not wearing shiny watches, rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces. Use cheap sunglasses, shoes and backpacks. This advice also applies to a lot of Southeast Asia and Latin America too.

Another thing you should be mindful of is the culture. While short shorts and low cut blouses and tank tops might be normal to wear back home, they’re not in most of Africa. That means easy on the bling and no flashy clothes. For the ladies, try and stay covered up as best as possible.

Rural life, Ethiopia

8. Take a torch, powerbank, and headlamp

Powercuts are widespread and frequent in Africa, especially smaller African cities, and many areas don’t have electricity. While the torch on your phone is usually sufficient, I’d highly recommend taking a headlamp, especially if you’re going hiking, camping, on safari, or visiting rural areas. Trust me, you’ll thank me later!

I use this headlamp and highly recommend it.

Also, take a good powerbank. I use this one and it has saved my butt on many occassions!

9. Don’t take white clothing!

One thing you’ll notice about many African cities is not all the roads and footpaths are paved. The sidewalks are often dirt or gravel and this leads to a lot of dust and dirt in the air.

For this reason, I always avoid taking white clothes, especially socks! They get brown very quickly, and in some places you will end up hand-washing them as washing machines are rare outside the big cities. On my first trip to Africa I took a lot of white t-shirts and socks, and they were all brown and beige by the time I got home.

Also, take a pair of sunglasses for when you’re wandering around. Your eyes will thank you.

Rural Uganda

10. Don’t take photos of locals without permission

You’re going to come across some amazing photo opportunities of local people doing things you’ve never seen before. While your first inclination may be to pull out the camera and snap, try to refrain from doing so as local people will often take offense at you taking photos of them.

In fact, many people will approach you and ask you for money if they catch you.

You can use your zoom and take your snaps from afar or just be discreet, but there is a proper way for taking photos in Africa. You ask permission first, and they say yes, go ahead and take it, and if they say no, you say thank you and move on. Many people will in fact be fine with you taking their photo and will ask to see it afterwards. Don’t be alarmed if they ask for a tip, it is quite normal and will keep the peace for you to give them a coin or a small bill (a few cents to a dollar and no more).

It will keep the peace and they will appreciate your respect.

Street seller, Zanzibar

11. Take hand sanitizer!

If you’re planning a few trips off the beaten track you’re bound to be touching all sorts of dirty things and have local children jumping all over you. Keeping a bottle of this handy is a lifesaver.

Hard to find in some places, so take your own from home.

12. Carry A Packet Of Baby Wipes

Especially if going on safari, camping, hiking, or any outdoors activity. Trust me, they’ll come in handy!

Kenyan food!

13. Don’t connect to Wifi without protection!

Most places in Africa have wifi now but security isn’t up to the level that we’re used to.

I’d highly recommend (no, I insist) that you get a VPN before you start connecting to wifi networks in hotels/cafes/restaurants etc. This will encrypt all your connections and ensure your activity is secure, which is particularly important if you’ll be accessing bank details online, Paypal, credit cards, or any other sensitive information.

The amount of celebrities and just regular people that continue to get their passwords scraped and online accounts broken into is proof enough. You need to secure your connection and the best way to do that is with a VPN.

I use Private Internet Access and have been for many years, and recommend them highly.

If you’re new to this stuff I’ve got an article about internet security while travelling here!

Bayimba Festival, Kampala

14. Be smart with hustlers

While walking around the streets you’ll get some unwanted attention. Guys will try to sell you arts and crafts or lure you to souvenir stores in an effort to earn a commission. If you’re in bars and clubs late at night, you’ll get propositioned by working ladies.

That’s fine if you’re interested, but chances are you’re not. If any case these people are harmless and are just an annoyance more than anything else, so the trick is to just be cool and relaxed rather than hostile.

When they ask if it’s your first time visiting just say “No, I come every year, my brother lives here” or something like that. Once they realise you’re not a clueless tourist they’ll most likely chit chat with you for 10 more seconds before moving on to a more promising target.

I remember getting off the bus in Tanzania one year and before my feet have even touched the ground some dude had his hand on my shoulder screaming “Taxi my friend? My friend? Taxi!?”

I ignored him and he goes on, “Your first time in Africa, my friend?”

I shook my head. “My family lives here.”

“Oh! You have African wife?”

I started laughing and turned to him and noded seriously. “Ndiyo, kaka” (yes, my brother).

He smiled with that knowing look in his eyes, and then disappeared so fast that even I was surprised. I turned my head to nod him off and he’s already back at the bus door, hassling someone else. This is a really common occurrence and it’s a drag at first but don’t let it ruin your trip. It’s harmless and just requires a little travel savvy. Always be polite, never say it’s your first time in the country, and if in doubt, just don’t say anything! Just smile and be on your way.

15. If you find a good taxi driver, hold onto him!

Once you land in the country, get the phone number of a reliable taxi driver. If your hotel sends a driver to the airport and you get to your hotel alive, get his number. Otherwise ask the hotel staff for a reliable taxi. Keep his number in your cellphone or even better, memorise it. You can call him whenever you’re in a fix, especially if you’re stuck somewhere after dark, making sure you’ll never be stuck without a ride home in the night.

Also, in many of the major cities they now have Uber, so make sure you download it! It’s cheap and has been extremely useful for me, especially as you can avoid the whole haggling part of getting a taxi. But especially in Africa, a taxi driver you know personally is always the first choice.

Fish market, Zanzibar

16. Pack a first aid kit

A standard first aid kit can come in handy in a place where ambulances are scarce and hospital helicopters don’t exist.

That means bandages, antiseptics, prescription antibiotics, a pocketknife, sterile needles (some hospitals don’t have these), DEET, anti diarrheals and painkillers.

Most of these things you can find in major African cities, but it’s for peace of mind more than anything. Also they’re hard to find in some rural areas.

17. Use your common sense and stay safe!

Despite what people think Africa is not a wild, lawless place. Of course there’s crime, but common sense will be sufficient to keep you safe. Don’t go out alone at night – take a local male with you. When you arrive in the country, ask someone you can trust such as a tour guide or hotel staff about the danger spots in the city. If you always have an escort at night and don’t go wandering, you’ll be in no more danger than you would be in your home country.

I’ve been to every continent and Africa is by far my favourite! Go, explore, discover, enjoy.

Happy travels!

Looking for tours and activities at an affordable price? I use GetYourGuide! Always great deals and local perks.
For travel insurance, I always use World Nomads – get protected for just a few dollars a day!
Somewhere to stay? Booking.com gives you the biggest selection and the best rates.

Looking for more Africa Travel Tips? Check out my posts on places like Nairobi, Abidjan, Cape Town and Tanzania! Also I have many city guides on major African cities here!

December 2, 2013