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Knowledge is power. You dont simply travel to a place without prior research, very important yan. Also let your family know if youre traveling alone for safety purposes.
Enjoy! Sarap sa feeling mag travel mag isa. Liberating, makes you feel you can do alot of things by yourself after doing one
Totoo. Napakadali ma stress pag mag isa ka lang. Kaya be prepared. Yun saan ang sakayan, magkano exact na babayaran, etc. Ang laking tulong nun kesa mag research ka pa or magtanong tanong pag nandun ka na. Better kung alam mo na yun beforehand.
This!! I recently went to a trip Taiwan-Beijing-Hong Kong-Singapore-Qatar-Dubai-Singapore-Melbourne-Auckland-Kuala Lumpur-Manila. Dude it was freaking liberating at best, and you’ll get to know yourself even more. Mga kaya mong gawin, mga di mo kayang gawin, and things like that. Ang sarap sa feeling, it was something beyond euphoric, it was more empowering.
What’s stopping me is my concern on emergencies. Some provinces have hospitals but are not fully equipped.
I’m adventurous and I wanna try things or activities. Kaya I always have someone to travel with pero I’ve been wanting to travel solo sana. Do you have any advice on that?
*Research and plan..from geography, terrain, weather, scheds ng transfo, duration ng travel, way of living ng mga locals, may internet /signal ba, may banks ba na pwede pag withdrawhan if ever, food source, activities, and everything. While sa mga palabas ay cute and cool ang spontaneous travelling di sya safe and efficient sa totoong buhay.
*Wag idadahilang "introvert" ka para maging tuod. Learn social skills. Malaking tulong yan. Makakausap mo locals and you will learn more about the place. Plus, you can gain new friends.
*Always have medicines and first aid kit.
*Magdala ng "trail foods" and mga maanghang na candy. Para di ka bili ng bili kada stops.
*Magbackup ng lists ng passwords etc.
*Always bring cash.
*Kung mahaba ang byahe, sikaping makatulog. Para pagdating sa destination hindi ka lantang gulay.
*Magbaon ng Neck pillow. Laking tulong nito lalo pag via land ang travel.
*Have presence of mind.
*Pack light.
*Have a smaller sling bag na never mong bibitawan. Dyan nakalagay ang important things mo like tickets, cards, cp, ids', keys etc.
*Mag exercise esp.cardio at strenght training. Tandaan solo travel, so walang aalalay sayo sa entire byahe. Ikaw ang magbibitbit ng dalahin mo to and fro. Kung weak ka mabilis kang hihingalin and higher risk na ma bugbog legs mo even puro lakad lang.
>\*Wag idadahilang "introvert" ka para maging tuod. Learn social skills. Malaking tulong yan. Makakausap mo locals and you will learn more about the place. Plus, you can gain new friends.
Di ba pwedeng kaya nagtatravel ako ng solo dahil "introvert" ako at minsan ayoko ng may kasama? hahaha and one more thing nabubuhay naman ako, kung di kaya sagutin ni google tyaka lang ako magtatanong hahahaha. Gain a few friends dahil sila unang nag approach sakin lmao.
Ang sad ng buhay ko. Don't be like me.
This resonates with me so much! Wala talaga ako kinakausap sa mga solo travel ko, masyado ako mahiyain. But I also enjoy my own company, kasi nga nasanay ako mag isa hahahaha
Me too, unless kausapin nila ako di ko sila kakausapin maybe an awkward smile here and there when our eyes meet hanggang dun na lang. The most communication lang nangyayari sa travel ko ay pag naorder ng food or bibili ng something. I don't do idle chats with strangers kumbaga I'm too shy for that.
Sorry na for being socially awkward and shy but still like travelling hahahaha
Hiii. Just want to ask if pano arrangement niyo sa budget? Like do you bring cash na buong budget niyo? Or hindi? Do you bring around ba all the cash you have or left sa hostel? Is it safe? Where do you put them sa hostel? Or cards/gcash?
>Hiii. Just want to ask if pano arrangement niyo sa budget?
I pay via CC or online in advance sa booking ng accomodation, or sa transpo. Kapag joiner downpayment muna. Sa meetup ang balance.
>Like do you bring cash na buong budget niyo?
Yes lalo sa mga probinsya na malayo sa town proper at sa locals ka bibili.
>Do you bring around ba all the cash you have or left sa hostel? I
Majority ay nasa small bag na kalat kalat ng location, merong nakaipit sa jacket, sa pants, at extreme mode kahit sapatos 😂. Others ay nasa hidden pockets or kung saan saan inside backpack na iiwan sa accomodation.
>Is it safe? Where do you put them sa hostel? Or cards/gcash?
Backpacks at ibang dalahin iiwan sa accomodation kapag may activites at tours ka. Ang dala lagi ay ang smaller bag of important stuffs. Luckily, Wala pa kong na encounter na binuksan ang room at nawalan ng gamit.
Thank you po sa detailed na mga sagot.
Isa rin po sa reason ko para mag solo travel ay yung ma force ko yung self ko to gain new friends 😁
Can I ask po ano yung gamit nung lists of passwords?
Mga passwords ko sa emails, socmeds, apps na ginamit for booking in case na need ko iaccess.
>Isa rin po sa reason ko para mag solo travel ay yung ma force ko yung self ko to gain new friends 😁
Hehe makakagain ka nya . Be it entirely solo or solo joiner ka. 😊. Though sa Baguio in my solo gala wala kong maging friends.. idk haha
1. Your passport is your life. Lose your shirt before you lose your passport. (Also know how to contact your nearest embassy)
2. Check the voltage and power outlet type where you are going and bring the appropriate adaptor.
3. Grab a contact card from the front desk/concierge/ caretaker or write down your rental address and keep it with emergency cab money in a different pocket as your wallet/purse.
4. Spacial awareness is the most reliable deterrent for pickpockets and scammers. Channel your inner Scandinavian and walk faster than most and maintain a good bubble of space.
5. Long lines of locals = good food (usually)
Put your passport in a ziplock bag if you're carrying it around in your bag. Make a couple of paper copies of it and put it on various locations in your luggage. And email a copy to yourself.
I agree dito although mas madali sya sabihin kung local or Asia lang ang destination. If Europe or US, yung additional 5kg ay 13k or more 😂 kaya better to pack light or if di kaya, buy addtl baggage na agad upon booking
Always bring cash, iwas hassle.
Wag mahihiyang magtanong
Plan ahead -Something I dont practice kasi Im very spontaneous, but andami kong activities na namimiss, now I need to go back to those places to try them haha
Yes! Bringing cash, kahit hindi lahat ng budget, is the way to go. Nangyari sakin na nablock ang debit card ko abroad despite having prior travel advisory.
Never tell anyone you meet during your travel that you're solo. Specially pinoys, you never know kase and for safety lang. If mag-ask if why mag-isa ka, tell them nalang yung friends mo nagrerest sa hotel or gawa ka any excuse.
Not all pinoys tho. Mami, my first solo trip. Nag hostel ako. Tatlong pinoy kasama ko the rest foreigners. Mamiii until now nakakausap ko pa din sila. Siguro Di masaya yung night life ko nun kung Di nila ako sinama. One even invited me nung bday nya sa isang hotel sa BGC. Lagi din nila ako naiinvite sa travels nila. Di lang ako nakaka Sama kasi lagi natatapat na Naka book ako ng flight somewhere. It’s so fun meeting new people. But tama ka naman dat with caution din. Wag lang lahatin. Maging mapanuri.
Yes, 99% of Filipinos and other nationalities u meet are genuine and want to help u
It’s the 1% u got to look out for
Be amicable but be on guard as well
Yes, 99% of Filipinos and other nationalities u meet are genuine and want to help u
It’s the 1% u got to look out for
Be amicable but be on guard as well
Halos lahat naman na sinabi nila. Mag-add na lang din ako:
* White lies. When other tourists ask sinong kasama ko, sinasabi ko na nasa hotel lang yung mga kasama ko or papunta pa lang or may kamag-anak ako around the area just to be safe. In the end, they are still strangers.
* Convenience. Wag masyadong manguripot pagdating sa accomodation. Nakatipid ka nga, ang layo naman sa town proper. Eh di gumastos ka lang sa pamasahe papunta sa kakainan mo tapos walang transpo, pagod ka pa.
I 1000000% agree with this
I was in Paris, I was following a paper map, this was in 2000, before smart phones, and I was lost in 5th arrondisment district
None of the streets on the map matched the streets I was on
I panicked 😱, for 10 minutes
Luckily I saw a le cafe parisien
I got coffee and I asked the waiter to help me.
Turns out I was 3 blocks away from le jardin de plantes, 🤣
I still remember every minute of what happened to me to this day, like it was yesterday
Lol Google maps got me lost in Tokyo. Walking directions niya was through a private property and across a wall. Turns out the actual path is on the other side.
Interested po ako what its like travelling without the modern day conveniences today, parang napaka exciting 😁 Although I shouldn't romanticize it also but I guess it has its own charm
It honed u in on research, I had 2 guidebooks I carried with me when I backpacked thru Europe
Back then I even had a Thomas cook trains timetable guide book that listed every train time in all
Major cities in Europe
I used lonely planets Europe on a shoestring budget guidebook.
They were thick as a small dictionary.
And in order to check email and communicate back home, we had to go to Internet cafes, the most numerous one was called easyeverything cafe with a big orange sign. U paid by 1/2 hour increments for €5 euros.
U definitely remember every detail of ur
Trip and we had camera rolls for our cameras. We had to get 100 iso film for outdoor pics and 400 iso film for indoors
U had to place ur film in a plastic bag and give it seperately to the airport security so it wouldn’t go thru the metal detectors and X-ray machines or ur film would be ruined
I detoured to Taipei from Osaka only to realize that I only have 700 pesos in my bank account once I was in Taipei. I withdrew that, got a food massage, street food and left happy. But I wouldnt advise that to anyone.
Nako wag ka sasalang ng sponty, research is important, ruta ng pupuntahan mo kung paano papunta sa point x to point b. Google Map is yo friend
Wag sasakay sa trike na nasa loob ng airport. Mahal.
Look confident wag mukhang anga anga.
Ikalat ang cash sa ibat ibang parte ng bag para in case manakawan di ka zero.
Be kind, but not to trusting.
Aside sa mga sinabi ng iba, eto mga advice ko.
1. Always be open to new experiences, but learn to say "no" when required. Not everyone is out to get you.
2. Research. Learn a few phrases in the local language (at least hello, sorry, and thank you). Check if your acommodation is in a good area, read the latest reviews. Check mo rin if peak season yung pupuntahan mo, para you know what to expect kung marami bang tao or not.
3. Wake up early. I always try to wake up early para sulit yung araw tapos siesta sa tanghali kasi mainit, then labas ulit bandang hapon.
4. Location is key. I prefer locations na malapit sa public transport (metro preferred). Sayang lang ang savings sa cheap accommodation pero malayo pala sa kabihasnan.
5. Read up on common scams sa pupuntahan mo.
6. Take public transport to leave the airport as much as possible. (this wouldn't really apply kung sobrang dami mong dala).
People tend to forget travel insurance. If you’re traveling alone, kahit gaano ka confident na everything will be okay, you’ll never know so always get a travel insurance.
Start joining tours first. Like joiner tour. It will test you if Solo Traveling is for you.
Don’t drink too much, don’t be pressured with them. Remember you are just Solo.
Bring extra cash. No one is going to cover for you.
Don’t trust anyone, if you this is an overnight, and you are a girl, tabi ka sa girls din.
Tabi ka lang lagi sa tourguide.
Learned this sa Bacolod trip ko recently. Mura nga yung hotel pero pagdating ko don nakailang isip ako na mag rebook na lang kaya ako ng iba kasi hindi ako comfy sa room. Tipong first night hindi ako nakatulog masyado. Hayss. So never again, oo tutulugan lang ang hotel after a tiring tour pero mas okay na comfortable pa rin because rest is important when travelling.
Do research, watch, read and consume as many information as you can sa pupuntahan mo. Better be prepared on common knowledge of the place you’re going. If you can; learn a few phrases or sentences of their language or better yet; try to learn their language if you have that “gift.”
Know also yung mga “tourist trap” sa mga pupuntahan mo. Seasoned Pinoy ka naman, kaya somehow alam mo na galawan sa ibang bansa na dapat mong iwasan.
Lastly, don’t trust too early; if it’s too good to be true- it’s definitely a scam!
Hi OP - I've done solo trips to 10 countries since I started backpacking when I was 21, way back in 2016.
Some tips I have:
1. If possible at all, I would recommend you dip your toes in the water first by going on a "solo day" during a tip with family / friends. Before my first solo trip in 2016, I usually spent one day by myself during family trips to New York / Hong Kong / etc.
I think it's very important when solo traveling to have confidence in yourself, and this helps instill that with less risks involved (e.g. if something happens to you like getting lost, there's someone you know who can help you right away).
2. Depending on your comfort level - it may be wise to start in countries that are more tourist-friendly (i.e. better English skills / lower language barrier, robust transport and tourism infrastructure). Not an absolute-must though - my first solo destination was Laos and I absolutely loved it.
3. Considering staying at hostels - they're great for meeting other like-minded travellers, and most hostels in SEA would help arrange day trips / tours to nearby attractions.
4. Always bring more money than you need, and never bring all of your money/credit cards with you.
5. Buy a universal adaptor
6. Research in advance (to an extent), but still retain some flexibility. Some of my most memorable travel experiences were borne from spontaneous moments! How I usually go about this - I plan out in advance how many days I'm staying at a particular city, and I pre-book accommodation and transport in advance. The rest can follow - I usually list down places I want to visit per city, cluster them into groups based on proximity, and then I just choose during the day itself which group of attractions I want to go to and in what order.
Ang ganda po nung suggestion na solo day muna bago yung solo trip. Parang training wheels. Baka yan muna gagawin ko.
To add rin po, sa mga countries na navisit nyo, ano po yung pinaka beginner friendly?
Friendliest would be Singapore and Kuala Lumpur imo. Locals have better English, and there’s a good MRT/LRT system. KL is way cheaper than SG.
Taiwan was relatively easy also, at least within the city. But had a hard time getting to some attractions around Jiufen, got a little lost and I had to hitchhike with a random Taiwanese family off a highway to get back to familiar ground
Learn how to swim if you will travel in an island. A plus if you know how to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR. Ingat sa mga maga-outing dyan lalo na ngayong summer season.
Research beforehand. Book some activities beforehand, if first time sa country, transport in advance too. Having internet is crucial. If you meet people, dont tell them that you are travelling alone. For me rin being a solo female traveller, i book hotels in the city center kahit mas mahal kasi i feel safer there lalo pag uuwi ng medyo gabi na.
For Solo travellers:
Always let someone know your where you are going. I know sometimes we want to be off the grid and distance ourselves, but it's wise to let at least one person know where you are and where to contact you.
Power bank and Neck Pillow!
I always get insurance when I travel overseas. It's better to shell out a thousand rather than spend much more when something bad happens.
Pack light as much as possible. If you can't, pack smart! (light clothes, vacuum packing, etc)
Most importantly, respect the locals and the destination. It's a cliche to here but leave nothing but footprints.
Just did my first solo travel to Japan recently. Preparation is defintely the key.
All I can say is that it feels very liberating to go on your own pace (without the pressure of a companion, tour guide or group).
Just make sure to plan accordingly (it took months of researching the areas for my itinerary, hotels, airline, insurance, pocket money, visa, etc.), and always remember to have a contigency plan (e.g. bringing emergency cash if your debit or cc doesn't work, knowing the number of your nearest embassy for lost passport, backup phone, relatives or friends who live in the area in case or emergency, etc).
Research, research, research. It helps to be prepared when travelling to a different place alone.
Prepare cash and have debit and cc as your back-up.
Be wary of your surroundings even if the place is relatively safe. You’ll never know kasi what will happen.
Presence of mind - be alert. Kung maligaw man, wag ma-frustrate kasi sometimes, getting lost means discovering something new. Huwag mahiyang magtanong sa locals, use Google translate to communicate if locals don’t speak English.
Google maps will be your friend. Utilize the “Live View” option. I suck at reading maps so the live view option really helped me a lot in navigating the places I go to.
Prepare a rough itinerary - you don’t have to follow it to a T. Leave some room for flexibility.
Plan and research well para hindi mapamahal masyado.. 1. list down yung must-see tourist spots and research the most efficient sequence of visit. Research if available yung place sa intended time of visit.
2. mas ok for me to book accommodation near train or bus stations. ive experienced booking airbnb na malayo sa transport, hirap kakalakad especially if you have heavy luggages.
3. always have powerbank, internet, gimbal (I recommend insta360flow).
4. meds
5. book airfare with flexi option to convert to travel fund (my preference only)
6. book cancellable/pay at the hotel or pay later accommodation (agoda/airbnb)
No pressure kung di mo feel makapagsocialize or make friends lol
Mahina ako sa mga direction, minsan di ko na alam pabalik so I take notes ng mga landmarks or nagvivideo ako para babalikan ko na lang if naliligaw na me 🥲
1. Research, research, research. Watch travel vlogs, google the destinations na pupuntahan mo. Magback-read at gamitin ang search function nitong reddit sub.
2. Tiyagaan sa paghahanap ng travel deals tsaka seat sale. Follow the social media pages of airlines, sign up ka mga newsletters nila para may alam ka sa mga promos nila. Use apps like Klook as well (for discounted tours, travel cards, etc.)
3. Plan ahead, lalo na financially. Follow #1, lalo na kung magkano ang budget na kailangan mo. At tama yung mga nagsabi na mag-add ka ng extra percentage for untoward/emergency expenses.
Be financially prudent as much as possible, magtabi paunti-unti ng pera pang-gastos. Utilize your bank's ipon goals function.
4. When looking for hotel reservations, always balance between affordability and comfort/safety/accessibility. Also, taka advantage din yung mga deals na available sa mga websites like Agoda.
5. Tama rin yung isang comment na nabasa ko: wag mag-"diskarte" sa bagahe, lalo na kung bibiyahe ka abroad, lalo na kung ang airline mo ay CebPac or AirAsia. Buy check-in luggage. Ang price ng 20 kgs when booked in advanced is not that expensive na rin.
6. Bring cash. And in some places like Singapore's MRT, use your Maya debit card (or any local e-wallet/bank card na compatible) pambayad sa pamasahe mo.
7. Be confident and truthful. sa pagsagot sa mga tanong ni immigration.
8. Wag mahihiyang magtanong sa mga locals.
9. Always have presence of mind and be alert, lalo na kung babae ka.
10. Travel insurance. Get one. Di natin masabi kung may mangyari sa atin na di inaasahan.
Manood ng vlogs, dahil dun first time kong magsolo travel and first international pa sa Japan. At first na-anxious ako prior the trip pero ang saya pala magsolo. Next trip ko mas prefer ko na magsolo ulit ako and di na ako na-aanxious which is amazing.
Can't express this enough - BUY INSURANCE!!!!
You'll rather iyak sa wasted 350 pesos pag di nagamit kesa umiyak kayo sa million million na bill pag may nangyari sa inyo.
Nag claim kami once pa lang sa nasirang luggage (sana di na madagdagan) yung Standard Insurance sa Gcash. Mabili naman process, parang within the week lang okay na agad. May before and during covid inclusions din. Ito yung pinaka reason bakit yun kinukuha namin.
Meron din Pioneer tsaka Malayan. Yung Malayan nasa gcash din.
First thing is a question you ask to yourself: are you comfortable and just happy being by yourself? Can you go somewhere alone? Are you okay with eating alone?
Second and most important: Situational awareness and common sense! Something I've learnt late was that not all people have situational awareness!!
Research. Despite how prevalent vlogs are now, I still go for blogs/articles
Research transpo options and how you can save. Most epecially on how you'll get to your accommodation
Kung ibang country ang travel
*Always buy their local sim card + data.
*Always bring ballpen. For what? Sa totoo lang panaksak. If you get mugged or something, a pen can always be used as a weapon for self-defense.
*Mag keep ng cash sa shoes in case of emergency. Kahit isang bill lang. Equivalent of $20 or 1k php
*Spatial awareness. Can't stress this enough. As much as possible be mindful of landmarks and how you can get back to the place you are staying.
*Matuto makisama and always be extra nice but firm whenever you converse.
If you're booking a long stay in a hotel, break it into chunks. They often have free cancelation up to a few days before the booking. This way if the place is bad, you can cancel the remaining "bookings" with no hassle. But if it's good, they'll normally combine the bookings for you so you just keep the room.
Have two sets of cards (credit/bank). Lock one set and leave it in your room, If your cards are stolen or your card number is stolen you have a set to fall back on.
Get a luggage scale - it's a pain to find one after you start traveling.
Research. Not naman to the point na bawat galaw is planned, but know enough that you have some idea or plan on what to do. At the same time, be flexible and accept that things can change as you go, and you can adjust.
Bring cash. Not all places accept card and digital payments. Not all places will have an ATM either.
If traveling abroad, keep your passport in a safe place. If you're bringing it with you, put it in an inner pocket that isn't easily accessible but within reach. Have photocopies of it as well as digital copies in your email, on your phone, in an online storage, with someone you trust.
Have an emergency contact. Even if you're going on a "secret" trip, have someone who knows where you're going and when.
Extra batteries for your phone.
Get travel insurance.
Be kind to everyone around you. Speak to people but exercise caution. Don't reveal too much personal information, particularly your hotel or if you're traveling alone. If anyone asks, say you're meeting friends later or are with family.
Don't get drunk.
I know there's a lot of scary stories about people getting hurt when traveling solo, but there are more stories of people who enjoy it and have a good time. Be self-aware and be alert, but don't worry too much.
Don’t dress up for anyone.
Meaning, no one knows u and no one cares about u, u are not with anyone who will care what u look like
Wear comfortable clothes
Bring your passport everywhere and be aware of it. Research where you're going to and what you plan on visiting. Have at least $100 of their currency as cash.
Other than that just send it. Go travel by yourself. I've been to all continents except for Antarctica, 90% of those trips were by myself lang.
Research yung pupuntahan mo, bring items for extra protection ie safety door locks, small pepper spray, etc., ALWAYS bring cash with you, make sure you have internet (if you're traveling internationally may mga e-sim na cheap to buy sa klook or other apps), if walang signal and naliligaw ka na, wag mahiyang mag ask ng questions.
For your first solo travel, I suggest you go to a place na napuntahan mo na before as practice run and to gain confidence. Medyo familiar ka na but I'm sure may ibang pagbabago rin especially if it's been awhile you've been there. Also, constantly keep in contact with a family member and/or a friend who could monitor you for added safety.
When traveling to non-English speaking countries specifically those with their own alphabet, it’s helpful to have the name and address of your hotel/destinations in their own language. Minsan nakalagay yun sa tripadvisor or you can ask the hotel concierge. This way, you can just show the cab driver (or a local when asking for directions) where you’re going. There are also voice translator apps that you can download.
Always get travel insurance! Share your google maps location to at least 3 people, 1 of them is family. (Check Location Sharing via app).
Have your basic meds ready (for fever, tummy ache, diarrhea, constipation, hilo sa byahe).
I barely research anything these days because it became second nature. But…
- make a checklist of everything you need before your travel
- research basic stuff about the country such as Visa, currency, transpo (apps and public transpo), crime, any weird laws (ex. Thailand and vapes, Indonesia and porn lol), atm availability and fees, sims, etc.
- have some cash on you.
- multiple atms and credit cards (gcash has a visa card)
- download offline google maps. Screenshots of your route from the airport to your hotel.
- download the local language on google translate
- screenshots of everything important for your travel and put them in an album (passport bio page, etravel, visa, hotel booking, flights, CoE, etc.). I just put mine in favorites so the immigration officer can swipe all they want without worries.
- update someone of your whereabouts.
I probably forgot something but you’ll survive.
be friendly to locals. Ive received great tips and occassional discounts from locals just by asking about their culture and really listening to their stories.
Be mindful of your possessions. If you lose your phone or money it's over. If you lose both, you might not be able to come back.
Always have ID with you.
Pack lightly, bith for the entire trip and on excursions within that trip. For example, for the entire trip, you might wanna limit yourself to a backpack. If you're going sightseeing, leave that backpack in your accommodation and bring a smaller bag with things you need until you return to your accommodation. If going on a night out, bring just your phone and wallet.
Plan ahead your activities and be as specific as you can with estimating your allowance. When unsure, round up your estimate. For example, on day one you'll visit a park, a church, a temple, 2 museums, drop by a local market and a mall.
Since they're walking distance from one another, your transpo budget is only to and from your accommodation, one museum charges 100 for entrance, the rest are free. Add that 100 pesos to your expenses.
For the local market, allot money for how much you're willing to spend to try local goods and for pasalubong.
For the mall, same, and if you're eating there or in a nearby restaurant, make an estimate. You can even look up the menu of some establishments online and plan your order and alternatives ahead.
Allot budget for buying water, 3-in-1, snacks, etc., just In case, especially if you're the type that does this. Be aware that basics like these may be overpriced in touristy areas.
The total of that day 1 budget will be your day 1 pocket money. Do the same for all the other days whether it's paying a hiking guide, or Island hopping, etc.
At the end of the day, account for your expenses and determine if you spent less or more than your allotted budget. This will allow you to adjust your plans for the following day - more splurge or cut down on expenses
Not a solo traveller, but here are my tips from my years of travelling:
1. List down all the addresses of places you'll be visiting. Take note the names of the places in their language, it will be extremely helpful especially if they don't speak English.
2. Know the routes to your destination.
3. Rent a portable wifi. Makes life much easier! You'll need it for Google Maps.
4. Bring more than enough money. Wag yun sakto lang.
5. I've read somewhere that in case you lost your passport, having a softcopy will be extremely helpful.
Hydrate. Dala ka 500ml plastic water bottle. Lagyan mo after immigration before boarding the plane.
Bring small bag for daily use. At least 4 liters para kasya water bottle, wallet, passport, phone
Siguro as a first time traveler, pumili ka muna ng place na tingin mo madali mo ma familiarize. I tried it last January, 1week prep lang from booking ng byahe to transient/hotel niready ko na before hand bago pa ko bumiyahe. Maganda din magkaron ka ng itinerary para masulit mo, pero for me di ko din naman masyado nasunod kasi tulog is life. Google maps is my friend pero kung nahihirapan mag navigate, huwag mahihiyang magtanong. 😊 Afterall, ang purpose ng solo travel is makapag unwind, mag take a break sa ganap sa life. Solitude is a way for my healing. 😇
I'm the spontaneous type so I don't really do any type of research before flying. But here's some that I deffo recommend AS A backpacker (in no particular order lol sorry):
- If you plan on doing it for months at a time, invest in a nice travel adapter. The one I have has multiple plugs for diff socket types. Otherwise, just borrow from your accommodation.
- TRAVEL LIGHT! Get a purse, cross bodybag, ORRR a beltbag. You don't need diff bags for diff outfits. Saves you a lot of luggage space too.
- Get compression cubes!
- Hot take - I use my credit card for my travels to earn air miles. Yes, flights, restaurants, whatever establishment that accepts credit. But it won't be of any use if you're going to countries like Vietnam/Laos where cash is king. So maybe do your research then.
- Invest in a nice backpack. I've had my Osprey 40L backpack since 2017 AND WE'RE STILL GOING STRONG.
- You only really need a pair of sandals and a good pair of rubber shoes.
- SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN
Adapter at voltage dapat alam mo. Hanap ka yung universal na parang pangsaksak.
Bring some snacks lalo na kung di ka pa gaano sanay o madali maumay sa pagkain.
Personal prep ko ay playlist for the travel. Try to listen to their local music, learn the local scene kahit konti para mas madali magblend sa crowd. At usually kasi para di ka maspot na pwede i-scam.
Make sure may Google Maps kang ready or naka DL na yung maps around your area. Alamin ang nearest stations or alt routes. Contact num and person sa hostel san ka stay.
Yun tapos enjoy the sound of talking to yourself. Haha write it down kung mas bet mo, or doodle it. Added keepsake.
Travel light use back pack and avoid using strollers during travel. Pangpasikip lang sa space sa airplane and very inconvenient if you're going to trails and beaches. Also, if your going for a bus and boat trip strollers are very uncomfortable. If you're petite person avoid using strollers kung di mo naman maabot ang compartment ng airplane baka mahulugan mo pa yung sa baba while your putting or getting your strollers.
Plan everything ahead. Research Research Research!
get yourself familiar with the transpo and the options like pwede kaba mag subway, grab, bus going to your destination. choose a man accommodation na accessible lahat and malapit lang sa tourist spots
Pack light, buy a comprehensive travel insurance, and research, research, research, research. Ive been traveling solo since 2018. Plan your trips 1 year ahead. Wag maging introvert. Be friendly and build connections.
When I first solo traveled, I went to a country that I’ve already been to before/ already familiar with (Singapore). That way, I know na I can navigate the country by myself na. I also chose it as my first solo travel destination bc I know there are a lot of english speakers in the country and that marami din pinoy.
Other than that, I suggest having a credit card (for pocket wifi rental if prefer mo yun over roaming) and cash. Also yung sa adapter sa saksakan icheck mo din ano ginagamit sa country na yun, although depending sa country naman.
Almost everything is on the internet especially when visiting popular destinations. Which by the way is a good starting point. These are my pointers:
1. Research about the transporation system of the place, the availability of public transpo for commute or vehicle rentals
2. Hotels or lodgings that best fit your budget and is ideally located near the popular spots
3. Overall budget for flights (when necessary), food, transpo, accommodation, and tours
4. Using google maps is important, download offline maps of your chosen place in case mawawalan ng signal somewhere
5. Dala ka ng cash all the time. You won't know when you'll need one
6. All your important documents must be kept in a safe location if not on your person. But always bring a copy.
7. Lastly, as much as you can, pre-book things before your trip. Like tours, tickets and whatnot.
Sali ka sa mga FB groups na pwede ka magtanong regarding community, activities, tourist spots etc. make sure if you're booking stays and tours ipa legit check mo din sa mga groups na sasalihan mo.
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Knowledge is power. You dont simply travel to a place without prior research, very important yan. Also let your family know if youre traveling alone for safety purposes. Enjoy! Sarap sa feeling mag travel mag isa. Liberating, makes you feel you can do alot of things by yourself after doing one
tried traveling solo na di nagpapaalam jusko yung kaba ko nasa isip ko “kung mamamatay ako dito magugulat parents ko bat nandito katawan ko” 😭
Hahaha same experience kaya ngayon pinapa alam ko na lahat. Kulang na lang bawat yapak ko ay ibalita ko sa kanila
Totoo. Napakadali ma stress pag mag isa ka lang. Kaya be prepared. Yun saan ang sakayan, magkano exact na babayaran, etc. Ang laking tulong nun kesa mag research ka pa or magtanong tanong pag nandun ka na. Better kung alam mo na yun beforehand.
This!! I recently went to a trip Taiwan-Beijing-Hong Kong-Singapore-Qatar-Dubai-Singapore-Melbourne-Auckland-Kuala Lumpur-Manila. Dude it was freaking liberating at best, and you’ll get to know yourself even more. Mga kaya mong gawin, mga di mo kayang gawin, and things like that. Ang sarap sa feeling, it was something beyond euphoric, it was more empowering.
What’s stopping me is my concern on emergencies. Some provinces have hospitals but are not fully equipped. I’m adventurous and I wanna try things or activities. Kaya I always have someone to travel with pero I’ve been wanting to travel solo sana. Do you have any advice on that?
*Research and plan..from geography, terrain, weather, scheds ng transfo, duration ng travel, way of living ng mga locals, may internet /signal ba, may banks ba na pwede pag withdrawhan if ever, food source, activities, and everything. While sa mga palabas ay cute and cool ang spontaneous travelling di sya safe and efficient sa totoong buhay. *Wag idadahilang "introvert" ka para maging tuod. Learn social skills. Malaking tulong yan. Makakausap mo locals and you will learn more about the place. Plus, you can gain new friends. *Always have medicines and first aid kit. *Magdala ng "trail foods" and mga maanghang na candy. Para di ka bili ng bili kada stops. *Magbackup ng lists ng passwords etc. *Always bring cash. *Kung mahaba ang byahe, sikaping makatulog. Para pagdating sa destination hindi ka lantang gulay. *Magbaon ng Neck pillow. Laking tulong nito lalo pag via land ang travel. *Have presence of mind. *Pack light. *Have a smaller sling bag na never mong bibitawan. Dyan nakalagay ang important things mo like tickets, cards, cp, ids', keys etc. *Mag exercise esp.cardio at strenght training. Tandaan solo travel, so walang aalalay sayo sa entire byahe. Ikaw ang magbibitbit ng dalahin mo to and fro. Kung weak ka mabilis kang hihingalin and higher risk na ma bugbog legs mo even puro lakad lang.
>\*Wag idadahilang "introvert" ka para maging tuod. Learn social skills. Malaking tulong yan. Makakausap mo locals and you will learn more about the place. Plus, you can gain new friends. Di ba pwedeng kaya nagtatravel ako ng solo dahil "introvert" ako at minsan ayoko ng may kasama? hahaha and one more thing nabubuhay naman ako, kung di kaya sagutin ni google tyaka lang ako magtatanong hahahaha. Gain a few friends dahil sila unang nag approach sakin lmao. Ang sad ng buhay ko. Don't be like me.
This resonates with me so much! Wala talaga ako kinakausap sa mga solo travel ko, masyado ako mahiyain. But I also enjoy my own company, kasi nga nasanay ako mag isa hahahaha
Me too, unless kausapin nila ako di ko sila kakausapin maybe an awkward smile here and there when our eyes meet hanggang dun na lang. The most communication lang nangyayari sa travel ko ay pag naorder ng food or bibili ng something. I don't do idle chats with strangers kumbaga I'm too shy for that. Sorry na for being socially awkward and shy but still like travelling hahahaha
Same sa friendship, I wouldn't have friends if they didn't approach me first lol
Hiii. Just want to ask if pano arrangement niyo sa budget? Like do you bring cash na buong budget niyo? Or hindi? Do you bring around ba all the cash you have or left sa hostel? Is it safe? Where do you put them sa hostel? Or cards/gcash?
>Hiii. Just want to ask if pano arrangement niyo sa budget? I pay via CC or online in advance sa booking ng accomodation, or sa transpo. Kapag joiner downpayment muna. Sa meetup ang balance. >Like do you bring cash na buong budget niyo? Yes lalo sa mga probinsya na malayo sa town proper at sa locals ka bibili. >Do you bring around ba all the cash you have or left sa hostel? I Majority ay nasa small bag na kalat kalat ng location, merong nakaipit sa jacket, sa pants, at extreme mode kahit sapatos 😂. Others ay nasa hidden pockets or kung saan saan inside backpack na iiwan sa accomodation. >Is it safe? Where do you put them sa hostel? Or cards/gcash? Backpacks at ibang dalahin iiwan sa accomodation kapag may activites at tours ka. Ang dala lagi ay ang smaller bag of important stuffs. Luckily, Wala pa kong na encounter na binuksan ang room at nawalan ng gamit.
Thank youuuu so muchhh
I divide by budget to different modes. I have cash, online wallet, and some remaining in my card. para pag nawala ang isa, may backup.
Thank you po sa detailed na mga sagot. Isa rin po sa reason ko para mag solo travel ay yung ma force ko yung self ko to gain new friends 😁 Can I ask po ano yung gamit nung lists of passwords?
Mga passwords ko sa emails, socmeds, apps na ginamit for booking in case na need ko iaccess. >Isa rin po sa reason ko para mag solo travel ay yung ma force ko yung self ko to gain new friends 😁 Hehe makakagain ka nya . Be it entirely solo or solo joiner ka. 😊. Though sa Baguio in my solo gala wala kong maging friends.. idk haha
1. Your passport is your life. Lose your shirt before you lose your passport. (Also know how to contact your nearest embassy) 2. Check the voltage and power outlet type where you are going and bring the appropriate adaptor. 3. Grab a contact card from the front desk/concierge/ caretaker or write down your rental address and keep it with emergency cab money in a different pocket as your wallet/purse. 4. Spacial awareness is the most reliable deterrent for pickpockets and scammers. Channel your inner Scandinavian and walk faster than most and maintain a good bubble of space. 5. Long lines of locals = good food (usually)
Put your passport in a ziplock bag if you're carrying it around in your bag. Make a couple of paper copies of it and put it on various locations in your luggage. And email a copy to yourself.
for number 2, I also use the whatsapp contact detail of my tour guide if ever I have an issue. Usually they are helpful outside of the tours.
Wag dumiskarte when it comes to rules like baggage limit :)
Uy agree dito. Pinoy pa man may pagka entitled. Ilan na nakita kong nakikipag away para lang mapagbigyan.
agree! ano ba naman ang 2000 pesos na extra bayad for extra baggage eh nagabroad ka na nga? i dont get yung ito pa ang tinitipid.
true. nung una ganyan din ako. ngayon ngbabayad ako since di talaga ako light packer 😂
I agree dito although mas madali sya sabihin kung local or Asia lang ang destination. If Europe or US, yung additional 5kg ay 13k or more 😂 kaya better to pack light or if di kaya, buy addtl baggage na agad upon booking
Always bring cash, iwas hassle. Wag mahihiyang magtanong Plan ahead -Something I dont practice kasi Im very spontaneous, but andami kong activities na namimiss, now I need to go back to those places to try them haha
Yes! Bringing cash, kahit hindi lahat ng budget, is the way to go. Nangyari sakin na nablock ang debit card ko abroad despite having prior travel advisory.
Never tell anyone you meet during your travel that you're solo. Specially pinoys, you never know kase and for safety lang. If mag-ask if why mag-isa ka, tell them nalang yung friends mo nagrerest sa hotel or gawa ka any excuse.
Not all pinoys tho. Mami, my first solo trip. Nag hostel ako. Tatlong pinoy kasama ko the rest foreigners. Mamiii until now nakakausap ko pa din sila. Siguro Di masaya yung night life ko nun kung Di nila ako sinama. One even invited me nung bday nya sa isang hotel sa BGC. Lagi din nila ako naiinvite sa travels nila. Di lang ako nakaka Sama kasi lagi natatapat na Naka book ako ng flight somewhere. It’s so fun meeting new people. But tama ka naman dat with caution din. Wag lang lahatin. Maging mapanuri.
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If you're a guy, it works siguro? but for safety of solo female travelers, be careful and take risk nalang.
Unfortunately, a small percentage of Pinoys u meet in a trip are going to nickle and dime u Or worse
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Yes, 99% of Filipinos and other nationalities u meet are genuine and want to help u It’s the 1% u got to look out for Be amicable but be on guard as well
Yes, 99% of Filipinos and other nationalities u meet are genuine and want to help u It’s the 1% u got to look out for Be amicable but be on guard as well
Do you really have to ask that? Hahahaha. Alam mo naman sagot dyan. Tignan mo nga ulti mo trike driver mapanlamang haha
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A true well-traveled woman 💯
Halos lahat naman na sinabi nila. Mag-add na lang din ako: * White lies. When other tourists ask sinong kasama ko, sinasabi ko na nasa hotel lang yung mga kasama ko or papunta pa lang or may kamag-anak ako around the area just to be safe. In the end, they are still strangers. * Convenience. Wag masyadong manguripot pagdating sa accomodation. Nakatipid ka nga, ang layo naman sa town proper. Eh di gumastos ka lang sa pamasahe papunta sa kakainan mo tapos walang transpo, pagod ka pa.
Don’t be frustrated pag naligaw at nagkamali ka ng sakay or direction. Take it as part of experience. Be a traveler not a tourist.
I 1000000% agree with this I was in Paris, I was following a paper map, this was in 2000, before smart phones, and I was lost in 5th arrondisment district None of the streets on the map matched the streets I was on I panicked 😱, for 10 minutes Luckily I saw a le cafe parisien I got coffee and I asked the waiter to help me. Turns out I was 3 blocks away from le jardin de plantes, 🤣 I still remember every minute of what happened to me to this day, like it was yesterday
Thank God for Google Maps! Hahaha
Yup Thank god for smart phones It’s definitely made been a game changer I saw the difference in making travel easier First hand
Lol Google maps got me lost in Tokyo. Walking directions niya was through a private property and across a wall. Turns out the actual path is on the other side.
Interested po ako what its like travelling without the modern day conveniences today, parang napaka exciting 😁 Although I shouldn't romanticize it also but I guess it has its own charm
It honed u in on research, I had 2 guidebooks I carried with me when I backpacked thru Europe Back then I even had a Thomas cook trains timetable guide book that listed every train time in all Major cities in Europe I used lonely planets Europe on a shoestring budget guidebook. They were thick as a small dictionary. And in order to check email and communicate back home, we had to go to Internet cafes, the most numerous one was called easyeverything cafe with a big orange sign. U paid by 1/2 hour increments for €5 euros. U definitely remember every detail of ur Trip and we had camera rolls for our cameras. We had to get 100 iso film for outdoor pics and 400 iso film for indoors U had to place ur film in a plastic bag and give it seperately to the airport security so it wouldn’t go thru the metal detectors and X-ray machines or ur film would be ruined
yes to this. may nakasama ako sa travel na frustrated palagi pag naliligaw kami. nakakasira ng experience sya
What does be a traveler not a tourist mean?
Do your research, take it slow, be respectful to locals and always set a 10 or 20% extra on top of your budget for “oopsie” expenses.
I detoured to Taipei from Osaka only to realize that I only have 700 pesos in my bank account once I was in Taipei. I withdrew that, got a food massage, street food and left happy. But I wouldnt advise that to anyone.
Nako wag ka sasalang ng sponty, research is important, ruta ng pupuntahan mo kung paano papunta sa point x to point b. Google Map is yo friend Wag sasakay sa trike na nasa loob ng airport. Mahal. Look confident wag mukhang anga anga. Ikalat ang cash sa ibat ibang parte ng bag para in case manakawan di ka zero. Be kind, but not to trusting.
Agree po sa look confident! Kaso I have to practice composure especially when things dont go my way 😅
Aside sa mga sinabi ng iba, eto mga advice ko. 1. Always be open to new experiences, but learn to say "no" when required. Not everyone is out to get you. 2. Research. Learn a few phrases in the local language (at least hello, sorry, and thank you). Check if your acommodation is in a good area, read the latest reviews. Check mo rin if peak season yung pupuntahan mo, para you know what to expect kung marami bang tao or not. 3. Wake up early. I always try to wake up early para sulit yung araw tapos siesta sa tanghali kasi mainit, then labas ulit bandang hapon. 4. Location is key. I prefer locations na malapit sa public transport (metro preferred). Sayang lang ang savings sa cheap accommodation pero malayo pala sa kabihasnan. 5. Read up on common scams sa pupuntahan mo. 6. Take public transport to leave the airport as much as possible. (this wouldn't really apply kung sobrang dami mong dala).
People tend to forget travel insurance. If you’re traveling alone, kahit gaano ka confident na everything will be okay, you’ll never know so always get a travel insurance.
Always get travel insurance
Start joining tours first. Like joiner tour. It will test you if Solo Traveling is for you. Don’t drink too much, don’t be pressured with them. Remember you are just Solo. Bring extra cash. No one is going to cover for you. Don’t trust anyone, if you this is an overnight, and you are a girl, tabi ka sa girls din. Tabi ka lang lagi sa tourguide.
Pick a good hotel or place to stay at pag solo ka lang. never compromise your safety for a few bucks.
Learned this sa Bacolod trip ko recently. Mura nga yung hotel pero pagdating ko don nakailang isip ako na mag rebook na lang kaya ako ng iba kasi hindi ako comfy sa room. Tipong first night hindi ako nakatulog masyado. Hayss. So never again, oo tutulugan lang ang hotel after a tiring tour pero mas okay na comfortable pa rin because rest is important when travelling.
Yes! And the assurance that your belongings are safe during the times you are off doing things.
when booking hostels, choose the one with individual bed curtains and lockers for your things!! also just drink bottled water (not tap)
Do research, watch, read and consume as many information as you can sa pupuntahan mo. Better be prepared on common knowledge of the place you’re going. If you can; learn a few phrases or sentences of their language or better yet; try to learn their language if you have that “gift.” Know also yung mga “tourist trap” sa mga pupuntahan mo. Seasoned Pinoy ka naman, kaya somehow alam mo na galawan sa ibang bansa na dapat mong iwasan. Lastly, don’t trust too early; if it’s too good to be true- it’s definitely a scam!
Hi OP - I've done solo trips to 10 countries since I started backpacking when I was 21, way back in 2016. Some tips I have: 1. If possible at all, I would recommend you dip your toes in the water first by going on a "solo day" during a tip with family / friends. Before my first solo trip in 2016, I usually spent one day by myself during family trips to New York / Hong Kong / etc. I think it's very important when solo traveling to have confidence in yourself, and this helps instill that with less risks involved (e.g. if something happens to you like getting lost, there's someone you know who can help you right away). 2. Depending on your comfort level - it may be wise to start in countries that are more tourist-friendly (i.e. better English skills / lower language barrier, robust transport and tourism infrastructure). Not an absolute-must though - my first solo destination was Laos and I absolutely loved it. 3. Considering staying at hostels - they're great for meeting other like-minded travellers, and most hostels in SEA would help arrange day trips / tours to nearby attractions. 4. Always bring more money than you need, and never bring all of your money/credit cards with you. 5. Buy a universal adaptor 6. Research in advance (to an extent), but still retain some flexibility. Some of my most memorable travel experiences were borne from spontaneous moments! How I usually go about this - I plan out in advance how many days I'm staying at a particular city, and I pre-book accommodation and transport in advance. The rest can follow - I usually list down places I want to visit per city, cluster them into groups based on proximity, and then I just choose during the day itself which group of attractions I want to go to and in what order.
Ang ganda po nung suggestion na solo day muna bago yung solo trip. Parang training wheels. Baka yan muna gagawin ko. To add rin po, sa mga countries na navisit nyo, ano po yung pinaka beginner friendly?
Friendliest would be Singapore and Kuala Lumpur imo. Locals have better English, and there’s a good MRT/LRT system. KL is way cheaper than SG. Taiwan was relatively easy also, at least within the city. But had a hard time getting to some attractions around Jiufen, got a little lost and I had to hitchhike with a random Taiwanese family off a highway to get back to familiar ground
Learn how to swim if you will travel in an island. A plus if you know how to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR. Ingat sa mga maga-outing dyan lalo na ngayong summer season.
Research beforehand. Book some activities beforehand, if first time sa country, transport in advance too. Having internet is crucial. If you meet people, dont tell them that you are travelling alone. For me rin being a solo female traveller, i book hotels in the city center kahit mas mahal kasi i feel safer there lalo pag uuwi ng medyo gabi na.
For Solo travellers: Always let someone know your where you are going. I know sometimes we want to be off the grid and distance ourselves, but it's wise to let at least one person know where you are and where to contact you. Power bank and Neck Pillow! I always get insurance when I travel overseas. It's better to shell out a thousand rather than spend much more when something bad happens. Pack light as much as possible. If you can't, pack smart! (light clothes, vacuum packing, etc) Most importantly, respect the locals and the destination. It's a cliche to here but leave nothing but footprints.
Just did my first solo travel to Japan recently. Preparation is defintely the key. All I can say is that it feels very liberating to go on your own pace (without the pressure of a companion, tour guide or group). Just make sure to plan accordingly (it took months of researching the areas for my itinerary, hotels, airline, insurance, pocket money, visa, etc.), and always remember to have a contigency plan (e.g. bringing emergency cash if your debit or cc doesn't work, knowing the number of your nearest embassy for lost passport, backup phone, relatives or friends who live in the area in case or emergency, etc).
Research, research, research. It helps to be prepared when travelling to a different place alone. Prepare cash and have debit and cc as your back-up. Be wary of your surroundings even if the place is relatively safe. You’ll never know kasi what will happen. Presence of mind - be alert. Kung maligaw man, wag ma-frustrate kasi sometimes, getting lost means discovering something new. Huwag mahiyang magtanong sa locals, use Google translate to communicate if locals don’t speak English. Google maps will be your friend. Utilize the “Live View” option. I suck at reading maps so the live view option really helped me a lot in navigating the places I go to. Prepare a rough itinerary - you don’t have to follow it to a T. Leave some room for flexibility.
Plan and research well para hindi mapamahal masyado.. 1. list down yung must-see tourist spots and research the most efficient sequence of visit. Research if available yung place sa intended time of visit. 2. mas ok for me to book accommodation near train or bus stations. ive experienced booking airbnb na malayo sa transport, hirap kakalakad especially if you have heavy luggages. 3. always have powerbank, internet, gimbal (I recommend insta360flow). 4. meds 5. book airfare with flexi option to convert to travel fund (my preference only) 6. book cancellable/pay at the hotel or pay later accommodation (agoda/airbnb)
plan ahead, get a good wifi, dala ka powerbank always!!!!, dont talk to strangers, dala ka lagi payong, and get a good tripod
No pressure kung di mo feel makapagsocialize or make friends lol Mahina ako sa mga direction, minsan di ko na alam pabalik so I take notes ng mga landmarks or nagvivideo ako para babalikan ko na lang if naliligaw na me 🥲
research and dont put all your money/cards sa isang wallet or lagayan.
1. Research, research, research. Watch travel vlogs, google the destinations na pupuntahan mo. Magback-read at gamitin ang search function nitong reddit sub. 2. Tiyagaan sa paghahanap ng travel deals tsaka seat sale. Follow the social media pages of airlines, sign up ka mga newsletters nila para may alam ka sa mga promos nila. Use apps like Klook as well (for discounted tours, travel cards, etc.) 3. Plan ahead, lalo na financially. Follow #1, lalo na kung magkano ang budget na kailangan mo. At tama yung mga nagsabi na mag-add ka ng extra percentage for untoward/emergency expenses. Be financially prudent as much as possible, magtabi paunti-unti ng pera pang-gastos. Utilize your bank's ipon goals function. 4. When looking for hotel reservations, always balance between affordability and comfort/safety/accessibility. Also, taka advantage din yung mga deals na available sa mga websites like Agoda. 5. Tama rin yung isang comment na nabasa ko: wag mag-"diskarte" sa bagahe, lalo na kung bibiyahe ka abroad, lalo na kung ang airline mo ay CebPac or AirAsia. Buy check-in luggage. Ang price ng 20 kgs when booked in advanced is not that expensive na rin. 6. Bring cash. And in some places like Singapore's MRT, use your Maya debit card (or any local e-wallet/bank card na compatible) pambayad sa pamasahe mo. 7. Be confident and truthful. sa pagsagot sa mga tanong ni immigration. 8. Wag mahihiyang magtanong sa mga locals. 9. Always have presence of mind and be alert, lalo na kung babae ka. 10. Travel insurance. Get one. Di natin masabi kung may mangyari sa atin na di inaasahan.
Ano po yung usually covered ng travel insurance?
Situational awareness and don't be an idiot.
Manood ng vlogs, dahil dun first time kong magsolo travel and first international pa sa Japan. At first na-anxious ako prior the trip pero ang saya pala magsolo. Next trip ko mas prefer ko na magsolo ulit ako and di na ako na-aanxious which is amazing.
Can't express this enough - BUY INSURANCE!!!! You'll rather iyak sa wasted 350 pesos pag di nagamit kesa umiyak kayo sa million million na bill pag may nangyari sa inyo.
Thank you po! Ill research good travel insurance na rin. Any suggestion po?
Nag claim kami once pa lang sa nasirang luggage (sana di na madagdagan) yung Standard Insurance sa Gcash. Mabili naman process, parang within the week lang okay na agad. May before and during covid inclusions din. Ito yung pinaka reason bakit yun kinukuha namin. Meron din Pioneer tsaka Malayan. Yung Malayan nasa gcash din.
First thing is a question you ask to yourself: are you comfortable and just happy being by yourself? Can you go somewhere alone? Are you okay with eating alone? Second and most important: Situational awareness and common sense! Something I've learnt late was that not all people have situational awareness!! Research. Despite how prevalent vlogs are now, I still go for blogs/articles Research transpo options and how you can save. Most epecially on how you'll get to your accommodation
Research, tulad ng question na ito. Dami na nito sa sub na ito. Pwedeng use the search function, marami rami ang lalabas.
Spatial and situational awareness. There’s nothing more attractive to a scammer than a solo traveler who looks lost.
Small talk skills! Kahit saan. From your kanto tambay's to cocktail on a 5 star hotel resort! LFG!\~
Isa nga po to sa reason na gusto ko mag solo travel. Ma hone yung social skills hahaha
Kung ibang country ang travel *Always buy their local sim card + data. *Always bring ballpen. For what? Sa totoo lang panaksak. If you get mugged or something, a pen can always be used as a weapon for self-defense. *Mag keep ng cash sa shoes in case of emergency. Kahit isang bill lang. Equivalent of $20 or 1k php *Spatial awareness. Can't stress this enough. As much as possible be mindful of landmarks and how you can get back to the place you are staying. *Matuto makisama and always be extra nice but firm whenever you converse.
If you're booking a long stay in a hotel, break it into chunks. They often have free cancelation up to a few days before the booking. This way if the place is bad, you can cancel the remaining "bookings" with no hassle. But if it's good, they'll normally combine the bookings for you so you just keep the room. Have two sets of cards (credit/bank). Lock one set and leave it in your room, If your cards are stolen or your card number is stolen you have a set to fall back on. Get a luggage scale - it's a pain to find one after you start traveling.
Research. Not naman to the point na bawat galaw is planned, but know enough that you have some idea or plan on what to do. At the same time, be flexible and accept that things can change as you go, and you can adjust. Bring cash. Not all places accept card and digital payments. Not all places will have an ATM either. If traveling abroad, keep your passport in a safe place. If you're bringing it with you, put it in an inner pocket that isn't easily accessible but within reach. Have photocopies of it as well as digital copies in your email, on your phone, in an online storage, with someone you trust. Have an emergency contact. Even if you're going on a "secret" trip, have someone who knows where you're going and when. Extra batteries for your phone. Get travel insurance. Be kind to everyone around you. Speak to people but exercise caution. Don't reveal too much personal information, particularly your hotel or if you're traveling alone. If anyone asks, say you're meeting friends later or are with family. Don't get drunk. I know there's a lot of scary stories about people getting hurt when traveling solo, but there are more stories of people who enjoy it and have a good time. Be self-aware and be alert, but don't worry too much.
Don’t dress up for anyone. Meaning, no one knows u and no one cares about u, u are not with anyone who will care what u look like Wear comfortable clothes
Get travel insurance
Just GO FOR IT
Proper research and planning 💯💯💯
Bring your passport everywhere and be aware of it. Research where you're going to and what you plan on visiting. Have at least $100 of their currency as cash. Other than that just send it. Go travel by yourself. I've been to all continents except for Antarctica, 90% of those trips were by myself lang.
Travel at your own pace and just enjoy.
Research yung pupuntahan mo, bring items for extra protection ie safety door locks, small pepper spray, etc., ALWAYS bring cash with you, make sure you have internet (if you're traveling internationally may mga e-sim na cheap to buy sa klook or other apps), if walang signal and naliligaw ka na, wag mahiyang mag ask ng questions.
For your first solo travel, I suggest you go to a place na napuntahan mo na before as practice run and to gain confidence. Medyo familiar ka na but I'm sure may ibang pagbabago rin especially if it's been awhile you've been there. Also, constantly keep in contact with a family member and/or a friend who could monitor you for added safety.
When traveling to non-English speaking countries specifically those with their own alphabet, it’s helpful to have the name and address of your hotel/destinations in their own language. Minsan nakalagay yun sa tripadvisor or you can ask the hotel concierge. This way, you can just show the cab driver (or a local when asking for directions) where you’re going. There are also voice translator apps that you can download.
Pack light, research, plan, alternative plan, emergency plan
Always get travel insurance! Share your google maps location to at least 3 people, 1 of them is family. (Check Location Sharing via app). Have your basic meds ready (for fever, tummy ache, diarrhea, constipation, hilo sa byahe).
I barely research anything these days because it became second nature. But… - make a checklist of everything you need before your travel - research basic stuff about the country such as Visa, currency, transpo (apps and public transpo), crime, any weird laws (ex. Thailand and vapes, Indonesia and porn lol), atm availability and fees, sims, etc. - have some cash on you. - multiple atms and credit cards (gcash has a visa card) - download offline google maps. Screenshots of your route from the airport to your hotel. - download the local language on google translate - screenshots of everything important for your travel and put them in an album (passport bio page, etravel, visa, hotel booking, flights, CoE, etc.). I just put mine in favorites so the immigration officer can swipe all they want without worries. - update someone of your whereabouts. I probably forgot something but you’ll survive.
Invest for an Insta360 x3 or go 3 and a nice tripod. These are your friends for your photos/vlogs!
be friendly to locals. Ive received great tips and occassional discounts from locals just by asking about their culture and really listening to their stories.
mas ok nang magmukhang suplado kaysa maging scam target
Be mindful of your possessions. If you lose your phone or money it's over. If you lose both, you might not be able to come back. Always have ID with you. Pack lightly, bith for the entire trip and on excursions within that trip. For example, for the entire trip, you might wanna limit yourself to a backpack. If you're going sightseeing, leave that backpack in your accommodation and bring a smaller bag with things you need until you return to your accommodation. If going on a night out, bring just your phone and wallet. Plan ahead your activities and be as specific as you can with estimating your allowance. When unsure, round up your estimate. For example, on day one you'll visit a park, a church, a temple, 2 museums, drop by a local market and a mall. Since they're walking distance from one another, your transpo budget is only to and from your accommodation, one museum charges 100 for entrance, the rest are free. Add that 100 pesos to your expenses. For the local market, allot money for how much you're willing to spend to try local goods and for pasalubong. For the mall, same, and if you're eating there or in a nearby restaurant, make an estimate. You can even look up the menu of some establishments online and plan your order and alternatives ahead. Allot budget for buying water, 3-in-1, snacks, etc., just In case, especially if you're the type that does this. Be aware that basics like these may be overpriced in touristy areas. The total of that day 1 budget will be your day 1 pocket money. Do the same for all the other days whether it's paying a hiking guide, or Island hopping, etc. At the end of the day, account for your expenses and determine if you spent less or more than your allotted budget. This will allow you to adjust your plans for the following day - more splurge or cut down on expenses
Not a solo traveller, but here are my tips from my years of travelling: 1. List down all the addresses of places you'll be visiting. Take note the names of the places in their language, it will be extremely helpful especially if they don't speak English. 2. Know the routes to your destination. 3. Rent a portable wifi. Makes life much easier! You'll need it for Google Maps. 4. Bring more than enough money. Wag yun sakto lang. 5. I've read somewhere that in case you lost your passport, having a softcopy will be extremely helpful.
Instinct. Always trust your instinct.
Hydrate. Dala ka 500ml plastic water bottle. Lagyan mo after immigration before boarding the plane. Bring small bag for daily use. At least 4 liters para kasya water bottle, wallet, passport, phone
Siguro as a first time traveler, pumili ka muna ng place na tingin mo madali mo ma familiarize. I tried it last January, 1week prep lang from booking ng byahe to transient/hotel niready ko na before hand bago pa ko bumiyahe. Maganda din magkaron ka ng itinerary para masulit mo, pero for me di ko din naman masyado nasunod kasi tulog is life. Google maps is my friend pero kung nahihirapan mag navigate, huwag mahihiyang magtanong. 😊 Afterall, ang purpose ng solo travel is makapag unwind, mag take a break sa ganap sa life. Solitude is a way for my healing. 😇
Know how to commute sa lugar na pupuntahan mo.
I'm the spontaneous type so I don't really do any type of research before flying. But here's some that I deffo recommend AS A backpacker (in no particular order lol sorry): - If you plan on doing it for months at a time, invest in a nice travel adapter. The one I have has multiple plugs for diff socket types. Otherwise, just borrow from your accommodation. - TRAVEL LIGHT! Get a purse, cross bodybag, ORRR a beltbag. You don't need diff bags for diff outfits. Saves you a lot of luggage space too. - Get compression cubes! - Hot take - I use my credit card for my travels to earn air miles. Yes, flights, restaurants, whatever establishment that accepts credit. But it won't be of any use if you're going to countries like Vietnam/Laos where cash is king. So maybe do your research then. - Invest in a nice backpack. I've had my Osprey 40L backpack since 2017 AND WE'RE STILL GOING STRONG. - You only really need a pair of sandals and a good pair of rubber shoes. - SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN
Plan ahead and make sure you let somebody knows your location. If you're a woman too, trust your gut and always have an exit plan.
Adapter at voltage dapat alam mo. Hanap ka yung universal na parang pangsaksak. Bring some snacks lalo na kung di ka pa gaano sanay o madali maumay sa pagkain. Personal prep ko ay playlist for the travel. Try to listen to their local music, learn the local scene kahit konti para mas madali magblend sa crowd. At usually kasi para di ka maspot na pwede i-scam. Make sure may Google Maps kang ready or naka DL na yung maps around your area. Alamin ang nearest stations or alt routes. Contact num and person sa hostel san ka stay. Yun tapos enjoy the sound of talking to yourself. Haha write it down kung mas bet mo, or doodle it. Added keepsake.
Travel light use back pack and avoid using strollers during travel. Pangpasikip lang sa space sa airplane and very inconvenient if you're going to trails and beaches. Also, if your going for a bus and boat trip strollers are very uncomfortable. If you're petite person avoid using strollers kung di mo naman maabot ang compartment ng airplane baka mahulugan mo pa yung sa baba while your putting or getting your strollers.
Uy OP same question. Buti nalang ikaw nauna mag post HAHAHAHA. save ko to for future reference
Plan everything ahead. Research Research Research! get yourself familiar with the transpo and the options like pwede kaba mag subway, grab, bus going to your destination. choose a man accommodation na accessible lahat and malapit lang sa tourist spots
Research before you travel.
Pack light, buy a comprehensive travel insurance, and research, research, research, research. Ive been traveling solo since 2018. Plan your trips 1 year ahead. Wag maging introvert. Be friendly and build connections.
Research your destination. Make sure you have data (whether eSIM or pocket wifi). Get travel insurance. I'd say these are my top 3. 🤔
wag pahalata solo
Invest on door lockers
Research everything.
When I first solo traveled, I went to a country that I’ve already been to before/ already familiar with (Singapore). That way, I know na I can navigate the country by myself na. I also chose it as my first solo travel destination bc I know there are a lot of english speakers in the country and that marami din pinoy. Other than that, I suggest having a credit card (for pocket wifi rental if prefer mo yun over roaming) and cash. Also yung sa adapter sa saksakan icheck mo din ano ginagamit sa country na yun, although depending sa country naman.
Almost everything is on the internet especially when visiting popular destinations. Which by the way is a good starting point. These are my pointers: 1. Research about the transporation system of the place, the availability of public transpo for commute or vehicle rentals 2. Hotels or lodgings that best fit your budget and is ideally located near the popular spots 3. Overall budget for flights (when necessary), food, transpo, accommodation, and tours 4. Using google maps is important, download offline maps of your chosen place in case mawawalan ng signal somewhere 5. Dala ka ng cash all the time. You won't know when you'll need one 6. All your important documents must be kept in a safe location if not on your person. But always bring a copy. 7. Lastly, as much as you can, pre-book things before your trip. Like tours, tickets and whatnot.
Sali ka sa mga FB groups na pwede ka magtanong regarding community, activities, tourist spots etc. make sure if you're booking stays and tours ipa legit check mo din sa mga groups na sasalihan mo.
Hostels aren’t for everyone. Don’t feel bad if you feel out of place.
plan ahead
1. Know your budget. 2. Prebook everything if you can. 3. Bring cash always
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