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Why does it feel so good?
#travel #solotravel #inspiration #freedom #challenge
Go on, travel alone, explore the world, gather new experiences, enjoy your life!
Has it ever crossed your mind why do people who travel solo always have such a great time, despite the fact they are ALONE? Here’s the bitter truth for you. If you travel only with other people, you are doing it for the sake of having a good time with someone. That same good time can be had in a restaurant, café, cinema, tanning bed, or nail salon. Not that there is anything wrong with those places, but will they enrich your life?
And now we have something groundbreaking: People travel to enrich their lives! This is why to solo travelers it is more important to travel than to be accompanied. This is the difficult part. If you decide in your own head, with your own self, that your goal is to become a bigger and better person, rather than to simply have fun, you are on the right path to betterment.
Remember what I said last two times: “Go on, travel alone, explore the world, gather new experiences, enjoy your life!” I was not sure if I should stop saying it or make it my motto. Well, it brought you back here twice so far.
To paraphrase Paulo Coelho: Everything that happens once does not have to happen twice. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.
And here I am the third time, saying the same thing over and over again. And here you are the third time, returning for your weekly dose of inspiration. Works like a charm!
Now, what is the little secret inspiring people to embark on adventures on their own? So far, we figured out it requires audacity and courage. But those traits are not contagious. So, what is? This is where I can go back to my own proverb and encourage you to travel alone. You will feel it and have full understanding. But that is not what you came here for.
With an open mind and enough courage, we can do anything. So, why not do it? Sure, the first solo adventure might feel off at first. But a couple of hours later, it will start paying itself off. Excitement lies in human nature. And so does the yearning to discover. When you travel on your own, you are allowed to uncover secrets by yourself, without the assistance (or interference!) of anyone else around you. Also, your awareness and thinking improve. There will be no one else to remind you what to bring, which places to see, when to eat, which foods and drinks to try out, what to buy. You need to remember this yourself.
Would you like to see a list of everything you must bring to a solo trip? I must tell you, this will depend heavily on where you will be traveling, when, how long, how far (layovers at airports or time spent on buses/trains have extra requirements), and even other factors. But we can generally agree on main five categories.
- The Essentials
Passport, Money, Charger. Your phone will probably be glued up to you, so there’s no need to double check it. The same goes for glasses, clothing, jackets (depending on the local weather) etc. But you cannot go anywhere without a passport. Check it maniacally if needed, but don’t forget it.
Without the money, you cannot do anything. The best thing is to have a card with good exchange rates, but if you’re going to places such as Germany, you’ll need cash (I know, what?!). Some countries are not very rich, and thus not many local shops, cafes and restaurants will have POS systems. Germany, of course, is NOT one of these places. They simply believe in cash and don’t give a lot of credibility to cards. Research these specificities before going anywhere.
Unlike your phone, the charger will not be glued up to you. And everyone will want to see all the pictures from your trip. Don’t miss a chance to show them a huge “I told you so”.
- The Actual Essentials
Clothes are not only legally required at public places, but will be useful, whether you go skiing or swimming. No one can give you a magical formula saying e.g. “three pairs of underwear, seven socks and two T-shirts”. Here you have to play by ear. However, remember that most people don’t wear even once at least 50% of clothes they bring along. Do remember to bring only clothes that are adequate to the local weather at the time of travel – no ski pants on summer holidays. Also, don’t allow yourself to make Fashion week combos, where you change on average five times an hour. Just make sure be capped by one shirt, one pair of pants, one underwear and one pair of socks PER DAY. Disclaimer: This does not apply if you’re moving somewhere for a few months, or if you have a washing machine in your place of stay.
- The Survival Essentials
Let’s be honest, you cannot survive without food and water. Unless you’re flying only first class, staying in fancy hotels, and have people who will plan everything in advance for you, an average flight of 1h will take you about 5-6 hours. All the commute to and from airports, wait times, possible delays and other factors included. Make sure to check whether you have a snack on the flight and bring extra food you may need.
A simple hack – bring an empty bottle to the airport. It will not be thrown away, and if the tap water is drinkable, you can refill it right before going onto the plane.
- The Hygiene Essentials
Airlines allow toothpastes, shampoos, body washes, deodorants and any other fluids, but only as long as they are under 100ml. And this quantity can last probably at least 2-3 weeks. If you have a luggage to check in, you can bring bigger bottles along. Just make sure to not exceed the maximum weight limit. Also, DO check for any additional airline requirements ahead of time – do not wait for one hour before leaving to check what you are allowed to take with you.
- Miscellaneous
Medications are a must for those who need to take them. A fancy and expensive watch is not. An umbrella can be, based on the location you’re visiting. Make up can rather not be something you must bring. Your complete computer, phone, headset, watch and any other techno-gear needs to be prioritized. There is no formula here, as we all have different needs.
However, there is simple advice – if you have packed everything and still have space in your bag, leave it empty. Who knows what you will decide to buy.
There, I hope I helped you with your packing. Bon voyage, and please do send pictures!
Thank you for waiting! Here’s a little something for your patience.
You’ve noticed that this post has skipped its regular publication time. This is due to the simple fact that I’ve been in Malta, recharging and preparing for an even better year ahead. Now that I’m back, I can promise that you will have a little Easter egg from me – the following month of posts will be dedicated to everything I found out about Malta. But also, since you were patient to wait for this story, I will add extra two posts in the following month, similar to this one and the first two. And that is not all – I am preparing my Newsletter for you to stay informed and inspired. Can’t wait for development and innovation in 2023!
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