10 Solo Travel MISTAKES to AVOID
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2024
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My Biggest Solo Travel Mistake (when I lost all of my money in Portugal): • My BIGGEST Solo Travel...
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Thanks for watching! What are your biggest travel mistakes?
Rental car agreements 😩
Nice video 👍
I almost got stuck in a ditch driving in pitch black Iceland at 4 PM. Thought I had enough day light time 🤦🏾♀️
Not carrying enough cash on me and overbooking myself :)
Over planning
I just completed my first solo travel. I travelled domestically with a flight, rental car, hotel reservations, and tour reservations. I planned the things I most wanted to do, and built in flex time for either resting, or doing some optional activities. I had cash with me. I had my confirmation numbers with me. It worked beautifully. I did everything I wanted, and I never felt rushed. I went at my own pace. I gave myself enough time without giving myself too much extra time.
I always appreciate being able to eat when I want (and not, if I’m not hungry!)
This is my goal
I felt the contentment oozing out of this. When Covid is over, I'm gonna travel solo. Thanks, Sophie!
1. Let someone know your plans, even just a general idea. (I personally have Life360 with my best friend so she can see where I am if it is ever needed)
2. Say YES more!
3. If you ever get lost keep moving or stop in a store where you can figure out directions. Don’t stand on the sidewalk/train platform, etc. This makes you a possible target.
The taxi broken card machine scam was going on in NYC for months before complaints and threats of losing their medallions made the drivers stop.
And that's why people prefer to use Uber and Lyft. Eventually, every action has a consequence, especially the bad ones.
@Dark Night Relaxation As of 2021, 85 countries have Uber service in the big cities. All Europe, almost all of the Americas, most of East and South Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Also, comes under planning but if you want to go somewhere in particular on an evening but walking back/to closest public transport alone is worrying you, 'walk' the journey on street-view before, so it'll be familiar and you can walk confidently when it's for real.
OMG, that's a great idea! 😄
People who work gig jobs want cash because there is no paper trail. So they don’t have to declare that cash transaction as income and it is not taxed. Also, it is possible the driver is pocketing that money and not turning it over to the boss or tip pool.
Yeap, that’s true.
My cousin traveled to Europe with two girls. One of them lost all of her money the first day they arrived. That girl happened to wear designer outfits. Maybe an coincidence. But whenever I travel alone, I don’t want to take my designer pieces with me and I always put my bag in front of me.
That's why I always try to dress average to poor, to blend in, and people don't bother you. She was asking for trouble. I hope she learned the lesson.
0:26 Overpacking
1:19 Arriving At Night
1:41 Planning Too Much
2:24 Planning Too Little
2:54 Advertisement
4:04 Not Researching Transport
4:27 Not Telling Taxis How You Plan To Pay Upfront (Get Cash)
7:35 Not Preparing For Time In Customs
8:02 Not Having An International Data Plan On Your Phone
8:47 Not Having Backups Of Important Documents & Money
9:39 Looking Too Flashy
10:15 Telling People You're Travelling Alone
These are wonderful tips for travel, full stop, but are obviously even more important when travelling solo.
I used to work at at a taxi company for several years and we had issues with drivers telling customers that the credit card machine was broken when it wasn't. There were 2 main reasons for this; the first and the most obvious is cash is harder to trace regarding taxes. The second reason is that there is a 3% transaction fee that is deducted from the total amount. Also, cab drivers have to pay the company a daily lease for their vehicle. Usually the drivers who would do this were those who were not paying their lease on a daily basis and credit card tips that were written in, expire after so many days. Great video!
packing light is such a great trip, but my biggest travel mistake was not knowing exactly where my accommodations were before I got into my taxi. The minute I get out, I make sure to look confident and like I know exactly where I am going even when I don't because the one time I didn't do that, its like everyone I passed on the street decided to try to talk to me, offer me things, get my attention, etc. Just keep your head up, look like youre just looking up the door code if you are in an airbnb, and say you're trying to get in contact with your friend to let you in if anyone tries to bother you. Things just go a lot easier.
Such a great tip! Definitely always want to look like you know where you're going and what you're doing!
I always had MapsMe open when I got into a cab in South America so they knew not to f with me. Also, they sometimes needed the app bc they didn't know where to go 🙈
YES! Thank you for sharing these tips! I have always wanted to solo travel and I have been so apprehensive but these tips make it feel so much more doable and less intimidating!
Also, always research or ask someone how much a ride to a destination would typically cost (especially if there’s no meter) and confirm this cost with the taxi driver from the beginning before getting in. It’s always wise to google maps the route just so I am aware that the driver is headed in the direction that it’s supposed to
Yes! So smart. A friend of mine got into an Uber that drove in the opposite direction of where she wanted to go and she told the driver who immediately went where she wanted to go. This occurred in a city she had already lived in for several years. This was when Uber was still a new-ish company.
I learned the hard way about cash in Asian countries where cash is still king. I had no cash and finally told my tour guide that if he wanted to be paid he needed to get me to a bank that would take my credit card. That worked.
I also made the mistake of not realizing that Switzerland does not use the Euro and not having the proper type of cash. Never assume, do the research ahead of time.
I made the exact same mistake in Switzerland. Glad to know I'm not the only one!
That's such a great idea to leave one of your credit cards in your hotel safe. Even though I never travel internationally by myself, that's still a great plan to implement for my future travels so I don't panic if I lose my wallet.
For trips to Iceland I bought 2 merino wool t shirts. At $60 they aren't cheap, but you can get by with only 2 no matter the length of trip. At the end of the day I wear it into the shower, then hang it to dry and wear the other one the next day. Even if you miss a wash, they're antimicrobial and don't get funky. Also, two trips and I never exchanged a Krona. CC for literally everything.
These are great tips! I always give my basic itinerary with hotel addresses/phone numbers and excursions that I know I will be doing at a particular time to my family, just in case. It’s reassuring to know that someone has an idea of where I’ll be and when.
In large cities, I also always try to stay at hotels with 24 hour desk coverage. It can be a little unsettling to come into an empty hotel lobby in the middle of the night if you get back late!
My daughter wears a money belt under her clothes on trips. Smart 🙂✌️
If you wear glasses, bring a second pair!
Why?
@@Voltrilax do you really wanna have to make an appointment for new glasses when you break them in Bali?
Or if you wear monthly contact lenses, bring extras 😅🙌🏼
Learned this one the hard way after sitting on my glasses in a tent in rural Namibia lol
Great video with practical tips. Totally agree about having a ready fib about traveling alone. I would love if you made a dedicated video on how you handle the loneliness of solo travel. Love your videos!
I have traveled solo constantly and love these tips! As a person with severe anxiety it does act as my second person to catch "hiccups". Just a reminder for all my persons with an anxiety diagnosis watching this :)
Can you please do a video on tips for booking flights, surviving airports, and/or creating itineraries?
I love these videos. Your videos have inspired me to travel. It’s all way more feasible than I’d ever have imagined. Thank you!
Thank you SO much for making this video, Allison! I travel solo pretty much 75% of the time and this was really REALLY great to watch. Love your content and really appreciate that you take the time to make these lists for us solo travelers :)
Last tip is sooooo valuable. Thanks for sharing
If I can, I bring my dog. One of the best deterrents for trouble when traveling alone. No one seems to want to mess with you when you have a dog in tow. It might be a little more work and planning to ensure that both my dog and I have an enjoyable travel experience (quarantine if travelling to a foreign country, dog-friendly hotels and venues, etc.) but I find it to be completely worth it to have my best bud with me and to feel safe.
I've done quite a bit of solo travel and I agreed that good planning and some simple precautions really help
Wow this was by far the most informative video ever. I love your channel. You give such great advice and now I have a better sense of how to prepare for solo travel. Thank you!!
This is great Allison! Thank you 😊
Thanks for the tips, Allison! This was super helpful and a great reminder that I should finally try solo travel this year :)
Thank you so much! I am taking my first trip abroad solo and this is so helpful!
Thanks for sharing!
You know, I am glad I watched this, the mistake about not telling people you are traveling alone would have never crossed my mind. It makes total sense but for some reason I just would not have thought about the fact that its probably not safe.
Great advice Allison.
Really good tips! Thank you.
I'm planning my first ever solo trip for 2022 and I'm very excited and a bit nervous tbh.
Having some items on the itinerary. Such a good tip. I’ve been on trips that are over planned, so it’s something I’m not a huge fan of, but having something in the morning and afternoon, totes a good tip. Thanks!
Thank you so much this is important message for all of us, not only for Travellers.
Excellent tips! thank you so much.
Always have spare clothes in your purse. When I was traveling from Italy to Scotland they made me check my carryon suitcase because the plane was small. During my layover in Amsterdam they accidentally took my suitcase off the plane. When I got to Scotland I had no clothes with me except for the ones on my back. Never going to make that mistake again! It was horrible.
Love this tip!
I don't use data when I travel solo abroad but it does take pre-planning. Google maps lets you download pretty large areas of the map to be used offline so I will typically download the city I'm staying in. If I'm travelling between cities, I will screen shot each of the step by step directions to get where I'm going and download the city I'm headed toward before leaving wifi. Google translate works offline and works well enough that I was able to communicate with multiple people including police when someone hit my rental car. I also download music/podcasts/audiobooks when I'm in wifi. I actually like that I don't have data because it keeps me from wasting time I could be seeing something cool on social media. If the worst case scenario happens and you need it for an emergency, your phone obviously still works fine so there's not a lot of risk in trying to do your trip offline.
If you ever offer an adventure tag along, I'd totally sign up :) You seem so knowledgeable about travel and tbh I do get really lonely doing solo trips (though they're great in their own ways!)
You're an inspiration Allison! Thank you!
Great advise! Thanks for sharing.
This came at such a great time, thank you so much for the tips! leaving for my first solo trip later this week! (although I'm staying within country so that should make a few things easier!)
Great information, thank you for sharing Allison !!
Need these refresher videos, I feel like I am coming out of a coma almost with how long its been since I have been on a trip and you forget all these little things. I love your content, you inspired my boyfriend and I to go to Japan 2 years back and we had it all planned to hit Jordan based on your other video in March 2020, RIP.
Just waiting on the Canadian government to give us more details on the rules and regualations and off we go :)
So inspiring and helpful. Thanks!!
Hey, I just came across your channel and had watched the videos in a loop. Great traveling content for solo travelers. Love from India :)
Great tips , thank you for sharing . I'm preparing on my first solo trip. Nervous and exited, wish me luck eek 🙈
I've had the "broken card machine" line even in my own city! A driver from the same cab firm told me they do it 'cause the driver has a longer delay on getting his cut of the fare when it's on card. I also wonder if people are less likely to tip via card?
Interesting! Yeah I've had this experience is SO many places.
Also, there is a card fee around 3% or so per transaction so they can avoid it with simply cash.
When using cash there is no traces that they've received money, hence some people don't declare it on their taxes..
I solo traveled to Norway right before the pandemic and I had the opposite of the cash problem. I took out a ton of cash at the airport, which was completely unnecessary since almost every situation I was in took cards. In fact, public transit charged higher fees for cash transactions since card is more efficient. It also made me nervous to have so much cash on hand should something happen. At the end of the trip I ended up being forced to use cash in scenarios I would’ve used a card. Payment preferences are definitely location specific, it seems!
Very insightful!!!
The card machine problem is most likely due to a fee that the merchant or the driver in this scenario has to pay like 3-4%. And they would save that amount if customers paid cash
+ It might be higher since it was international.
I’m taking 2021 to plan my first ever vacation in my life, also will be a solo trip. So I didn’t know I needed any of these tips but they all made a lot of sense and some I didn’t think of :)
Good one 🎄❤️😇😎
Such a great video and lots of things I've never thought of! I travel solo for work almost monthly and wow, do you learn a lot. The traveling early thing I learned the hard way after my luggage was "lost" and if I had traveled any later I would've had to wait til the next day to get it from the airport and it had all my work attire and toiletries in it when I had to work the next day (also another mistake checking important items 😬).
OH and since I'm gone for long periods of time I always bring a small bottle of laundry detergent and quarters with me. You never know when you're going to need to wash things. Especially great if you travel light and plan to rewear clothing you wore on a hot humid day.
Also something fun I do is look at yelp and see what cool food spots are around the area I'm staying in and make a collection of saved spots on the app. That way it's easy when you are wanting to get some good food and you already have a list saved! Saves time so you don't have to stop and look for somewhere then look at the menu and see if you like the food and if it accommodates your particular dietary needs.
Also, this is hopefully temporary but being prepared for slow taxi/rideshare rides. I've recently been to both Vegas and Orange County and really struggled getting an Uber. The wait was 20+ minutes which is not good if you're trying to get to the airport and catch a flight.
Also getting TSA PreCheck and CLEAR is amazing for skipping the line and getting through security FAST.
love this video!! i solo traveled a lot during my time studying abroad and loved it. need to get back into it now that i’m vaccinated :)
Hello! :) Using credit cards have a service fee that typically the taxi drivers have to pay. So while the customer is paying the same fare, the taxi driver gets less money. They also don't receive their money as quickly.
Great tips for traveling solo! I'm going on my first solo trip to Portugal and a little nervous since I've never traveled outside the U.S.
Love you Allison ❤
very helpful thank you :)
I’m going on a solo road trip through all of California this weeks in my new 4Runner! Wish me luck!
I’ve done lots of solo trips to national parks. Last year I went to three NPs: Zion, Bryce, and Glacier. I had a fabulous time at all three. I drove to Zion and Bryce but flew to Glacier since I live in Colorado. Thanks for the tips Allison. I’m a Canon guy though.
I haven't started solo traveling yet, but THANK you as to what to stay, dress, and act as a solo traveler. But you be extra careful out there by yourself
IMO depending on conversion rates and bank fees, it it smarter to get a certain amount of cash before you travel. Where I live, there is no additional fee for ordering more "special" currencies but it will take two working days to get here.
this is what i needed
thanks so much for the video from a New Zealand girls. i will be solo traveling to Spain next year!! woop woop!!
Excellent advice, some things I have never thought about. I take so much for granted, assuming that I am safe but not knowing that there are people who go to places where travelers often visit, and they sit nearby listening to conversations, and then follow you to see if they can take advantage of a situation, especially watching where you pull out money (right back pocket, e.g.). I have a friend who had that happen to him in Colombia, and got his wallet pinched. No money or ID anymore. Good thing he was with friends. Perfect advice to keep color copies of ID and passport and some money or a card back at the hotel (in a safe). Smart!
I travel with a small backpack I can take on a plane. Sometimes I bring a small soft sided duffle bag I can throw a few things in. I never check a bag, even on a 3 week trip to Europe. You can buy a few items when you get there or use the laundromat. Makes changing flights much simpler.
Wonderful!
YAS. I’m traveling next week for the first time in ages and I’m pumped :)
YAY! Have fun!
How did it go?
Thank you so much :)
A good stackable luggage set up helps!
Hey Allison! I love your channel you have taught me so much and I'm looking to take my first solo travel adventure next year! Do you have any advise on top solo places for beginners overseas and state side as well as websites for tours?
‘It’s never too late to be what you might’ve been.” Loved the video
Peace and love from small TH-camr
Great video! I'm traveling to the Canary Islands in August. The last time I traveled was 2019 (of course) and in London I ran into the same thing with cabs and credit cards. This was February so right before lockdown but scary enough I wasn't about to take public transportation if I could help it. Twice I got the excuse that the wireless didn't work in that part of town. Once I told the driver all I had was 10 pounds and he took that and ran my card for the rest!
I’ve learned to always arrive a day earlier than your plans bc you may experience travel hiccups along the way. We missed the first day of a cruise bc of weather issues. If we had arrived the day before we could have avoided it all.
If you are travelling solo, I would recommend to get an accommodation really close to train/metro station, so you can easily reach it. Also, if your country allows it, get two passports so you can have one at the hotel, second one with you.
I think also if they only accept cash it's more likely that they can get a tip because as I recall I think the same thing happened to me in New York City and I think I told him to keep the change lol
Such a good video! I usually pack light and am pretty fine when I solo travel. I guess cause I don’t solo travel that much. I think another thing is, I was travelling with a friend. We were taking a private tour in Siem Reap. Our tour guide was super friendly and he mentioned he was super interested in going to Canada, and wanted our FB contact. All is fine but I guess the whole, displaying too much wealth is important. My friend felt comfortable enough to list all the places visited. We had the newest iPhones at the time. While nothing happened, I just didn’t want to appear to have more money than I actually did. Or money becomes perspective. I felt like the perception of money was definitely given. So even to tour guides, I wouldn’t indicate small things even involving items or like places visited. Cause you never know what can happen.
Thanks :)
The only one I disagree with is arriving at night. I can never sleep the night before a flight nor on a plane, so crashing the second I arrive when it's late anyways does wonders for my jet lag and lets me hit the ground running the next morning. But I'm also a burly white guy so I don't feel in danger.
Packing light is a must though. Unless I'm going somewhere that I have to rent a car to get around anyways, I started following the Rick Steves rule of only taking a carry-on and it's been a godsend getting around everywhere.
I used to date an overplanning traveller and it was the worst. Everything from a rainy afternoon to a bus running 10 minutes late to a busy museum became a huge disaster to the schedule.
Thank you for putting this video together. My biggest travel mistake was carrying a phone wallet. NEVER AGAIN! It got stolen along with all my credit cards and ID. Terrible nightmare abroad. Now I'm splitting my money and hiding it in different places and never using a phone wallet. :)
Hide cash in the elastic band of your tights/track pants.
I love the extra credit card/cash in the safe idea. Another thing I do is bring photocopies of my passport and printouts of my tickets/itineraries. It's been helpful in the past.
Just save photos in your email’s draft folder (don’t email it to yourself) and delete it after you are home.
Y r u so underrated.😔...u deserve so much more
Well thanks :) that's very nice.
@@allisonanderson anyways.,ur hoodie is iconic ❤️
Solo traveler here. I actually LOVE arriving at night. Plane travel usually wipes me out and I love knowing that I'm coming into a city at night and not seeing it in full. I love coming in at night, checking into a hotel, and then finding a good local restaurant/bar to try something local. Then I just go to sleep and I get to start the day fully in a new city in daylight. Will never arriving in the morning again. Afternoon, maybe. But my favorite is arriving at night.
Great tips! I mostly watch James Asquith's videos because he give golden tips since he travels every day. Also, you might want to check out his channel, his aviation travel videos are hilarious.
I’ve travelled to Asia alone and was too busy having fun to worry about luggage too much 😛
I have been traveling solo (by air or car) several tines a year for decades since college. I agree with all your points. I took my elderly mother to Europe for weeks in 2017 and 2018. I was so relieved that we could get priority boarding (i put her on a wheelchair). We could take turns using restroom. I could get a bigger room paying the same charge for double occupancy. We can order different things to share in the restaurants. She also forced me to travel slow (she’s 80-something) like sight seeing one day and rest the next day..
that taxi situation is maddening.
With regards the taxi drivers not taking card issue, it's definitely a thing. Here in the UK, legally, taxi drivers (definitely in London, but I believe everywhere) must offer card payment, but they have to pay transaction fees, which eat into their already reduced (due to transport apps like Uber) profits. Hence, the 'card machine's broken' line...
very informative! Thank you for sharing.. my biggest mistake is definitely overpacking! Minimalism is still in the works!
When we went to Peru we had to wait almost 90 minutes in customs at 10pm. Apprently most international flights arrive late at night, so this is one of the busiest time at the airport.
Re: the taxi scam, they likely don't get taxed on the cash so that's why they make such a big stink about it and also they probably have to pay CC processing fees.
I’m pretty sure the cash thing was so they can take the fare “under the table” (i.e. you don’t pay tax for that) and/or not paying the transaction fee
Same in my country
Travel agency owner….I always suggest you have 2 color photo copies of the front 2 pages of your passport and 2 extra passport phots stashed away. A client of mine her purse with passports, credits cards and Eurail Pass was in it. I was able to get them to the American Embassy the following morning and they got an emergency passport within hours because they had COLOR photo copies of their front pages of their passport and extra photo. They could have run around town and gotten passport pictures taken but having them saved them time and stress. They had copies of all their credit cards so it was easy to know what phone number to call to report the card stolen.
Hint: on the top of your packed suitcase have your destination hotel or place staying and your email address. If your luggage is lost or delayed they will have information to contact you. NEVER, EVER put your home address on your information in your luggage because they know you are traveling and your home is maybe empty.
Nobody carries paper copies now. Just save jpeg or pdf in email’s draft folder (never send it to yourself) and delete it after the trip. Even when phone or tablet got stolen, police station allows you to log into email to access documents.
Beautiful ❤️❤️
Good tips and things to think about! Another mistake to avoid when it comes to money is to use ATM's at night - don't do it. Usually there are less people around and more scammers and thieves out than during the day 😅
oh nice
this is beautifull
Not everyone lives in the US with an international data plan included, sis :'( I wish
You can buy international sim cards that have international data :)
@@itstheresechua may i ask what the price is for an international sim card? Or does it vary by country?
@@lolalandmark6133 i think it varies by country? I live in Taiwan and when I went to the US years ago, I bought a SIM card with unlimited data (valid for 2 weeks) which cost $50. I got the sim card in my mailing address before I left and it was automatically activated when I landed in the US :)
@@lolalandmark6133 it definitely varies quite a bit by country, as will the amount of data and length of card validity. For example I got 10GB of data for 30 days for about $9 in Cambodia vs South Korea was 2GB for 30 days for $30. You can buy them at the airport which I would recommend as it’s nice to have data access while navigating to your accommodation even though it might be cheaper to buy outside the airport. You also need to call your phone company and have them unlock your phone, otherwise the SIM cards won’t work!