How to get maximum enjoyment from traveling alone

Kate Houston, working as an engineer at Google, in a blog post shared tips on how to get the maximum pleasure and positive emotions from the trip alone. By the way, in her opinion, these trips even more useful and more interesting than a trip to a big noisy company.

Up to 22 years Kate had never traveled alone. And then a year wandering around the world, traveled a lot - and now, always and everywhere travels alone, whether for work and for pleasure. Just around too much fun to wait for a suitable companion.

Yes, traveling alone has its unpleasant surprises: like the attack of a peanut allergy or a taxi driver trying to rob you. But in fact, such troubles are rare. To avoid falling into such a situation, it is sufficient simply to prepare and follow some important rules of single travelers, which will be discussed further.

Alternate loneliness and meeting people

If you - ambivert Kate (ie you have to alternate periods of loneliness with periods of active communicating with others), you'll notice that the 3-4 days for you alone quite enough. And if a trip to another country or city has been delayed for several weeks, it is unlikely that you hang on as a hermit. Therefore, in the short journeys begin with, the surf and ride all alone. In crowded places and to get out of communication already in the final days of his journey.

All data should be at hand

If you suffer topographical cretinism, or simply do not like the score currently trails his head, directions and addresses, keep on hand mobile phones and tablet. Upon arrival, buy a SIM-card of the local operator (or mobile handheld vayfay router if there are sold). To pay for the tariff package with Internet access - a perfect solution to solve the problem of finding suitable restaurants and cafes with the help of lists and recommendations to Foursquare. And so you never get lost in a strange city, because there will always be able to use mobile cards, and do not have to constantly look for a taxi. And with the taxi you can always check that the driver does not carry you in circles.

The place where you left off, should be comfortable

Single travelers is often touted as an opportunity to hostels for communication and socialization, but in fact most of hostels - a place where it is difficult to feel safe. As a rule, hostels opened on the outskirts of the audience there is also very different and living conditions do not always match your expectations. Stayed at the hotel, where you can always turn to the concierge order a house cleaning, call a taxi and even get rid of excess stress. It can be tiring walk, but do not sleep and rest.

Start with long walks

New cities are often well explored in solitude, in the company of headphones and music: a walk through the parks and streets with the help of Google Maps - what you need to. And then: the light of day and a bit of physical exertion - is the best way to get rid of dzhetlega. Long walk will give you an idea of ​​what to expect from the city and country where you now find themselves.

Maximum activity alone - what you need

Alone, a good read, to walk, to visit museums and art galleries, relax in the spa. Nice to have lunch or go shopping. But the dinner, go to the cinema or the theater - it's more activities for the company than for an individual. So choose something that you can do yourself in a strange city, not to feel like you're at ease.

Reduce or give up what you are willing to do in the company

Visiting crowded unfamiliar places, shows and dining at restaurants alone - not the most psychologically comfortable way to spend time in a new city or country. In any case, everyone has such classes - such as brunch or going to the movies - which in normal conditions in his home town, you prefer in the country in the company, rather than alone. Save the preferences and travel.

Use premium services

Being a lone traveler, you'll appreciate access in the lounge area if the flight was delayed, instead of dreary waiting in the general hall of the airport, a crowded and whining children. The same applies to a separate storage room with lockers, the opportunity to go to the shower at the airport to sleep in a comfortable chair, a snack with something better than sneakers with machine guns. In short, an additional fee per ticket higher class and the airline company, whose services are not like the typical low cost, 100% pay off, if you're flying alone in a strange country.

Embark on a road in the middle of the week, if possible

During the week people are basically fly and go to work. And people everywhere at the weekend is much more, and a table in a restaurant on a book almost unreal. And if you go in a single journey to heal the wounds after parting, the couple at every step in airports, cafes, railway stations and in restaurants - this is what you least want to see!

2 Select the time of day between morning, afternoon and evening

The biggest plus of traveling alone: ​​no one you never have to wait. You will be able to see more, to dedicate themselves day and just bleeders, when you want. You decide when you walk up to the point of exhaustion through the streets and parks, and when just lie in bed or sit in a cafe with a book, watching the passers-by. Traveling alone - time to yavashih personal decisions and observations. You should focus their studies in a maximum period of 2 days: as a rule, it is morning and a day or day and night.

It's just a ride, not a ride All Life

If you feel you are somewhere you do not want or can not go, if somewhere not have time to get there, because staying in the city for a short time - do not worry: this is not the trip of a lifetime. This is - just a journey, an opportunity to get some vpechtaleniya, something to see, something to miss. Do not exert pressure on yourself that you supposedly never come back here or a new opportunity to fall any time soon. Think of what is happening quietly, do not go to the places-that-should be-sure-visit. Die, even after seeing Paris, you always have time :)

Photo for themselves and others - it's as if the memory card

If you see something that just would have liked to your friends and acquaintances, then simply take a photo and send it by e-mail. Write to Twitter about any unusual or fun things and phenomena that you have seen here. Observation, photographs and recordings online - one more opportunity to interact with different friends and strangers, even when you are traveling alone.

Buy souvenirs

Memories are erased, and the emotional anchor remains: why of each trip bring small souvenirs associated with any events or situations. You can even buy jewelry, bracelets or thing: while at the event will always be able to tell a story where they have appeared - and so do you for a moment back to pleasant memories or curious incidents that have happened to you in a particular country. Famously, when there is talk about those things that surround you and complement.

Travel light (but not entirely without things)

There are travelers who are inclined to take on the road with only a bulky backpack with everything you need if you are going alone, but for those who at work or in life often flies and rides better suit a bag format, the baggage can be carried in the hands without the aid porter. Such baggage screening and is faster and more convenient to travel with him. Put only the necessary things, garments for the season and enough linen to traveling not to burden themselves with washing.

Do not worry about the appearance

In a foreign country you find a lot of people, you will see the first and last time in his life (most likely), but because they are unlikely to be of special concern, in that you are dressed. tourist clothes should be comfortable, versatile, humble and respond to the realities of life of modern cities. You can build multiple variations of its appearance on the basis of a very limited set of things every day. In addition, think of this trip as an opportunity to give up of status, pathos, neohodimosti somehow in a special look and make an impression on someone. Enjoy the sights and freedom, and do not worry that you are wearing: You are traveling and do not go out on a date.

Most are small and remember important points

Sometimes it is enough to sit in the park with a bun in his hand - and understand that that's such a beautiful sunset and delicious food outdoors in a large noisy unfamiliar city and consist of our best moments life. Appreciate it a fleeting feeling. From these small, but important points, and is our life. Just relax and let yourself feelings, looking at the street, nature, clouds - it does not matter. Appreciate and remember this feeling, which in our routine does not come too often.

Commit all good folly

Once in a strange city, you can afford a few childish: to do something, Thu s normal life or riding with someone else would have seemed foolish or strangeness. Visit the cemetery where the great poets or where it is simply a beautiful old architecture and open a passage for tourists - why not?! Stroll into the center of contemporary art, or simply after spending all day on a park bench, watching the way people run around, play or do yoga students elderly locals. Do something that interests you and you feel funny, that gives you the impression of what he saw and observed.

Traveling alone can be attributed to additional difficulties and costs, but at the same time, such journey allows us to see and experience a lot of things and events that are in principle impossible, if you are traveling in company. Enjoy solitude and impressions - a valuable skill, and get the most out of the trip alone!