For some, a fantastic incentive to get through the arduous final year of high-school might just be the prospect of leaving your mundane daily routine of life behind and setting off on an adventure. Travelling, whether it’s only for a few weeks, six months or the full gap-year, is something that deserves a lot of thought. Even more so, if you decide to take the plunge and travel alone.
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Travelling alone, away from your controlling parents, can be a life-changing and shaping experience for most keen travellers. You no longer have to decide which group of friends are perfect for travelling. There’s no risk of a friendship falling out due to stress (Trust me, you need the right person to go travelling with!). However, if you decide to take this exciting plunge, then you’ll need to take an extra amount of care, patience and commitment.
Below are a few helpful tips and ideas to ensure you’ll have a safe and enjoyable adventure travelling by yourself.
Go on Contiki
Why would you join a Contiki if the whole purpose of your adventure was to travel alone? Though you might reject the idea at first, it deserves a reconsider. Contiki’s and other such programs offer a well-organised sense of security, without skimping on the fun! Most programs are only for a few weeks or months, so you’ll have plenty of time to travel by yourself before and after. Why wouldn’t you want the experts of travel helping you create a life-changing adventure.
Furthermore, you’ll have the potential to become friends with a new and exciting bunch of people from all walks of life, but  if you still crave your independence then most programs set aside a few days at every new destination for the traveller to explore at their own leisure.
Mix Leisure with Business
If you can’t see yourself saving up a small fortune to spend the whole year travelling, then why not work whilst you travel? Before you leave, obtain your RSA or other such licenses, so that you might be able to pick up some bar work in your travels. Some countries even offer their own backpacker programs so you can get easy cash for easy work.
Be Street Smart
Be sure to learn the local customs and etiquettes of the country you are travelling in and make sure you know the law of the land before you enter into it. Also, cities with a high tourist population attract savvy and opportunistic individuals, most notably around famous landmarks. To ensure you are not scammed, mugged or put in any danger, have street smarts, attempt not to look confused or lost, even though you are bound to stand out as a tourist and try not strive to far from crowded areas. This is far easier said than done, but as you gain experience travelling, you’ll get better.
Ask Experienced Travellers
On this note, the best thing to do to gain some knowledgeable street smarts is to ask a well seasoned traveller or at least someone who is well versed in the country or city you are travelling too. You need this raw sort of advice as well as official information, such as from a flight centre, and travel agent as this is how you gain the local knowledge and how to become a savvy traveller.
We hope this article provided you with some tips if you’re deciding to travel alone on your gap year. If you have anymore great tips, why not head over to our friendly forum and let our community know.
