INTRO
So you want to travel eh? Let me tell you that it is very possible for you. I really mean that in a sincere way. I wanted to put a guide together that won't fill your head with too much information. This guide is designed to equip you with a solid foundation of ''travel knowledge'' before you embark on your adventure (k.. I don't know why I quoted that, anyway.. moving along). Whether you’re planning on a big trip or just looking to get away. My guide works best for aspiring travellers and/or solo travellers spontaneous enough to go with the flow.
BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
If you haven't booked your ticket yet, BOOK IT! Pick a continent or a country you’ve always wanted to explore and just book it! C'mon, when was the last time you did something crazy in your life!? Your weekend antics doesn't count, or maybe they do? Regardless, don’t worry about prices going up or down, the more you wait for the ‘perfect’ time to buy, the more likely you’re not going buy it. There’s never a perfect time to buy a ticket so DON'T wait! I’m a fan of one way tickets, I highly recommend it so that you don’t have a time frame, but everyone is different. Do what you feel is right. One way or the other you need book a ticke - one way or a round trip. It sounds easy but it’s actually the hardest part for people to commit to. The average cost for one way tickets are roughly between $200-$400 USD (of course a lot of things can affect the price of a flight but this is an average and it's based on my experience). I know some people who spends $200 on a weekend alone in the city and these are the same people that tell me they can't afford a plane ticket and travel like me. I laugh.. (yes, I can be mean sometimes, but only sometimes..)
Budget your trip. Make sure you have enough for plane fares and hash out a daily budget you can stick with.
If you’re traveling to Latin America, a daily budget is anywhere from $30-$50 USD, in Southeast Asia it ranges from $20-$55 USD, in Western Europe it’s from $50-$80 USD and in Eastern Europe it’s about $35-$60 USD. These are ballpark numbers and there’s a lot of factors that comes into play when budgeting such as the activities you plan on doing, the types of transportation you’ll be taking, countries you’ll be going to etc. Some countries are much cheaper than its neighbouring country that are in the same continent. A good example of this is in Central America, Nicaragua is much cheaper than Costa Rica and they are right beside eachother. Whatever you do, don’t make this step complicated, the point of budgeting is to have an idea of what your daily budget will be. This should take no longer than five minutes. In fact I just gave you a daily budget estimate in different parts of the world so you should be nearly done
Rent out your space if you own a home and/or a designated parking spot.
Leave if your if you live in an apartment, if your lease is up soon or if giving notices ahead of time is necessary then find a place where you can store what’s left of your belongings safely.
Call your financial institution and let them know that you’ll be using your debit/credit card(s) overseas.
Call your phone company to let them know you’re leaving so they are able to cancel your local monthly/annual plan the day of your departure.
Get travel insurance! World Nomads is a well reputable insurance company in the travel industry. Offering the cheapest rates while giving you the security of being well covered while you're out on the road . For someone who is out on the road with no time frame, you could extend your insurance with a click of a button. This is a go to travel insurance if you want to be covered right. Make sure you check them out HERE for all your travel insurance needs.
Ensure that your passport is valid and that you have enough pages for visas and entry stamps.
Have basic knowledge about the continents or the countries you’re planning on visiting. Do not overload yourself with information. You can find my simplified guides about different countries on my site at arjayneyra.com/destinations.
Pack the things you need and do not overthink this process as well.
Spend quality time with the people that matter in your life. This is probably the most important part.
Take advantage of technology and download apps that will help you on your travels. Here are must have travel apps and what you should have in your phone during your travels:
TRAVEL APPS YOU NEED TO HAVE
Offline Google Maps - If you didn't know, you can use Google Maps offline and they are handy! No SIM card, no wifi, no problem. Before take off, download the offline map for the countries you're planning or thinking of going to. You need a Gmail account for this which takes two minutes to sign up.
Google maps is great because it’s updated and you can use the search function if you’re looking for a specific restaurant or a place you need to go to while offline. You can also route your way to your destination.
MAPS ME - Another great offline map. Just like Google Maps, you need to download the place/country then once downloaded, you are able to use it offline so you don't get lost! Although getting lost is good from time to time.
XE Currency - A run down of the most up to date currency exchange rates. An essential app when you’re required to buy or sell foreign currencies so you know a fair exchange.
Google Translate - Helps you translate something in a foreign language. Great app to use when you're trying to speak with a local (i.e. ask for directions or bargaining). Also a good app to learn a little bit of the foreign language if you’re interested in wanting to learn more about it.
Duolingo - If you’re serious about learning a specific language, Duolingo is a good starting point to do so. It’s free, simple, and easy to use.
Booking - My go to app when looking for accommodations. Notice I said ‘looking’ and not ‘booking’. Try to avoid booking accommodations through apps or accommodation sites as it’s more expensive. Use them to give you an idea of where you would like to stay (see ratings/pictures and read reviews) then physically go to the place and book it. The other benefit of going to a place in person is the ability to bargain.. By all means book ahead of time if you really have to - like if you will get to the city/town late at night and don’t want to walk around searching for accommodation or if it’s high season and there’s not much beds left at the hostel/hotel.
Couchsurfing - If you want to have a different experience, stay with a local. Couchsurfing enables you to connect with a local in a city/town you intend on going and most of the time the host is more than happy to show you around. A unique experience and you must try it at least once especially if you’re traveling solo.
Other notable accommodation apps - Airbnb, Agoda, HostelBookers, Hotels.com, Hostelworld
TripAdvisor - A credible source for getting information or reviews about everything from accommodations to attractions.
Flightview - An app that gives you up to date flight and gate information.
Kayak - You can rely on Kayak for giving you the cheapest airplane fares. Not only are they a source for plane tickets, you can also book accommodations and even car rentals through the platform.
Skyscanner - Skyscanner is great for its app interface. It’s clean and simple, super easy to use. It also gives you specific dates on when your flight is the cheapest.
Other notable apps for buying airplane fares - Hopper, Cheapflights.com, Expedia
ON THE PLANE
Yeah I know how you feel, nervous and excited at the same time. I get it. You’re sitting there all alone not knowing what’s going to happen. That’s fair, but here’s my advice before your plane takes off. Embrace the unknown. Appreciate every second of not knowing whats going to happen in the next hour, the next day, or the next week, or for what’s about to take place during your journey. If you can do that, traveling alone will be much more enjoyable for you.
If you can’t embrace the unknown just yet, try harder. If not, remind yourself that you are going to a place that you’ve always wanted to see while all the people you know are probably at home or at work. So, smile! You are going on a trip of a lifetime. Don’t ever forget that. (Am I starting to sound like a caring mom yet?).
DURING YOUR TRAVEL
Be as open as you can be. Get lost, meet new people, try new food, do something you wouldn’t normally do back home. Within limits of course and safety should always be a priority.. sigh* trust me on this, I had to learn this the hard way.
Be yourself. This trip is all about you. Travelling gives you the freedom to do things your own way. You won’t feel the need to do things to impress people or please others. Remember, this is your trip.
Socialize! To some, socializing comes naturally, and to others, it’s a scary thought. I used to be a shy kid, in fact I couldn’t even hold a conversation and I was socially awkward back then (I still am now actually from time to time). After attending business school and spending several years of solo traveling, it primed how I interact with other people. I also realize that you should always be the first one to say hi. I've made great friends from all over the world just by simply taking that initiative to be the first one to say hello.
Know that travelling will have ups and downs. Learn how to deal with the unpleasant things that happen throughout your journey. Let me be the first to say it but things WILL happen to you during your travels that may bring you down. This could be anything like getting scammed or losing your favourite shirt. This is all part of traveling and you have to learn to accept it.
Read a book. Not only will it help you relax by the water but it stimulates your brain. Reading does wonders to your mind and body.
People today are so attached with their mobile devices, myself included. It’s good to keep everyone updated in regards to what you’re doing and to keep in touch with people back home but sometimes it’s also good to unplug. Go high up on the mountains or be in the middle of a forest for a couple of days or even months where there’s no wifi connectivity. After a couple of days or for however long you stay unplug for, you will feel much more energized, refreshed and stress free. It’s incredible what disconnecting from your device can do to you.
Take care of your health. I was guilty of not taking care of myself when I first traveled. I said to myself ‘I’m on vacation so I will eat and drink whatever I want’ (.. but the tacos and the burritos were so good though! *drools*). Traveling is not an excuse to not lookout for your health. Make this one of your priorities when traveling. Go for a run, stay active, eat healthy and care for your body.
You have to be ok with being alone and having to do things on your own from time to time. It really is true that when you’re traveling alone, you meet more people as opposed to traveling with a partner or a group. But, there’s also times when you have to do things on your own. It takes a super independent person to go out and adventure on their own. It’s definitely not easy but you have to remember, this trip is about you, so appreciate your ‘alone time’ and enjoy it to the fullest! Doing things on your own will not only make you more independent, it will also make you more adventurous by doing things that really matters to you whether you’re with someone or not.
WAYS TO STRETCH YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET
Accommodation is one of your top expenses. So how can you stretch your budget without having to sacrifice too much where you sleep? Camping out is a great option for the adventurous ones. A lot of hostels now will let you camp out for a much lower price tag than having a bed for the evening.
Eat local. Street food is the way to go when traveling. They're cheap, delicious, and will fill you up. You get a real authentic taste of the country you’re in.
Another way to stretch your budget when eating is to prepare your own food. Buying food at a local grocery is usually the cheapest option when having meals overseas.
Bargain! For continents like Asia and Latin America, you can bargain practically anything and everything from accommodations to purchase goods in local markets. I've even bargained with a doctor once in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Yes, I'm actually serious.
Depending on your skill or profession - whether you’re a videographer, photographer, blogger, social media specialist etc., offer how you can help a company in exchange for free services such as free accommodation, free rental, etc. Always ask, because if you don't, the answer will always be a no.
When you’re about to cross to another country and you have excess currency in the foreign country you're in, exchange that currency (not in a bank unless you really want to) to the people you meet who will be staying in the country longer than you. The best way to do this is to SOCIALIZE! Ask around. Ask people in your hostel, in tour groups, or even on the streets and offer them your currency as you will get a much better rate exchanging it from a fellow traveler as you would with a bank. There’s nothing worse than carrying $30 worth of foreign currency to another country knowing you’re not going back for a long time. Making every dollar count helps when you’re on a shoestring budget.
Night buses/train - when going from one city to another by bus or train, I always ask if there’s transportation available in the evening. The reason for this is that when you take the transportation in the evening, you usually get to your destination the next day (in most cases) so you avoid having to pay for an accommodation in the evening. Of course depending on your route, schedule and flexibility, sometimes it doesn't make sense to take the transportation in the evening.
MAKING MONEY ON THE ROAD
One of the most common and popular ways making money on the road is by working on your laptop. All you need is a good wifi connection and your laptop. Whether you’re selling products or services through a website or freelancing, creating content, this is my preferred option as it gives you the freedom you need when traveling and the luxury of being mobile.
Here are some ideas that can get you rolling:
Be an influencer, vlogger, blogger and/or content creator. Produce anything in written, image, audio or video formats. If you're not doing this, you're missing out regardless of the field you're in. The opportunities in this field is endless. Some may say it's saturated but it really isn't! Even if it actually is saturated, there's an abundant amount of opportunities! Enough to go around for everyone! If your skill requires you to work onsite or hands on, i.e. an auto mechanic or a plumber per say, make “How to” videos and or create ebooks and sell information based on your skill - get creative! Then from there you’ve taken a hands on job online! The key is to be mobile, to have the ability to work from anywhere at anytime. Click HERE to see my Beginner's Guide to Becoming a Digital Nomad!
Work local! If you fall in love with a particular country or city and would like to stay a bit longer, why not find a place (i.e. hostels, tour companies, schools) to work for? There are a lot of programs from teaching English to being a bartender available at the Workaway.info site. This is perfect if you’re strapped for cash and/or need to extend your stay at a place you really enjoy.
FINAL WORDS
I hope you found this travel guide useful. Now that you're ready for an adventure, you can see how simple it is to get started. The secret is that you really have to just "go for it", as cliché as that may sound (lame I know, but I didn't know how else to put it in words). If you enjoyed this post, please do not hesitate to share this guide with your family, friends, colleagues, your pets, and even that snobby neighbour of yours - share it! If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out! Go ahead and stalk me on my socials below and say hi!