Top Tips for Better Solo Travel June 2018

Published: Sun, 06/03/18

TIP OF THE MONTH

Great Boat Trips that Won't Break the Bank

These are not long voyages. Each one - from a 20-minute trip viewing stunning scenery from an open top deck to a 3-hour dolphin-watching excursion featuring Madeira wine and honey cake to a one-day cruise around an active volcano with a stop for swimming and a pasta dinner - can be incorporated into an existing trip. From the Guardian, here are some really interesting boat trips suggested by travelers.

GREAT TRAVEL LINKS

5 Tips to Sleep Better on Your Next Trip Getting some shut eye on a plane is a perennial challenge for travelers, but there are a few low-tech tricks that can make switching time zones and taking long haul flights a little easier. David Hamer, director of the Travel Clinic at Boston Medical Center and a professor of Global Health and Medicine at the Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, shares some strategies for getting a good night's sleep when you travel.

A Guide to Dining Solo in London There’s no better way to experience the cuisine of a city than on your own. London is ideal for a solo foodie adventure, especially because the U.K. capital is filled with eateries that cater to dining alone. From St. Giles, here are suggestions for dining and drinking solo in London.

How should you prepare for your next vacation? Start walking. “I discovered the benefits of walking while training for a long-distance walk, never considering that it would enhance my travels. Now, hoofing it across a city, or even an island, seems not only doable but downright enjoyable. Along the way, I notice more, engage with locals and feel better overall,” says Diane Daniel. Here she shares how and why walking is great preparation for your next trip.

The most clicked-on link last month:

A Highly Subjective But Very Smart Guide to Traveling When staff at Bon Appetit magazine travel, they bring back more than souvenirs; they return with a bit of wisdom. They’ve learned that there’s nothing wrong with planning a trip around croissants. Or that some great sightseeing can happen in a grocery store. From what to do before you leave to pacing yourself to walking off all those croissants to (naturally) discovering unique local food and wine, here are some great travel tips from food writers.

Looking for tours, cruises, and other travel products - without a huge single supplement?

The Solo Travel Deals Page Don't forget to check out our Solo Travel Deals page before planning your solo trip. You may just find exactly what you need there at a great price.

Seeking solo traveler-recommended accommodation around the world?

The Solo Traveler Accommodation Guide We've added new listings to the ever-popular Solo Traveler Accommodation Guide. Containing recommendations for hotels, hostels, B&Bs, and inns around the world - all vetted by solo travelers - the Guide helps you find, review, and book a room all in one place.

Join Janice and me on Thursday, June 7th @ 1:00 pm EDT along with World Nomads, sponsors of the Solo Travel Awards, for our Tips for Summer Solo Travel Twitter Chat. One lucky participant will win a $250 gift certificate from Clothing Arts! Follow us at #solotravelawards to share your advice and learn from others. Get your summer solo travel tips and questions ready!

Introducing

The World Nomads Solo Travelers Choice Award

The nominating period for the 2018 Solo Travel Awards has ended. Now it's time for you to have your say!

New this year: the World Nomads Solo Travelers Choice Award.

Our panel of judges will decide on the winners in other categories of the Solo Travel Awards, but this one is just for you. You can vote once for the travel company on this list that you feel best serves solo travelers.

Click here to vote now.

The Solo Traveler Advisory of Deals

Arriving in your inbox one week from today!

THE PICS OF THE WEEK

Pics of the Week are contributed by members of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook. We love to publish travel photos submitted by readers. Join our community of more than 230,000 travelers from around the world: simply "like" our Facebook page and you're in! Upload photos any time, along with a caption telling us a bit about what is in the picture. Click on last month's photos below to get the full effect and see where they were taken.

World Nomads is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world.

To learn why we think travel insurance is vital, what to look for in a policy, and why we recommend World Nomads, click here.

TOP POSTS ON SOLO TRAVELER

Here are the top 5 articles published on Solo Traveler in May.

Travel Solo and Avoid Single Supplements

Looking for a tour, cruise, or resort with no single supplement? That’s what solo travelers want. Here are 10 tips to help you get it.

Hostels: They Aren’t Just for the Young

Hostels are great for the young and the young at heart. In other words, people of all ages. Here’s how to choose the right hostel and why people 50+ love hostels.

Travel Solo and Practice 3 Essential Life Skills

Solo Traveler is as much about life as it is about travel. This is because solo travel can make us better at life. It encourages us to practice three essential life skills.

Save on Flights: Booking Tips, Stopover Deals & Bumping

We all want to save on flights and solo travelers have an advantage. Here’s how to get more, pay less, and even make money for future travel.

Travel Solo and Talk to Strangers

I think that talking to strangers is one of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling solo. Here are 5 tips to get the conversation going and keep it rolling.

DESTINATIONS

In May, we featured destinations in Japan, Panama, India, and the United States. Have you traveled solo to a destination that you loved and would recommend to fellow travelers? Consider submitting your story and photos via our easy online form.

Solo Travel Destination: Bocas del Toro, Panama

This Solo Travel Society member says Bocas del Toro is a destination that grows on you. She appreciated its quirks and had a fabulous time.

Solo Travel Kyoto: Three Days of Classic Sights and a Few Surprises

Here’s my 3-day, solo itinerary for Kyoto. I found the transit to be easy. Entrance to the major sights free. And a few off-the-beaten-path options you’ll love.

Solo Travel to the United States: What You Need to Know

Solo Travel to the United States of America: tips and advice that will get you there, get you around, and help you get the most out of your stay.

Solo Travel Destination: Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan is a majestic and colorful state with many layers of historic and cultural significance, says this Solo Travel Society member who had the time of her life on this trip.

PUBLIC WIFI: MAKE IT SAFE!

We use StrongVPN when going on public WiFi to do anything financial both while traveling and at home.

Booking a hotel room? Turn it on!

Signing up for a tour? Turn it on!

Checking your bank balance? Turn it on!

Hotel Wi-Fi, coffee shop Wi-Fi, airport Wi-Fi - these are all public and without a VPN you can have your identity stolen and your accounts hacked. StrongVPN also allows you to watch Netflix when you're out of the country and get around Wi-Fi firewalls in countries that have them.

Read: VPN for Travel: What, Why and an Easy Setup Guide

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS

Booking a hotel, B&B or hostel? Going shopping on Amazon? You can support Solo Traveler by clicking through to Booking.com or any links in our Accommodation Guide or Gear & Books page. It doesn't matter what you buy or how small it is, it all helps. Many thanks!