Tiredness from being busy with work sometimes makes us feel exhausted and in need of a traveling or vacation. Indeed, that’s when we should take a moment to rest from our very exhausting daily activities.
Speaking of traveling and vacations, enjoying the beauty of nature such as going to the sea, mountains, and forests can be the right choice. Because, by vacationing in nature, we can refresh our minds to return to work with enthusiasm.
But before going on traveling, you should prepare the things needed during the vacation first. Here are some preparations and tips for you before going on your next adventure.
1. Plan Well
Planning well is a must-do tip before traveling. This plan includes the destination of the vacation and the departure time.
To make the vacation more comfortable and enjoyable, it is advisable to avoid going during peak holiday seasons. During holiday seasons, many tourist spots are crowded, what was supposed to be a relaxing time becomes uncomfortable due to overcrowding.
Moreover, the risk of traffic jams is also higher during holiday seasons. It’s better to choose regular weekdays for vacation.
2. Pack Light and Travel Easy
In adventurous journeys, you need to bring all the essential items needed for the trip. You can’t bring a lot of suitcases or bags, and only backpacks can be carried on adventurous journeys. Therefore, it’s important to pack as lightly as possible to be able to travel freely.
You certainly don’t want to carry heavy bags on your back that can cause physical discomfort. Pack only essential items, avoid bringing unnecessary items that can make the bag heavy.
If you do smart packing, you’ll be able to move freely, explore with ease, and fully immerse yourself in the adventure ahead. So, remember to keep it simple and focus on enjoying the journey rather than being weighed down by unnecessary baggage.
3. Make a Clear Itinerary
Another tip to make your vacation enjoyable is to make an itinerary or travel schedule. With this itinerary, your vacation will be more comfortable. You can make a schedule starting from departure until returning home.
In making this itinerary, you need to pay attention to the time and destination of the tourist spots. You can group nearby tourist spots to be visited in close time frames.
To make your vacation more comfortable, make a flexible itinerary. This means you can change the schedule if necessary.
Planning your trip ahead with a schedule can make your vacation way better. It helps you use your time well and see all the cool stuff. Think about how long it takes to get from one place to another and when places are open.
Try to visit nearby spots together to save time. Stay flexible in case things change, and leave some time for fun surprises. Focus on what you really want to do to make your trip awesome. Balancing planning and flexibility makes for a great vacation!
4. Check the Prices of Vacation Spots and Accommodation
Don’t forget to search for the latest ticket prices and accommodation at the tourist spots you will visit. To find out, you can check through applications and try to make reservations early. This is to minimize sudden price increases and certainly help financial adjustment for the upcoming vacation.
When checking prices for vacation spots and accommodation, consider exploring different options beyond just the most popular ones. Sometimes, lesser-known attractions or lodging options can offer better value for your money without compromising on quality.
Additionally, keep an eye out for any special promotions or packages that may be available, as these can often provide significant savings. Remember to factor in any additional fees or charges, such as entrance fees or taxes, when budgeting for your trip.
By exploring all your options and being mindful of costs, you can ensure a more affordable and enjoyable vacation experience.
5. Don’t Forget to Bring a Large Water Bottle
This might sound trivial. But, it is highly recommended that you bring a large water bottle in your bag when you go around. Especially when visiting tourist attractions that are often crowded with tourists.
Sure, there will be vendors around. However, prices will hike up. If this keeps happening, it will also affect your budget!
Apart from bringing a large water bottle, it’s also wise to pack some snacks or small meals to keep you fueled throughout the day.
This not only helps you save money by avoiding overpriced food at tourist attractions but also ensures you have sustenance readily available, especially if you’re exploring remote areas where food options may be limited.
Plus, having snacks on hand can prevent you from feeling hungry or fatigued, allowing you to make the most of your sightseeing adventures. So, don’t forget to stock up on water and snacks before heading out for the day!
6. Don’t Shop at Tourist Spots
Traveling seems incomplete if you don’t buy local items to keep as mementos for yourself or souvenirs for folks back home. So, when buying souvenirs, it’s best to avoid tourist spots because prices there are sure to skyrocket. Instead, you should look for other places where prices will be significantly cheaper.
7. Eat Local Food and Go Street Food Hunting
To save costs, it’s best to buy local food specialties or street food rather than going to luxury restaurants. In every area, there are usually their own unique street foods that you might not often find in your area, and you can also taste the local cuisine. Kill two birds with one stone!
8. Find Cheap Accommodation and Transport
Besides planning your trip, it’s also important to book reliable accommodation and transportation. Since you’re traveling alone, make sure what you choose provides a sense of safety and comfort. Booking accommodation and transportation well in advance will surely bring peace of mind, right?
However, if you’re faced with a sudden situation where you can’t find safe accommodation, remain calm and try to interact with locals to ask about accommodation or inquire about transportation options. Be friendly and don’t show panic or flaunt anything.
9. Use the Most Comfortable Bag and Clothing Set!
The next tip is to wear comfortable clothing and bags. It may seem trivial, but it’s important! By wearing comfortable clothes and using a comfortable bag, it will surely make it easier for you to move around and won’t disturb your travel and vacation activities. Comfort also means being effective and efficient to use without hassle!
What must be remembered is that you should first learn about the destination you’re traveling to. So, you can determine what clothes and bags are suitable to be comfortable there. This will also help you prepare when packing clothes so you won’t bring the wrong outfit! Sometimes, there are certain cultural norms in specific regions that prohibit certain clothing styles. Therefore, preparing clothes well in advance is important.
10. Bring Important Documents You’ll Need
In addition to preparing clothes, accommodation, and transportation well in advance, don’t forget to make sure you bring the necessary documents! Such as ID cards, passports, visas, and of course restaurant membership cards for discounts. When bringing these documents, it’s very important to pay attention to where you put them.
As a solution, you can bring two bags during solo traveling. The first bag is a backpack for clothing, toiletries, and food needs. Then, the second bag is a smaller bag, like a sling bag, which can be used to store wallets and important documents. Make sure the second bag containing valuables is always with you when in public and placed in front of you.
11. Use Quality Luggage
Traveling is a moment for fun, right? Surely, you don’t want to be bothered by a broken suitcase ruining the situation and making it complicated. If you’re traveling with a suitcase, you can use quality luggage that comes in various sizes, designs, and models like hardcase or softcase that can be chosen according to your taste and needs. If possible, use luggage equipped with 4 wheels that can rotate 360 degrees, TSA lock, double zippers, and have an ergonomic pull handle, and are made of lightweight yet sturdy materials.
12. Utilize Vacuum Bags
If you happen to bring a lot of clothes, you can use vacuum bags to maximize space in your bag or suitcase. Just put clothes into the bag, and use a vacuum machine to suck out the air, making the bag shrink.
With vacuum plastic bags, packing activities become more practical. In addition to being easy to use, these vacuum machines come in small sizes making them easy to store and operate silently yet have powerful suction. These machines are claimed to help save storage space by up to 50%! Moreover, vacuum bags can be reused multiple times, resistant to dust, mold, odors, and don’t make clothes wrinkled or creased.
So, those are the 12 tips and preparations for traveling that you can apply. From planning, provisions, to plans, you should consider them all. Make your solo traveling enjoyable and full of learning with thorough preparations. Happy holidays and stay healthy to those who want to try it out!