How not to be afraid to travel on your own?
Most people, planning a vacation abroad, exclude the option of independent travel for various reasons: reluctance to spend effort on organizational issues or lack of time. But often people miss the opportunity to travel on their own just because of different fears.
No way! Experienced tourists say that going on a trip yourself is not only more interesting, but also more profitable. Undoubtedly, independent tourism has many advantages.
The main advantage of independent travel is freedom of action. You are not limited to the tour program, but spend time as you want. You can decide where you go, what you do, what you eat and where to live. But it is better to think about all this in advance, since the responsibility lies only with you. This is why many people have fears and doubts.
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The main fear is the fear of being alone in an unfamiliar country where no one will help you. The rest of them will come out, we will deal with each:
Language barrier
Although English is an international language, not everyone knows it. Not speaking English is perfectly normal. Most people on your way will try to listen and understand you, so don’t be afraid to ask them for help.
There are various options to facilitate communication: buy a dictionary or download an interpreter on your phone; take a notebook for drawings with you or buy a small book with pictures and show the image to the interlocutor.
Ideally, of course, find a list of phrases and words that will come in handy on your journey – learn and apply them. Only through practice will you gain confidence and meet new people.
Monetary difficulties
Many people worry that there will not be enough money for the trip or overpayment will occur. With proper planning and expedient spending of funds, the risks that this will happen are minimal.
Think about booking tickets, accommodation, places for various events in advance, so you will have a rough picture of what you have already paid for and what you still have to do.
And in extreme cases, make sure that there is a person at home who can send you money to the account in an emergency.
Health problems
Always take out VZR – insurance for traveling abroad. The basic VZR includes treatment and medical transportation, but it is supplemented by other options: baggage insurance, documents, civil liability to third parties, flight delays and cancellations, and also allows you to receive monetary compensation after an accident.
Insurance provides peace of mind and protection for a low price - about 1000 rubles.
If you still decide on an independent voyage and want the holiday to become unforgettable, in the good sense of the word, it must be carefully planned and foresee all force majeure situations. Start preparing for the trip should be six months in order not to be nervous and enjoy the anticipation of travel.
Tips and rules for those who want to go on a trip without a travel agency:
Learn as much as possible about the country you are planning to visit.
Ask all the questions you are interested in the search engine; read forums, blogs, portals and ask people who have experience. Study the cultural traditions and customs of the country. Ignorance of culture can lead to embarrassing situations or disrupt your plans. Clarify the rules in advance registration of visa documents.
You can try an alternative way of living during your stay.
In addition to hotels, hostels and apartments, there are other resources. You can contact residents of any country on the Internet and agree to live for free - this is called couchsurfing or look after a house whose owners left for a long time - this is housekeeping, as well as in exchange for help on the housework or other work.
Plan your route clearly.
When planning your way, do not try to include all the attractions or the most popular places in one trip. Choose a not too standard plan if you do not want to admire the back of the same tourist.
You can also cheat and borrow the ready route from independent travelers who have recently been to the same country and were satisfied with the trip.
Simplify your way to the destination: download an application with directory and navigator functions on your phone. Some applications have a feature that allows you to mark on the map the places you would like to visit.
Explain your budget and consider possible unexpected costs
In this you can help sites that calculate the cost per day in a particular country, as well as forums and blogs.
Many tasks will help to solve guide
With a guide, the problem of knowing the language will disappear, and the route will be planned according to your desires. A private tour is dedicated to the tourist, adjusted to his speed, which means somewhere you can stay longer and ask questions. The guide will not only conduct a unique excursion, effectively wasting your time, but also tell you the places where it is cheap and tasty to eat, what attractions to visit and tell you what is not told to organized groups.
In most cases, a private guide is cheaper than a group tour. You just need to gather several participants of the tour and divide the cost of the guide equally.
Rest people imagine differently, and in some cases organized tours will be better. But independent tourism is definitely worth a try.
Now anyone who has the opportunity to access the Internet and free time can independently plan a trip: there are many useful resources for travelers from all over the world that can help make a holiday convenient and exciting. If something goes wrong, don’t worry! First and foremost, traveling is an adventure.
Text: Maria Kourova
Photo: static, pexels, pixabay