EL AL | Atmosphere

Check-in I Our Guide

Do what you like whenever you like, be spontaneous, meet new people, discover new things and experience everything to the full. It might be daunting at first but there are many advantages to traveling alone, and with the right planning, it has the power to transform. Here are our tops tips for traveling solo / By Lihi Ron 5 tips for traveling solo

01 Collect as much information as you can about your destination . Before your trip, read up about your destination, its transport facilities, etc. Download the Duolinguo app and learn the basics of its local language – it will help you immeasurably to know even just a few words. Also, make sure you mark which areas are considered unsafe so that you know to avoid them. If you’re traveling to less developed parts of the world, make sure you’re aware of dress codes and behavioral codes if there are any, and try to book flights that arrive during the day and not in the middle of the night. 02 Plan your budget and pay ahead. Once you’ve outlined your trip (while leaving space for spontaneity), it’s time to plan your budget. Consider all the costs: flights, accommodation, food, transport, tickets to sites and attractions, etc., and whenever possible, pay in advance. Keep what you have left for unexpected expenses and potential emergencies. Pro tip: take more than one credit card with you and a limited amount of cash to use on your first day. 03 Pack light. Whether you’re leaving for a week or three months, there’s no need to carry accommodation options, sites, monuments, nightlife, public

heavy luggage around and mountains of clothes you’ll end up not even wearing. A spacious backpack and a medium-sized suitcase are more than enough. Don’t forget to pack good walking shoes. No matter where you are, you’ll find a laundromat somewhere and you’ll always be able to buy new clothes if need be. 04 Send important documents to your own email address . Scan your travel documents – passport, flight tickets, insurance policies, emergency phone numbers, etc., print a copy to keep on you physically, and send the document files to your own email address or upload them to your cloud. This way, they’ll be easy to access whenever you need them (provided there’s an Internet connection of course).

There’s not much point in keeping a photo of the documents inside your phone gallery - if you lose your phone or it gets stolen, you won’t be able to access them. It’s very important to give a family member a copy of your trip outline and to let them know about any changes you make to it along the way. 05 Join group classes or guided tours . Food tours, art tours, market tours, tours around sites and attractions, cooking classes, even language classes, are but a few of the activities you can join when you’re traveling on your own. They’re a great way to meet other fellow solo travelers and locals, make new friends, and gather ideas and recommendations for the rest of your trip.

10 ATMOSPHERE MARCH 2024