Shayna Conde
Particular to USA TODAY
I deliberate a women’ journey final yr to Costa Rica for my birthday. Actually everybody that I invited bailed within the span of three weeks. This put me in a precarious state of affairs: Do I postpone my journey for an additional time when somebody can journey, or do I e-book my ticket to a rustic I’ve by no means been to earlier than and see what occurs?
I selected the latter and had the time of my life.
I made new mates, tried new meals, partied, tanned – the works. Whereas there was loads of analysis that I did earlier than I stepped onto the aircraft, as a first-time solo traveler I knew that there was a lot that I did not know. Now that I’ve caught the journey bug, I wished to ask some extra skilled Black girl solo vacationers what their ideas and methods had been for navigating the globe and here is what they needed to say.
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Latrice, the creator behind @highontrice, has traveled to 12 nations and lived in three as an expat.
After her divorce, Latrice was inspired to find what made her completely happy outdoors of her marriage, so she began touring to see her mates. Now, years later, these home journeys have blossomed right into a profession that’s serving to to encourage girls to journey and see the world.
Listed below are @highontrice’s prime ideas for solo touring:
Date your self earlier than you go! Get pleasure from spending time with your self so that you simply aren’t determined to satisfy folks. That’s how you find yourself hanging out with the incorrect crowd.
Analysis your lodging state of affairs earlier than you go and know you’re nonnegotiables. Do you want a 24-hour entrance desk or on-site safety? Would you like shared widespread areas or not? Amongst others.
It’s OK to be nervous, particularly if it’s your first solo journey. Really feel your emotions and embrace the whole lot that your journey has to supply as a result of it should train you one thing.
Latrice’s prime decisions for Black girl solo vacationers: Puerto Rico, Thailand, Panama, and Bali (her No. 1 alternative is Chiang Mai, Thailand).
Latrice’s prime security ideas:
Don’t promote that you simply’re touring by your self.
Don’t drink to the purpose the place your judgment is impaired.
Be taught some conversational phrases that will help you navigate the nation higher.
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Kendra Okereke, the creator behind @ken10hollywood, travels the world to satisfy folks and listen to their tales so she’s the go-to professional on navigating the worldwide hostel market.
Okereke has traveled to twenty nations and because of her infectious persona, she has made mates with different vacationers and hostel employees members all around the world.
Listed below are @ken10hollywood’s globe-trotting ideas:
For those who’re staying in hostels, speak to the employees. They’re normally locals who know all of the hidden gems of the realm.
Many nations don’t have probably the most constructive expertise of vacationers from the U.S. So, if you happen to’re American, do your greatest to be as sort and courteous as doable so that you don’t by accident reinforce that adverse stereotype.
Know that the risks which can be prevalent in your nation might not be the identical elsewhere. Kendra stated that “when (she) was in Helsinki, folks made enjoyable of (her) as a result of (she) thought it might be harmful to stroll round at 10 o’clock at evening.”
Kendra’s suggestions in your first solo journey: Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy, the U.Okay. and Eire, her best choice.
Kendra’s prime security ideas:
Let somebody know the place you might be. That might be a hostel employees member, your sibling again residence, and so forth.
Strive to not appear to be a vacationer. For those who’re misplaced, stroll right into a espresso store, or discover a toilet, and use that house to seek out your bearings.
Use the nation’s foreign money and don’t retailer it multi functional place.
Attain out to your hostel/lodging beforehand and ask them one of the simplest ways to get to your vacation spot and the way a lot transportation ought to price. This could prevent from getting scammed.
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Listed below are the three ideas that each Latrice and Kendra shared:
Purchase a conveyable charger and an excellent exterior battery. Kendra additionally recommends an outlet converter, an excellent water bottle, and an anti-theft backpack (if you wish to be additional protected).
Make copies of your passport, start certificates, immunization data, amongst others, and save footage of them to your cellphone.
If it doesn’t really feel proper, don’t do it! Studying to belief your intestine is a big a part of being protected whereas solo touring.
Whereas I am not as skilled within the solo touring world as Kendra or Latrice, my one final tip for all solo touring girls: Do not submit the small print of the placement you are staying if you are there (that features footage, movies and site-specific hashtags). Wait till you progress from that location or come residence to make these posts. Your #OOTD can anticipate the sake of you touring the world as safely as doable.
Shayna Conde is an NYC-based meals, health and way of life author who’s engaged on her first e-book. Her work can be present in Attract, Food52, Greatist, Effectively+Good, Stylist journal, and extra.
