Shayna Conde
Particular to USA TODAY
I deliberate a ladies’ 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 one more 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 associates, tried new meals, partied, tanned – the works. Whereas there was a number 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 needed to ask some extra skilled Black girl solo vacationers what their ideas and tips 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 satisfied outdoors of her marriage, so she began touring to see her associates. 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 here 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 improper 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 frequent 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 all the things that your journey has to supply as a result of it’s going to 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 can assist 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 skilled on navigating the worldwide hostel market.
Okereke has traveled to twenty nations and because of her infectious character, she has made associates with different vacationers and hostel employees members everywhere in the world.
Listed here are @ken10hollywood’s globe-trotting ideas:
If you happen to’re staying in hostels, speak to the employees. They’re often locals who know all of the hidden gems of the realm.
Many nations don’t have essentially the most constructive expertise of vacationers from the U.S. So, for those who’re American, do your finest to be as form and courteous as attainable so that you don’t by accident reinforce that adverse stereotype.
Know that the risks which might be prevalent in your nation will not be the identical elsewhere. Kendra mentioned that “when (she) was in Helsinki, folks made enjoyable of (her) as a result of (she) thought it will be harmful to stroll round at 10 o’clock at night time.”
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 may very well be a hostel employees member, your sibling again house, and many others.
Attempt to not appear like a vacationer. If you happen to’re misplaced, stroll right into a espresso store, or discover a rest room, and use that area to search out your bearings.
Use the nation’s foreign money and don’t retailer it multi function place.
Attain out to your hostel/lodging beforehand and ask them the easiest way to get to your vacation spot and the way a lot transportation ought to price. This may prevent from getting scammed.
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Listed here are the three ideas that each Latrice and Kendra shared:
Purchase a conveyable charger and exterior battery. Kendra additionally recommends an outlet converter, water bottle, and an anti-theft backpack (if you wish to be further protected).
Make copies of your passport, delivery certificates, immunization data, amongst others, and save photos of them to your telephone.
If it doesn’t really feel proper, don’t do it! Studying to belief your intestine is a large 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 women: Do not publish the main points of the placement you are staying when you are there (that features photos, movies and site-specific hashtags). Wait till you progress from that location or come house to make these posts. Your #OOTD can look ahead to the sake of you touring the world as safely as attainable.
Shayna Conde is an NYC-based meals, health and life-style author who’s engaged on her first e book. Her work will also be present in Attract, Food52, Greatist, Properly+Good, Stylist journal, and extra.
