There’s nothing like the confidence gained from exploring a new place and embarking on that journey solo. It's challenging, but so are many things in our day-to-day lives. Below are five tips to give you the confidence you need to embark on your next solo journey.
1. Share your itinerary with your loved ones.
After you’ve finalized and approved your custom-made itinerary created by your Cabana Trip Planner, share the itinerary with your loved ones. They’ll get a play-by-play of where you’ll be each day, allowing them to join you on the journey virtually.
There’s nothing like hearing genuine joy and excitement from someone exploring a new place. When preparing for your trip, review your itinerary and identify with your loved ones when you will check-in and do so regularly.
If you’re not already, share your location with friends and family. They can check in periodically to confirm you’re safe and enjoying your adventure. Smartphones have the capability of pinning your location even if your phone loses data connection. Knowing this is comforting, especially since cell service can be spotty in remote locations.
2. Avoid Primitive Camping
We all dream of that perfect secluded location, off the beaten path, away from civilization. However, these areas are not regularly monitored, and more times than not, the roads leading to those areas aren't maintained. Something as simple as a flat tire or running out of gas can result in being stranded for a few days before someone discovers you. Additionally, as previously mentioned, many of those secluded locations have poor wireless reception making it challenging to inform someone that you need assistance.
State and federal campgrounds are always a good option when you're solo camping. Local law enforcement and park rangers frequent the grounds, and the lodging fees are reasonable for a solo traveler’s budget.
3. Know Your Limits and Trust Your Instincts
One of the benefits of spending time in nature is heightened self-awareness and confidence. This confidence is often the fuel we need to encourage us to continue our life journey. Although confidence is great to have, it’s important that you know your limits and trust your instincts.
Camping and exploring nature is exhilarating and exciting, but it’s also essential to identify what you can comfortably do to eliminate the risk of potential danger. When planning a hike, determine the difficulty level and make sure it’s comfortable for you. Try to avoid pushing yourself beyond what you have explored in the past.
With the right snacks, music selection, and endless destination possibilities, road trips are always exciting. Avoid overexerting yourself while driving by identifying a comfortable driving pace and daily mileage.
4. Avoid Posting In Real-Time
When you're on a trip and you're excited, you might want everyone to experience the beauty you’re currently experiencing. We understand. However, posting your adventure on social media in real-time should be avoided. The tracking capabilities available today are phenomenal and highly beneficial when used correctly. But, your information in the hands of the wrong person can be seriously dangerous.
This is your time to experience something new. Enjoy the moment and save your photos and videos to post when you get back home. Or at least a day or two after leaving a location.
Meeting new people on your journey and exchanging past and future explorations can be exciting. However, avoid sharing your exact route with strangers. Instead, give general locations and directions. For example, instead of saying, “I just spent a few days in Cannon Beach, and now I’m headed to check out Crater Lake for a couple of days.” simply say, “I just experienced the coast, and now I’m heading down south to finish my trip.” This allows you to safely contribute to the conversation.
5. Identify An Emergency Plan
We all want our trips to be filled with excitement and adventure. We don't want to think about those potential emergencies and how to respond to them. Having a plan in case the unexpected happens is essential. No one can be sure of what could go wrong, so being aware of common factors, conditions, and the environment to create a “just in case” plan can help manage the stress that comes with the unknown.
Bonus: Take A Pet with You
One of the perks of staying with Cabana is that they welcome your furry friends. Although this is a solo trip, having a four-legged pal to keep you company is comforting.
If you’re ready to embark on your next adventure, consider a solo trip with Cabana.
For more travel tips and inspiration, follow @breakfast_with_tiffani and visit her blog.
