It’s Golda--here to answer Instagram questions and ramble about my travel addiction. LET IT BE KNOWN that I am not rich, nor an expert. So please be advised…
...this is just your friendly girl-next-door offering her two cents on solo travel.
I wrote the post in both a “nutshell” version, if you like to skim read, and an “extra” version, if you want alllll the tea.
🌰NUTSHELL VERSION: Whether I’m boarding a winter flight to Iceland with just a bookbag, travelling solo through Europe by train, or trying yet again to learn French on Duolingo, two things never change: my love of travel, and my tiny budget. So far I have fallen in love with 17 countries and my wanderlust is strong as ever. This post is a love letter to travel and a call to action for anyone considering taking the leap.
💫 GOLDA’S POETIC, EXTRA VERSION: The spring of my 16th year, my mother began concocting a preposterous plan. (She literally named it Preposterous Plan 2012.) You see, she’d had an exciting and rich college experience, befriending individuals from all over the world and had since kept in touch via letters, social media, and Christmas cards. She contacted a ridiculously fun Spaniard she’d roomed with and a lovely Frenchwoman who taught her French. Et voila! a child swap was organized, and my sister and I would be the first to participate transAtlantic! My celebrated my “Sweet Sixteen” in New York City, then my dad sent me and my 14-year-old sister, Ruby, on an eight-hour flight to Paris. Thanks to our gracious and kind hosts, Ruby and I had the time of our lives. Even though we were hardly ever alone, I gained confidence, independence, and ...a travel addiction.
So once I started college, I wanted to expand my campus and challenge myself. I served a Christian mission in Hong Kong for 1.5 years, moved to New Jersey for a semester of school, and will be interning in Washington DC this fall.
Now on to the Q & A
The most common question I got was about BUDGETINGIf you read my story, you know that luck has something to do with my travels. Because my mom had connections, I was able to spend summers in Europe without paying for accommodation. Obviously not everyone has such connections, or such generous friends. Since beginning college, I haven’t really stayed with my friends abroad, and despite added expenses from #adulting, I have still been able to afford travel. Besides kindly + respectively taking advantage of connections you do have, my other tips include…
-Prioritize
Make travel a priority then save like crazy to make it happen.
-Be flexible
Sadly, deals hardly ever arise when you have a specific trip you want/need to take. Being flexible, spontaneous, and acting quick makes snagging deals easier. It will never be the perfect time to travel anyway, so why not just go where your wallet can take you and force the scheduling to work. Example: Go to the library to “study.” Find a cheap ticket to Iceland. Buy ticket to Iceland, thinking it’s for Thanksgiving Break. Show ticket to roommate who points out ticket is for the first week of December. Cry, laugh, and maniacally email all of your professors. Have a lovely time in Iceland. See? Easy.
-Keep an eye out
I have the apps Cheapflights, Hopper, and Skyscanner. They all have a “watch” option for flights you personally select, which will notify you whenever a price drops or goes up dramatically. Norwegian airlines has a good airfare calendar as does Google flights. Flightsfromhome instagram is great.
-Schedule strategically
For most destinations, there are certain “off” months when hotels and flights are cheaper. Research when those are and try to plan accordingly.
**On the trip, try to budget more than you think you'll need. Better safe than sorry. Tell your bank which countries you'll be in and when. I budget according to food. Guesstimate how much you'll spend on each meal per day, then give yourself a set amount per week that can be spent on souvenirs. Research how much museums and concerts cost in your destination. Example: Museums in Amsterdam can be as much as $22, so plan accordingly. Picture where your money is going. At home when I'm saving I think This shirt could turn into 10 Nutella crepes in Paris. And I put the shirt back. Resist the consumer culture! Be strong! $$ SAVE $$
Traveling alone
NUTSHELL VERSION: I believe that solo travel is something everyone should do at least once in their lives—it’s rewarding and challenging. The best way to stay safe is to prepare, have a smartphone and use common sense. Bring a journal, paperback book, and an open mind!
EXTRA VERSION: My mom asked me what I have gained from traveling alone. Gosh--three journals’ worth of revelations, questions, embarrassing moments, ticket stubs, and deep ponderings. A lifetime worth of friendships, memories, healing, adventure, and bravery.
It’s all about striking a balance between friendliness and caution, planning and rolling with the punches. Of course you make mistakes while traveling so, as with anything in life, learn from it and move on.
Picking my destinations and appreciating them once I’m there
NUTSHELL: I go where the deals lead and do everything I can to invite, not force, sparkly emotions. By “sparkly emotions” I mean those cinematic, sweeping, romantic, life changing moments we all want.
EXTRA: Being flexible enables you to use the cheapest airfare deals, so I try to be open with destinations. To be completely honest, that’s why I’ve been to Paris so many times: the cheapest MidWest flights to Europe are usually to Paris. Once I’m in Europe, intercountry travelling is easy and quite cheap, so I can begin in France, then journey elsewhere. For my three-week Europe trip, I got a Eurail pass and looked at their map of destinations. I combined the recommendations I’d gotten from friends with what made sense geographically, and BOOM--an itinerary! Europe is an excellent travel destination for first time solo travelers because of the easy transportation, safety, plentiful English speakers, and ability to see distinct cultures and countries efficiently.
Once I arrive, I have some museums and tourist sights saved in Google Maps. I use my “Trips” list of those marked destinations to create an outline of my day.
I wake up pretty early, but I don’t stay out late (For safety reasons, I’m always in by midnight if I’m alone.) Enthusiasm can lead to exhaustion, so pace yourself. Being hungry, dehydrated, or overbooked makes it hard to be present and enjoy yourself. Sit down to people watch and journal--write in parks and cafes. I rely heavily on Nutella for sustenance.
On vacation, when our experiences don’t come to Insta-worthy fruition, or feel like a fairy-tale, we get worried. You think I just paid so much money, I better have the effing time of my life. And that’s a lot of pressure! Especially when we are bombarded with edited, unrealistic travel inspo on social media. I’ve honestly seen people get to amazing places, take a dozen photos in a cute outfit, and leave. They hardly look at the sight. Don’t make it all about your feed—you’re missing out on really living.
As for the “sparkly emotions,” they do happen! They just can’t be forced, so invite them instead. I invite awe, gratitude, and enjoyment by researching my destinations, and letting go of expectations. I record everything in a journal. I budget and allow myself to splurge a little. I open my mind to possibilities, problem-solving, and surprises. I trust that the universe is on my side. By doing these things I am freed from the fake DisneyLand version, and I can experience the raw, real adventure!
How to pack like a pro
NUTSHELL: If you question whether you really need to pack it, you don’t need to pack it.
EXTRA:
-Have a color scheme
Remember you’re literally paying for the extra stuff. Don’t check luggage-it gets lost, isn’t always free, and makes trains/transfers a pain. If you do have to check a bag, double-check that crucial toiletries, extra pair of underwear, and important documents are with you in your carry-on.
-Buy a small suitcase with FOUR wheels. Absolute must.
-Dollar store has travel-sized containers plus cheap versions of what you need, which you can throw away as you go to make room for souvenirs at the end.
-Scrunchies and bandanas are great multitaskers.
-Invest in comfortable shoes.
-Have a friend come over while you pack. They can bring you back to reality and hype you up for the trip! Pack about two days before so you’re not hurried and have time to notice anything you missed.
Travel horror stories
NUTSHELL: I have slept on many airport floors, accidentally ordered an entire fish in Portugal, and been proposed to by a random Hungarian man.
EXTRA: One time my sister and I booked a string of flights to Europe that weren’t connected. When one of our flights was cancelled, we were stranded with no way to make it to our transAtlantic flight. We were young teenagers so we called our parents for backup. They went nuts calling airlines, finding new flights, and arranging a new itinerary. Long story short, we spent 8 hours in the Chicago airport on my birthday, then had to change airports (not just terminals) to get on a flight to Istanbul, then backtrack to Paris. We didn’t get a refund on the missed flight, but we got extra miles which I used for a trip to Rome a few months later. Airlines aren’t always that nice, so it’s good to book flights through one source. We had a positive attitude and adapted and it all turned out fine!
Another time we were with the relatives of one of our main host families (remember my mom’s college friends?) who were really nice and posh, but spoke little English. I pointed to the Portuguese menu and when our food came, everyone else had gotten appetizers to share, and my sister and I each got a huge, entire fish! The mom said, “They are very hungry!” to the waiter. To make matters worse, I almost started crying because I started thinking about how that fish had died just so I could eat it, and I couldn’t even finish it. (#carnivore guilt)
Last one: In the palace grounds in Budapest, surrounded by lots of tourists, my mom called me. She was literally at the vet about to put my cat put down. Sobbing, I said goodbye to my cat, Sinatra, while groups of tourists tried to work around me for photo-ops.
Overcoming language barriers
NUTSHELL: Don’t be intimidated. Thank your lucky stars that English is so common. Learn some useful phrases if you want more peace of mind.
EXTRA: I don’t always do this, but I recommend learning 3-5 useful sentences in the foreign language. It only takes a few days to commit them to memory and work on the accent. While in Puerto Rico I learned a few verrrry simple sentences and was amazed how useful they were.
Don’t be intimidated by the language, because odds are they speak English. If not-- an entertaining game of charades ensues! I’ve found that the natives are happy to help, as long as you aren’t acting like a rude/obvious tourist. I think language learning apps are usually better than Google Translate.
Managing travel stress and overcoming fears
NUTSHELL: You’ll be fine.
EXTRA: Wow, so much to say. For me, calm and peace of mind come from preparation. If I have all my documents, things paid for, and a Plan B, I feel unstoppable. Having a sense of humor is crucial. Don’t expect the trip to go 100% smoothly.
Fake it til you make it. I act confidently even if I don’t feel it. Especially in situations where I start to feel uneasy, the last thing I want to do is give off a vulnerable or insecure vibe.
Once a drunk German guy tried to chat with me while I was waiting for a bus to Prague late at night. I spoke loudly and clearly in Cantonese, then walked off briskly, and it made him go away. Obviously Chinese isn’t the best self-defense tactic, so I think self-defense classes, a whistle, and pepper spray are a good idea. I’ve never used once however, even when I would go into Manhattan every weekend.
Simply put, no where in the world is completely safe, but 99% of the time all you need is common sense and maybe a cell phone.
Travel influencing religion
NUTSHELL: Learning about other religions and cultures inspires me to be a better Christian.
EXTRA: As with anything involving religion, this question is complex and personal. Somehow my faith (I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) always comes up with people I meet. I’m always met with respect and curiosity. Often the conversation turns into a meaningful discussion on the meaning of life and humanity in general. By vocalizing my beliefs, I discover questions I have and strengthen my faith. I am humbled, challenged, and taught by others. I realize how much I have in common with other faiths, and I understand where I’m lacking as a human being and a follower of Christ. I always feel enlightened by others and also grateful for the beliefs that I cling to.
Pros/cons of solo travel
NUTSHELL: There are no cons.
EXTRA: I’ve already told you that you should solo travel at least once in your life. One solo trip doesn’t have any cons in my opinion. Traveling alone might feel selfish or unrealistic if you have a family of your own. After a while you might have a desire to share more experiences with a committed partner or invite close friends. But in my opinion, you’ll never regret one solitary adventure. It is an investment in yourself.
Avoiding tourist traps
NUTSHELL: Learn the local currency and conversion rate. Research.
EXTRA: Every location is so different, it’s hard to say. In Prague I paid a high commission rate converting my euros to Czech korunas because I didn’t know the conversion rate well enough to demand an exact and fair exchange. Sometimes tourist “traps” make profit under the assumption that tourists are too stupid, distracted, or timid to notice/speak up.
Approachable locals you can ask for recommendations are waiters, old people, and university students. (Okay, university students may not seem approachable, especially European male students, but they’ll know stuff about the area)
Funny story: My first night in Vienna, I walked into the city centre and stopped in Lindt to buy some Mozart chocolates. I passed by a beautiful theater with people dressed in powdered white wigs and 18th-century costume. I thought the costumes were gimmicky and that the tickets were to an inauthentic performance. I was no sucker, so I asked the (handsome) worker at the Lindt store what he recommended. He said that the theater was actually one of the best in the city and that that night a world-famous opera singer was performing. I was humbled.
Moral of the story: Ask locals and don’t judge the ticket-sellers by their ensembles.
How and should you connect with others
N: Stay in hostels and be outgoing. You’ll be happier and gain so much--including money because hostels are cheap.
About love
LOL--how deep. How about this quote: “To travel alone is to be constantly falling in love with yourself and with life.”
