Where to go on vacation alone

Many people completely don't understand, why travel without company: there's no one to take a photo against the mountains, accommodation is more expensive, and it's simply lonely. On the other hand, sometimes such a vacation helps you relax and recharge better. Almost like a silent retreat without mobile connection, but also in a new beautiful place — isn't that a dream?

Kupi.com decided to compile a kind of memo: where to go on vacation alone, what to take with you, and what to remember for your safety and comfort.

What to consider when traveling alone

When traveling alone, you should first take care of your health and safety. The more thorough the preparation before departure, the better. Even if you don't need some things, you won't have to worry that something might go wrong. And the less anxiety, the higher the quality of your vacation.

In every country, there will be gallant gentlemen ready to help with luggage. But ideally, you should rely only on yourself and not take anything so heavy that you can't carry it yourself. It's obvious that clothing for different seasons and countries will differ, but below we've written a standard list of what would be good to take with you, more or less.

What to take with you

• Passport! Yes, it's obvious, but many people miss this point and only remember it at the check-in counter.
• First-aid kit, based on your health and understanding of local culture and cuisine. For countries with unfamiliar food, we recommend taking something for your stomach, and depending on the season, a cream with a high SPF level. A classic list of what might always be useful: plasters, pain relievers, something for your stomach and for food poisoning.
• Charged power bank. The lighter it is, the easier it will be to carry it all day.
• Chargers for everything that needs charging. In general, the less tech requiring power, the better. After a long day of exploring a new area, you don't always have the energy to charge your phone/headphones/watch, etc.
• Currency of the country you are going to. Not every airport has exchange offices, and if they do, their rates are sky-high. Ideally, have at least enough money for a snack at the airport and a taxi to your accommodation.

The rest is optional: underwear, comb, toothbrush, clothes, light snack, water. Why are clothes optional? What if you're going on a shopping tour and plan to buy a whole new wardrobe there? We don't know where you're going on vacation alone :)

Planning a solo vacation

How to plan a trip independently, so everything goes smoothly? For example, it's definitely a good idea to choose accommodation in advance and book it for the desired dates. Looking for a cheap hostel right at the airport upon arrival is quite an adventure. Booking has a pay-on-arrival option, so you can safely look for options there. Turn on your VPN, check 'no credit card required' in the filters, and let's go!

Just for your peace of mind, we recommend Googling the safest areas in the city you're going to. Of course, robbers and maniacs don't lie in wait at every step in a foreign country. But if you want to be completely worry-free and walk around even at night — this plan works.

Again, cash will be useful for paying for accommodation (unless you are a lucky owner of a Visa or Mastercard). In every major city of any country, you can find currency exchange offices. And the further the exchange office is from the tourist center, the better the exchange rate. Ideally, you should take care of this before leaving and travel with some cash in your pocket. The pocket, of course, is recommended to be kept tightly closed and close to your body.

List of countries where a girl can travel alone

In addition to a memo for packing essentials, we have compiled a list of top countries and cities where a girl can go on vacation alone.

Balkans: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro

In every city of these countries, it will be soulful and comfortable. A minor drawback might be the rarely encountered English, but a smartphone translator is always an option. Plus, the root of Russian and Balkan languages is the same: you will find funny names everywhere that sound and are spelled similarly to Russian ones.

In the Balkans, everyone will find something to their liking. Mountains and forests, architecture, the sea, historical monuments, and museums. And given the size of the entire peninsula, you can cover several points in one trip. Plus, locals have a soft spot for Russia, which can be an added bonus.

Italy: Venice and Florence / Belgium: Antwerp

It's no coincidence that we've combined these three completely different cities. The main thing about them is the people: they won't abandon you in trouble, will help carry heavy things, and will show you the way (or even lead you). English is quite good, but in these cities, it's more engaging to simply communicate with the locals — whether in broken English or any other way.

Super open and friendly, they are ready to tell you about the nearest bookstore, and about their grandmother and her perfect pancakes. And where else will you find waiters who direct you to a neighboring cafe because the food there is four times tastier and five times cheaper?

Turkey: Istanbul and Antalya

You will be safer in large tourist cities like Istanbul and Antalya — they can be considered an option for a woman to go on vacation alone. It would be great if you Google «safest and most beautiful areas of Istanbul» before your trip to choose something that suits you.

We definitely do not recommend appearing after dark in the area of the largest bazaar and its surroundings. There are no problems with English in tourist areas, and bargaining is possible and encouraged.

UAE: Dubai

What's the super plus? Literally everyone speaks English. Almost all places a tourist might visit (from cafes to banks) have clear signage. As a bonus, there's an amazing sense of security: you can safely forget your belongings in a cafe, return, and find everything intact. Again, we recommend choosing good areas using Google: besides modern areas, Dubai also has places where mostly immigrants from third-world countries live. They come to Dubai for work, but their culture is somewhat different. It's better to stay closer to the center. Additionally, in summer, the air temperature here rises to +50, meaning the ideal time to travel to Dubai is from October to April.

Countries where it's better not to travel alone

Brazil and Mexico

Brazil and Mexico are known for high crime rates. Criminal elements are found almost everywhere here. It's better to see the Brazilian Carnival with friends or a companion, but definitely not alone. Plus, local police are more likely to be busy with local residents' affairs than tourists'.

Australia

Australia is also not an option for solo travel: too many dangerous animals and insects. Both on land and in water. Snakes, spiders, jellyfish, and other 'surprises' await tourists here. Not to say that a company of fellow travelers would be a panacea against jellyfish. But at least there will be someone to take you to the nearest first aid station and hold your hand.

Iran

This country has quite strict rules regarding women's appearance and behavior. If you are not ready for tourism in maximally conservative clothing and plan to party, then we recommend postponing this option until better times. Or be prepared for the surprise of locals staring at you from all sides.

India

Bollywood India with its songs and dances remains only in movies for now. Poor sanitation is rampant here, and it seems that instead of clothes, your luggage will consist of adsorbents and antiseptics. A solo girl is unlikely to feel safe in the land of curry and tea. Therefore, we would not recommend India as a place to go on vacation alone.

Portugal

Lisbon, unfortunately, also doesn't shine in terms of safety. There are too many stories from tourists who were scammed. These guys even have entire schemes for ripping off visitors. On the other hand, if you are in company and move confidently around the city (so that it's hard to mistake you for a tourist) — it's more likely that scammers and beggars won't bother you, and the city will seem super hospitable. But as an ideal place to go on vacation alone, Lisbon is clearly not suitable.

Solo travel: safety tips

Let's summarize! We've put everything into a small checklist for solo travel:

• be sure to download offline maps of the area you are going to on your smartphone before departure, for example, Maps Me;
• exchange cash in advance;
• clarify safer areas for accommodation and evening strolls;
• write down the emergency call number (like 112 in Russia) in your notes;
• installing an offline translator on your smartphone will also be an invaluable help in another country;
• listen to your intuition and avoid dark, deserted places;
• just in case, you can wear a ring on your ring finger — it helps against annoying pick-up artists.