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10 Tips for planning your first solo trip
How to avoid looking like a tourist and getting tricked on your next trip abroad
Great New Tips
Just because you can go on some cruises without a passport doesn't mean you should. It can be very dangerous. Anything can happen, and if you happen to miss the boat getting back into the United States could be a nightmare.
Find the cheapest flight tickets for your exact trip by using a fare notification service.
Meet your Airbnb host in person if they are around, even if only for 5 minutes. This reassures everyone involved in the booking in case something should go wrong, as well as giving you a chance to ask about local tips.
Always give your Airbnb host feedback: whether good, bad or neutral. This is a community site that works best if everyone contributes to maintain high accommodation standards. Little tips like ‘a hairdryer would have been useful’ could benefit the next person’s experience.
Ask your Airbnb host questions beforehand about accommodation basics, in case they can only provide limited contact when you arrive. Confirm arrival and departure times and instructions, as well as must-haves like use of Wi-Fi and washing machine.
If you have booked an Airbnb and you know you will be arriving late (post 11pm) or early (pre 6am) then discuss this with your host. It is never fun to feel stranded in an unknown city in the dark! They will need to make sure their location instructions are extra clear.
Never forget that you are staying in someone’s home, and don’t treat any Airbnb booking as an opportunity to have your own guests round. Never start a party. Stay in a hostel if your priority is making new friends!
If you are travelling on holiday/ business for more than a couple of nights, most Airbnb hosts offer discounted weekly or monthly rates. Also negotiate directly with a host as they can offer even lower Special Rates.
Save more pennies on Airbnb if you are travelling in a group by searching for properties that are slightly smaller than the number in your party (e.g. sleeps 2 if you are 3). Then enquire if your host can offer an extra roll out bed before you book.
Still compare Airbnb options to hotel search engines like Booking.com if the per night cost for 2 people is around $100 USD or more. In some very popular areas, a budget hotel can actually work out cheaper.
One major benefit of Airbnb is that you will typically have a kitchen at your disposal. Save money by eating one or two meals in per day. A good host will leave kitchen basics like seasonings, small milk, coffee and tea.
For the truly adventurous, check in regularly with the Airbnb Picks website section and book spontaneously! Categories include fabulously random inspiration like Famous Authors Homes, Castles, Lighthouses and Private Islands.
When packing, if you have to wonder about whether you may or may not need something, leave it out. Pack light!
Throw an empty plastic grocery bag in the pocket of your suitcase. You’ll be able to pack wet swimsuits, sandy flipflops, dirty clothes, loose shampoo bottles, or any other damp emergencies without messing up the rest of your items.
Before booking flights, make sure you delete your cookies on your computer! You may end up finding prices cheaper.
When exploring a new city on foot, upon exiting your hotel turn around and see what your hotel looks like and note any landmarks that you’d be approaching from the other side. Your mind can play tricks on you and get you lost if you don’t have any visual references.
When you get home from a trip, take a photo of any clothes that you never wore. The next time you go on a similar trip, you’ll be able to remember what wasn’t worth packing.
If you have wet towels or swimsuits and forgot a plastic bag, look inside your hotel room closet. There’s often a plastic bag for dry cleaning tucked in the back – they are disposable and you can take them.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, don’t be afraid to let the hotel know. They aren’t always able to do anything but many hotels would love to send you a little chocolate or wine as a congratulations.