Travel solo - How to stay efficient and organized
Traveling solo is a very unique way to see the world. It has some advantages such as:
- Drama free
- You’re on your own time
- Cheaper
- Can be less stressful
- Immerse yourself into the culture better
- Help you find yourself
I traveled quite a bit before I got married and a lot of it was by myself. Solo. Just me. No worries either. 
I wanted to share some pointers to help you plan out a solo trip using the Google Suite and some other products to make things easier.
Pre-plan EVERYTHING
One tip I have is to first start of planning out where you want to go and what you want to see. Do your research and use Google MyMaps to plot everything out. Here I’ll use some spots in Iceland that I’ve mapped out. I researched the various sites and then plotted them out on the map. I also looked for various hotels and color coded them different. This will help you see the general distance from where you’re staying to where you want to visit. Also utilize Google Maps to determine the actual route and distance from place to place.
Then check out how far from the place you will be staying. Keep in mind that you may have to drive there and back.
Check out the # hashtags!!!
I cannot stress this enough, check out the # RECENT hashtags for the places you want to visit. Be sure the place is open, not shut down and looks like what you’ve researched. There have been instances where I arrived at a spot and it looks NOTHING like what I saw online. I use Instagram and find that it’s the most current and reliable. Be sure to look at the RECENT setting rather than popular. It will also give you a sense of how the crowds will be.
Plan how you are going to get there
I personally use Google Flights to check flights for international travel. I find it the easiest and most intuitive to use out of all the searches. If you do not require air travel, other sites like Expedia can help you find a deal. If you’re flexible, check out the lower cost days to help save you some money.
Plan how you are going to get around
Once you land, you’ll need to get around. For my Iceland examples, obviously I will need to rent a car. However, if you do not need to, try using mass transit like the metro/subway or oddly, the open top tourist buses. Oddly, in some cities the open top buses can be the easiest and more convenient method to get around. For Paris, I found a tour bus company and plotted out their route and locations they stopped at then compared it to where I wanted to visit. Most likely the bus will stop at all the major sites and attractions. So dont rule them out! Lots of locals and travelers will shun these this method but I would at least consider it.
Get a trip organizer
One of the most important things to do is stay organized. The Google Trips app will organize your plans and even give you information about the country or city you’re going to visit plus, some recommendation on places.
Finally go explore
Get out there and have fun and explore. Try to immerse yourself into the local culture and check out where the locals eat. One thing I love to do is check out the local street markets and night markets. It may be a little overwhelming at first but, trust me it will quickly fade. Talk to people and make some new friends. The people that you meet may open up new doors for opportunities and travel!
I hope these quick tips help and safe travels!
If anyone is making their way to the Baltimore, Maryland area feel free to message me for some tips and recommendations!