Q&A | Travel Intinerary Edition

Q&A

Question:

What are the top three destinations you recommend for solo travelers?

My Answer:

I can't recommend any destinations. The destination a solo traveler should travel to may vary based on the person's financial and mental stability. 

Question:

How do you prioritize safety when planning a solo trip?

My Answer:

I usually check the weather to make sure there's no storms or hurricanes or blizzards on the way. I carry a legal weapon for protection just in case I'm attacked or anything. I stay away from brothels, strip clubs, and pimps and I don't go out on blind dates or use dating websites to avoid human traffickers. My risk of being sex trafficked has drastically declined over the past couple of years, after learning to practice better safety precautions. When you age, you should also be wiser. 

I also do research about the place I'm going to before I go. I don't just get up and go without a plan or a purpose or I will end up in a bad place. I avoid traveling broke and always make sure I have enough money. I avoid homeless shelters and free handouts from strangers. A lot has changed over the past 5 years. I used to move more wreckless but now I use more caution. I usually let at least three people know where I'm going in case of an emergency. I avoid wearing expensive jewelry and flashy clothes and avoid holding stacks of ones on the internet. 

Question:

What are some essential items you pack for solo travel?

My Answer:

A portable gas stove*, phone chargers, collapsible electric kettle, emergency blankets, first aid kit, eating utensils, butane fuel*, dehydrated food, drinks, and snacks, toiletries such as soap, deodorant, menstrual pads, hand sanitizer, clothing and underwear, sheets* and blankets, a pillow, camera equipment, hand warmers, portable grill, a small cooler, two tents, portable toilet*, an air mattress* or sleeping bag, a portable chair*, a portable table*, rechargeable jumper cables (main essential)*, motor oil*, books, candles, immersion water heater, collapsible buckets, and several solar flashlights. 

(*If I'm not traveling by car I leave behind)

Question:

How do you approach meeting new people while traveling alone?

My Answer:

Back in the day I used to meet strangers from dangerous sites like Craigslist (which I no longer use), or social media, or I would meet them off the street corners. Nowadays, I host events online to meet people. I don't talk to very many strangers off the street unless they give off a positive vibe or very good energy. 

I don't meet people directly off of social media anymore. I don't follow them on social media unless I met them somewhere else. Sometimes I go to events that I discovered online to meet people, but most of those people are superficial. Unless I'm hosting the event myself, I limit the amount of events that I attend so that I don't waste my time too often.

Notebook & Pen 

Question:

What strategies do you use to create a flexible yet structured travel itinerary?

My Answer:

Well I usually start my intinerary off by looking for an exclusive event to attend- one that everyone can't get into. After I'm accepted into the event, I put it on my travel intinerary. After that, I start planning my own event, and then I put that on the intinerary. Last but not least, I look for a non exclusive event to attend - such as an open mic night, or a happy hour at a lounge or something, then I add that to the interary. Whatever activities that I can fit in between that, then I will. Otherwise, I'm chilling. I usually do no more than four activities per day. 

My intinerary may look something like this:

Wednesday 

8 am: hit the road 

Stop by a botanica 

4 pm arrive in city and check in at hotel/campsite 

Stop by grocery / liquor store and return to lodging 

Thursday 

9 am: Exclusive Event (event title)

Take dog to the park 

7 pm: My event (event title)

Chill in room, have wine, listen to music, write 

Friday 

11 am: Shoot music video 

Take dog to sitter 

8 pm: Non Exclusive Event (event title)

Look for a hot date 

If you're making an itinerary, make sure you leave gaps in between to make it more flexible and always be willing to switch something up at the last minute if need be. 

Question:

Can you share a memorable experience from a solo trip you’ve taken?

My Answer:

One of my most memorable experiences was traveling with my pit bull before she passed away. She was an adorable dog and made me smile alot. I used to ask her to give me a five and she would stick out her paw to shake my hand. I will always hold my dog close to my heart.

After my animal passed away, I got another dog, during that same solo trip, and my new dog made me smile too. I remember my dog sticking his head out of the car window for the first time on the trip. It was such an adorable moment. I will never forget. 

Question:

What apps or resources do you find most helpful for solo travel planning?

Suitcase in hotel room 

My Answer:

Booking.com is one of the main apps that I use when planning a solo trip. That's where all of the hotels are listed. I've been using Booking.com for over a decade. I just recently started using another app called OpenTable, to make dinner reservations. Another one of my favorite apps is Reserve America for camping and I also use Recreation.gov. 

Question:

How do you balance sightseeing and downtime on a solo trip? 

My Answer:

I don't do too much sightseeing when I solo travel. I stick to the script. Like I don't set out to go sightseeing. I just see whatever I see on the way to wherever I'm going and then relax later.

Question:

Have you ever faced any challenges while traveling alone? How did you handle them?

My Answer:

My biggest challenge was being human trafficked and getting caught in the migrant crisis. I handled it by not traveling to certain areas and staying away from certain places after I get to the destination. I also had times where I ran out of money and went broke and got stuck. I make sure that doesn't happen anymore. I plan spending very wisely and I don't spend money on unnecessary things. I'm confident that with the knowledge that I have now, I can travel without being trafficked and without getting stuck there.

Question:

What advice would you give to someone thinking about embarking on their first solo adventure?

My Answer:

Always leave with a plan. Never go anywhere without a plan or without money! It's too dangerous! Always have money and a plan or your life could be in jeopardy! Don't get stuck and don't seek handouts from strangers! Carry a legal weapon for protection and avoid meeting strangers in places like hotels or in isolated areas and don't go to anyone's house! 

If you drink, don't get too intoxicated around strangers and watch who's making your drink. Do your research on your travel destination! Don't just go there without knowing anything about the area or place you're traveling to. That isn't a smart move! Make sure you're going into a welcoming environment and not one that's filled with hostility and hate! Never wear flashy jewelry or show off your valuables. Someone might steal them! 

Don't show off your location on social media unless you're confident in yourself. If you're scared or running away from someone dangerous, then don't tag your exact location! Don't tag the hotel you're in or the restaurant you're eating at while you're sitting in there, especially if you're in a sketchy city or neighborhood, and don't be so quick to trust the police everytime you have a problem. They're not your friends and they're not gods. They're just people! They can't save you from everything, even if you think you're on the right side of the law! Nobody likes a snitch, especially if you're in the streets, so don't be one! Be smart and stay out of risky situations!

Last but not least, mind your damn business. No one likes a nosey traveler! Don't worry about what other people are doing with their lives! Worry about yourself and your own safety! If something feels off it probably is! Trust your gut and get out of there and go on about your life peacefully! Never cause a scene in public! Anyways be the bigger person! If someone tries to argue with you or bully you, don't just stand there and argue, respect their turf and walk away or they might pull out a gun and shoot you!