10 Things I was never told before travelling solo

1. That the return home is the most difficult part of the whole trip

If you get homesick quite easily, then this may come as a surprise to you but for me, the ending was by far the most challenging aspect of the whole trip.

Before leaving for your solo backpacking adventure, the last thing on your mind is what will happen when you return home. All I was thinking about was making sure I didn’t fall asleep in the airport and miss my flight!

On reflection though, returning home after experiencing complete freedom and happiness to then trying to adapt back into a normal routine became alien to me. It’s a very surreal feeling sitting in your own home inside four walls again which doesn’t quite feel like that anymore. It almost felt claustrophobic very out of place.

Looking out into the distance of the plane window as if you’re filming a scene of a new movie, the flight home is a journey filled with sadness, gratitude, happiness, appreciation, sorrow and any other adjective you can think of; it truly is a rollercoaster of emotions.

However, there really is nothing like your own bed in contrast to people snoring and walking in at 4am with two left-feet.

2. How fast you make relationships with others

This is something I was not expecting.

I couldn’t even comprehend how it was possible to make lifelong friends with people you’ve known for such a short period of time; is that even enough time to get know so

meone? Way more than enough.

The relationships made whilst backpacking are far more intense and accelerated than in a normal day-to-day setting due to the amount of time spent together and all the experiences which are shared, and this is what is key to creating bonds.

Getting to know people over a local meal, exploring the location you’re in or just watching the sunset are small things you really grow to appreciate. Just having pure human interaction rather than keeping up to date with friends and the world via technology is a refreshing detox, where you quickly wonder what you were doing with your time while on these devices in the first place.

If you don’t feel as though you’re a sociable person, a little introverted and not so much a “people’s person”, backpacking solo is perfect for you. That may sound slightly contradictive, but it’s the perfect scenario to jump out of your comfort zone and interact with people in the exact same situation you are in.

If there’s one thing I missed about backpacking, it would be the ease of socialising where people are open to conversation and have the time to dedicate their attention to it, rather than being glued to a screen. Who would’ve thought it?

3. How you change as a person

Unless you’re Nostradamus, it can be difficult to comprehend how you’ll think and feel as a person in the future. The change is usually something other people can perceive from you much better than yourself.

And I’m not saying you’ll have a complete personality transplant but you’ll 100% feel not only change, but growth as you progress through your solo backpacking experience.

From the very moment you touchdown at your destination – alone - you’re suddenly very dependent on yourself and have to mature very quickly. It’s the beauty of coming out of your comfort zone where you usually have familiar people around you such as friends and family to rely on in far more comfortable settings, to being the sole person who decides what happens next. This right here, is what truly grows your character and resilience as a person.

I vividly recall arriving in Bangkok all alone with my huge 20KG backpack slowing me down in the intense Thai heat which just made everything that little more irritable and helpless, and feeling like Kevin from Home Alone not knowing where to go, what to do with myself or how to feel. However, in that moment I just had to grow up as a person and jump straight into the deep end. Sadly there was no pool to do that in on arrival.

Cultural experiences and people you’ll encounter along the way will change your perspective on many things in life. Being in some of the poorest areas and meeting people from very different walks of life to yours can open your mind tremendously and, particularly for me, allowed me truly understand what’s important in life.

From the riveting and deeply moving Killing Fields in Cambodia to the remains of the Vietnam war, they are just a small sample of the places which educate you in ways no school ever could.

4. Discovering cuisines!

One of my favourite topics in the whole world; food.

Although you think you have some knowledge of the food in the places you’re about to visit, there truly is nothing like the way the locals do it. Being introduced to new flavours, ingredients, methods and traditions (along with the odd scorpion on a stick) is just bliss.

Choosing between my favourite dishes during my travels would be like choosing who my favourite sibling is, but being open to try new things will be key to your cuisine adventure.

In my humble foodie opinion, the best food places were always the ones which the local people crowded around and the ones which weren’t necessarily the best looking.

We followed a scent trail of cooked Thai chillies and garlic to come across an dimly lit area in Ao Nang, Thailand with plastic tables and chairs and a makeshift kitchen with no more than two stoves which were heated by burning wood.

The verdict? The most delicious food I have ever eaten in my life; don’t be afraid to try new things! As a word of warning, the local people in many areas, particularly in South-East Asia, have a very high tolerance to spice. Their version of mild is like having four ghost chilli peppers in your mouth and chewing yet they could eat them as a light snack. You’ve been warned.

5. That some hostels are very nice!

It feels as though there is a huge misconception with how hostels are, particularly with people who have never stepped foot in one. The 2005 thriller ‘Hostel’ may have aided in how they’re viewed but I can assure you, they are not even remotely like how you’d imagine.

When I initially tried to imagine how they’d be, I instantly pictured cramped, humid rooms with serial killers lurking and the building to be tucked away down a dark side-street. Now I can say that some of the hostels available are genuinely better than hotels I’ve stayed in, and they don’t house serial killers!

Hostels are by far the most budget-friendly and affordable way to keep your costs down whilst backpacking solo and you’d be surprised some of the excellent facilities and activities on offer.

From quirky jungle-themed hostels to party hostels to more subdued and quieter ones, there really is one to suit any type of person for an extremely small price. Many hostels are well equipped with daily tours and events (beer pong is a hostel favourite) as well as moped hire and even opportunities to volunteer.

Not to mention the most important factor of staying in hostels which is being able to constantly meet new people who are all usually solo travelling as well.

I was slightly worried of how I’d book the hostels, how I’d find them and even if my things would be safe which are common thoughts to have. Booking hostels is extremely easy to do even if you’re not so technologically savvy and it can all be done via Hostel World, which allows you to view a hostels rating out of ten along with real reviews from fellow travellers so you have an impartial way of judging if it’s the right place for you.

All you have to do is choose:

Room type: 4 bed, 6 bed, 8 bed and so on (it’s usually cheaper when there are more beds in a room).

Gender type: If you want an all-female, all male or mixed dorm.

Check in time: Just to ensure your room is ready on arrival.

Simple!

6. The amount of partying involved

Of course, this is really dependable on where you go, what you prefer as a person and also the people who you end up meeting and hanging around with. You make the trip exactly how you want it to be.

If you’re going to a completely rural and abstract place with little tourism then naturally it might be a struggle to find blaring music other than in the city. However, with cocktails and other beverages being less than $2 and every hour of the day seemingly a happy one, it’s very tempting to when you consider the cost back home.

There is really good nightlife across Asia, particularly in Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh which was just a bar after bar, nightclub after nightclub but who could forget Phuket and its famous party strip? And of course the famous Khao San Road in Bangkok.

Whatever you prefer, there is a great amount of options whether you want to go all-out partying or enjoy a tranquil rooftop bar to see the most beautiful sunsets imaginable – there’s something for everyone!

7. Just how safe it would be

Indeed, it’s entirely dependable on where you actually go. Going to Central America in places such as Honduras and Nicaragua may mean being a little more cautious than the more touristy spots of Bali and Phuket, but crime happens in every city on the planet.

In terms of staying safe, particularly in South-East Asia, I’d say that common sense prevails in most situations. People who’ve never been backpacking before may try and sensationalise the dangers of going and it’s true, there are potential dangers anywhere you go like pick-pocketing and drink spiking but this can occur anywhere.

Tourists are undoubtedly preyed upon with countless scams whether it’s taxis with dodgy meters or run-ins with local police who you can negotiate fines with, but I never really felt like I was in any sort of danger.

As your Mum, Dad, siblings, pets and everyone around you will no doubt scream into your ears until you leave;

1. Keep your possessions close to you, a chest bag is by far the best solution.

2. Don’t carry your passport around (although losing it would be a good excuse to stay longer)

3. Don’t wave your phone around in your hand, thieves are FAST on their bikes!

4. Don’t go down that dark alleyway, unless you can smell some amazing food coming from there, then it’s safe.

8. The ease of travelling around

As naïve as it was to think, I assumed it would be challenging to get around places like Vietnam and Thailand and so I made an in-depth plan of how I’d move around before I departed.

The plan went in the trash very quickly.

Some place will have better transport links than others which is to be expected. In Laos, I’ll put it bluntly; I did not have a clue where I was going. Getting from the Vientiane visa centre to Vang Vieng was an adventure in itself due to the crazily bumpy dirt roads and lack of transport options.

Whereas if you compare it to the larger cities in Thailand, it has the Grab app (their equivalent of Uber) which is incredibly cheap to get around and impressively reliable and more tuk-tuk drivers than grains of sand. For a ride from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to a hostel which was 20 minutes away only cost around £2-3 which is extremely good value.

If you’re going to be exploring islands, in particular the Thai islands, the system in place is quite literally built for travellers. Songserm, which are the main ferry transport company, have an organised system which allows you to move between islands with ease.

You will be able to find countless travel shops located across all of Thailand where you can arrange to be picked up from your accommodation and be taken to the port to catch your boat; it’s really as simple as that!

Make sure you don’t take the first price a travel shop gives you, always go to a few places and enquire about the prices as, more often than not, you’ll definitely get a cheaper price elsewhere.

Additionally, hostels can usually arrange transport directly with them to make life even easier. A great example is the Bodega hostel in Phuket which had three time slots to take travellers to Koh Phi Phi: 9am, 11am and 2pm which cost only 450 baht (£12 or $14.80) and included the taxi to the port and boat tickets, so be sure to ask the place you’re staying in.

One thing my family gave me stern words about before leaving was hiring a scooter. You hear of all the horror stories where tourists have bad accidents on and suffered some nasty injuries.

But, having a scooters which is usually £2-3 per day to rent and £2 in petrol which will last you days gives you the ultimate freedom. I wasn’t feeling brave enough to use a scooter in the congested cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city which are just seas of scooters as far as the eye can see. Although if you’re not so confident on them, renting a scooter on islands is essential.

They are the most cost effective way and getting yourself around and means you don’t have to constantly wait for taxis, you just put in the key and ride. You may wonder how you know which way to go but by downloading apps such as ‘maps.me’ which was like my holy bible while riding, allows you to download maps and use them offline so you can never be without directions.

As a word of warning, be sure to double-check the travel insurance you take out as many do not insure you to ride a scooter unless you have a motorcycle driving license from your home country. And of course, drive safely!

Also, be aware that you’ll turn into a glorified taxi when going on trips in groups. The excuse that you’re “not comfortable with other people on the moped as I’m a new driver” usually works.

Booking flights

One thing that can be slightly daunting for a new solo backpacker is when it comes to arranging flights.

Looking back, it was a rookie mistake to pre-book each flight as my plans consistently changed where I’d meet a great group of people or enjoy a place I was in and wanted to extend, yet was locked into the flights which were already in place and they quickly became a nuisance.

Of course, the long-haul flight from home and the return is worthwhile since they’ll be the most expensive flights on your itinerary so it’s best to book early, but domestic flights are usually a small price whenever you choose to book them whether it be 24 hours before or 24 days before.

Everyone has different app preferences for booking flights but Kayak and Opodo were my trusted companions during my travels. They have easy interfaces and make it simple to book flights within minutes, plus you can compare them with other providers at a glance!

And of course, tuk-tuks. You’ve probably heard a lot about them and yes, they are everything you’ve heard.

9. That people turning on the hostel room light at 3am is worse than stubbing your little toe

This can be either entertaining or just downright annoying, depending on which side of the coin you find yourself on. One thing you’ll quickly get used to is that people are constantly arriving and departing at random times to catch flights, taxis or just drive away into the sunset so I highly recommend a sleeping mask if you’re sensitive to lights during your sleep and some ear-plugs.

10. How little I’d be on my phone

In a world where we’re all looking down and tapping on glass screens whilst doing anything these days, it’s extremely refreshing to be able to just put your device down and disconnect with the world.

While your away from home in sometimes remote areas while constantly meeting new people, you quickly begin to enjoy taking the time to speak with people all day long and leaving your phone behind. You begin to quickly wonder what was actual done on the phone for long periods of time and the realisation of just how much time is wasted on it makes you truly appreciate being able to live presently.

When I first departed for Asia, during the first week I spent a lot of time keeping family and friends in the loop and reassure them that I wasn’t lost just yet.

Fast forward to a week later and people back home were asking why I wasn’t responding to their messages! But simply put, there is just so much going on in your new daily life (along with the awkward time difference) that your home quickly becomes an after-thought.

You will probably encounter places where you’re completely disconnected from the world where there’s no Wi-Fi and in all honesty, it was one of the best periods of my trip because every person on the island was forced to speak with each other and everyone felt involved; this is exactly what it’s all about.

As a warning – when you then reconnect to Wi-Fi after being disconnected, expect thousands of messages from family and friends asking if you’ve been kidnapped.