You’re ready to go off on a big adventure; none of your friends could come, and you’re starting to feel nervous about going off on your own. It’s a normal feeling! Travelling on your own is something you’ll never forget and it is certainly a learning experience. Listed below are some of the steps that would help you stay safe while you travel alone and ease your fears on the road:

Make bookings ahead of time

One of the biggest worries while travelling is not knowing where you’re going to land up next. Why not ease all that fear and uncertainty by making bookings at hostels/hotels ahead of time. Another great advantage of this is arranging pick up through the hotel or hostel so that when you arrive, there is a friendly person to great you. It seems like a small thing, but in Asia and Eastern Europe where trains and buses arrive in the middle of the night and touts argue over who can take you at 3x the price, having someone with a sign reading your name is a great feeling. In fact, most of the 2 and 3 star hotels offer this facility. You can just write an email to them asking about the services in advance.

Take photos of taxi license plates

When it comes to safety, don’t feel embarrassed to do something. Let the cab driver see that you are taking the photo of the taxi’s license plate. He’ll be aware that you are smart and that his information could have just been sent to a local person who would know exactly how to find the driver if something were to happen. Don’t feel bad about making him/her think you don’t trust them. It’s a common mistake while travelling. Many of the victims have confirmed after the attack that they knew something was off but didn’t want to make the person feel bad. Put your safety first not other people’s feelings.

Wear a wedding ring

In some places this can help immensely in preventing unwanted attention. By making people think you are married, you’d avoid anyone from flirting with you (hopefully). It will make them think you are on your way to meet someone which is always good.

Be aware

Don’t plug in your headphones, don’t walk looking down. Look over your shoulder, look behind you. If you notice someone following you, tell them you noticed! Be vocal.

Don’t walk alone at night

Sometimes this is unavoidable but try to make plans that involve you being at home in time or to have a friend who would walk you to your hotel. It’s just never a good idea to roam alone at night.

Don’t get drunk

If you’re travelling alone, never let yourself get drunk. Be aware of your surroundings. You shouldn’t take drinks from people in general; they might be drug-induced. Yes you can party and have fun but do so with a group you know well. Don’t go to a bar alone and drink. People may notice you are alone and if you need help, who would you go to?

Hide some money

Don’t keep all your money together. Keep a small amount in your purse, some in your bag, and most of it in your back account. Take out smaller amounts at a time. Banks like Charles Schwab allow you to withdraw with no ATM fee anywhere in the world. You can even withdraw 40 bucks at a time if you want. No need to draw out 200 each time to save on withdrawal fees. You can use travel fanny packs under your clothes if you want to keep extra protection. Always have a backup emergency credit card hidden.

Make copies of everything

It’s a great practice to keep your passport, visa, health documents, vaccinations, travel itineraries, bookings, e-tickets, and credit card information somewhere safe. In case your credit card is lost (and you know it’s not stolen, as in you dropped it in the middle of the ocean or left it behind and someone is keeping it safe), you can do online bookings for travel until you can get another card.

Be street smart

Sounds broad right? Well, the biggest step in being street smart is to not get involved with anything that doesn’t pertain to you. Don’t help the guy who says he’s in a pickle and needs money, don’t help the guy who needs you to carry his bag, and don’t hold some woman’s baby that gets thrusted at you. If it seems weird, it’s a scam.

Keep your friends and family up to date

Share your itinerary with your folks back home. If something happens to you, people need to know where you were last. Call home often via Skype. If you are taking a train ride, someone should know the train details!

Follow these 7 student-friendly tips for those who are enthusiastic about discovering new places at a budget cut.

Travel Hacks For Students: For those who enjoy travelling, this year began with fewer constraints and more travel time. It’s thrilling and fantastic to see how many people are travelling now. But you know what feels even better? When you can travel more effectively while spending less. Here is a list of several travel hacks you can employ on your upcoming trip to genuinely relieve your tension and allow you to fully enjoy your time away.

7 travel hacks for students to help them save a fortune:

1. Research well ahead of your destination

Continually conduct research. Having a general sense of how much items will cost you before you travel is the only reliable way to ensure that a seller or taxi driver isn’t taking advantage of you. A guidebook or a short web search before you travel will typically tell you. To independently explore the city for less money, consider hiring a scooter or taking up healthy cycling.

2. Book a flight on Tuesday

Although it may sound conventional, there is no better approach to acquiring a cheaper flight ticket than to plan your trip ahead and purchase the tickets then. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that airfares typically increase on Fridays and start to decline on Mondays or Tuesdays. Due to the low demand for flights on Tuesday, it is almost always the most affordable day of the week to travel.

3. Volunteer to get free accommodation

By working there as well, you can further reduce your lodging costs. Many hostels offer labour exchange programs where you can work a few hours each day in exchange for free lodging. Many volunteer programs have steep fees, but some will provide you with free housing and meals if you work for them. You won’t have to spend much money at all while giving back to the community and discovering more about the inhabitants.

4. Stay in hostels instead of a hotel

Saving money is, of course, the main benefit of staying in a hostel. Even if you’re not willing to stay with strangers, many hostels provide private rooms and bathrooms that are worth looking into. You can prepare a special dinner instead of going out to eat every night.

5. Negotiate or bargain with the locales

Eating locally and purchasing fresh produce from nearby markets is far more affordable. Additionally, it’s a great way to live like a native. Not only that, but always bargain and obtain the greatest deal possible when buying, whether it’s in a store, a market, or anywhere else.

6. Carry a student ID card

Have you ever considered taking advantage of savings for a family member who is a student? In addition to the regular reductions, there are other advantages like travel gift cards and airline miles that can be very beneficial. You should be aware that many tourist attractions across the world provide discounts to both students and the elderly. In addition, airlines provide reductions on the base fare.

7. Take the night train/bus

People who routinely travel should develop the habit of travelling at night; doing so will not only help you save time but also money. Additionally, every time you take an overnight trip, you’ll save money on the cost of a hotel.

Exploring the remnants of what was once a beautiful theater, mall, school, home, amusement park and so on is an experience that takes you back in time and lets you visualize the location stuck in time from the moment it was left. However, exploring these locations can be potentially dangerous (not that that will stop any urban explorer!). Here are some tips for safety when exploring these locations:

1 – Research the location before going. Know where you are going and any specific dangers you should be looking out for. Learn the history of the location if you can-it will make you appreciate and respect the location a little bit more and make it far more interesting!

2 – Bring proper equipment. Entering an abandoned building comes with many dangers. You never know what you may be exposed to or what injuries you may sustain. Being prepared will minimize these dangers. For essential equipment while urbexing click here or for a complete list of items to bring click here.

3 – Be aware that you may not be the only one there! If you are interested in exploring a location chances are someone else is to. There is a possibility that you will run into someone else exploring or in some cases you may run into a local who inhabits the building. Don’t be surprised if you run into an animal or two as well!

4 – Bring a buddy! Never explore an abandoned building alone, follow the buddy system. You never know what could happen in the building with rotting floors and ceilings. In the case that you need help having a buddy to fetch it if you are unable to may be a life saver. It will also be helpful in the situation that someone is there that has ill intentions. There is strength in numbers!

5 – If you encounter someone never run! The reason for this is twofold. For one the building is abandoned-it is old and deteriorating. You never know how strong the floor is or what may jump up and grab you. Second if you run you will look like you know you are in the wrong!

6 – Never give away the location! While urban explorers seek only to photograph and not to harm there are people out there who vandalize and steal from abandoned buildings. Giving away a location may leave it vulnerable to being disturbed and destroyed by someone who does not respect the location and its history.

7 – Be aware of wild animals that may call the location home! Chances are you are going to run into some kind of animal at some point. This does not necessarily mean they are dangerous, but be cautious and know how to respond. Never run or show fear!

8 – As soon as you get home-shower! You will be walking through asbestos, mold, and dirt and will undoubtably track some out with you. When you get home-remove any clothing worn, throw it in the wash, and take a shower!

9 – Don’t take souvenirs! Never ever take anything out of an abandoned building. Although it may seem like no one wants it and that it has been left behind it still belongs to someone and may have some value to them. Respect the property and history of the location.

10 – Dress appropriately. Obviously you don’t want to show up to an abandoned building with shorts and flip flops on. Wear long pants, bring a jacket, and wear boots or strong, supportive sneakers.

11 – Accept that some places are just off limit! Urban exploration is thrilling, but some dangers are just not worth the risk! If there is no easy access to the location do not enter! Never, ever break and enter! If you can’t find a spot to just walk through accept that you may not be able to explore this location.

One last thing I would like to mention is to be sure you are always respectful of the location! Where ever you are it was (any may still be) owned by somebody. Appreciate the history associated with it and don’t take things out, leave trash behind, or vandalize anything!

Now that you know how to be safe while exploring you may be planning your adventure!

Each passing month brings new reasons to travel. Here are 10 destinations that are best visited in November.

1. Explore New Zealand

With volcanic peaks, plunging valleys, golden beaches and stunning caves, New Zealand is a stunning destination and there is no better time to visit this island than in November, which falls in the mid-spring season for the Southern Hemisphere. Be sure to explore New Zealand’s numerous natural wonders, including Wai-o-Tapu and Milford Sound, with longer Spring daylight hours and warmer weather. The season also means visitors can see blooming daffodils and fruit trees and newborn lambs in the fields. In November, the crowds of tourists also usually have yet to arrive, reports Active Adventures, meaning that it’s usually a fairly quiet month to visit.

2. Trek through Morocco

Head to Morocco this November, when the scorching heat of the desert subsides and the hoards of tourists wane. This is the perfect time for a desert camel trek, or ‘méharées’ through the Erg Chebbi Desert, and you can take in the clear night sky while you camp. Visitors will also find the cities, including Marrakech, more affordable and calmer without the crowds. Be sure not to miss Morocco’s fortified berber market town of Taroudant, an authentic town surrounded by red-mud walls located just south of the snow-peaked High Atlas Mountains; or the Drâa Valley, also known as the “Country of Dates.”

3. See Antarctica

Beginning in November, the pack ice around Antarctica starts to break up, making it possible to visit the continent by expedition. This is one of the best places to see wildlife in the world, including several species of penguins, whales and seals, as well as take in views of stunning ice, water and rock formations. Most travelers head to Antarctica by ship, which usually depart from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, but there are also cruises from Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, Punta Arenas in Chile and Buenos Aires in Argentina. It is also possible to fly to the continent from Australia.

4. Check Out Maui

In November 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the Pacific Ocean for the first time. So, in honor of that anniversary, head to the Pacific Coast and enjoy the spectacular views of the water. Travelers can explore the Washington side of the Columbia River estuary, where Lewis and Clark established their “Station Camp,” or take a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway.

5. Attend the Pushkar Camel Fair in India

In the Indian state of Rajasthan, a five-day camel fair is held in the Hindu pilgrimage town of Pushkar. It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs and is usually held in October or November. Hundreds of Rabadi herdsmen come to this annual fair to buy and sell livestock, including thousands of camels, usually adorned in colorful clothes and paper decorations. According to the Pushkar fair’s official website, there is also an annual camel parade and beauty competition (where the best decorated camel wins). Over the years, the Pushkar Camel Fair has become an important tourist attraction.

6. See Wildlife in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park

This November, head to the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, one of the best wildlife destinations in Africa. The park is home to 60 different species of animals, including elephants, lions, antelopes and leopards, as well as over 400 different bird species. According to Lonely Planet, November marks the beginning of the “Emerald Season,” when sharp rain showers clear the dusty air, making it a great time to take photos of the wildlife that roam through the lush greens of the national park. This is also the best time to see baby animals in the park.

7. Experience Vietnam

November, although early winter, is very warm and sunny in Vietnam, making it the perfect time to visit. According to Conde Nast Traveler, Vietnam’s beaches are less crowded than in neighboring countries at this time of year. Of course, the world famous Halong Bay is a must-see, but be sure not to miss the resort-town of Nha Trang, famous for its stunning crescent beach, turquoise waters and hot springs or the Ha Giang Province in the northern part of the country, which Lonely Planet called the “final frontier in northern Vietnam.”

8. Go Bird-Watching at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Bird-lovers should head to Florida’s Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge this November, where a variety of wintering birds make a pit stop this time of year. Located near Cape Canaveral, this wildlife refuge is the perfect place to see such bird species as the pink roseate spoonbills, as well as such migratory birds as the blue jay, American robin and pine warbler.

9. See Fall Colors in Japan

November is the perfect time to see stunning fall foliage in Japan, when a wave of reds, oranges and yellows advances across the country. Some of the best places to see this spectacular color include Tokyo, Kyoto, the island of Miyajima and the Japan Alps.

10. Join in America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration

Every year, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, Plymouth throws their “America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration.” The festival featuring re-enactors dresses as pilgrims, Native Americans and pioneers throughout the town, tours of the Mayflower II, concerts, and a vast array of food. Visitors can also explore the “Plimoth Plantation,” a 17th century replica of the village that was the site of the first Thanksgiving.