The dos and don’ts to staying safe but adventurous

Jason Derulo once wrote a song about Ridin Solo and while he definitely wasn’t talking about solo trip—at least not in the way you’d thunk—the vibe still holds true. After all, “Time to do the things I like / Going to the club, everything’s alright / No one to answer to / No one that’s gon’ argue” pretty much sums up for what it’s like when it’s just you on the road. Remember Bilbo Baggins? And how happy he was discovering Middle Earth alone? Of course, he did nick the One Ring to rule them all and put that same Middle Earth at risk, so maybe let’s not follow that particular trajectory.

All this is to just drive home the fact that solo tripping, in short, is exhilarating. You know that feeling when you finish the race and you’re winded but just so damn happy that you made it out alive? It’s that; just maybe a trifle less dramatic. And no, you don’t have to Eat, Pray, Love your way into discovering yourself. You just have to pack a bag, take a deep breath and go!

Before you do though, it would be prudent to keep a couple of time-tested tips in mind, just so you can max out on what’s sure to be a transcendental experience.

10 tips for solo travellers

1. Pre-book your lodgings

Spontaneous may be your middle name, but when you’re riding solo, you want to know where you’ll be holding up—way in advance. Remember, you’re not the only one travelling that time of year. Overbooked hotels, Airbnbs that just aren’t up to the mark, these are all very distinct possibilities. To be on the safe side, you also want to leave behind lodging details with someone back home.

The kind of place you settle on should be congruent to three things: your mood, the vibe of the trip and most importantly—the strength of your wallet. If you’re a woman travelling solo, the need for a safe space that isn’t too remote is paramount. Many solo travellers prefer to put up in well-maintained hostels because it gives them the chance to meet others travelling by themselves and make some terrific memories.

2. Have a ready-made itinerary

You know how annoying it is when you’re trying to sync itineraries? You may be a history nerd and scouring famous museums to run to while your best friend just wants to get down with a Dirty Martini. Going on a solo trip allows you to customise an itinerary that is only yours to play with, follow or even break. However, and we’re directing this, especially towards first time solo travellers: have a travel plan list on the ready. The world is your oyster, yes, but you don’t want to be ladened with Sophie’s choice when the time comes. It’s always better to have things chalked out.

3. Pack light

No, you don’t need to carry that shirt that you haven’t worn in two years because ‘just in case’. Or underwear worth six months. If you’re travelling solo, travel light. Say you want to canter off to a new spot you discovered while exploring the town. It would be a pain to relocate if you’re trudging around hefty suitcases and multiple what-nots. Don’t miss out on adventures simply because your bag of toiletries was taking up too much space!

4. Share your travel plans

Sure, solo trips are supposed to mark a break from the familiar and get you off the map, but you do have people back home worrying about you being eaten by a bear. Also, if you’re a sucker for offbeat travel, you may find yourself in spots that don’t cater to decent wifi or even basic mobile network. So, in a bid to not raise anyone’s BP, share your travel itinerary and lodging details with your loved ones. You’d breathe a lot better for it too.

5. Be open to meeting fellow travellers

Sometimes, the friendships you forge with a stranger over the orange blaze of a bonfire can last you a lifetime. When you’re travelling solo, you get to meet adventurers from across the world, wandering nomads who, like you, have taken a leap of faith and set out to make some solid memories. That alone presents a strong basis to cement a new bond, one you can carry back with you long after you part ways.

6. Respect the region-based guidelines

If there’s anything the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be cognizant of travel guidelines set in place, and to follow them to the T. Be it COVID-19-related regulations like mask mandates and pulling out vaccination certificates or state curfews and liquor laws—be respectful of the rules native to where you’re visiting.

7. Have a designated driver

And we’re not just talking about someone to get you back to your Airbnb after a binge-drink session. It’s always good to have the contact and goodwill of someone from the area, be it a manager from your lodgings or the one taxi driver who promised to play tour guide should you require one. Save their digits on your phone and also take their card in case your battery runs out. You don’t want to be left stranded!

8. Carry everything you need on your person

Unless you’re staying in a place which has a foolproof safe that even someone from the Oceans 8 ensemble can’t break into, carry your most important documents. This includes your passport and other IDs and documents that you may have to whisk out at a moment’s notice. Pro tip: Also, fashion yourself a mini first-aid kit of sorts to carry with you at all times. You never know when you might need it.

9. Imbibe the local culture

If you’re travelling solo to a place that you’re not a native of, you’re all kinds of lucky because you get the opportunity to learn something new: a language, a cuisine, a dance, history. The best way to do it? Speak to the locals; they are the gatekeepers to the region’s burgeoning culture and are certified authorities on how to maximise your travel experience.

10. Don’t spend all your time on your phone

Before you gasp in outrage, we’re not telling you to not ‘gram all your solo adventures! In fact, thanks to smartphones, you get to document every facet of your journey and re-live it, happily so, later. But in the process, you may find yourself experiencing things through the four corners of your screen, rather than taking it all in in real time. Don’t be so busy capturing the moment that you forget to actually live right in it.

Travel photography enthralls both amateur and professional photographers. What’s not to love about capturing special moments on your adventures? Whether you want to take some pictures that will remind you of blissful vacation memories or take professional-quality photographs that can get you started as a photojournalist, it’s important to work on your skills and challenge yourself to learn new things.

Consider these photo challenges that may inspire you to get out there with your camera and try something different. Here’s a secret. The point of a challenge isn’t all about taking a beautiful photo that represents the challenge. It’s more about learning more about your camera, developing a new skill and discovering more about your own interests in photography.

Don’t stop here, either. Once you make it through this list, you may want to create your own list of fun photo challenges that will help continue to help you hone your skills as a photographer.

Photograph a reflection

Take a photograph of a reflection that you think is pretty or interesting. This can be as simple or complex as you’d like. For example, you may want to go to a local body of water and capture a reflection in it. Alternately, you can simply take a photograph of something being reflected in a mirror in your house.

As part of this challenge, concentrate on an aspect of taking this photograph that will make it more fun for you. Consider how you can best capture symmetrical reflections. Focus on telling a story or simply creating contrasts. It’s up to you.

Find a rainbow

Take a photograph of a rainbow. You don’t have to wait around and try to find one after a local thunderstorm. You may instead take a photo of a rainbow image in your home or community. Alternately, look for prisms or glass objects that might filter light in a way that creates a rainbow of color.

The point of this challenge is simple. Try to find the best way to represent the rainbow. Pay attention to how you capture color and how you experience different colors through your lens.

Focus on something interesting to you

What you focus on in a photograph will determine the story that it tells. For example, in this picture that was taken in a cemetery, the focus is on the quirky, darkly humorous bench that displays a message for drivers passing by. However, if the focus of the image was on something else, the writing on the bench might be obscured, and the photo would tell an entirely different story.

Try to take a photograph that tells a unique story based on the precise thing that you choose to focus on. This is an everyday challenge that you will have if you aim to be a professional travel photographer. You’ll find yourself in a situation with awe-inspiring scenes, and you have to choose what to focus on and which story to tell.

Capture a scene through a window

Tell a story by photographing a scene through an open window. Windows hold a certain mystique. Think of films like “Rear Window” and even episodes of the sitcom “Friends” that rely on fascinating observations through a window. Think of your camera as a voyeur as you try to photograph a story or special image through a window.

For this challenge, experiment with taking a photograph through an open window. This could be a car window if you’re a passenger, a plane window or simply your bedroom window. Be sure to get the window itself in the photograph since it’s a part of the story for this challenge.

Take a creative selfie

For this challenge, think about how you usually present yourself to the world. How might you prefer to be seen instead? For this challenge, try to take a selfie that makes you feel good about yourself.

Get as creative as you’d like with this selfie. You may choose to sit beneath a high-set tripod for a certain perspective, or you may even choose to just take a photograph of your eyes. It’s up to you. The point is to creatively capture an aspect of yourself in a way that gives you joy.

Photograph a still object that strikes you as special

Try to pay attention to things surrounding you at home and elsewhere. Look for something that strikes you as significant or special. It doesn’t have to be something that holds significance to anyone else. It can be as simple as a favorite dish in the kitchen or a doll from childhood.

As you take the photo of the still object, think carefully of the story that you want to tell with how you photograph it. For example, you may choose to pose a beloved doll from childhood in the center of things that are an essential part of your adulthood. Put as much or as little time as you’d like into capturing a still object.

Take a photograph in rainy weather

The landscapes around you will take on a different mood in the rain. If you have adequate equipment to protect your camera in inclement weather, step outside and take photographs during the rain, or take your photograph for this challenge just after the rain.

Think about how weather informs your photography. Beyond lighting, how big of a role does the weather have in travel photography? After careful consideration during this challenge, you may realize that you will need to get used to looking at weather apps to plan for the right photographs in any location.

Capture an image of something you created

Here’s the opportunity to bridge two of your creative passions together. In this challenge, you will need to take a photograph of something that you created. This can be anything at all, including a sweet treat that you baked or a cross-stitch design.

Think about how the meaning of your original creation may change through the lens of the camera. How can you best showcase the thing you created? Can you tell a story about it through the image you take, or can you show how loved it has been? This challenge is all about appreciating your talents and what matters to you. Showcase it in a way that’s meaningful to you.

Showcase a key moment of a sunrise or sunset

This challenge is simple. Capture a lovely moment at sunrise or sunset. It’s no secret that the sky often takes on a colorful, dreamy look as the sun rises and sets. Make an effort to wake up before dawn to capture a sunrise at an ideal spot in your hometown or go out at dusk to capture the setting sun.

It’s fairly easy to get a pretty shot of a landscape at the very start of the day or as the day turns into night. What you want to focus on with this challenge is what you want to capture and how you want to take the photo. Try to go to a location where you’ve never seen the sun rise or set before.

Capture the personality of an animal you love

Human and non-human animals have a lot more in common than many people realize. If you have a companion animal, you have no doubt noticed that they have strong personalities, desires and feelings just like you do. For this challenge, try to capture the personality of the animal you love the most in a photograph.

You can have fun with this one. Simply spend an hour or so with your companion animal and take frequent photographs as you go about other activities. You may try to capture them in a game of catch or take a photo of them as they nap. The goal is to try to tell a story about their own special personality.

Talk to your kids about the entire flight experience including baggage check-in and ticketing to in-flight etiquette and safety. This would mentally prepare them for the journey and hence they would be better accustomed all the way

Travelling can be challenging especially when you are travelling alone with a toddler. The regular list of the things to be carried along grows longer in comparison to what it is when you travel alone. One has to be careful especially on long flights because you never know what might happen.

Here are some tips to prepare you to travel like a pro with your little one:

1. Talk to your kids about the journey: Talk to your kids about the entire flight experience including baggage check-in and ticketing to in-flight etiquette and safety. This would mentally prepare them for the journey and hence they would be better accustomed all the way.

2. Pack your food for the journey: It is always helpful if you pack your food especially when you are travelling with kids. Pack their favourite food so that they don’t get cranky mid-air and enjoy it without creating any hassle.

3. Surprise them with a new toy: When flying with a toddler, carry a new toy along and gift wrap it. This has two benefits – kids love to unpack stuff and a new toy grabs more attention.

4. Book your flight according to your child’s sleep routine: The best way to have stress-free travel is to choose a flight that matches your child’s sleeping routine. Once your kid falls asleep in-flight, you too are free to have a nap and spare some time for yourself.

5. Carry your stroller: Your child’s daily stroller can be of great help while you are inside a busy airport. Your kid will be less cranky when they are in their known environment. It will get easier and less tiring for you to carry your kid without the need to lift him/her all the time. The stroller is many times a good storage device to help you carry the essentials and can pass through the security checkpoints too.

It’s tough to stay healthy when traveling, especially when you’re on the road and away from your normal routine. But with a little planning, your traveling life can be (almost) as healthy as your day-to-day. Whether you’re flying solo or with family, follow these health tips while traveling for sneaking a little extra wellness into your days on the road.

Tips for frequent flyers

Stretch it out

The Guardian writer Simon Jenkins believes “we’re over the digital revolution,” and says, “This is the age of experience.” In a moment when records, print books, and knitting are making a comeback, so are traditional cameras. Many photographers—both hobby and professional—are ditching their digital cameras and re-embracing more traditional methods, like film and instant photography. If your airport doesn’t have a yoga room, you can still make do on your flight—even if you’re sandwiched in the back row. Simple moves like rolling your wrists and ankles or engaging your core by sitting up straight and drawing your belly button toward your spine can have huge benefits.

Dim the lights

If you’re not one of the lucky people who can sleep anytime, anywhere, then consider investing in some sleep aids. Try a combination eye mask and travel pillow designed to keep your head from bobbing while you snooze in your seat, or pack one of the inflatable options that fold away to practically nothing.

Tips for parents

Pack healthy, non-messy snacks

Nothing stops a toddler meltdown faster than a snack, but you don’t want to load your kids up on gas station candy bars. Bring individually packaged snacks like hummus and pretzels or string cheese. These finger foods involve little to no preparation and will fill your kids up with protein so they can make it through a whole day of sightseeing.

Plan some en-route exercise

If you have a long day of travel ahead, build in a couple of breaks so your kids can work out some of their energy. Rest stops are great opportunities to engage children in short, fun exercises like jumping jacks. Turn on your smart phone’s stopwatch and challenge them to a series of sprints. If you’re traveling through the airport, take a walk around the terminal—you might even find something fun, like a museum or a concert.

Tips for outdoor enthusiasts

Protect your skin

It’s easy to forget how quickly the sun can damage your skin—less than 10 minutes, in some cases. Download an app that helps you figure out your sunscreen needs for the day and reminds you when it’s time to reapply. Insect repellent, clothing that offers proper coverage and sunglasses are also a must.

Plan for the unexpected

You never know when you’re going to face a minor injury in the outdoors, so keep a small first-aid kit handy. You can find plenty of them online, or you can stock your own with supplies like gauze pads and antiseptic wipes.

Tips for Couples

GIVE IN TO PEER PRESSURE

Sometimes a little competition can motivate you to stay healthy. Before you leave, do some research to find a list of fitness classes available at your destination. Some studios even offer activities like partner yoga. Then sign up; you’ll hold each other accountable and lock in some together time.

Remember to relax

Being healthy isn’t all about exercise—it’s also about taking care of your body and knowing when you need a break. Sign up for a couple’s massage to help knead away the stress of a full day of traveling.

Tips for everyone

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

There’s no faster way to feeling off your game than dehydration. Not only is it dangerous, but also almost always completely preventable. Carry along an insulated water bottle, which will keep your drink at the perfect temperature all day. This reusable, collapsible one is ideal for travelers with space concerns.

Clean, clean, clean

Germs are everywhere. We repeat: everywhere. But there’s no need to be overly alarmed, just aware. Stay healthy and protect yourself by washing your hands frequently. Toss a pack of anti-bacterial wipes into your carry-on. They’re perfect for wiping down tray tables and cleaning your hands after grabbing the subway railing.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

When your schedule is thrown into disarray, sleep is one of the first things to suffer, particularly if you’re traveling with children. Try your best to get on a sleep schedule that you can stick to for your entire trip.