More travelers are traveling alone, according to AAA travel agencies, and while most solo travelers are between the ages of 18 and 35, many older Americans also travel alone. Singles cite the Caribbean as a favorite travel spot, especially women who increasingly enjoy “girlfriend getaways” to destinations that make singles feel especially welcome.
If you’re planning a single travel getaway, here are some great travel and planning tips, courtesy of AAA:
- Be sure to make a couple of copies of your passport and leave one at home with a relative or friend and keep the other in a separate area from your luggage. If you lose your passport, this copy makes it much easier for the U.S. Embassy to replace the document.
- Take your credit card company emergency numbers and card number information with you (keep it in a secure area separate from your person) if you lose your wallet.
- If you are traveling alone it is important to know the layout of the terrain before you arrive. That means researching, reading maps and guides, and speaking with certified travel professionals who have experienced the destination first-hand. Know where your hotels are located, how you will get around and where you want to go. The fewer decisions you have to make when you first arrive, the less likely you are to get lost or distracted.
- Research your hotel ahead of time – not all hotel rating systems are the same. Some do not include a full inspection, others are based on traveler reviews, which are not reliable, and others do not take into account the service of the hotel and only look at the physical characteristics of the hotels. Before you arrive, check the hotel’s AAA diamond rating, which will provide the most detailed information available on the hotel’s features, services, and amenities.
- Try to exude a calm and nonsensical air in public places. You may not always feel calm and confident, but others will pick up on your cues, and sometimes just acting confident will do the trick.
- Avoid individual supplement fees by using a travel professional. Many tour companies and cruise lines charge additional fees for single people traveling alone. However, an expert travel advisor can help you find deals for individual travelers that are not available or may be difficult to find online. A travel professional can also help solo travelers by placing them on the vacation product (cruise or tour) that best suits their respective lifestyle needs with like-minded travelers.
- Don’t go out alone at night.
- Take care to limit alcohol consumption.
- Carry a cell phone.
- Arrive during the day.
In addition to these great tips provided by AAA, here are a few more tips for individual travelers from the experts here at GoCaribbean:
- When traveling alone to beaches, restaurants, etc., be sure to always store your belongings. Much of the crime in the Caribbean has to do with theft and theft of wallets, and when you travel alone, it is more difficult to keep an eye on all your belongings.
- Always lock the door at night. Of course, this is always good advice whether you are traveling alone or not, but as a special precaution for individual travelers, make sure you not only have your hotel door fully closed (locked), but also use the second lock as well.
- Let people know where you are. If you plan to go out at night, share with your friends on social networks what is your destination. That way, if you’re going to fall off the net, there’s a record of where you were last and where you were going.
For more tips on staying safe on your Caribbean vacation, check out our Caribbean Safety Guide here.
