After traveling abroad on my own last year, I definitely learned so much from my experience. Of course, some good and some bad. But isn’t that what makes our experiences better for the next time? Some of these tips are especially important for black women who are interested in traveling alone. I may also add that these tips are more specific to first world cities, due to the fact that I traveled to European cities, so these tips may not apply everywhere.
The Do’s
1. DO use public transportation
Not only is this option economical and environmentally friendly, but it allows you to become more comfortable with your surroundings and adjust soundly. I used the transportation system so frequently on my first full day in London, by my second day I felt so at ease and fearless. I struck up conversations and built up my confidence in a foreign city. I recommend using public transportation systems as much as possible – even to and from the airport if it’s available. Uber can be very expensive in many cities and in some cities Uber (or an equivalent) may not even exist. The transportation systems in the European cities I traveled to were much better than any transportation system in the United States. Give it a go!
2. DO go on a date with yourself
You may need to practice doing this before you leave for your trip. Go to your local bar, and order yourself a meal and a drink at the bar as a start. Maybe the next time get a table and order a meal. More people participate in this activity than you think. You can take time enjoying a meal when you are eating alone, and what better way to do this than in a new place trying a new meal. Eating with people can be great, but sometimes we become so distracted when we eat with our friends, partners, or coworkers. This is your chance to take everything in and try what you want to try without judgement. Observe the mannerisms of the restaurant staff. Do their actions or etiquette differ from your home country? How does each bite taste? Look out the window and observe the tree and the bike parked in front of it. Chew as loud as you want.
3. DO online dating
Dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid exist outside the United States. While all of them are not accessible, you would be very surprised which apps exist in foreign cities. It is no secret that online dating as a black woman can be a struggle at times. Luckily SoulSwipe (the black Tinder) existed in London and in Paris. I ended up meeting someone for a date in London and we went out to a bar/lounge with some of his friends. It was one of the best moments of my trip. Of course, tread lightly with online dating and meet your date in a public place. In general, there’s always a risk with dating apps but they are wonderful tools if things are done safely and consciously. Be honest on your profile, or tell your date right from the start, that you are in town for a little while and you want to meet new people during your stay.
4. DO use Meetup and attend an event
I actually did not do this while I was abroad and I wish I did. If you’re not into dating apps (especially if you are not single) then Meetup may be the best tool for meeting new people. Meeting people while solo traveling is usually easy but it can be a bit scary. Join a Meetup that best interests you and attend an event or two during your trip. I intended to do this, but I didn’t have enough time when I was in London. Depending on where you are staying, there can be so many Meetups that center black women or women of color with different interests. You can even partake in community service activities. Either way, go to Meetup.com to check out some options. You can even do this before traveling.
5. DO wear a protective hairstyle
This is pretty much the holy grail of rules for traveling black women. However, if you are traveling alone, you may not have the friend that helps you glue on a loose track, or tell you when your leave-out hair is blowing in a picture in front of a beautiful sunset. While protective styles are the answer for any type of travel, it is certainly important to get some braids, twists, or locs for your solo adventure. Heck, save money and look fly and wear a protective style with crotchet braids. Avoid weaves and especially weaves with a leave-out. Your stylist is far away and while you may luck out and find a talented stylist who could hook you up, it is best to worry about other things during your trip as a solo traveler. If you are freely rocking your natural hair, you might not want to carry all of your products in small bottles overseas. Protective styles hold you down, and I will always run to one before I travel. Of course, if you can handle the weave or the brazilian full lace wig installation and you have no intention of going for a swim, then girl definitely do you and slay that style!
The DON’Ts
1. DON’T fly to different cities if you do not have to
This is more specific to European cities. I decided to fly from London to Paris and from Paris to Amsterdam. While tickets were cheap, I had to pay for my checked bag on one flight, and I arrived to each flight two hours early. I really wish I could have taken the train at least from London to Paris. The train times online seemed really early, and I was nervous about public transportation before I went on my trip, so I instead booked flights. I personally did not think it was worth it to fly to each city. It took away some of my time in London and in Paris because I wanted to arrive to the airport early. It also caused me to pay for a checked bag going to Amsterdam. I heard the train between European cities is very lovely, and I do intend on using this method of transportation when I go back.
2. DON’T trust strangers too easily
It may sound like common knowledge, but I will admit that I became way too complacent. After making so many wonderful friends in London, when I arrived to Paris I let my guard down and went home with someone shortly after we met. This led me into a really scary situation, and I was able to flee the scene without losing any of my belongings and most importantly my life. Complacency does occur when you get used to navigating a whole new world alone. While I do encourage you to get out there and make new friends, use some of the same rules as you would at home. Meet people in public places and maybe stay with them in that public place. If you are an adult, I cannot tell you what to do with your body – your body, your rules. Take some time to get to know your new acquaintances or friends and listen to your intuition. Have fun, but remember to think about your safety at all times.
3. DON’T stay in your hotel room all day
Remember to create an itinerary before you leave so that this can be avoided. Look up some tour groups and sign up with ones that interest you. This helped me socialize with others in Paris and in Amsterdam. You may even meet a friend or two and connect with them later. Creating an itinerary can prepare you before arriving to your destination and going out may not be as scary if you set up a schedule in advance. Of course, you will most likely not do everything on your list as scheduled, but it definitely gives you an idea on how your day will look. If you envision your trip beforehand, then wasting time in your hotel room will not be an option.
4. DON’T book a hotel in a touristy place
Of course, if booking in a touristy area is your only option, especially if your safety is on the line, then definitely DO book in a touristy place. But I actually did not stay at one touristy location during my solo Eurotrip, and I am so glad I made that decision. If you read my past posts, you probably understand how I felt about my experience. Additionally, as a black girl, it may benefit you to stay in a diverse (or primarily black) area where you get to socialize with people of color. I found this to be the best option in Europe, and I ended up saving money on lodging expenses. The only downside was the amount of money I paid to hop in an Uber to and from the airport. This is why public transportation should be your best friend from the start. You will also get away from being around all of the tourists, because isn’t that one of the reasons we leave home?? If you do end up staying in a toursity hotel try to venture out during your stay. But of course keep in mind that your safety should never be jeopardized.
5. DON’T forget to purchase a cell phone plan
Seriously. DO NOT forget this! I thought this was going to be damn near impossible, but more recently, this became pretty affordable and practical with many cell phone service plans. I purchased an international plan under AT&T and I ended up paying $10 per day, which ended up costing a total of $100. I was able to use Google Maps, Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc., and I was able to text and call my friends and family from home. I did this all without running to the nearest WiFi every five seconds. While all plans differ, with AT&T I still tried to use WiFi whenever I could. For apps I did not use regularly or at a specific moment, I ceased the background app refresh and cellular data function (under Iphone settings). If you go over the data that they allocate for that day, then you do end up paying extra. But in all honesty, it is not that easy to do. I used multiple apps daily and I did not go over my data. Just make sure you check the settings of your apps and you should be all set! They are also adding many countries (yes, even many African countries) to many international plans, so make sure you check it out through your service plan.
And of course, DON’T forget to have fun! You will learn some of your own tips as you go, but I definitely wish that I was able to read some very important DO’s and DON’Ts that were more relatable to black women who decide to take the plunge.