Useful and handy tips for young people who go on holiday alone (without parents). Whether you are going on an organized youth trip or traveling with friends, here you will find some useful tips for your trip.
At a certain point, as a young person, you no longer feel comfortable going on holiday with your parents and possibly younger sisters/brothers. You and your parents decide to do things differently this year. You want to go on holiday yourself, with or without a number of other young people. This article has been written especially for young people who go on holiday alone. You will find a lot of nice and useful tips here, so that you can look back on a successful holiday trip.
Before you go on holiday, you should prepare well at home. Even if you go with a group or an organized trip through an organization, it is always good to be prepared. Search the internet at home for as much information as possible about the place you are going.
Are you going to a country of which you do not know the language? Perhaps it is useful, for example via the internet, to learn a number of important words and phrases in the relevant language. A small pocket dictionary can also help. Make sure you already look at trips at home, restaurants that are cheap, but above all reliable.
Ask others about their experience and write down important numbers. Put this piece of paper in your wallet or wherever you always have it with you, in case of emergency (including numbers from the local police).
Don't put off packing your suitcase until the last minute. If you don't pack until the night before, chances are you'll either forget something or change your mind at the last minute and things will change. This increases the chance that you will forget important things. So pack well in advance. You can safely start a week earlier.
Open your suitcase in a corner of the room and initially put in what you think you will need. It may be useful to first make a list of things you want to take with you and put those things in your suitcase first . The days after you can always change your mind and that is easy. After all, you still have a few days to go. Not that one dress, but those hip pants? Or rather not that one shirt, but that cool shirt? It's all possible.
To get clothes out of the suitcase without wrinkling, you should not put clothes folded in your suitcase, but rolled up. In addition to clothes, bring some pens and paper. Possibly a book, care items, a camera and your smartphone can be placed in a separate (hand) bag. Stick a sticker in your suitcase with your details and those of your parents/guardians, including any insurance details.
Not every country has good hygiene or high-quality products, so it is important to bring a few things from home. Moreover, this can also save costs. Think of:sanitary towels/tampons for girls, shower gel, shampoo (available in small travel packs, nice and easy, light and inexpensive), sunscreen!, make-up.
It is also advisable to take a number of basic medicines with you. Norit (in case of diarrhoea) and paracetamol (always handy). Are you an asthma patient or do you suffer from sugar or another illness, make sure you take enough medicines with you. In addition, make sure that you have written on a separate piece of paper what you are suffering from, what medicines you are taking, what diet you are following, etc. You should have this paper with you at all times, preferably written in the local language or else in English , so that it is understood in case of emergency.
Of course, going on vacation costs money. Those who stay within Europe will have few problems, since most countries use the Euro. Agree with your parents at home what is safest and best:bring a debit card and (limited) pin what you need on the spot (taking into account the extra costs that may be charged by the Dutch bank) or that you (limited) amount in cash. If you are traveling with several people, it is best to bring some cash with you, but if you are traveling alone, keep it limited.
In order to arrive at your destination relaxed, it is important to start the journey well. That starts with transport. Below are some tips to get on the road comfortably.
When you travel by plane, you should take the following into account:
– Low-cost airlines are low budget for a reason. Make sure you bring your own food and drinks or have enough money to buy something on the plane.
– Don't get bored on the plane (bring a book)
– Your suitcase is allowed not be too heavy and your hand luggage must meet certain conditions (ask in advance)
– Keep your papers, flight ticket and passport at hand
– Be on time at the airport
– Make sure you know everything about the flight in advance. Departure and arrival time, flight duration, where do you arrive, how do you get from the airport to your place to stay (hotel, apartment, camping, youth hostel)
– Determine your route in advance:departure and arrival point (most conveniently located, without many transfers)
– Take enough food and drink with you and provide entertainment
– If you have to change trains en route, make sure you well before the stop in front of the door and ready to get out. Also make sure that you do not lose sight of or forget about suitcases and the like
– If you are traveling in a group or as a couple, always have someone watch the luggage when you have to go to the toilet
– The vast majority of holidays for young people are booked in combination with a bus trip because this is the cheapest. If you stop at a roadhouse along the way, take money with you or if you don't want to or want to save money:take enough (non-perishable) food and drinks with you.
– Traveling in a bus often takes a long time and is tiring, make sure you are rested before you travel. Curious about our experience with traveling with the Flixbus? Then read our experience with the Flixbus.
– Do you suffer from motion sickness? Then make sure you are sitting in the front, so that you can look straight ahead at the road and report this to the driver or tour guide. Fresh air works wonders, but have a bag handy in case things go wrong and you vomit.
– If the journey is very long, you can take a small pillow with you for more comfort during the ride
Perhaps you have the opportunity to ride with someone or you go with a group of which someone already has a driver's license. To fully enjoy your car ride, you should take the following into account:
– Agree in advance whether you will bring food and drinks or stop somewhere along the way
– Plan the route well in advance so that you no surprises
– Take care of your own safety:always sit in the seat belt and say something if the driver does not follow the traffic rules
– It is recommended during a long car journey to take a break every now and then to stretch your legs and visit the toilet (gas stations often have toilets)
– Don't leave when everyone else is leaving:go a day earlier or later, that prevents unnecessary misery in the traffic jam
Once you have reached your destination, it is of course time to enjoy yourself. To do this completely, here are a few more tips:
– Take lots of pictures and write down what you did every night (nice to read this later)
– Take a souvenir for yourself, something that will always remind you of your vacation. That doesn't necessarily have to be something from a store. You might find a nice stone, a special shell or something else that is specific/unique to your vacation spot.
– A vacation love seems nice and attractive, but keep in mind that most loves don't last. Even if you're sure things will be different for you and commit to keeping in touch.
– If you're heading out in a foreign city, make sure you have the address of your accommodation with you. If you get lost, at least you can always be taken back to your whereabouts
– Don't just go out with strangers:no matter how trustworthy someone may look, always remember that you can't tell whether someone is trustworthy by their appearance
– Do not leave valuables in your suitcase or room when you go out, even in a hotel, things can be stolen
– Do not leave your food/drink unattended, especially not in crowded places
– Do not wear your money, wallet, mobile phone, etc. visibly on the body. Do not go for sale there (the chances are that you will lose it then)
– Notify your parents when you have arrived and before you leave
– If you encounter any problems, seek help from an adult
– Watch out when you're at the beach:before you know it you'll be sunburned or have sunstroke. To prevent this, you should drink plenty of water (no sweet or alcoholic drinks). Do not sit in the sun between 12 noon and 3 p.m. Apply sunscreen at least SPF 15, occasionally seek shade (note:even in the shade you will tan)
– Show respect for local customs and traditions
Finally:enjoy and send an old-fashioned card to your parents!
Do you have any additional tips for young people who go on holiday alone (without parents)? Let me know in a comment below this article!
