Travel Advice for Solo Travellers
We all enjoy travelling and I’m no exception. I love to travel, visit new places, meet new people, sample local foods, enjoy the experience and discover some amazing history. However, travelling costs money, and I don’t have too much to spend, as I travel on a strict budget. But travelling needn’t be expensive if you are careful and in this section I’ll share some of by travel tips and advice for solo travelling on a budget.
Destinations
Be flexible on where you go and how you get there and always book the cheapest options. Your first choice destination may be cheaper at a different time of year, away from the main tourist seasons of Easter or August, so look at all the options.
Travelling to a nearby town to your chosen destination or in the suburbs of a city and travel to where you need to be by tram, metro or local bus, might be the cheaper option.
Depending upon the time you have available, book the best travel options for you. Flying might not be the best option, travelling by coach or train could make for a more enjoyable travel experience if you want to visit multiple locations as you travel.
Plan all your travel in advance and budget well without overspending and don’t leave things to then last minute. There are some good deals to be had on flights 6 to 8 weeks before departure using budget airlines.
Have a look at the tour operators, as there are often good package holidays to be had, which you may not have considered. If you are looking for that ‘last minute getaway’ then last minute deals through tour operators can offer good savings and often that £2,000 holiday is now £600!
There are deals to be found if you shop around!
Booking arrangements
Check flight options through websites like Skyscanner or Kayak - others websites are available, and then book directly with the airline. Compare prices with other airlines and from other nearby airports, as against travelling by bus or train on shorter distances of a few hundred miles. Be flexible on destination choice, book the cheapest or best option for your travel needs.
Pay for travel using a credit card, this way you get better protection if things go wrong. Also, if you have to wait for a refund you can book alternative tickets without having to wait for the refund to arrive in your bank.
Airlines, including budget airlines have sales, so look out for these and try and take full advantage of any discounted fares. Major airlines offer Air miles or Avios points, so collecting those is a good way of saving money and spending the points on future trips or upgrades.However, things can go wrong if you don’t check the following when booking or before you travel:
Time zones: - check your day of arrival, compared to your day of departure. - Especially with long haul flights – Are you arriving the next day or yesterday? Nothing worse than getting your accommodation or onward flight/train booking wrong because you forgot about the time zones.
Is it a local holiday? Is there public transport? Don't assume you can buy a train or bus ticket if there are limited services. You might have to wait,
Strikes: Train strikes in London Dec 2022/Jan 2023 caused chaos for travellers. Air Traffic Controllers striking have also caused problems for travellers and airlines, so check if this, as it might affect you.
Weather: if travelling in winter check all travel details to ensure that your bus, coach, trains are running and flight status. Check also for latest weather on arrival. (snow, ice, fog, high winds - typhoons)
Air Travel
FLIGHTS - AIR TRAVEL
As I travel on a budget, I rarely visit my first choice destination as it's often cheaper to go elsewhere given the time of year that I'm planning to travel. Look at nearby airports as an alternative. Cities like London have several airports, many used by several budget airlines. Always try and fly on a budget airline, as the cost savings are noticeable. Comply with baggage rules and other regulations etc. Cheapest fares are often early in the morning or late at night, so plan for a very long day! I often fly at 6am or midnight!
Be flexible on when you travel, as changing the day often brings better prices. Avoid going away for the weekend (Fri to Mon).Travel midweek and avoid popular times 'school holidays and the month of August.Arrive at the airport early. Allow for traffic or other delays especially if arriving by bus or coach.
Late night or peak time travel busses or coaches are often busy, so don't 'take a chance' on being able to buy a ticket. Have a timed ticket for a service whenever you can. Check bus times in advance including the actual travelling time and allow for delays. I’ve used busses in: Eindhoven, Dublin, Drogheda and London – day returns.
Know what terminal you need. Heathrow has 5 terminals, Dublin has 2 and so does Lisbon. Travel with cabin baggage only. Know the size limit and weight limit for the airline and don't get caught out with additional charges, as they can be expensive. Never pay for extras - priority boarding, but do consider using fast track at busy times to get through airport security.
Allow time to get through security and remember that budget airlines use separate areas of the airport which can be quite a walk from the main lounge area, often taking 20 minutes to get to the gate, using a shuttle or extended walkways. Factor in additional time for returning a rental car or getting from the car parks to the terminal, especially if the first bus is full.
Look at all the options of getting to the airport and select the best option for you. My personal choice is always the metro or train, however, many towns and cities have excellent bus and coach options to airports, through national or local services, check all the available routes and select the best option for you. The nearest bus/coach stop might not be the best because of the route, so look at travelling across the city to another for a better or shorter route. Why not look at night flights, and factor sleeping on the plane, as this is one option of saving money on accommodation.
Transfers: Know the regulations at the airport/country you are transferring through. You might need a visa to enter the country then go through and check in for your next flight. Don’t expect to do this in an hour. It could take 3-4 hours at larger airports, so leave plenty of time for this.
Overbooking can be a problem with airlines, and some major airlines on busy routes over book, selling more tickets than they have seats due to people not showing up. When this happens they look for volunteers to stand down, in exchange for some benefits to you, the traveller. They put you up in a hotel, give you food vouchers and also there is a cash incentive. If you are not in a hurry, then use this option if it benefits you.
Bus and Coach Travel
Flixbus throughout Europe or National Express in England, with similar companies in other countries. Travelling by bus or coach is good affordable travel compared to trains. Good rates to be had especially on overnight services – combines travel and accommodation together.
In England National Express and Megabus offer numerous routes all over the country as does Flixbus in Europe and England. I've used both as well as local busses to get around. Planning road travel in advance is essential. Know your stops and departure times and arrive early. Local busses (especially night busses) have a habit of running early, coaches are usually on time.
Locate the stop days in advance and know how to get there and where your stop is located. Some city bus stations are rather large with multiple departures at times. If it’s a scheduled service, then the chances are the bus/coach uses the same stop every day. Check with one of the other drivers just to make sure a few days in advance.
When waiting at a roadside bus stop, make sure you can be seen, wave at driver, so that he sees you. Have your ticket ready and allow extra time for roadworks, accidents and other delays. Why not travel halfway, enjoy few hours in a different town sightseeing then catch another coach to your destination which might be nearer the airport. Split tickets can sometimes work out cheaper.
Train Travel
Train travel in Europe is affordable and there are some good deals to be had. Train travel in England is very expensive, so I always opt for coach or bus travel and book through Trainline or similar company for best deals. Note, that Trainline tickets may not be flexible so if you miss your train or connecting train then your ticket may then not be valid, Always check their terms and conditions of travel and don’t get caught out.
Catch local train, which has more stops, rather than high speed luxury trains as these are often cheaper, but do take longer. Allow for delays, especially in winter and allow plenty of time to catch any connecting train. As with coaches, why not travel halfway, enjoy few hours in a different town sightseeing then catch another train to your destination. Split tickets can sometimes work out cheaper. Planning is so important when travelling and selecting the right tickets can save you money.
Car Hire
Hiring a car is a good way of getting about. Many people hire camper vans, which can work out more cost effective when factoring in hotel accommodation, so check if this option is right for you.
Look at what you will be doing, where you are going and check if there is parking for a car at your accommodation and factor in any additional costs. If hiring an electric car, check you can charge it when it’s parked overnight.
Always book through a recognised international rental company. Always pay all the insurances in case of damage, especially whilst the vehicle parked up at night and beware of scams. Some unscrupulous rental companies will find a tiny scratch on wheel trim, bumper, and try and charge you extra for damage that they caused. Always book the cheapest car, as if they don’t have one available, then the major rental companies can upgrade at no extra cost.
Taxis
There are times when we could all benefit from taking a taxi, although they are expensive in comparison to public transport, but sometimes needs must. This could work out cheaper when travelling in a group or sharing and splitting the cost with others. Always use official licenced taxis and never an unlicenced mini cab and always agree the price up front. Booking through UBER is a good option.
Check your route using Google maps to ensure you are going on the best route and in the right direction, especially if the taxi has a meter. This way you ensure you’re not being overcharged as a tourist. There is another option for road travel and that’s hitchhiking. Some people do hitchhike with positive results, other may say something different. I’ve not done this and wouldn’t, as I need to ensure my own safety.
Tickets
Try and book flight tickets, intercity coach and train tickets in advance if possible, as this often gives better prices. Local busses and trains you can basically just turn up and travel. If travelling to an airport by bus/coach, try where possible to have a ticket for a timed service, not a flexible open return ticket which is valid if only if there is availability. Budget airlines sell these cheaper tickets, so don’t get caught out as you may miss your flight! Some places like Eindhoven and Dublin, it’s just a return or single ticket, as they are bus routes, which get busy at certain times, so travel early just in case. Travel companies use 24 hour clock. 03.30 is half 3 in the morning, 15.30 is half 3 in the afternoon!! Get it wrong and you may not be travelling. Always have your ticket ready - print off your tickets or have a PDF downloaded. Never rely on accessing the Internet, just in case there is no signal!
When travelling around towns and cities, look at the ticket options, as day tickets offer good value. Many cities offer 48 or 72 hour multi travel tickets or weekly tickets. Look at your itinerary and see what option is best for you. I nearly always walk everywhere, which is the cheaper option. Prepayment cards or Travel cards are good value. Finally, always buy tickets from the company direct or from known, trusted third party companies. Avoid cheap tickets from dodgy dealers as they may be fake tickets.
There are videos on YouTube of people sneaking onto public transport without paying. Don't do this as the financial penalties if caught are high. You could arrested and miss your flight if you are heading to the airport. It's not worth the risk.