Travel tips for solo backpackers

By Claudia Tan

Lifestyle writer Claudia Tan gets behind the solo travels to five separate continents, and picks up quick tips along the way.

Asia

Ang Kai Lin, 22, ADM

Tip: “Be brave and ask for help if you need, most people tend to be more helpful than you think.”

Kai Lin’s pick: A backup wallet with extra cash — in case you lose your first or it gets stolen.

She had foreseen getting lost, but 22-year-old Ang Kai Lin never imagined her seven-day backpacking trip to Hong Kong would include losing her wallet on day four of her trip, along with HK$1000 (S$200), her debit card and Octopus card — the Hong Kong equivalent of an ez-link card.

Kai Lin was left stranded at Victoria Harbour, midway between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

But thanks to HK$500 (S$100) she had stashed away in a spare pouch, she took a cab back to her hostel.

For dinner, she settled for a cup of instant noodles.

But that didn’t dampen her spirits since she enjoyed most of the trip — on her second day, she woke at 5am to catch the sunrise at Lantau Peak.

“I did get lost along the way and only made it to the peak past sunrise, but the view was still breathtaking.”

South America

Owen Ter, 26, MAE

Tip: “Be flexible with your dates if you’re travelling long-term because you meet people who recommend new places to visit, or you’ll just decide to stay longer at a place because you like it so much.”

Owen’s pick: Your comfy jacket — nothing beats a familiar item that keeps you warm; and even warm countries get cold sometimes.

South America has a reputation among travellers as a dangerous place to visit.

But that did not stop Owen Ter from buying a one-way ticket there for his graduation trip in late February this year.

He had been to Brazil once in 2014 and promised he’d be back to fully explore the continent — where he still is.

“I got tired of the usual places like Asia and Europe; South America is like a faraway land that is relatively unknown to Singaporeans.”

To prepare, the Mechanical Engineering student, who graduated last December, took Spanish classes in NTU and picked up Israeli Krav Maga for self-defence.

He planned his itinerary for his first stop in Rio de Janeiro, but did the rest of his trip spontaneously, only reading up on his next destination via travel blogs and TripAdvisor the night before.

With just a backpack, a week’s worth of clothing, flip flops and hiking shoes, Owen has snorkeled with sea lions in Argentina, and ridden horses in Chile.

“If I have to wait for someone to be as ready as I am, I will never live my dream of visiting South America.”

Europe

Tammy Tan, 22, HSS

Tip: “When planning for a trip, look out for interesting events to attend that coincide with your travelling so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to do something unique and fun.”

Tammy’s pick: Sunglasses — to protect your eyes from the UV rays and so you’ll always be photo-ready!

Meeting new people is part and parcel of travelling alone, but it’s an added bonus when you bump into YouTubers with 14 million subscribers.

Tammy Tan was taking a tram ride from the Amsterdam RAI convention centre back to her hostel when she bumped into American YouTubers, The Fine Brothers, and ended up chatting with them the rest of the way.

It was just one of the many perks from attending Vidcon 2017, an annual convention that gathers YouTubers worldwide.

On exchange in the UK, the third-year School of Humanities and Social Sciences student had planned her solo trip for the month-long Easter break in April.

She found out about Vidcon and made Amsterdam her first stop.

Instead of purchasing tickets, she decided to apply as a volunteer — which brought her greater access and tons of freebies.

After the three-day convention, Tammy spent the rest of the month touring nine cities in Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia with a S$2500 budget.

“It’s a lot more efficient than travelling in a group as I get to see more in a short period of time,” said Tammy.

“I get to be responsible for 100 per cent of the planning.”

Australia

Wong Hui En, 21, HSS

Tip: “If you’re looking to save money, carpooling can be a great option. Try coseats.com, to find people to carpool with.”

Hui En’s pick: Sunblock — Don’t underestimate the ever-present UV rays even when there is no sun.

Not every solo itinerary is packed with activities.

For Wong Hui En, her week-long trip to Gold Coast, Australia was a chilled-out affair filled with beach-hopping — to rejuvenate and break away from the bustle of university.

Her favourite: Cape Byron, a vision of charcoal coloured rocks surrounding the perimeters of the beach.
It is easy to distinguish between the more commercialised beaches and those less ventured, said Hui En.

Unlike beaches more popular with tourists, like Surfer’s Paradise Beach, the crowd at Cape Byron consists mostly of families taking morning hikes up the lighthouse, pro surfers hanging outside their caravans, and buskers and yogis peppered around the area — perfect for people-watching, she added.

“Many times, I was just perched on a rock with a book on my lap, or a GoPro to document the moments.”

She splurged on food but saved on accommodation, staying at the Surfer’s Paradise Backpackers Hostel for S$33 a night.

“In Australia a burger and fries can add up to about S$17 — even the Coke in vending machines are S$4 a bottle!”

North America

Bertrand Tee, 23, WKW

Tip: “Don’t be afraid to do things alone (e.g. eating alone). Once you get past your insecurities it’s all about the traveling. You’re a tourist, embrace it.”

Bertrand’s pick: Cap — Shields you from the sun and keeps your head warm in the cold — or simply to cover up a bad hair day.

For those hesitant to travel alone, you don’t have to make big plans for a fulfilling solo trip.

Bertrand Tee only embarked on a three-day trip to St. Louis, Missouri, while on exchange in the US, when his travel companion left to visit a friend.

Initially anxious, the second-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student soon discovered that going solo was a lot more fuss-free.

Without travel companions, he could plan his trip spontaneously.

He looked up places to visit only upon arriving, and visited tourist spots like the Gateway Arch and Forest Park, where he was able to spend as long he liked.

But like many solo travellers, extra effort was needed to ensure the trip didn’t burn a hole in his pocket.

“Having no one to split the cost of transport and accommodation was taxing on my wallet,” he said.

His solution? Visiting free attractions, walking for the most part, and sharing an Airbnb apartment with other travellers.

He was able to spend less than US$ 70 (S$ 98) a day on food and accommodation — not a bad sum for the US of A.