Need a gap year? Thinking of solo traveling to discover yourself ? Must Read

 The benefits of traveling are endless, you get to :

• I want to experience other cultures
• I want to try new food
• I want to meet new people
• I want to get out of my comfort zone
• I want to just get a one way ticket and just experience things with no plans
• Etc

Here is a Reddit's user tip for traveling :

• TRY to budget. If you go into a trip totally blind, you'll get burned and run out of money. If you go into the trip with a bit of an idea at least, it'll be easier to plan
  
  
  

• But of course, that all depends on how you travel. Are you okay with bare bones street meals, or so you want a step up once a day or you? Are you okay with the cramped 2+3 seating of a high speed train in China, or do you want 2+2? (Do the 2+2 trust me.) You'll learn to account for these while you travel, but when first starting out you'll need...
  
  
  

• An emergency fund. I typically do $250 for every $1000 I budget, but I like to be flexible in my plans (cancel this ticket for $50 because someone you met wants to travel with you to a different city than you planned, etc.) You may be fine with less, but you WILL need one. Things won't go as planned, and while these do make the best stories down the line, they'll be expensive now. So plan for them.
  
  

• On that same note, DONT BRING JUST ONE BANK CARD! Imagine how fun it is being in Chiang Rai Thailand waking up to find out your only debit card was stolen back home (hint: it's not.) Bring a credit card at least, ideally Visa as they're accepted all over the place, but a second bank card would be ideal. A credit card can also be used to bail you out of emergency situations if necessary, but it's not ideal to go into debt. Ideally budget for it.

• Onto things other than budget, has it absolutely right with the "try starting with being a tourist in your own city" advice (but I say maybe try another city in your own country also.) If you go balls deep in a foreign country for your first trip, you'll be in for a hell of a surprise. Easy yourself into it (and for a foreign place, if it's a place with a different culture, start yourself with the most international city for a few days. It's most likely where you're flying into anyways, and it's a good way to familiarize yourself without being too thrown into the mix.)

• Read up on scams and stuff in the country. Never go anywhere with someone you just met.

• Read up on visa rules too. Don't get caught slacking at the border. Have your shit together, and make sure you have EVERYTHING if you feel like you'll need it (now some countries don't enforce all their border rules all the time, so if you feel like you can get away with it great, but don't bet on it.)

• If you start as young as I did (19), you'll likely be the youngest, if not the youngest person in the hostel. Learn to embrace it, don't act awkward and people won't treat you awkward.
  
  With that being said, when you are ready to travel the world, feel free to try out Kayak.
  
  I wish you all the best in your travel, and in your journey to discover yourself.
  
  
  #travel #solotravel