Keeping Tabs On Them

As I am preparing for some solo travel of my own, I've realized there's something kind of ridiculous about the expectation that solo travelers need someone back home keeping tabs on them. That's fine if you want to and it makes you or the other person more comfortable. I do typically let someone know my general whereabouts, but for me, travel is freeing and checking in just isn't aligned with that. I'm an adult and I take responsibility for my own safety.

One thing I've started doing is thinking about how I'll feel spending time alone where I'm headed. What will it be like wandering on the first day and feeling a little lost in a new place, and will that make me feel lonely or overwhelmed? Thinking about how I'll feel in advance helps me know when I might want to book a tour or find company. Also, when the feelings hit, it's not a surprise and I'm more comfortable carrying on with the day.

As someone who books most of my travel on my laptop, I make sure I can access everything on my phone before I head out. I've been stuck with the two-factor authentication issue before and have also been without service when I thought I would have it. Travel apps are great, but I find a simple notes app synced across my devices works and is available when I'm offline. That doesn't solve the account access problem, but it helps keep confirmation numbers and other information handy.