Safe traveling – the art of balancing gut feeling, budget and research

 Safe economical solo traveling  – the art of balancing gut feeling, budget and research

 

Everyone who knows me knows that my favourite cartoon has always been Finding Nemo. I love Nemo but also his dad Marlin and his incredible adventure to find his son.  And since finishing school, I have thought of Marlin often in my own ongoing quest to find ways and means of discovering as much of the world as possible, with the least possible means.  

 

In Peru, volunteering was made possible thanks to contacts I got through the Mauritian branch of international NGOs such as Caritas.  But overall, the internet and most particularly the platform Workaway has become one of my best buddies as a 19-year-old girl, traveling solo, on a budget.  Workaway is one of the numerous online platforms that connects travellers with hosts who are looking for help with various projects and tasks. The host can be an individual, a family, an NGO, hostels, as well as all sorts of other companies.  Hosts then offer accommodation and meals in exchange for a few hours of work per day (approx 4 - 5 hours a day), which can be as diverse as organising a fund raising for their NGO, teaching English, gardening, cooking or construction for example. The platform provides a unique opportunity for people to travel but also gain valuable cultural experiences while working abroad, in an affordable way. Between your hosts and the other volunteers, you meet so many people, from so many different backgrounds.

 

Mostly, it’s absolutely incredibly great.  But one of my experiences wasn’t so nice, with the accommodation being totally different from what had been described, and borderline even potentially dangerous for a female solo traveller.   With my parents on the other side of the phone, we took a quick decision, and a couple of hours after arriving in a place that didn’t seem safe, I left and found another accommodation for a couple of days, time to find another host.  So, while traveling alone has been an amazing experience, it's important to take extra precautions to stay safe even when using reliable platforms such as Workaway (there are many others, like Workpackers, WooFing and more). Here are some tips to help you make the most of your Workaway experience while prioritizing your personal safety.

1. Choose your hosts mega carefully - Before choosing a host, read their profile but mainly their reviews very carefully. Reach out to them with any questions or concerns but also to other Workaway volunteers who posted reviews. I have also have online “interviews” and face-to-face online chats before deciding. It's always better to be extra cautious.

2. Keep your family informed about where you're staying, who your host is, and how to contact you. Share your itinerary and check in with them regularly, even more so on the first few hours/days after the arrival at a host. Give them the contact information for your host in case of an emergency.

 

3.  Choose countries and cities where you know someone who knows someone, even from far.  Mauritians are incredible in the sense that wherever you arrive, there is always someone that a family member, friend of a friend of a friend, knows.  Choose these places in priority.  Even if you never contact them, having someone somehow linked to home is very helpful if the going gets tough.  It’s like a safety net.  Both for you and for your parents back home.  Pas vrai Mam?

4. Trust your instincts - If something doesn't feel right, listen to your gut. If you arrive at your host's location and don't feel comfortable – which is what happened to me last month - leave and find alternative accommodation. Your safety should be your top priority at all times. 

5. Stay in public – when you don’t know the area, if you're out and about exploring your new location, stay in well-lit, busy areas. Avoid isolated or dark alleys, streets, or neighbourhoods, especially at night.

6. Keep your belongings safe - Keep your passport, cash, and other important documents on your person at all times. Use lockers or safes when available and be super cautious about sharing personal information.

7. Use your common sense - and stay alert to anything that feels off or suspicious. Take note of emergency services such as hospitals or police stations in the vicinity of your work placement or accommodation just in case of unforeseen circumstances.

8. Last advice:  ask your parents to become hosts as well, so that they can best understand how it works and are “in” the whole process.  My mum is having the time of her life being a Workaway host to two German girls who are reorganising our whole garden back home!  It’s easier for parents to understand what you are doing and it’s a form of solidarity as well towards this super super cool and budget way of traveling.

And if anything goes wrong I still have my 4 years of Kick-boxing skills waiting to be used! 

 

Happy solo budget travels les amis!