Author: Veronika Prielozna
Date of Trip: October 2016
If you are a Lady dreamer with a passion for traveling and exploring the world, you might be the same kind of a woman traveler as I am and then this article is written just for you. How did I do it and not get lost solo traveling in India? Let me share my ways and the lessons I learned from my travel.
TRAVELING LADY MOON on her journey
I have been traveling all my life and as I mature my travel style matures with me. In my twenties, I hitchhiked in Europe, but now I am happy to leave my backpack in the closet and pull my traveling kit with gratitude for smart comfortable travel. Armed only with my carry on, camera, smartphone, documents and credit cards in October 2016, I was ready to face my new travel destination to India alone.
SOLO TRAVELING definitely requires a leap of faith
but with the right preparation, it doesn’t have to be as scary as you think. I began with research and talking to my f/b friends who are from India. Then, with full precaution, I figured out the traveling way that was right for me. It was my travel intention that helped me create conditions that were likely to turn out in my favor, so I would have an enjoyable journey ahead.
“I start traveling in my mind a way before my feet touched the road traveling….”
Even though I love traveling in a small group of 2 – 3 people, which is a good fit for a taxi ride-sharing travel experiences and enriching each other with laughter or insights, I decided to travel solo in India for this time. I followed my dream. I created my travel project https://sway.com/w7MNakkZoBBvqfHr and dared to face my journey alone.
My travel project allowed me to become a TRAVELING LADY MOON, a Travel Writer, an expert for traveling in style and seeking spirituality and pleasure of exploration with joy and ease.
Here is TRAVELING LADY MOON wisdom for all of you.
1 TRAVELING IN AIR: Managing your Jet Lag with the enjoyable layover.
For this time traveling to India, in the air, about 24 hours, I chose to fly with Emirates and stopped in Dubai for two nights. It was a smart way to minimize my travel fatigue and at the same time get a taste of the city of daring modern architecture and Arabic ancient culture. Yes, it cost me some additional expenses, but the experience I gained was worth it!
2 ACCOMMODATION: Never ever compromise on the place you stay.
No matter how tight your budget is, make sure that you choose a good place to stay. In my case, I was following my travel accommodation adviser, Yaseen Tuman, +91-194-2462211, +91 9596767812 [email protected], who insisted I book a 4 or 5-star hotel with all of the hotel comfort services, safety and amenities included. In rural small towns,I used Heritage Boutique Hotel that suited me as a good luxurious hotel.
3 WHY WAS ACCOMMODATION so important for me?
Traveling in India requires a lot of energy and strength, but no matter how intensive the day was, I always found a warm and luxurious small place to rest, heal and rejuvenate my energy. As a solo woman traveler, hotel staff will pay extra attention to your presence. Don’t be shy talk to them, ask them about trip advice and make them your local alliance, they know….
My travel tip…
My favorite luxury hotels:
http://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-new-delhi
http://www.hotelmadin.com
My favorite Heritage Boutique Hotel:
http://www.hotelnaunabh.com
4 TRAVEL INTINERY tailored for your needs.
Solo Traveling will bring you new highs but new lows come as well. Therefore, searching for the best travel deal, not only in the prices but with personal service tailored to my needs was crucial to me. I had a few fixed days, to be in the places for some events, but the rest of the days were flexible. My travel needs were fixed at one place “Incredible India Car and Driver” Mr. Bilal, New Delhi – Mobile / Whatsapp: +91 98715 53711.
Once I talked to him in person, I knew I found my Travel Guru. He listened to my desires, made notes and the next morning he arranged a taxi to pick me up from my hotel and bring me to his office to receive the traveling itinerary he tailored just for me. Not only was the travel itinerary done, but all of my immediate travel needs were arranged from that office, an Indian SIM card and money exchanged. A New Delhi day tour was in place as a bonus on top of it all. The Deal was done!
5 TRAVEL GURU: 24 hours VIRTUAL support.
What is that? It means the Travel Guru will call you at least once a day to check on you. He asked how my travel is going, addressed my concerns, and organized assistance as needed. You are in India and you might get sick in the middle of the night, or you need to make a detour to see your friend who called you last night. Your Travel Guru is a professional who can organize all of it for you. I used his Travel Guru Service a lot which came as a part of my travel package. This is MUST service for you especially solo traveling , so you can debride from all of the unhappy daytime moments and always start fresh. It worked as an invisible safety net behind my back.
6 TRAVEL MEANS: Private Taxi, Sleeping Trains, A/C Buses or Domestic Flying
I chose private taxi travel for intermedium distances and Air traveling to cover the long distance. I truly enjoyed nesting in the back seats with all my stuff around me, I felt like I was in my home den. The taxi cars had air conditioning and gave me an escape from the heat and dust while Indian music was playing. I took many power naps as needed. Taxi drivers were chosen by my travel agency based on territories. Each of them knew not only how to drive in a specific territory but the habits and languages. They stayed with me for 5 to 10 days in duration. (Not getting a new driver daily!) India is a very large and diverse country. They looked after me very well; buying me fresh coconut water, banana and chai, it became our daily travel routine. They spoke simple but effective English and we shared much laughter together.
My tip for travel:
Next time, I might organize my travel plan in a different sequence: by a week, not by a month all at once….it will give me more flexibility to accept some event invitations that suddenly came to me. I have missed two weddings on this travel, poor me….I must go back! Smile.
“Incredible India Car and Driver” Mr. Bilal, New Delhi – Mobile / Whatsapp: +91 98715 53711. http://www.incredibleindiacaranddriver.com
I mastered this art of being street smart, no matter my fears or worries. Your energy (body language) speaks louder than your voice. Numerous times on my travel, I had to deliberately boost my energy up , even though I felt so tired. I knew that there was no another way of appearance only to be vibrant and powerful (it doesn’t mean to be rude or unkind.) Your investment here will bring you 100% return guaranteed. If you need assistance seek out another woman or a family/ friends, or go into a store or restaurant to ask for directions to study your map, etc.
8 SMART TRAVEL is a Safe Travel.
As every traveler in the world, a solo woman traveler has to consider her safety first. Have many ways of checking all of your belongings and when and what time to go out and with whom? Take as many the right precautions, do your research into the customs of the country you are in and mainly listen to your inner gut. Then, act upon all accordingly and your travel can be safe, enjoyable and soul rewarding.
My tip for night time and the belongings …
Before I went out at night for a brief visit, I always wrote down the license plate number of the taxi and sent it to my friend or my virtual guide. On my phone, I checked ‘ in and out’.( I shouldn’t, I know, but I did…oops!) On my travel, I checked my hotel room often to make sure I wasn’t leaving my valuables and chargers behind. I trained my taxi drivers how to double check on me; it worked magically. They were more diligent than I was, ha! In this way, we never left anything behind; in the material sense of belongings
….pieces of your heart in your memories was not included in this search!
9 FROM 5 STARS HOTEL TO ASHRAM STAY…
The diversity of India was reflected in my travel as well. The time came when I was completely on my own – no more guides, no taxi drivers — only I, alone standing behind an ashram gate. My advice here is to choose wisely: where you should be based on your intention for your stay. The focus for my ashram stay was Ayurovedic healing and spirituality, so I chose to stay at http://santhigiriashram.org/home.php SANTHIGIRI ASHRAM. It is highly recommended and a beautiful ashram in magical Kerala.
There are some prerequisites in order to stay at Ashram.
You must walk bare – foot on the holy grounds, you only wear plain or white colors, there is no smoking or drinking or consuming meat, you do karma work and focused reflection. You eat with your hands, unless you have your travel utensils in your pocket from home. Have your cell phone loaded with data to make a connection with outside world, as needed.
Now I am back home on the safe ground of Canada. I am sharing all of this with all of you, Ladies or Gentlemen, solo travelers – kick up your heels high and take your turn in your travel style like I did during my solo travel in India and enjoy!
Last words of wisdom…
Use your common sense to make good decisions, listen to your inner guidance and have confidence in yourself and your ability to travel on your own. At the end, you will be rewarded with rich experiences and many great stories to tell your friends or write your soul searching ebook, as I am in the process of writing, smile! https://sway.com/w7MNakkZoBBvqfHr
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VERONIKA PRIELOZNA, MA writes as a Traveling Lady Moon who happily makes her mark as an independent travel writer. She has visited luxurious hotels and destinations around the world including Europe, her motherland, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Dubai & India. She writes based on personal experiences only. Her mature energetic insights for her work are deeply rooted from professional experiences as a nurse, yoga teacher & spa therapist. Her sense of humor, witty mind and playful curiosity bring a reader delight for spiritual travelers or pleasure seekers purposes around the globe.
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