As a travel advisor, you can help play a crucial role in helping solo travellers plan unforgettable journeys and the options are endless in how to do so.
Here are some useful tips to assist your clients in planning a successful solo travel experience:
1. Understand Your Client's Preferences:
- Interests: Discuss their plans, and preferences, so that you can determine their interests and passions to tailor the itinerary accordingly.
- Comfort level: is this their first trip or are they seasoned solo travellers? Assess their comfort level with solo travel and adjust recommendations accordingly.
- Budget: They will have a set budget and length of time for their trip so understand their budget constraints to provide the right options that fit their financial plan.
- Safety: Doing some research online you will discover the safety of potential destinations, and you should consider factors like crime rates and political stability to make a destination recommendation.
- Solo-friendly atmosphere: Offer options in destinations known for being welcoming to solo travellers, such as those with hostels, co-working spaces, suitable activities and social events.
- Activities: To cater for their desires in experiences, suggest destinations that offer a variety of activities and attractions to keep your client engaged.
- Flexibility: Plan out the duration of the trip and incorporate flexibility into the itinerary to allow for spontaneous discoveries. Leave some days open for free time to explore independently.
- Balance: This means planning a balance between planned activities and tours, and leaving free time for exploration, which all depended on the trip duration.
- Local connections: Suggest suitable and safe ways to connect with locals, such as joining local groups or volunteering options, and participating in community events.
- Research: Offer pertinent advice and detailed information on destination safety precautions, local customs, areas that should be avoided, and emergency contacts.
- Travel insurance: As for all clients that wish to travel, encourage your solo traveller to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to protect against unexpected events.
- Communication: You can let them know you will be available to contact while they are travelling and recommend that they should further stay in touch with family and friends and let them know their itinerary.
- Hostels: The preferred choice in accommodation is often hostels for solo travellers as these offer a chance for social interaction and budget-friendly options.
- Hotels: Alternatives are hotels with single rooms, bed and breakfasts, or shared home stay facilities for solo travellers.
- Homestays: As above, you an investigate homestay options for a more immersive cultural experience for solo travellers.
- Join-in tours: There are often free tours but you can further recommend they join group tours or activities to meet other like minded travellers and make new friends.
- Solo-focused tours: Look for those tours specifically designed for solo travellers. Your local tour partners can assist you with this option
- Local events: Encourage your solo travel client to participate in local events or festivals to meet people and immerse themselves in the culture.
- Lightweight: Advise them to pack light to avoid unnecessary baggage fees, and lugging around heavy luggage between destinations.
- Versatile clothing: Recommend taking along versatile mix and match items of clothing that are suitable for weather conditions and for different occasions.
- Essential items: While planning their trip check that they have the correct documents. These are the all essential items such as a passport, visa, travel documents, and necessary medications.
Get ready to help your solo traveller clients plan a memorable and fulfilling journey, and you can even emphasize the benefits of solo travel, such as personal growth, independence, and the opportunity to meet new people.
