Why should you bother taking out travel insurance?

Medical and health cover

This is why travel insurance for travelers and backpackers is so important. You might be a picture of health when you leave your home country but this could easily change in a fraction of a second.

For instance you might be zipping around on that motorbike that you have just proudly rented from a Thai rental shop but then lose control and crash, as so often happens to tourists as they are often not use to riding bikes in the first place.

Who is going to pay for the ambulance?
Who is going to pay for the hospital admission and bills?
Who is going to pay for the doctor to accompany you home on a flight?

These costs can literally spiral into the 10 – 20 thousands of dollars and you will be liable. Many of the better international hospitals that will be will refuse you admission if you cannot prove you have travel insurance or enough money to cover the likely bills and you could end up in a public hospital which in some cases will be sub-standard care.

So for this one reason alone you should take out cover. Do not go away thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’. Travel insurance for a long period abroad might not be cheap but you risk bankrupting your family otherwise.

Medical Evacuation

If you are in a very poor county with limited health care services then you absolutely must have evacuation cover. Just because the policy covers medical and travel it might not necessarily cover evacuation which could be a life saver depending on where you are.

Lost medication

Travel insurance not only covers baggage items such as phones, ipods etc but will also provide cover for expensive medications that you might be travelling with. The cost of replacing medicines can be very expensive. For instance in the UK an asthma steroid inhaler is the cost of a subsidized prescription (GBP8) while the same item in Singapore could cost up to GBP70.

Covering adventure sports

Many solo travelers will often embark on exciting sports or activities while they are away, such as scuba diving, high altitude trekking or surfing. Many activities can put you in life threatening situations without urgent medical assistance, and if you have to pay for this assistance because you are not covered by travel insurance then you are potentially bankrupting your family.

In conclusion

We hope you can see why travel insurance is so important. Without it you literally could be bankrupt or put your own health at risk. Many private hospitals will not accept you in their emergency rooms if you do not have travel cover or cash on you. Please don’t skimp on insurance as it could save your life.

Resources

If you are from the UK and retired then look at out older person travel insurance comparison that is especially for the over 70s and beyond. We also have some links for backpacker travel insurance too that will cover longer trips up to 18 months.

Miami Beach is a different city to Miami but makes up an important part of the Greater Miami urban area.  Within the area there is North, Mid and South Beach of which all offer a different experience.

For solo travelers the place to be is South Beach as the other areas tend to appeal more to families.

The Not So Good Stuff for Solos

OK, let’s get the negative stuff out of the way first. There is only one major drawback to visiting Miami Beach on your own and it’s the cost which is pushed up by the pricey hotel rooms. There are single rooms to be had and there are a couple of backpacker/traveller hostels offering dormitory accommodation but as with many parts of the US, these are quite over-priced for what they are.

An option would be to stay in the cheaper North Beach or even in Miami City itself. The disadvantage to this would a late night out might end up in an expensive cab fare. You are much better off sucking up the cost and staying nearby.

OK that’s the bad stuff out of the way, lets focus on the good!

Activities for Solos and opportunities to meet others

By far one of the coolest things to do is to is the Art Deco Walking Tour which is a two hour guided trip around the Art Deco district with a very informative guide. More details here at the website of the Art Deco Walking tour. The cost when we did it was $20 and there was quite a few other solos on the same tour.

Another cool option for hooking up with travelers is to go on the Miami South Beach Food Tour which is a historical guided trip through Miami’s gourmet history (while sampling excellent foods).

Solo in the evening

Miami South Beach is a real party town and while big groups might seem to dominate proceedings, there is still a friendly feel to many of the bars in the area.

We’d suggest starting out on  Espanola Way which is a cool little paved street packed full affordable eateries that spill out everywhere. Grab yourself a small table and sample the very European menus and happy hour cocktails while enjoying the excellent street scene and people watching opportunities.

There are plenty of bars where to locals hang out too, of which all the ones we met were very friendly. One such bar is the Mac’s Club Deuce, South Beach’s oldest bar, which is not as pretentious and is an affordable, local hangout with a jukebox and a pool table.

Essential Information

When to go: Miami Beach is a year round destination but you might like to avoid April when it’s overrun by Spring Breakers and July/August when humidity and heat makes it unbearable if there are no sea breezes.

Safety & Health: The most dangerous thing will probably be the sun so take the usual precautions. Miami Beach is a big city and will have crime like any other urban area so you should keep your senses and try not to wander around drunk and own your own late at night.

Costs: Miami Beach is not a budget destination but there are many free activities, such as the beach, to keep you amused. Renting one of the cycles is an affordable and fun way of getting around. Try and take advantage of the cheap happy hours and always remember to tip the bar-tender!

We usually have the choice of aisle or window seats but usually there is a choice of  middle seats too which offers an intriguing alternative.

Aisle seats

As the author of this article I have to confess to always choosing this option. I don’t care about being able to see us all take off or land, the view of the moutain range or the lights of the mega-city below.

All I care about is that it offers me the choice to comfortably get up and out of my seat whenever I want without having to run it by anyone else.

So if you like your aisle seats then I’d suggest that you are a person who doesn’t like to feel trapped and appreciates freedom. Perhaps this could suggest you also have commitment issues too in life?  Choosing the aisle seat could mark you out as a control freak.

Window seats

This is the most popular choice of seats. The window has many advantages such as offering a view out of the window and the ability to perhaps be more comfortable as you can lean up against the window to perhaps sleep easier. You are also not going to be disturbed. The main disadvantage is having to disturb at least one, sometimes two people in order to get up.

If you are a window seat person then in life you might be one who likes their own space. You might be a little shy too as it’s easy to shut yourself away from other passengers, although this shyness can be tested if you need to visit the restroom!

Middle seats

The least favourite choice due to having none of the advantages of the window or aisle. People will rarely select this option unless they are travelling with other people.

If you do choose this seat then it could suggest you have a very easy going nature who quite frankly is not bothered about where they sit because it does n’t really matter as we all get off the plane at some point.

Bali Introduction

Bali isn’t big but what it lacks in size it makes up for with diversity. As a travel destination it’s firmly established in the top league of tropical paradises to visit.

There is something for everyone on Bali, whether you are part of large group of Australian sunseekers or own your own looking for some cultural high life.

Most journeys start at Denpasar International on the southern tip of the island and from there all the major sites are within one days travel.

Bali Places

For the solo traveler Bali offers lots of different places to hang out and meet other travelers or the friendly locals.

From the airport many solos will take a taxi towards the resort area of Kuta/Legian/Seminyak which sprawl along the south -west coast that’s pounded by the Indian ocean surf.

This area is best approached with an open mind. If you are into surfing and partying then few spots on earth come close to this area. The beaches are some of the best on the island and it’s easy to find a quiet spot away from the madness.

There are all the comforts of western chains in Kuta but you only have to walk a few streets away and you’ll be in another world, where friendly Balinese will serve you up Gado Gado for less than $1.00!

Accommodation is cheap and even double rooms are affordable if you are alone and the area caters for every budget and taste.

Despite the reputation for being rowdy with large groups you will certainly not stick out here if you are alone. Lots of bars and restaurants are well set up for solos and by sitting at a bar alone it won’t be long before you’re chatting to some new friends.

One tip – take group surf lessons, it’s a great way to meet others.

Ubud, around 100km north of the southern Bali area, is a gem and one of those places where many travelers end up staying for much longer.

Ubud is very much the cultural center of Bali but it’s also as geared to tourism as much as anywhere else on the island. It does however act as an excellent base and is a must visit. Watch out for those monkeys though!

There are plenty of tours that you can take from Ubud and lots of cute little cafes to hang out and mingle with other travelers, friendly expats and locals that live in the town.

Lovina on the north coast is a low key resort that’s very much on the backpacker beaten path and can provide an excellent base to the northern volcanoes and coastline which features spots to dive or just be a beach bum.

Bali is particularly good for solos because of the many activities on the island, both in sea and on land, so it’s very easy to hook up with other like minded folk.  Indonesians too must rate as some of the friendliest people on the planet, are very welcoming and proud of their nation, and so they should be.

Bali Notes

Time: UTC +8

Visas: Usually 30 days on arrival for most western countries as of March 2012

When to go: Dry season April – October, Wet Nov to Mar but still ok year round as wet season tends to be late afternoon rains.

Getting there:
Denpasar Internation Airport, direct flights from most Asian countries and Australia. Connect in Asia, e.g. Singapore, KL, Bangkok from Europe/North America.

Solo Safety: Generally safe for solo female and male travellers. Bali is Hindu so unlikely to be the hassle experienced by females in other muslim countries. Most dangers evolve around transport accidents, beach safety with strong rips in the ocean.

Solo Costs: Generally pretty cheap compared to Europe/USA particularly away from the large resort areas. Single rooms rare but doubles and twins pretty cheap anyway. Not much in the way of dormitory style accommodation.

Solo Rating: 8/10

This is where couchsurfing comes in. Basically couchsurfing involved sleeping on the couch of a host in their home city. There is no payment involved and very often the host will also show their guest around where they live and offer more than a couch in the way of a room.

If you are traveling to a new city there is only so much a guide book can tell you whereas a local will more likely know all the cool places to go to.

On the couchsurfing website you will find the profiles of the hosts and guests and this is key for the safety element as reputations are built up on reviews and trust. This is not fool proof and the usual safety precautions should be taken whenever you plan to meet someone new.

As a host you can also offer to meet travelers just for a coffee rather than providing them with accommodation which is a cool new feature and particularly of interest to the solo traveler.

We highly recommend couch-surfing and in terms of a solo travel experience it fills an important role and allowing travelers and locals to connect. It is easy to grow a little tired of staying in hostels and couchsurfing offers a great alternative.

1. New Zealand

NZ is a small country but a huge destination for the globe trotting backpacker. Having the opposite summer season compared to the northern hemisphere helps but an extensive network of hostels and backpacker lodges keeps them coming back for more.

Meeting other solos is as easy as booking a dorm bed or hiking one of the many tracks around the country. There is also an extensive working holiday and wwoof network that is appealing too.

2. Australia

The lucky country like it’s smaller neighbor offers a sunny warm climate while most of the north is shivering and skiing. Just like NZ there is an extensive network of affordable places to stay where it’s very easy to meet other travelers.

There are some pretty well worn routes that as a solo you can stick to and have the guarantee of meeting lots of other folk on their own. Bus services like the OZ Experience and Contiki tours are also very much geared to younger solo travelers.

3. Thailand

The land of smiles attracts solo travelers from every age group and corner of the world. Guesthouses are very affordable by western standards so it’s entirely possible to travel alone and still have a room to yourself.

Thailand is very much on the banana pancake trail with Bangkok starring as the epi-centre of backpacking in Southeast Asia.

Popular group activities to join include 2/3 day treks around Chiang Mai and PADI diving courses on the  southern islands.

To me there is no sense of freedom greater than setting out on the road on your own for a spell of protracted global wandering. For me this involved a flight to Bangkok to begin a round the world adventure that would occupy me for the next 18 months or so.

Ok so Bangkok isn’t as alien to the average western backpacker as Timbuktu, but it’s still a culture shock to be embraced. This is where the sense of freedom and enjoyment comes in.

On arrival in Bangkok’s airport I shunned the numerous pestering approaches of the taxi driving fraternity and headed for the bus stop; after all I was a backpacker and this would be cheaper. It would also be rather less direct.

I explained to the ticket seller where I wanted to go to reach the hotel I’d booked for my first night, and he gave the impression of understanding and shunted me in the direction of a soon to be departing bus filled with Thais and one other foreigner.

My ticket selling acquaintance muttered something to the driver and pointed at me, which I assumed was an instruction of where I was to de booted off, and then gave me the thumbs up. All going swimmingly so far.  More to follow soon…

Solo travel went to Thailand in 2011 and visited the islands on the gulf as well as the andaman coast. Here is a brief guide to get you started in the land of smiles.

Koh Phangnan

Could this be the ultimate budget solo travel island? Every month 1000s of backpackers, many who are travelling solo, descend on the party capital island of Southeast Asia. Haad Rin is ground zero for the party crew who head there monthly for the world famous Full Moon party.

This part of the island remains busy all month with various other moon related parties (black moon, half moon, quarter moon – you get the idea!)

So we highly rate Koh Phangnan for the solo, particularly if you like to party. There are quieter parts of the island too and we’d recommend the North, around bottle beach.

Koh Samui

Samui is the big island of the Gulf of Thailand and a heavyweight of tourism. Most of the beaches, Chaweng for instance, only really cater for the package groups and couples.

If you do find yourself on Samui then we’d recommend heading to the north of the Island around the beaches of Bang Po, otherwise head for it’s little brother (see above!).

Koh Tao

Turtle Island is the northerly cousin of the above two and is heading increasingly upmarket like Samui but is a much better option if you are travelling solo.

This is largely due to the plethora of dive schools on the island which makes for a very sociable scene, if you are doing a dive course.

Fear not non-divers, Kao Tao is still a great destination for solos due in part to it’s lack of package tourism.

Getting to the Islands

Koh Samui is the only island with an airport but an alternative is to fly from Bangkok to Surat Thani and take a bus boat combo over.

Alternatively you can take a bus/train/boat combination all the way from the capital.

*Look out for our top five solo travel destinations coming soon.

Introduction

Bukit Lawang is a small village in Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumutra. The village and national park have been made famous by the Orangutans who live in the lush tropical forest. The centre no longer rehabilitates the Orangutans but it still provides a feeding platform area from where you can view these magnificent beasts.

The main season to visit is Sumatra’s dry season which runs from around March to October. Outside of this time things get very wet and it could be a challenge to get to Bukit Lawang from Medan as the road can be in very poor condition.

Get There

Bukit Lawang is the main entrance point for the National Park and is situated on the Indonesian Island of Sumatra.

To Sumatra > Medan is the main entry point. At the time of writing there was no ferry service from Malaysia so everyone flies into Medan’s International Airport unless they are coming overland from somewhere else in Indonesia.

From Medan Airport > You can organise a private car to pick you up at the airport and take you all the way to Bukit Lawang for around rp 400,000. Other options include a taxi from the airport to the bus station at Pianag Baris. From there public buses run all the way to Bukit Lawang.

Once There

Accommodation is plentiful in the village and nearly all visitors stay alongside the river in basic guesthouses.

Restaurants and cafes are also plentiful offering basic traveller food and Indonesian dishes. Many of the guesthouses also have a cafe or restaurant on site.

For more specific details about where to stay then check out LPs Guide to Bukit.

Nightlife is fairly limited and is usually confined to sitting around the guesthouses and chilling out with a bottle or two of Bintang and a sing along with the guides who tend to double up as singers!

Main activity is of course to go jungle trekking to see the Orangutans in their natural environment. In order to do this you will need to employ the services of a guide. Your guesthouse may well be the best place to ask around as guides usually attach themselves to guesthouses and are qualified.

Treks can last half a day to three or more and costs vary as you’d expect but expect to pay around EURO 30 per day (as of early 2012).

The feeding platform is accessible at 8am and 3pm and you will be led there by park rangers. Just beyond the national park entrance you will need to pay for a permit.

We strongly advise that you visit in the morning as this is when you are more likely to see the Orangutans. Sometimes at the feeding platform you will see lots and other times maybe none. Hope that you are lucky on the day(s) that you go.

Going solo in Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang is an ideal destination for the solo traveller. The jungle treks tend to be in groups so its very easy to hook up with others. The nightlife is concentrated on the guesthouses so you can sit around and get to know your fellow travellers over a cold beer. Rooms are cheap and affordable for single travellers and it is easy to get around on your own too.

We travelled from the UK to Sumatra with Thai International Airways to Bangkok and Air Asia to Medan.

(video presentation watching the orangutans at the feeding platform)