Place to Stay that is Centrally Located

The first thing to do is make sure that you have a place to stay that is central to where you want to visit. Being in the city center will allow you to just pop out and walk around, grab something to eat or just sit and have coffee while the world walks by. Also, public transportation is at your fingertips which will allow you to get up and go if you feel like exploring a bit further afield. Make it your home for the time you’re there. I moved here but it could’ve been temporary. If you like your temporary home, it’ll always be a comfort to you. A home base is always stabilizing.

I often book a hotel or Air B&B right in the heart of the city. As I do travel alone sometimes with my daughter, I like to be close to the sights. I remember in Rome we were close to the Trevi Fountain. This was nice because we would walk by it every day and it felt like our neighborhood after a few days. I usually book a tour in the morning. This gives us a good reason to get up and go. After the tour, we have lunch and head back to the hotel for a couple of hours to get out of the heat. Relaxed from out morning and a bit of down time, we’d wander back into the city and go for an ice cream or dinner. The day felt full and stress free, as we’d gotten our culture fix in the morning. The rest of the day was relaxed and full of surprises. Visiting a la carte.

When you’re based in the city it makes getting around much easier and it takes the pressure off of having to plan a whole day out every single day. I think that this is less isolating if you’re traveling alone.

Last summer, shortly after I arrived, my daughter went off with her Dad for the months of July and August. I had no car and I didn’t know much about Aix-en-Provence. Having an apartment in the city center helped me to get out and discover. I could’ve been on a solo travel trip. My apartment is actually an Air B&B that they leased to us long term due to COVID.

Google where you are and find out what’s going on.

This seems obvious but you’d be surprised when you arrive in your new city all of the things that are going on. Apart from the things that you must see and do, there are often lots of events taking place which are designed for locals. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to check this out beforehand and reserve some tickets to any events you’d like to attend. Here, in the South of France, there are lots of musical concerts and this is true all over Europe. Especially in the summer. Things sell out quickly so why not be on top of that before you arrive? This way, you have things to do and you won’t be at loose ends trying to fill your time.

I am a big fan of TripAdvisor. I use it all the time to find out where to eat, what to do, etc. It is very useful and I have never been disappointed with the advice that I have found here. I also review most of the things that I do, as I really believe in this forum. Trip Advisor is also a great place to book a tour. I have done it in many cities and again, have been very satisfied with the results.

Make an Itinerary

I think it is very important to have an itinerary. I would even have this done before you go. If you are traveling during peak season, it is best to have any visits or tours booked ahead of time. Some things are still available on the day but I would be sure to book anything that you really would like to do well in advance. This way, you will not be disappointed. Trip Advisor is a great resource for this. I often book all of my tours through them.

Most cities offer tours. There are even things that are probably going on weekly throughout the year so all you need to do is know about it and show up. Again, if it’s high season, I would try to see if booking is necessary. Check out the local tourism site and Trip Advisor

Those silly bus tours that everyone rolls their eyes at, are some of the best. I think it’s a great way to have an overview of the city. Being alone, this is a very comfortable and easy way to begin your trip. While you’re on the bus, you can take note of anywhere you think you’d like to come back to. Most bus tours offer a 2 day ticket so you could even go back the next day and use it as your taxi service. Most all of them are hop on/hop off. I would encourage you to do this as your first activity. Once you’ve discovered your surroundings you’ll have a different focus on how you want to get around.

Not a fan of the bus tour? There will be many opportunities to book other tours. There could be anything from historical tours, wine tours, food tours and cooking classes. Take a look, there’s so much going on. Trip Advisor

The more you have organized, the less alone you will feel. It’s a great strategy for enjoying your time and keeping it interesting.

Walk Around

The best way to start your trip is to get out and walk around. Depending on what time you arrive, you can choose to just wander, head to a museum, market or even just find a cafe to sit and soak up the atmosphere. Most cafe’s are happy to let you sit there as long as you want as long as you drink something. If it’s early, I would head straight to the local tourist office and pick up as much info as you can. Everything today is online but sometimes it’s nice to have some paper to read. You can bring this to the cafe. It’ll give you something to do as you’re getting used to your new surroundings. Between the markets, museums and various events in town it is pretty easy to keep yourself entertained.

I have found that all of the cities that I have lived in, especially in Europe, are loaded with cultural events and activities. It is just a matter of googling the town and the area and finding out what is happening. I find it very comfortable to wander into a situation where there is entertainment. Whether it be a concert, a book reading, street performers, etc. Being alone watching any kind of entertainment seems less lonely. In Europe, it is very common to eat and drink alone. It is easy to sit at a cafe and take in the local scenery. In fact, it is a national sport in most countries in Europe and you will fit right in. If it doesn’t feel right sitting alone at a cafe, it is always possible to grab some kind of takeout and sit at a pretty fountain or park and picnic there. Again, look at it as if you were living there. You would do this if you did and wouldn’t think much of it.

Safety

At the Beach

I often go to the beach by myself. I have found that less is more. I only bring my keys and my debit card. Cash is not necessary anymore, so there is very little to steal from my bag. I am not paranoid about this but it is important to be careful. There is a lot of petty crime in Europe and although people will tell you otherwise, it is important to have your antenna’s out. I usually sit as close to the water as possible, this way I can see my stuff from the water if I go swimming. I also feel out the people around me. Some beaches have more of a family feel. If this is the case, most people have a general idea of who’s sitting near them. I often feel that someone would say something if they saw a random person going into my bag while I was swimming. Again, this is instinct. If it doesn’t feel family oriented, I would have a waterproof bag at the ready to bring phone, etc, into the water with you. There are some great products available for the this. I think it’s a worthwhile investment.

In the City

A lot of people will tell you that there is no crime/pick pockets, etc. It’s not because they did not experience it that it doesn’t exist. It does exist and it most definitely does in Southern Europe. Don’t forget, no matter how hard you try, you will stick out like a sore thumb. There are petty thieves just waiting to get their hands on your wallet. They often work in 3’s so one will distract you (scream, bump into you, something to make you look away) at that moment the other will try to put their hands in your bag. I actually caught a woman doing this to me once (in Aix) and I saved myself. I couldn’t believe it, I can still see her hand so smoothly reaching into my bag to try and grab something. It does happen. The best thing is to carry a bag which is in front of you and firmly closed. Put nothing in your back pockets and keep your phones in view or even in your hand held tight. In today’s world, we barely need cash, so I would have only the cash you need (often markets want cash but even many of them accept cards these days), your keys and ID. You really don’t need anything else if you’re out and about.

I wouldn’t be worried, I would just be sure to be properly equipped. Most vulnerable places are the underground trains and tourist spots. Less is more.

Live as if you’re moving There

Another thing that I always do is connect with local social groups. Yes, I do this because I am moving to the area, but sometimes there are things that are geared for just about anyone. I would take a look on Meetup, which is an app. It works all over the world and there are people organizing get togethers all the time. If you see something that looks like a pop in event, just go. For example, there are Polyglot groups. This is where people meet to have a language exchange. More often than not, this is a focus on English so you’ll probably meet some cool local people who are just looking to improve their English. They often meet at a cafe and just hang out. This could be fun for you, too. Also, there are international drink evenings (not always but look for it). This is something you could also go along to. Sometimes they are fun. I went to a couple on my own last year. It was something to do and I had some nice conversations with people.

More about me:

This past year, due to Covid, I found myself back in France to be with my youngest daughter who was in boarding school in Aix-en-Provence. To some, this will sound posh but believe me, it was a solution that was necessary to enable my daughter to have 4 years in the same highschool. We couldn’t stay put and it was no longer fair to her. Covid hit and everything changed. School closed and she was suddenly alone in France with one parent stuck in Morocco (boarders were closed) and the other (me) in the US wondering how to fly to France legally as I am not a French citizen (working on that after 34 years of marriage to a French man). I have spent this entire year alone (with a teenager) in the South of France. Due to covid, I have had little opportunity to meet people so everything I have done. has been on my own. Teenager is usually busy. To the outside world this has looked very glamorous. Wow! The South of France! Unfortunately, it has been very difficult but I have kept positive and focused on my hobby of photography, writing about my life and finally attempting to create a website that will enable me to share my stories, my travels and perhaps help anyone who’s looking for answers regarding travel and expat life. Glass is always full chez moi.