Go Greek

This month I am turning 30. Something that for all of my twenties I dreaded. This is a fact my brother and sister never failed to remind me of at various intervals (especially when I was seen speaking to a younger man). However as this time is drawing near, I have actually been forced to think about things in terms of my future. I am an adult, and with this come great privilege. I can choose whatever route I want, and make what ever decisions I want. While In the past I simply spent on mediocre recreational activities, I am now appreciating the joys of saving for specific goals. While this will soon mean my savings toward actually acquiring my own home, I first decided to buy myself one hell of a birthday present. I am going to Greece. Alone. While all the thinking and planning about how to improve my independence is swell, nothing will teach me how to become so like throwing myself alone and  single handed into a foreign land. I have never technically left this country before, and the amount of things I do alone is nowhere near the degree it should be. If anything is going to help me grow into the independent woman I strive to be this will be it.

I have never traveled to Greece before (or any part of Europe for that matter). The closest I have come was my summer spent at Delta Upsilon.  In addition, I  have certainly never put together a piecemeal DIY adventure. So I thought I would share with you some tips that I have found helpful thus far.

Book a flight NOW - Everything else can be figured out later. The flight is most likely to be the expensive park and seeing as thought the economy is in the bin, my flight was damn cheap. Just get the flight, you can save for every thing else in the next few months before you actually go. I personally love Sidestep.com for finding airline deals.

Do Something you have NEVER done - This whole trip will be a whole lotta first for me. However, one thing I am eager to do is rent a moped to explore the Island of Ios. I also might swim through hot springs or hike up a volcano. I might just maybe have to go to one of the many nude beaches…well…maybe.

Bring a LOCK and Chain - The idea of hostels does scare me. I am most afraid of my belongings being taken while I sleep, not actually what might happen to my person. A friend gave me the idea to pack a lock and chain so I can secure my backpack to the post of my bed. No one should go through all the trouble of messing with it if it isn’t readily accessible.

Find Friends FIRST - One of my good friends went to Peru earlier this year, and prior to departure met people online thru couchsurfing.org. This way he was sure to find some Americans who are as interested in travel as he is (and speak his language) while he was there. Another one of my girlfriends went to Prague, and simply did a Myspace search of people who lived in the region.  She then hit them up for advice on cool clubs and good local bands to see.

Make an ITINERARY - I love the website Tripit.com. I personally live to make lists, but this is something even a lazy person can get with. You simply email your flight, hotel or any travel confirmations to the email address provided and some monkey somewhere plugs it all into a wonderful little itinerary for you. If I had an iPhone it would also be iPhone compatible. Additionally I’ve been told to bring an extra photocopy of this as well as my passport. Be sure to keep them in 2 separate locations in case of the unexpected or unfortunate.

Better be SAFE than Sorry - I do plan on being extra super cautious about the whole experience. I will not drink so much ouzo that I do not know what I’m doing. I also don’t plan to go down any dark alleys with sketchy characters. One guide even recommends single ladies to bring a novelty wedding band to ward off unwanted suitors. Consider wearing  a moneybelt if it means not getting your wares stolen. Bring anything you think you might need (such as contact solution, tampons, sunscreen) that may be hard to purchase. I never know what kind of amenities will be on these islands.

Don’t ASSUME - Or we all know what happens. Your discount hostel will not be nice, it will be gross. Bring Flip Flops, soap, a towel and washcloth. I have also been advised to bring a thin sheet, sewn together lengthwise that can form a crude sleeping bag for those beds that have seen cleaner days.

So whether your summer plans are solo or with your girlfriends, please let me know if you have any other creative travel tips! Now what am I forgetting? Oh yeah, If only I could read the language….

Tags: Greece, Hostel, Santorini, Solo Travel, women — Categories: Get Out — —  Print This Post —  Email This Post —

• 
• 
• 
• 

—