So, I'm nineteen and travelling solo for the first time. On Saturday I left for Italy, and am now sitting in a campsite using the free wifi. This is a first hand guide on what -not- to do, on the days you fly.
If you have to come from another town to catch your flight, leave the day before. I managed to do this. I didn't, however come prepared for the fact that I had no idea where the hostel was. I knew what road it was on, and that it was at the end of the road. Just not what direction to take. (I picked the most likely and started off) After you get to where the hostel is meant to be and can't see it. Don't ask people on the streets. Ask in a shop. If the shop doesn't know.... don't keep walking with all your luggage. Go into the next shop and ask. Arrive at your hostel and fall into bed, exhausted.
Advice: Print out a map, Along with notable landmarks.
The next thing that I had to do was drop off some clothes and pick up a tent. Simple. Should have only taken a few minutes. I'd anticipated an hour at most. Three hours later I was on my way again. No matter how explicit emails are people will want to ask you what you've been up to, and if you're staying for lunch. Advice: Be explicit in emails the amount of time you have, and make it half your actual time.
Arrive at the airport with plenty of time, this is a given. Also recall what you know about the recent changes to airport security and buff up on these. I didn't, which meant I ended up spending half an hour trying to re-arrange my bags so that I only had one carry on piece of luggage. Not particularly intelligent. This was fine. It still gave me plenty of time to reach the gate. Until I realised that the security checks had gone ballistic, after removing my jacket and shoes, I went through the detector, only to have my belt go off and get frisked. However, travelling with a laptop, this meant that I had to root around in my newly packed hand luggage to remove it, and then take my plastic cartons of things and re-assemble. Needless to say, I made it to the gate with my shoes still in my hand, just in time to wait fifteen minutes to board. What really annoyed me? Finding customs closed when I arrived.
More to come!
