The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Confidence and Safety
Photography: Dimitris Asproloupos.
The art of arrival
By Michael Webster
Briefly …
The first 24 hours in an unfamiliar city is always invigorating. From airport halls to the first steps outside, our senses sharpen as we navigate new light, air, smells, and rhythm. We invited members of our international community of seasoned solo travellers to share their insights into managing the sensory overload that is ‘Arrival’.
Arriving in an unfamiliar new environment presents a unique array of challenges, with every sight, sound, smell, and sensation suddenly demanding our undivided attention. We move through ‘Arrivals’ with an other-worldly combination of fatigue, curiosity, and excitement. We double-check signs and observe people, some of whom know exactly where they’re going, and others, like me, who have next to no idea! We follow the current because standing still feels louder and more helpless than moving.
Once we are outside, it is the air hits us first – dense, intense, and terrifyingly unfamiliar. I always fondly remember the first time I disembarked in Hong Kong, and the gap between the aircraft and the aerobridge exuded an overwhelming thick, wet heat and an intoxicating scent that heralded the beginning of what would become my love affair with everything there is to love about Asia.
People move at a messy contradiction of dynamics, some fast and with clear ‘Get out of my way!’ purpose and determination, while others (like me), take one step after another as though the surface we are walking on is made of glue. Conversations roll past us in bright, often indecipherable bursts, and signs bloom overhead in shapes and with instructions we possibly can’t yet comprehend. We steady just long enough to notice the city breathing – alive, restless … as though it is waiting to see what we’ll do next.
We start to recognise the rhythm – the patterns in the noise and the activity. We may not understand the words yet, but we recognise the tone and the intention – a question, an offer, a welcome. The city no longer feels like it’s pushing us back. It moves around us, making a little space. We take another step, lighter this time, and it begins to feel less like arriving and more like beginning.
We pause just long enough to steady ourselves, then step forward. The trick is to look like we belong, even when we don’t – yet. But that’s part of the thrill – this first moment when the world feels wide open and completely ours.
We invited members of our international community of seasoned solo travellers to share their insights into managing the sensory overload that is ‘Arrival’.
Phillip Stemann, Writer, Lisbon, Portugal
When I land in a new city, I can't wait to explore. I always do some research before I travel to a new city, but on the first day, I always like to explore the area around my accommodation … find a local café, a nice restaurant, or the supermarket, and just get to know the area a little bit. Then I end the day by eating at the restaurant nearby, so the next day, even though I might have a plan, I feel much more comfortable because I know the area around where I'm waking up.
Loris Petro, Marketing Strategy Lead and Digital Marketing Manager, Kratom Earth, Canada
When I land in a new city, my first priority is always about safety and getting my bearings. I ensure that I have local currency on hand, that my phone is charged, and that I know the exact location and transport route to and from my hotel using a reputable transportation provider or the official taxi service at the airport. Once I'm settled in, I do whatever I need to do depending on the time of day and my energy level. When it's still daytime and I'm feeling good, I'll go out and explore the area and eat at a local restaurant, which helps me adjust to the new surroundings and get over jet lag. But if I get home late or I am tired, I skip everything and just rest because it is not safe or fun to do too much when you are tired.
Jonathan Wong, Owner and Endodontist, Renovo Endodontic Studio, USA
I have flown enough that I’ve come to learn what happens in the first few hours on land pretty much decides how well the trip begins overall. Sitting on planes for eight-to-ten hours can compromise our circulation by as much as up to 50%, so I always take time to have a steady walk in a new city before checking in. This hour of light movement keeps my body from feeling sedate the following day while offering my body an enhanced reset from spending many hours in a motionless hotel room the previous day. Movement is medicine and travel days reaffirm that more than anything else. After I’ve moved my legs, I turn to hydration and food. When I drink about 500 millilitres of water in the first hour, I equal what the body loses in a pressurised cabin and minimise the hidden fatigue dehydration creates.
Next, a light familiar meal helps my digestion into a smooth transition. Unsurprisingly, I once suffered through a trip due to heavy dinner meal that did not resolve until an hour-long reset the following night. A smaller portion of something plain provided me real rest. Travelling wisely is rewarded by restoration.
Dean Rotchin, CEO and Founder, Blackjet, USA
If you’re not jet-lagged in the morning or early afternoon, a walk around the hotel is great for exploring, and it begins to create that mental map of the neighbourhood. But when you have just been on a ‘red eye’ or crossed several time zones, do not give in to the temptation to work out. When we’re tired, our thinking capacity and safety are impaired. I drop off my bags, quickly wash up, and go out for a light meal at a nearby café or restaurant. This has many benefits – you get food, learn local traditions, and sense the atmosphere. You also feel the safety of the area during the day.
On that first day, I do not eat heavy food in case I feel jet lagged, and my digestive system is yet to settle. I only explore crowded areas with good lighting. I keep it short, usually just a few blocks from where I'm staying. I make notes of the landmarks, the pharmacies around, the ATMs, and the way back. I also ensure that someone is aware of my approximate schedule.
Steven BahBah, Managing Director of Service First Plumbing, Sydney, Australia
I do a lot of international travel, and what I practice all the time is a simple security procedure before entering any vehicle. Immediately after locating my prearranged transport and before getting inside, I make a brief yet audible phone call to a colleague or family member. During the call, I clearly state the make, model, and registration number of the car along with my intended destination and expected arrival time. This communicates that my journey is being actively tracked and establishes immediate accountability for the driver. It is a discreet but effective measure that significantly reduces vulnerability during that initial trip from the airport, allowing me to travel with greater security and focus on the business ahead. I have seen many reports of people being taken advantage of during those first moments after landing, and that is why I never skip this step. It takes less than a minute, yet it adds a layer of safety that allows me to travel with confidence.
Gregg Feinerman, Owner and Medical Director, Feinerman Vision, Newport Beach, USA
My work demands precision and stamina, and frequent international travel for surgical training missions has taught me habits that help me stay sharp the moment I land. The first action I take after stepping off a long flight is walking outside for at least 20 minutes before checking into a hotel. Direct exposure to daylight resets the circadian rhythm more effectively than sleep or caffeine. I notice that even in humid cities like Ho Chi Minh or Phnom Penh, that short walk lowers eye dryness brought on by cabin air and stabilises my energy far better than rushing for a nap. I hydrate during the walk with one litre of water and wait at least two hours before eating a local meal, which prevents digestive upset from sudden schedule changes.
Exploration comes later, once my body adjusts, but those two hours outdoors are non-negotiable. I arrive sharper, avoid the grogginess that follows immediate rest, and can step into meetings or surgical training sessions with clear vision and steady focus. That habit keeps me consistent in both patient care at home and medical missions abroad.
Miguel Angel Gongora Meza, Founder and Director, Evolution Treks Peru
When I get to a city for the first time after a long flight, I always take a slow first step. There is no rush for me to start sightseeing. I drink water, have something light to eat, and then go for an hour or more walk around the local area, which gives me the feel of the place, where people are buying food – an attention to detail that tells me more than any map. It grounds me and takes the weight off of my shoulders that I get from sitting in an airplane for hours on end.
As a rule I spend the first two hours once I land trying to work out how to get around. I ask locals about transport (one sentence with a shop owner or taxi driver will save you from making any small mistakes), I take note of the layout of the streets and mark the places I can return for meals or supplies. The local knowledge of water sources, the nearest market and the short distance to a ride gives you the confidence to set off, knowing you won't get lost.
Rest is important too. If I arrive in the afternoon, I take a nap for not more than 45 minutes and then go outdoors until dark. If I land at night, I shower and prepare my day bag for the morning and sleep as much as possible. These are small things, but it saves my energy so I can have more of it for the rest of my days. Travel is not just the way to get to monuments and restaurants. It is about landing into your clarity, protecting your body, and building up the awareness of your surroundings from the very first hours.
Michael Webster is The Solo Traveller’s International Community Development Lead.