How My Solo Trips Evolved Into Group Vacations

I hated people. Yes, I dislike people so much that I sometimes wondered if there was something wrong with me. And in reality, there was something actually not right with my personality. I had become too detached to people. The sad part is that I knew that I needed to improve but I could not initiate the process. It was becoming too much for me to bear and when I could not do anything, I just went out for a solo road trip.

Going alone

When you are alone, you have a distinct advantage of being yourself. I utilized the most of this time since I knew that I could be myself without fearing the scrutinizing eyes of my colleagues and family. I wanted to be on my own for a couple of days so that I could unwind and relieve all the stress that had accumulated in my mind. It was tough, but I had to do it.

The first time I talked to someone was when I had to park my car in the hotel parking lot. It was such a relief to finally have someone who would smile at me nonetheless. I ventured out for many such road trips alone so that I can be comfortable at communicating with strangers. I would feel my heart pounding in my chest during the initial few days, but then it normalized later. It helped a lot to be open to conversation and this change was visible clearly in office.

Going for group vacations

As I had started evolving as a social person, I liked talking to people. I made a few friends and we started hanging out with them. I was on seventh heaven when I got a chance to go for a road trip with my office colleagues. We booked Self-Drive Cars in Hyderabad and we hit the road at night. We shifted the driving duty and had a blast while traveling.

It is difficult to pen down how I felt when I actually connected with people straight from the heart. The superficial talks that I had initiated deliberately in the beginning had started giving fruits. An introvert jerk had started becoming an extrovert dude. I loved being in the company of people, which was the result of just one thing, and that is solo travel.

Traveling alone gave me ample confidence to take decisions whenever it was crucial. I did not have anyone to depend on, which is why, it had become easier for me to take quick decisions. I also learned that I can enjoy my own company and be with people as well. I am no more uncomfortable with people around me. Nonetheless, I need my personal space at times.

I have learned how to define boundaries when it comes to social life and personal space. I have got friends who would back me in tough situations. I am glad that I ventured out for vacations alone; it helped me to become a better person.

How I Save on the Hotel Rooms in India

I, being a Delhi-ite, have learned since childhood how to save money on everything and fix every expensive thing with a Jugaad, or the substitute. The Jugaad comes naturally to all Indians when we have to make something last for a longer time than it should. After I completed my college, I ended up in a job for which I have to travel a lot and pay for my own bills. I am a freelance photographer, which is a decent earning profession. However, in the first decade of my career, I cannot afford lavish spending on something as trivial as a hotel room, where I just need to keep my bags and cameras. I know that I have to go to the hotel room just to sleep, so I have to find out such deals and do something to save money on accommodation. Let me share how I do it every time I travel around India and the world. 

Check the geographical distance to the attractions 

Hotels located in the center of a city levy exaggerated charges for their rooms. Since I do not mind taking a little walk to the attractions or use the public transport for the same, I skip such hotels and take one that is located a little away from the major places. By spending a few hundred rupees on the transportation, I can save a few thousand on accommodation, which is not a bad deal at all. However, if I have to save time for my photography projects at times, I do take an expensive hotel near my project destination. 

Avoid the package deals 

Many hotels create package deals that include unnecessary things most of the times. I prefer not to take such deals if I don’t need the amenities and hence save money. For my projects, for instance, I do need Wi-Fi to share photos, but I can skip paying for the buffet breakfast since I leave early most of the times. 

Do not use the Mini Bar 

I never, ever touch the mini bar for sodas and beverages, except for water. The drinks and chocolates in the mini bar are highly over-priced, and hence, it is no use consuming them when I can buy the same things at MRP from outside the hotel.

Book your own cabs 

The hotels provide the service to book the cab for their guests, but the cabs often charge a flat rate to take you from point A to point B. I am sure the hotel takes a cut from the bill of the cab, and I do make it a point that I either book a taxi on my own. However, if I have to travel a lot throughout the day, for instance, I take car rentals in Hyderabad or other cities to save money. The car rentals Hyderabad ultimately prove cheaper than the cabs if I have to cover multiple locations in one day.

In the end, the most important thing I do is to be polite with the staff. The front desk staff has to deal with difficult people all the time. The least I can do is to ask the person dealing with me about his/ her day and say Hi to everyone I meet on my way to the room. Although I don't expect many favors from them in exchange for this basic courtesy, I have seen it that they do make special efforts to make my stay comfortable in their hotel. Many times, I have made friends with the employees, and they also earn a loyal customer just by exchanges a few good glances. Isn’t it a great idea to implement just a few tips to save money on hotel rooms without making much effort?