Elena NikolovaContributed by Muslim Travel Girl
Do you want to travel more but you feel that you are not ready? Or you just have that feeling that you can’t do it?
We have all been there, so don’t worry about this feeling. It is always difficult taking your first trip and becoming a confident traveller. I remember the first time I took a trip, I thought it would be a disaster but hey I survived. It was a fun experience and I loved it.
Below are my top tips to help you become a confident Muslim traveller with or without company.
Take your first trip close to home
I remember I used to love working and travelling since I was in Uni. I wanted a change of scenery but didn’t feel confident enough to travel abroad. So I booked a nice hotel room 1.5 hrs away from home and I took my first “working holiday”. It actually worked! I was feeling secure enough to explore on my own yet I knew the culture and the environment. Plus, if something happened and I felt unsafe I was close to home.
Visit a family member or a friend
It is easier to travel alone if you see a familiar face when you arrive at your destination. Baby steps are important and as a newbie traveller, it is good to feel the security of going somewhere with someone you know. You are getting out of your comfort zone yet you have some guidance. You don’t have to stay with your friends or family but just knowing that they are in the same city will make you automatically feel safer.
Also read: 8 Safety Tips Every Solo Muslim Traveller Needs to Know About
Visit a local mosque on arrival
Mosques are the hub of the community, you can meet Muslims in your destination and also get insider knowledge to help you navigate. They can advise you on places to stay away from, things to see and do, and also you might even make new friends. It definitely helps to know that there are people and a place you can go for help if needed.
Take a free walking tour
I have written about free walking tours quite a lot recently but I took a few and I loved it. If you are exploring a new city and you don’t want to feel like an outsider, they are the perfect place to meet people, explore and feel part of a group even if only for a few hours. It is all you need as a confidence booster.
Name your fears
There is no point in hiding. If you are afraid of travelling or for that matter anything else in life, you want to tackle it straight head on. So sit down and write the fears that stop you from travelling. Are you scared that you will get lost? Or that you will not be safe? Write down, for a continuous 5 minutes everything that stops you from travelling. Then logically go through your fears and solve them. Mitigate your fears with something that will help you feel safe during your travels.
Also read: 7 Halal Travel Myths Every Muslim Traveller Should Know About
Use travel apps to make you feel safer and share itinerary with family
I love using Uber abroad because it makes me feel safer. I know that I will not get ripped off and I can track my ride. I can share it with friends and above all, I can pay with my card. So I don’t have to exchange money. I find this very liberating and much safer, so before I visit a city, I always check if Uber is available. You can research other apps such as Airbnb that provide you with a sense of security. Then download them and plan your trip.
Do some research and then do some more
Carry out a full blown research of the place you are visiting. Read blogs, take notes and make sure you are booking hotels in the safe parts of town. There is no better way to feel safe and confident than with your hotel. I always prefer booking reputable hotels even if this means sacrificing on other aspects of my trip.
Make your dua
As Muslims keeping up with daily dua (prayer) and dhikr (remembrance) is very important. If one can protect us this is the Most High. So before you start any trip, make sure you have recited your traveller’s dua for protection.
‘Allaah is the greatest, Allaah is the greatest, Allaah is the greatest, How perfect He is, The One Who has placed this (transport) at our service, and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord if our final destiny. O Allaah, we ask You for birr and taqwaa in this journey of ours, and we ask You for deeds which please You. O Allaah, facilitate our journey and let us cover its distance quickly. O Allaah, You are The Companion on the journey and The Successor over the family, O Allaah, I take refuge with You from the difficulties of travel, from having a change of hearts and being in a bad predicament, and I take refuge in You from an ill-fated outcome with wealth and family.’
Also read: Useful Tips for Travelling During Ramadan
Travelling is very fun and it opens your eyes to experiences that otherwise you might not have had. You will definitely return a different person after your first trip. You will be more confident and it will show, not only in your travels but also in your daily lives too. That escape of your comfort zone is totally amazing.
So there you have it, tips on how to become confident Muslim traveller. Pack your bags and start travelling.
