Kevin Droniak flies every week & these are his best travel tips
"I'm just a big believer in solo travel, because you really just find out a lot about yourself."
Mark
So you want to see the world? Well, book the darn flight!
That’s the biggest takeaway we’ve gotten from binge-watching every video from LGBTQ+ traveling aficionado Kevin Droniak, who shares his solo day trips with his more than 660,000 followers on social media.
The New York-based content creator has built a following with his often outlandish but incredible expeditions, like spending 24 hours in Egypt or going to Germany for the day.
@kevindroniak yes, Egypt is a day trip from NYC
♬ original sound – Kevin Droniak | Solo Travel
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
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While he occasionally goes on group tours and trips, most of his adventures are by himself, and it’s completely changed his life. “I’m just a big believer in solo travel because you really just find out a lot about yourself,” he explained to his followers.
Although it can be “uncomfortable to go places alone,” his content has inspired us to “step out of [our] comfort zones,” because more often than not, “everything always works out.”
Here are 5 of the best gay-friendly travel tips we’ve learned from his videos.
1. Pack light.
OK, OK, not everyone is going to take a day trip from New York City to Africa for a safari like Droniak. (“Nobody in their right mind goes to Africa for one day, but I’m not in my right mind, I never said I was,” he teased.)
That said, his tips for packing a light carry-on apply to any traveler.
His backpack includes his toiletry bag — “My toothbrush, my sleeping aids, facial moisturizers, you know, just all the essentials” — as well as a camera, his comfiest sweater (because you never know if they’ll be “passing out blankets on the plane”), medications, passport, sunglasses, bug spray, a portable charger, his eye mask (a.k.a. the “number one essential … to fall asleep”), two pairs of underwear, socks, deodorant, and his go-to nasal spray which “[coats] the inner part of your nose so you don’t get sick.”
2. Get your sleep on the plane.
If there’s one aspect of travel that Droniak, who takes “a red eye at least once a week,” is an expert on, it’s sleeping on the plane. Whether you’re flying overnight, looking to pass the time on a long flight, or need some shut-eye before a packed itinerary, his simple routine is easy-to-follow.
It starts before boarding, when he eats at the airport, “because waiting for the meal service cart to arrive could take too long,” and continues with some light stretching and going to the bathroom because “you’re not getting up for the entire flight.”
Once on the plane, Droniak advises travelers to take a sleep aid, complete their nighttime routines (or do “what you normally do to trick your brain into thinking it’s bedtime”), block out the noise with wired headphones (which “work better than earplugs”), and put on an eye mask.
We’ve got to admit — he looks pretty comfy.
3. Throw away the itinerary.
For those embarking on a day trip or trying to fill up a free day on vacay, Droniak has some short but sweet advice: “You don’t need to over-plan your trip. It all works out.”
Case in point, he turned an aimless day in rural Japan into an adventure by popping into cafes, a castle, and following signs for a hike. After a wrong turn, he made it to the summit where he caught a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji, “one of those travel moments that [you] live for.”
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4. Don’t pass up a good deal.
Another Droniak taught us is to never pass on a good deal! In one video, the content creator traveled to “one of the most beloved places in all of the United States of America,” a.k.a. Cincinnati, Ohio, because the $49 round-trip ticket was so alluring. And spoiler alert: It was a great trip!
Although he acknowledged it wasn’t his “top travel destination,” it was still “invigorating just being in a new place.” “It’s just fun that a cheap flight brought me here and now I’m on a swing in the middle of Ohio for no reason,” he told his followers. (Nevertheless, his review on the city’s signature Skyline Chili was not as kind. LOL.)
5. Just book the flight!
Honestly, Droniak’s best advice kind of boils down to YOLO — you only live once.
“I’m so tired of people telling me, ‘Wow, I wish I could travel,'” he explained in a video. “Why can’t you? Just book a flight.” As the influencer explained, it’s too easy to let factors like anxiety and the length of a flight stop you from taking a dream trip — and the fears are completely normal.
“I know you’ve spent 14 hours rotting on the couch, so why not spend it rotting on the plane and make memories that you’ll never forget,” he said, adding that “it’s not that deep.”
If it’s a trip that you’ve dreamed of, it’s one worth taking. “Don’t wait up for anybody,” he explained. “If I waited for people to travel with me, I don’t think I would have ever left the country.”
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