Solo Travel for the Connected Woman
Have you ever desired to travel but for whatever reason, you were unable to find a travel partner? Did you give up all hopes of traveling because you didn’t feel comfortable about traveling alone? Traveling solo doesn’t have to be a lonely, expensive or unsafe experience. Whether you travel on land or on sea, traveling solo can be a wonderful adventure and don’t be surprised if you decide that you would like to continue traveling solo.
Traveling solo provides you the freedom to do what you want and when you like to. If you decide that you would like to have your personal belongings all over your room, if you want to leave the lights on and read until 2 am, or watch what you want on television, who is going to stop you? If you feel you don’t want to be bothered, that’s fine also. You can have your meals in your room or sit in a secluded area in the dining room. Solo travel offers you the freedom to choose.
In order for your solo trip to be enjoyable, you must do your homework, or contact a travel agent to research destinations that are a good fit for a solo, female traveler. Of course you will have to be cautious and take measures for your own safety. You must always be cautious of your surroundings and be able to identify situations that don’t appear safe. It’s best to blend in with the other travelers and not appear as a lonely, lost tourist. Don’t go it alone when planning tours, always go through an organized tour company, such as tour operators that are affiliated with the resort or if you’re cruising, plan your tours and excursions through the cruise ship.
Stay at a resort opposed to a hotel, villa or condo. At a resort, the grounds are relatively secure and you don’t have to worry too much about strangers lurking around. You may feel safer venturing outside the resort grounds during daylight hours, and you don’t have to be worried about being bored in the evenings since many resorts have enough activities to keep your evenings occupied. Some of the activities are very interactive and you will have opportunities to mix and mingle with other travelers.
Solo travel can be expensive because you are charged single supplements for rooms and cabins. However, there are some cruise ships that do not require a single supplement, so you are able to travel without the 200% single occupancy supplement. There are resorts and cruise ships that offer studio cabins/rooms designed for the solo traveler. For the best rates, travel while school is in session. Normally, travel accommodations are more expensive during spring and summer breaks, as well as holidays.
It’s wise to keep your first solo trip to a maximum of 4 – 5 days. The worst possible outcome is to enjoy the beginning of your trip, to find yourself lonely and homesick at the end and decide that solo travel is not for you. Try planning activities for your first couple of days to avoid boredom and loneliness. Take all those books that you purchased and haven’t had the time to read. Bring along your journal and start jotting down your thoughts and your goals. Take the time to reconnect, nurture, and concentrate on you.
Bring along your camera so that you can indulge in selfies and don’t be shy about asking others to take your picture. Plan to do those things that you fantasized about doing, such as climb a pyramid, swim with the dolphins, jet ski, go on a food and wine tour, take an international cooking class, take a cultural tour, etc., your biggest decision will be to make the decision to just DO it! It’s fun to travel with a partner; however, if you choose to go it alone, you can definitely enjoy the journey! You just may find your adventurous spirit and decide that it’s okay to book a ticket for one.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the harbor. Catch the winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
FEATURED CWM TRAVEL CONTRIBUTOR Meochia Stills is the owner and operator of My Times Travel LLC, where she has excelled in the travel industry as a Cruise & Caribbean Vacation Specialist. Her committed to exceeding her clients’ expectations on land and sea has caught the attention of her family, friends, and peers.
Find ideas on the perfect escape by visiting Meochia at www.mytimestravel.com & www.cruisingwithautism.org;
on Facebook www.facebook.com/mytimestravel & www.facebook.com/cruisingwithautism;
on Twitter www.twitter.com/mytimestravel, www.twitter.com/autismcruises;
as well as on Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/mytimestravel/.
You may contact Meochia at (904) 383-0874 or (800) 659-8443, or email info@mytimestravel.com.
