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Traveling alone can be fun and liberating. After all, there is nobody else to consult
about what you want to do or see. You control exactly what you will get out of your
vacation, so take advantage of it! |
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Group travel or
pre-arranged vacation: get to know the rest of your group as quickly as possible.. An ideal time for this is the
morning following your arrival at the tour's point of departure. At breakfast, you should recognize
members of your group who were on the flight the day before. Push away any shyness you
might normally have and introduce yourself. Ask if you can join them for breakfast. Not
only is this a good way to meet people and make your trip more interesting, it increases
your security immensely, especially if it leads to you sharing activities or tours with
others. |
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No group? Here's an idea if you are in a
non-English speaking country: take a home town paper, and read it at
breakfast. Don't be surprised when people come up to you to practice
their English. |
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Talk with people. Again, try to overcome any shyness you might
normally have, and strike up a conversation with fellow travelers. Only
do this in safe locations! Examples of safe locations: pools
& decks,
restaurants or sports facilities of your hotel or neighboring hotels,
group tours, cruise ships. Potential unsafe locations: nightclubs,
public beaches and parks, downtown locations, airports,
public transportation. |
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Do you realize that couples and groups isolate
themselves from meeting the locals and other travelers by always sitting
together in restaurants and other venues, and always talking amongst
themselves as they move through sites? Traveling alone means you are
free to meet and interact with other travelers and locals (on your terms). |
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The above points are all positive, but that
said, DO NOT: get into a taxi alone (unless it is pre-arranged by your tour); walk down a street at night alone; idly stand around on a
street; or load yourself down with parcels or camera gear. |
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Still need some inspiration to travel alone?
Browse Doug Burnett's TravelDoug.com
website. He illustrates just how much you can enjoy yourself by traveling
solo, although he does tend to get off the beaten track. Another excellent website written by another solo traveler is
Magical Places
by Ellen McDonough - a good resource for both male and female solo
travelers, especially her
Solo Travel
page. Canada's Consular Affairs has an online booklet
Her Own Way which again offers useful information for
both men and women who are traveling alone. |
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Just do it! |
