I’ll be honest; there have been times when I couldn’t wait to get home from a trip. Not because I hate traveling (I love it, in fact), but because my friend who came with me drove me crazy. I mean how many times can you leave your wallet back at the hotel? So, is there a solution to a situation like this that can easily be a colossal problem? After scouring the internet I found an alternative – traveling solo. One of the most popular new trends in travel, especially among women, it’s made the industry take notice. Hotels are now offering smaller rooms to accommodate single occupants and travel agencies are creating attractive packages for one. But myself, before heading out on a lone journey, I wanted to know more. I found three bloggers who find the idea of traveling alone exhilarating, offering great tips and incentives for these kinds of journeys.
Janice Waugh (@solotraveler) is an author, blogger and traveler who talks about the perks of traveling alone. From the outset she confesses that before traveling alone she was a “lazy traveler.” What can that mean? Janice recalls traveling with her family and thinks of what she didn’t get to do. “Decisions were made collaboratively. Responsibilities were shared – you do this, I’ll do that. My attention was diverted by the people I was with.” When you’re alone and can’t rely on others to help you, you become more aware of your surroundings and get more in tune with the places you’re visiting out of necessity. Janice is fond of that. “I now remember more clearly the places I visit because I plan the trip myself. I live my travels more fully.” Janice prepares by fully researching her destination including the food, transportation and whatever activities she’ll do. Like many solo travelers, she highlights how easy it is to make friends when alone. For her, meeting people from different backgrounds is a way to gain perspective, “causing me to go out of my way to contribute how I can,” she writes, even if it’s something small, like buying from a local business or merchant. You have the opportunity to be conscientious, without having to consider what someone else thinks. It’s all part of being a “respectful traveler.”
Lisa McElroy (@proflisamcelroy) is a law professor and writer who travelled solo to Oahu, Hawaii, leaving her family behind. Traveling alone is a getaway for her. When she traveled to Hawaii she writes, “I deserved a break, one designed just for me, one where I answered to no one.” Independence is at the heart of solo travel and for Lisa it was life changing. She says, “There is something soul-adjusting, something deeply satisfying, something reviving about just choosing to nap when it’s raining, soak in the tub or read a silly book as the sun sets over the water and then start the cycle all over again.” Which of us isn’t green with jealousy hearing that? Truth is few of us are able to relax in this way unless we’re alone. We need to make time to be selfish, and that’s what going solo is all about. You can go to the flea market your significant other could care less about, or do as Lisa did, and sleep the day away and then enjoy the night life. After all, the greatest luxury on a solo trip is time. Even though Lisa spent so much time snoozing “there was still plenty of time for fun.” She snorkeled, went on tours of the island, enjoyed a day at the spa, all at her own pace. And when it was all done Lisa was happy to come home and get back into her routine, and teach her daughters to hula.
Kate McCulley (@adventurouskate) is a full time traveler and blog writer. She recommends Iceland as a solo destination, especially for first timers. “Iceland is an easy and safe destination,” she writes. So what else makes it good for a first time solo trip? Kate outlines three main reasons. With solo travel communicating is a main concern. In Iceland, most locals speak English and menus and signs are in English. Secondly, tourism is a major part of Iceland’s economy, “therefore the travel infrastructure is spectacular.” Last and perhaps the most important, crime is virtually nonexistent. Kate writes that “travel scams are unheard of.” You can peer at your map all you want, and don’t have to feel self-conscious about looking lost. So what is there to do alone in Iceland? Kate recommends tours and excursions. “They’re a great way to meet new people and socialize and sometimes you end up making friends for life!” That’s one of the hallmarks of solo travel, it’s easy to interact with others. And there are many tours which focus on Iceland’s unique natural environment. Glaciers, hot springs, nature reserves, and phenomena like the aurora borealis and midnight sun are some emblems of this destination. “It’s hard to imagine any other place that compares.”