All About Traveling Solo

Accommodations Are More, But Oh, That Sense Of Freedom!

Kiplinger once said, "He travels fastest who travels alone." The unencumbered traveler today often travels alone, not because he thinks he’ll get there any faster, but because he likes the freedom that comes with solo travel.

If you’ve ever fantasized about taking a trip by yourself, and bypassing the ordeal of finding the right travel companion or talking someone into going, you’re not alone. Solo travel is becoming a popular way to discover the world. A growing number of those solo trips are taken by women. In 1996, more than149 million trips were booked by women, who by choice, decided to take leisure trips (as opposed to business travel) on their own.

Travel agents predict a record number of solo trips will be taken by women this year. The reasons are varied, but common denominators include larger disposable incomes, longer life spans, and increased independence as a result of divorce or death of a partner. For more information visi www.journeywoman.com, an international network for solo travelers.

Part of the allure for both men and women is the challenge of meeting new people, practicing language skills, and learning something about their destinations. Most solo travelers end up learning something about themselves too.

There’s the risk, of course, that when you travel alone, your trip may not be the magical experience you imagined. You may find that you need people around you more than you realized.

Of course, you won’t know how you feel about solo travel until you take the trip. Armchair travel won’t give you the same experience, so it’s pretty tough to try out a solo adventure vicariously.

To those considering solo travel, expect a certain degree of loneliness. But the trade-off is you can come and go when and where you want, without having to consult a companion.

Staying Safe

So, do you think solo travel is only for courageous travelers? By definition, those who travel solo are independent and willing to depend on themselves for making their trips enjoyable, but courage is only part of the equation. Solo travelers are good at planning ahead. They know how to lower the chances of being caught in a calamity, possibly even more so than those who travel in groups or with companions. Check out www.solotraveler.com for more information.

Travel safety tips, albeit important for any traveler, are particularly important for a solo traveler. Safety starts with how you dress. Don’t wear flashy jewelry and clothes that may target you as a possible robbery target. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," is a good axiom to follow. Fit in, don’t stand out. When I was in North Africa recently, where the culture is predominately Muslim, women wore black, white or neutral colors. Tourists who wore ostentatious garb stood out in that sea of serenity.

Hotel safety starts with choosing the right hotel. Choose a small, established place, preferably one of less than 100 rooms. For more personal contact, choose a bed and breakfast inn. B & Bs are also great resources for learning about the surrounding area.

Before booking a room, check out what guidebooks say about safe versus not-so-safe sections of your destination. When you book a room, find out if your hotel is discretionary about giving out its patrons’ room numbers.

Ask for a room near the elevator (short walking distance) or above the ground floor. If you’re concerned about personal safety at night, take a cab or order room service. Don’t open an unsolicited knock on your door. Call the hotel desk to confirm a person’s presence before opening the door.

Include these items when you pack: Bring a cell phone, particularly if you plan on renting a car. If you don’t have a cell phone and you’re renting a car, seek out a rental car company that rents the car and phone together. Pack a flashlight, compass and extra lock for your suitcase. Use luggage identification tags which have "hidden" information areas.

Speak Out About Paying More For Solo Travel

The down side to traveling alone? Some cruise lines and hotels penalize the single traveler--you may pay as much as the going rate, or more, for double accommodations. Always ask a hotel if they have a room with one or two twin beds. It will invariably to less than a double room. Visit www.wheretostay.com for some favorite places of solo travelers.

Cruise lines want to fill cabins with a paying passenger per bed in each cabin. Before you shrug this off and pay more for your cruise, ask your cruise specialist or travel agent for alternatives to the single supplement.

You may be able to pay less and get around this barrier. Some cruise lines will match you up with another solo passenger (same gender). If you’re willing to do this, you’ll both save money. True, you’re not entirely on your own when you have a cabin mate, but most cruise passengers spend little time in their cabins anyway.

Your cruise line may also have a few cabins available with one twin bed. This is typically your best bet, so ask about this option before booking.

Don’t worry about social interaction when you travel alone -- you’ll find plenty of opportunities. Sign up for tours, attend plays, or go to festivals, museum shows and special events.

You’ll find kindred spirits wherever you travel. You may find solo travel gives you the best of both worlds. It’s a great way to meet new friends in an unnumbered way. By the end of your trip you may have decided that you were able to absorb the Great Pyramids of Egypt, walk the sands of Waikiki or watch the passersby in Brussels’ Grande Place more intensively, since your thoughts weren’t interrupted by a travel companion’s need for conversation. For more information visit www.cstn.org, a site devoted to connecting solo travelers.

Sharyn Alden has written about consumer issues for two decades for publications including the Wisconsin State Journal.

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