Single? Widowed? Divorced? Partner not able to travel with you? Your friends don't want to travel where you want to go; you have some free time at the end of a business trip; or do you just prefer to get away on your own and meet like-minded people? Solo travel is on the rise and the travel industry is embracing this with many more options including the waiver of single traveller premiums. away on your own and meet like-minded people?
The first tentative steps can be terrifying, but there is also an ‘addictive’ sense of freedom gained from being a party of one. Striking out on your own need not be lonely or expensive. Having recently travelled to Italy on my own I was able to experience the sense of freedom, inspiration and the joy you can experience with solo travel.
EMBRACE TOTAL FREEDOM – The chief joy of travelling alone is simply the act of just doing it; crossing the invisible border in your head before you leave home by deciding to just do it, even if it means by yourself. I am an absolute travel junkie and try to take every opportunity that comes my way to travel. I never want to deny myself all of those incredible experiences (and the difficult ones) by missing out just because I don’t have a partner in crime to join me. Solo travel allows you to be whoever you want to be. Dive into the experience, trust yourself, and take the chance to express all aspects of your personality.
EXPAND YOUR SKILLS – Travelling solo can be one of the most exciting, liberating and eye-opening experiences, no matter your age. It offers many opportunities for self-reflection and growth, however, it can also be daunting especially if you’ve never travelled solo before. It certainly offers a great opportunity to grow, to get outside our comfort zone, to perhaps learn a new language or skill, take part in an educational course in a city, such as cooking, photography, art, yoga.
TAKE YOUR TIME – Solo travel means ultimate freedom so make sure you embrace it and take things at your own speed. One day you may feel inspired to go sightseeing, while another may call for a slower pace. The joy is making the decisions yourself.
LEARN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE – It may sound obvious but making the effort to learn a handful of phrases in the native tongue can make a huge difference in how you experience a country, especially when you don’t have anyone with you to lean on for translations. For my trip to Italy I made sure that I at least learnt how to say ‘hello, thank you, excuse me, sorry, please and goodnight’. There are some fantastic apps you can download to your phone so you can prepare yourself and learn basic phrases before a trip. I used the Duolingo app: it’s a fun way to spend 15 minutes learning each day prior to a trip. I felt it showed the people I met that I was genuinely interested in learning about their culture and was an opening for some great conversations with the locals.
ASK FOR ADVICE – There are many ways to research an upcoming trip and now social media means it’s easier than ever to ask locals for advice on what’s best to see. Your travel advisor is also a great resource - we know the best solo traveller offers in the market, we have information on the best cities to visit on your own and tips to ensure you have the best time of your life!
TRUST YOUR GUT – Putting yourself out there, meeting new people and exploring a city safely while travelling solo requires balance. In most cases common sense and a little bit of pre-planning should be just fine, but I also found the simple act of trusting my gut kept me safe and happy.
TRAVEL LIGHT – Next time I travel on my own I am definitely going to travel light(er)! You don’t want to have to rely on anyone else to help with your luggage.
Striking out on your own needn’t be lonely or expensive. Here are a couple of options to consider:
JOIN A SMALL GROUP TOUR –If you’re travelling solo you don’t need to be travelling alone. When you join a small-group holiday you’ll be sharing the experience with other adventure-lovers. Some will be fellow solo travellers while others may be couples or friends who are travelling together. There’s no pressure to join in the whole time: you can be as involved or independent as you like. You'll meet other solo travellers - in fact, clients often tell us that they have made life-long friendships on a tour.
TAKE A CRUISE – Some solo travellers love complete freedom, while others enjoy having more structured options. Multi-destination cruises tread a comfortable middle ground for many people, allowing them to kick back and relax in a group at their leisure, or go off on a mini solo adventure once they disembark at a new destination. Our clients tell us that some of their best solo trips have been on cruises. They could easily go on excursions with others, and then enjoy downtime or chat with as many people as they wanted when back on ship. It really is safe, easy and fun!
Travel to me is about freedom, connecting with people and creating memorable experiences. Let us help plan your next adventure.
If you're a single traveler, this is the PERFECT time to book your cruise, and SAVE on solo supplements, AND get flight credits. We have an amazing selection of luxury cruises from Alaska, Europe, New Zealand and everywhere in between!
Quay Travel, your local travel experts. Phone 0800 782 987, email info@quaytravel.co.nz, or come visit us at 2/49 Apollo Drive, Mairangi Bay.
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