Get The Gumption and Solo Travel!

Get the gumption to Solo Travel!

People are traveling more than ever. What's interesting is that of travelers today, 30 to 40% want to travel solo, but only 20% of vacationers actually travel alone. Many people are enticed by the idea of solo travel, but they may find it too nerve racking to actually take the initiative to travel alone. If you have a dream solo trip you'd like to take, but you're not sure how to approach your anxieties, this article may help you.

In one of my past working lives, I was an auditor. I was a floater for all of California. I traveled Monday through Friday, and I could be anywhere in California from one week to the next. Part of my job responsibilities was to plan my travel, set up my hotels and get to each location. California is a huge state, and I went to places that many people who lived in California their entire lives had never been to. My job was solo travel. I learned to be efficient, and I loved it.

Solo travel has many benefits. In addition to having the freedom to set your vacation at your own pace, you will gain some self-reliance. It is a true gift to yourself. Most important, you will discover things about yourself in a way you just cannot when traveling with a group. Solo travel can help strengthen self-love.

Baby Steps

It takes courage to try new things even if it benefits you in the long run. Moreover, fear can be a powerful deterrent. Some people rarely if ever spend time alone especially in public. Have you ever been to the movies or a restaurant on your own? If not, it's time to make a date with yourself!

Whether it's an Indy film or blockbuster hit, take yourself to a movie theater, get your favorite snacks, sit and enjoy the time you're spending alone. Next is the larger step in going to a restaurant by yourself. Take in the atmosphere of your surroundings. Pick a dish you've wanted to try or order your all-time favorite meal. Savor each bite while you read a book or people watch. The more you spend time alone in public, the more you will enjoy time with yourself.

Practice Travel

I wrote an article, Get Out There and Practice Travel. It focused on taking short, local vacations. This way you can learn your travel style before you spend time, energy and money on an extensive vacation. This concept certainly applies to getting used to solo travel. You don't need to go far. In fact, get a hotel in your city and spend a night or two. To test your travel chops, venture a bit further. Go somewhere you’ve wanted to visit in your region. Try a winery, a National Park or some other destination that appeals to you. Practice travel is one of the best ways to familiarize yourself with solo travel.

Tour Companies

When I planned my trip to Scotland, I wanted my visit to this amazing country to be as smooth as possible. I had wanted to visit Scotland for over 30 years, and I had allotted two weeks of my four-week Europe vacation to Scotland specifically. Therefore, I did not want to be bogged down with driving to search for various destinations. Remembering to drive on the opposite side of the street, navigating narrow roads and GPS were things I did not want to spend my energy and time on.

Though I planned the rest of my Europe trip myself, I went to my friend and travel agent Lynn Padilla (lpadilla@dvtravelgroup.com) about my dilemma. She suggested I go on a tour. I signed up with CIE tours (cietours.com) and it was one of the smartest choices I made on my Europe vacation.

I was particularly impressed with CIE. The coach was a new, well maintained and very comfortable. The tour guide we were assigned was friendly and knowledgeable. She had a seat at the front of the bus and explained current and historical information about the areas we drove past. The bus driver was a skilled driver and navigated roads with ease. He was knowledgeable and personable. I was quite comfortable.

The details were taken care of. The only time I handled my bags was when they brought my bags to my room at night and the luggage had to be outside my room by six or seven the next morning. The hotel rooms were four to five star hotels and the sites we stayed at in the evening were wonderful.

The expenses on the tour are covered but souvenirs, gratuities and all meals aren't included. Breakfast is usually provided, but you're on your own for lunch. Most diners are covered as the group meets for dinner. Which often includes entertainment.

As a single person, you may think these tours are for older couples only. Don't get me wrong, 70% of my travel mates were couples in their 60s or 70s. Yes, I was the only African American and the only single person on the tour. However, there were six single women travelling on the tour together. Despite all of this, I made friends with most of the people on the tour and everyone was friendly. I really believe they were looking out for me and everyone was impressed that I took the tour alone. One of the best vacation choices I ever made! Never let your prejudices or fears get in the way of trying something that can make the best experience you've ever had.

Plan Your Solo Trip

This is where the fun begins! I plan 90% of my solo trips and I enjoy doing so. Remember this is your personal vacation. You can plan it the way you wish. Never let anyone deter you from doing what you want or interject their wants on your vacation without invitation. When planning your solo adventure, do it totally the way you want.

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning solo travel

1. Don't overbook or over plan. Give yourself plenty of leisure time.

2. Keep an eye for safety. Check out my article Solo Travel Safety On the Road

3. Plan a budget and figure how you can save and earn for your solo trip. Read my article Get That Travel Money Baby!

4. Pack light

5. Research customs of where you're traveling to especially if overseas. Read Learn the Culture Before You Go But You Will Make Mistakes

6. Be open to glitches in your plans

Take the Plunge and Just Go!

As I said earlier in this article, 30 to 40% of travelers want to vacation solo, but only 20% do so. The saying “feel the fear and do it anyway” truly applies here. Many of us don't pursue things we want because of fear. Fear of failure mostly—“what if I get mugged, what if I get lost, what if I feel lonely?” Yes, bad things can happen on a solo trip, but bad things can happen to you at the grocery store as well. Don't let your fears paralyze you from having the best time of your life.

I left my auditing job because of my health and my mother's health. The two of us didn't travel much anymore, and later we worked to get a house. A couple of years after we built and lived in our home, my mother passed away. Five months later, my grandfather became terminally ill. I moved into his house to take care of him, and he soon passed away. I was overwhelmed, it was a lot for me to process.

A few years later, I had a major garage sale and made a considerable amount of money. I sat on my bedroom floor staring at the cash a shoe box. It came to me—“I'm going to the Star Wars convention!” Despite not knowing anything about Star Wars conventions outside of what I've heard of, I made up my mind that I was going somewhere I had been wanting to go for years.

I hadn't traveled alone in over 12 years and all the fears of traveling solo filled my mind. I was determined not to let the anxiety get to me. I planned my vacation. It was a true gift that I gave myself. I love dressing up as a Jedi, meeting people from all over the world and let my childlike, nerdish self run wild.

Now I attend every Star Wars convention I can get to no matter where in the world it is held. That solo trip gave me confidence I hadn't known before. All because I had the gumption and took the plunge to become a solo t1raveler. Don't let anything get in the way of investing in yourself. Get the gumption and plan your solo get away today!

Me at the Star Wars Convention showing my true nerd

Me at the Star Wars Convention

Me at a ruined castle in St. Andrews, Scotland CIE Tours

My hotel that faced the ocean at St. Andrews, Scotland on CIE tour