Get rid of the idea that solo travel is for the young. The fastest-growing group of solo travellers is the over 50s, and there are some good reasons for that. We have the money, time, energy and curiosity, because hey, 60 is the new 30! A trip alone can expand your mind and put the sparkle back into your life, and it can be cheaper too.
We’ve gathered some tips and suggestions to help you decide not just where you want to go and how, but whether going solo is right for you.
Reasons to go solo
Lonely at home
If you’ve been through divorce or death, taking a trip could be just what you need. Similarly, the ‘empty-nest’ blues can be turned into a euphoric, ‘Free at last!’ feeling. Plus, you can make life-long friends when you travel.
Married to a stay-at-home
Maybe you’re happily married, but your spouse is the comfy stay-at-home type. Take a holiday by yourself and come home full of stories and souvenirs.
Stuck in a rut
Have you got a boring or stressful job? If your partner can’t take time off to travel, go it alone and refresh yourself – you could change your whole outlook on life and work.
Feeling old
Are you dealing with people’s ageist attitudes? A solo trip can wake up your friends and colleagues to your youthful spirit, and some of them will even be a little envious of your intrepid outlook.
Do it your way
Going solo means you can do exactly what you like, when you like. We talked to Maree Joll, travel agent at Joll & Turner Travel Associates – a Flight Centre company – who had this to say:
“At the risk of sounding too ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, travelling solo is a chance for self-reflection, personal growth and boundless freedom.”
Worried about going alone?
It can be scary launching yourself on the world alone. Here’s what Maree recommends:
Small-group tours
Joining a small-group tour means you can share experiences and laughs, make friends, and eat together in the evenings. You’ll still have free time during the day, and the privacy of your own space at night.
Cruising down a river
Ocean cruises usually mean huge ships and lots of people, but cruising down beautiful rivers with a smaller group can be just right for you. Enjoy delicious food, refreshing breezes, and cute little towns at stops along the way – Avalon Waterways cruises are always particularly luxe.
Choose combinations
If you worry you’ll get stuck with a group you don’t like, try a combination of plans. Maree suggests joining a short tour first, and then strike out on your own. She also recommends small-group tours that cater to solo travellers – outfits like Globus and Cosmos have lots of options. Globus will let you pay a single supplement to get your own room, and Cosmos can even match you up with other solo travellers.
“Once you’ve done your tour, you could rent a villa in Tuscany and engross yourself in the village environment. How about a walking or cycling tour in the South of France or Croatia for unreal scenery and serenity?”, says Maree.
Include your hobbies
Are you arty or sporty? Do you love cooking or dancing? A solo trip can include classes and events that challenge and extend you – think glass-blowing or yoga classes, haute cuisine cooking or folk dancing, with like-minded people.
Ways to manage solo travel
People hesitate to travel alone for practical reasons – how will you cope with luggage, work out where to go in a new place, respond to weird or rude people, or just decide what to do next?
What to do with luggage
When travelling solo, keep your luggage to a minimum, and make sure your carry-on is a combination wheeled-backpack. If you have a rolling suitcase and a number of other items (laptop, handbag, coat) use a strong strap to tie it all together. That way, it will all fit snugly into a small restroom cubicle.
At a beach or other public place, have some strong carabiners to clasp your bag to a bench or chair. Thieves generally snatch and run, and they won’t get far dragging a heavy chair.
Navigating new places
Public transport, signs in a foreign language – just knowing which direction you’re facing when you come up out of a subway can be challenging.
Download Google maps ahead of time, and take a charger with you. Your phone will have a compass to guide you, and a Google app translates those incomprehensible street signs. When in a complete muddle, spring for a taxi!
A bus tour of the new city can help you get your bearings, and your hotel’s front desk will give you directions and often maps to specific destinations. Staff may even recommend great eateries, tourist attractions or shopping options.
Keeping your cool
Sometimes other people can’t cope with you travelling solo. Couples benevolently ‘take charge’ of you, others pity you for being alone, and worse, some ask awkward questions or make suggestive remarks.
Answer questions honestly, and accept that some cultures will never understand your choice. Smile and say you enjoy being ‘independently owned and operated’, and to ward off the suggestive moves, wear earphones.
Eating by yourself
Dining alone can be a new experience to some, so take a good book in case you get enough people watching. Above all, be your own best friend, and be glad you’re not with someone who broods, complains or wants to argue over the appetisers!
Deciding what to do next
When you’re travelling solo, all the planning and decision-making is on you – that can be a good thing when you know what you want to do, but if it feels overwhelming, joining a tour can help ease the load.
Don’t do lonely – go solo
Life’s too short to be stuck at home when you’d rather explore the world. Going solo can be exhilarating, energising and mind-expanding. It can also be cheaper.
Relieve stress, make new friends, have unforgettable experiences and learn new skills – travelling solo can be the best thing you ever did for yourself. Don’t put it on your bucket list – do it now!