“Are you all by yourself”?
“Is it just you”?
“Only one tonight”?
If you’ve ever traveled by yourself, then you’ve probably faced one of the questions above, all of which seem to imply that you’re somehow, shall we say, lacking, for being unaccompanied. But the truth is, many solo travelers, like myself, are perfectly happy to be alone. Who doesn’t want free reign over an entire hotel room, or the chance to do everything on your list and nothing you don’t want to do, or the power to set the pace of each day?
Based on a recent trip to wonderful Waikiki, here are some of my tips for solo travelers:
1. Dine socially.
If you’re going to a restaurant, instead of sitting by yourself at a table for one, ask to be seated at the bar instead. At the bar, with diners on either side of you, you’re much more likely to be drawn into a conversation with your neighbors and make some new friends.
2. Befriend the hotel staff.
If you become friendly with the hotel staff, then you’ll feel personally welcomed each and every time you return to the lobby to make your way to your room. And, at the Waikiki Parc where I stayed, the hotel staff was full of great recommendations for what to do in the area.
3. Make a schedule.
To avoid that aimless “what do I do now” feeling, make sure you have at least one thing you want to accomplish each day. In my case, each day revolved around at least one major activity, be it outrigger canoe surfing off the shore of Waikiki or snorkeling in nearby Hanauma Bay.
4. Look around.
Often, when I’m by myself, whether it’s on public transportation, lying out at the beach, or grabbing breakfast, I have a tendency to bury my nose in a book or newspaper. But putting the book down and looking around every once in a while makes me much more approachable, plus it allows me to notice all sorts of things I might have missed before.
5. Establish contact.
Before you go on your trip, email or call anyone you might know in the area and let them know you’re coming. You’ll be surprised how many offer to make plans, and how these plans often result in seeing spots that you otherwise might have missed, like the Side Street Inn or Jimmy Buffet’s new restaurant at the Beachcomber.
6. Look for volunteer opportunities.
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people while you’re traveling, plus you get the satisfaction of helping out a worthy cause. This past trip, I participated in NOAA’s marine sanctuary whale count, met some wonderful people and learned a ton in the process.
7. Be ready for a rainy day.
While most of my pre-trip planning revolved around the beach, I did have a number of options at the ready just in case the weather went bad. So when I woke up one day to a windy rain, I headed to the Bishop Museum, and got blown away by the ancient Hawaiians’ ceremonial feathered headdresses.
Have you ever, or would you consider, traveling by yourself? Got any other good tips?
Comments
Feb 11, 2009
I'm married now but one of my fondest memories was a trip I took to Paris all by myself. At first I wasn't great about traveling alone but after a day or two you get the hang of it.
Nothing, but nothing, is that relaxing. Awesome tips!
Feb 12, 2009
These are awesome tips. I especially like the idea of making a schedule. I've never done a relaxing solo trip (not that I wouldn't like to), but I took a whirlwind trip to Brussels by myself, and I kept so busy going from sight to sight, shopping, and eating, that I didn't even notice I was alone!
Feb 12, 2009
I have been taking solo trips for years. My family understands my need to leave all the responsibility behind and only have to take care of myself for a little while. When I travel alone I always check to see where my room is from stairs, elevators, etc. A little caution goes a long way. I also find that going back to somewhere I have been before can be very rewarding as I may see things I've missed on previous trips. Also it helps to know your surroundings and what to expect.
Jun 09, 2009
Love these tips. Inspires me to rethink my comment: "I'm tired of traveling alone" when thinking about visiting my grandsons in Hawaii.
My favorite thing to do when traveling is sketch and journal. Little things that catch your eye, not the "bed to bed" routine, but what struck your consciousness that day, an amusing story or a sad one, or a thought that was provoked by your experiences. Sketch of a person or an interesting structure, a little dog on the beach, your umbrella, your toes, the heads in front of you on the airplane. I take photographs, too, but sketches have a quality photos can't deliver. A lot of photos, stories, and sketches fill my journals. What could be a more personal legacy for your grandchildren?
I'm a writer, but thought I couldn't draw, just look longingly at the art supplies. But drawing, that was for people with talent.
Practically the best thing I ever did for myself was take a course called "Sketchbooking" from a woman named Barbara Steiner at the DeCordova Museum of Contemporary Art in Lincoln Massachusetts. She taught us, convinced us, we COULD draw, and draw we did, all around the grounds of the museum.
I've been sketching, journaling, drawing ever since, black and white, ink, pencil, colored pencils, watercolors.acrylics. Turns out I'm not bad. Drawing makes me happy, brings back the whole scene. If you've drawn something, you've really SEEN it. My family and I treasure my little humble works, and I now make my own greeting cards. You DO get better. You learn something from every sketch you make. And I've taken a few more classes, having been dragged out of my stupid "can't do" mode.
When you travel alone, you're not holding up anyone as your pursue your happy little passion for as long as you want or need. I have a whole book of sketches from my son's neighborhood in Hawaii, which is Holualoa on the Big Island. Kids going to school. Lava breakers doing road work. Little boys riveted by earth-moving machinery. Hawaiian crafts. Copied lots of fish from the hotel brochures. Fish are lots of fun to draw and help you identify them when you snorkel.
And recently I discovered Danny Gregory's "A Creative License." If you can take a class, do so AND read this book. If you can't take a class, READ THIS BOOK.
My breakthrough was about 15 years ago; wish I'd done it earlier. I did find that when I was in business -- publishing, which sounds good but is really about numbers and the bottom line -- I needed to suppress my artistic self a bit to do the best job as an acquisitions editor. I didn't sketch on those trips, I had to get into a different mind set. Kind of tragic, the opportunities I missed. I hope this doesn't happen to you who are still toiling in the corporate mines.
Fortunately I have escaped the mines. My bank account suffers but I don't!! Now I draw and tell stories to my journal every day. It's also my scheduler/calendar. It's like having a conversation with myself, and it's not ephemeral -- It's down on paper, I can enjoy it over and over. I have fun searching all kinds of stores for the perfect blank journals, the kind I like. It's surprising how many places you can find them -- and for cheap.
When I make a greeting card, I photograph it with my digital camera, print it, and put it in my journal, so I have records of those, too.
Aug 11, 2009
You'll enjoy traveling alone. I do it all the time. Western Europe is generally safe. If you go to travel.state.gov you can get up to date info on any country you plan on traveling to. Do sign up for the travel advisories, you'll find out if any protests are scheduled. Stay away from those, they usually are peaceful but can turn aggressive.
Never admit you are alone if someone asks. Tell them you are just going to the museum/coffee shop/for a walk alone and that you are meeting up with your husband in a half hour. That way they know you are expected somewhere and they know someone knows where you are.
Hide some emergency cash or an emergency bank card in your bra.
Always look like you know where you're going and what you are doing. If you need to look at a map or are lost, stop and get a coffee or a soda in a cafe, and sit down and look at your map. You can also ask shop keepers for directions.
Most important: Always, always, always listen to your gut. 99% of the people you meet are nice people, but don't be afraid to turn down offers of help/advice/conversation if something doesn't feel right. As a woman you have to trust your gut instinct. It's better to be rude and alive. As you get used to traveling and get used to a country, you'll get a better feel for the people and what's normal behaviour. The more you travel, the more you'll develop this sixth sense. Trust it, no matter what.