Traveling solo brings a singular sense of independence and freedom. It is the ultimate “me time” to do exactly what you want on your terms and according to your very own agenda. Plus, you won’t be the only one embarking on an independent journey, with over 10 percent of U.S. leisure travelers vacationing on their own. Here are a few creative ways to enhance your experiences as well as share your vacation with others.
Get Active. As a solo explorer, you can stretch your personal limits and sense of adventure while heading off the beaten path alone or with the comfort of a small group. Join other solo travelers’ white water rafting in Costa Rica or pedal through Puglia on a biking tour which offers low single supplements and trips for every fitness level. If you love hiking, then a trekking holiday in the Southern Alps of New Zealand with a small group is my favorite experience. You can also be socially active and combine your globetrotting with doing good on a volunteer vacation. There are a variety of preservation and rehabilitation projects, while meeting others who want to improve the world.
Train journeys allow solo travelers to escape for hours watching some of the world’s most stunning landscapes roll past, or simply relax and catch up on a great book, while still being social in the dining car and observation lounge. Traverse rice paddy fields and rain forests of South East Asia aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express which features luxurious en suite Pullman cabins perfect for independent guests. On an adventure across the continent with Rail Europe, you can explore smaller, charming towns and villages where you will meet friendly local shop owners or fellow diners in a small café.
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Learn something new. Tours with an educational slant gather individuals with the same objective in mind and foster an instantaneous sense of classroom camaraderie. Take a Catalan cooking course in Barcelona or a French immersion program in the Loire Valley. Embark on an exotic journey to Peruvian ruins as you explore the history of Machu Picchu by day and luxuriate in eco-friendly lodges by night. Improve your photography skills snapping penguins in Antarctica or the rugged pampas of Patagonia.
Take a Cruise. For the perfect melding of peaceful relaxation and social engagement, minus the plus one, there are many cruises ideally suited for the individual traveler. The cruise lines seat solo vacationers together and have hosts available for dancing. You can take astronomy or language classes.
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Some companies have eliminated the single traveler supplement.
Indulge Yourself….. Go on a spa vacation to Arizona, South Africa, and Costa Rica. There are more than 90 complimentary activities and classes ranging from breath work and chakra meditation to fitness classes and guided hikes.
Go exotic. There are special journeys for women traveling alone to such far flung destinations as Turkey, Southeast Asia, and India. Visit the islands of Svalbard on Arctic Cruise Norway and see polar bears and the midnight sun.
It’s inevitable that you will walk away from these solo experiences with not only wonderful memories, but also greater self-awareness and fulfillment. So whatever you dream of doing, wherever you want to go and whomever to choose to meet up with along the way, we will help you customize a journey solely for you.
Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.
