I was reading a travel article recently on the growing popularity of single travel among women in the " over 40 " demographic and it made me reflect on solo travel as I like to experience it. It so happened that I had a previous conversation with a very well traveled female friend and we were discussing the differences between single and solo travel. She travels on her own to join a travel group as a single traveler. The travel article also defined this type of travel as single travel and was providing many websites for group tours designed especially for singles. My definition of solo travel is traveling alone as the entire experience and not joining any kind of tour, travel group or retreat. So I will use solo travel as my own personal distinction!
I met an older woman recently in Spain who was traveling on her own. She was taking photos of a fountain and I asked her if she wanted me to take her photo. I know what that is like as one of my travel quirks is never to take "selfies" or buy one of those dreaded "selfie sticks " ! Have you ever seen a sign in a cafe that says they don't have wifi....talk to people ? I don't take selfies...... I talk to people ! Ha ha. We sat in a cafe for a drink and she told me she travels for a few days on her own before she joins a tour group. However, her own personal story was she adores travel and her husband does not. He golfs in Florida, USA while she goes as a single traveler and joins various travel tours around the world.
This is a way to have travel adventures if you just cannot see yourself going completely solo!
I know solo travel is relatively rare for both men and women but if you have the feeling you would like to try it , even for a few days, it can be a deeply renewing and self revealing experience !
As a woman who is not afraid to travel solo and who concentrates on European travel it is always an opportunity to keep learning and exploring, to follow my own individual interests, to celebrate the ability to take risks, be confident in myself, and to renew my body and spirit with the concept of slow travel.
For example, in Athens, Greece the Parthenon and the Acropolis are one of the ancient wonders of the world. When I was there recently I spent two hours absorbing the details of the structure, the architecture , the deep historical energy, soaking up the wonderful golden warmth and light while walking carefully on the marble stones that have been polished by millions of feet and are as slippery as ice ! I could easily have rushed to a few other places in those two hours but I prefer the more intense experience. I also had a nice interlude acting as an impromptu tour guide to an older couple who were on their own and who had not researched the Parthenon beforehand ( they thought it was a castle.)
The opportunity to travel is always a precious experience in terms of both time and money so it is wise to shape it in the way that you truly will enjoy ! There is no "right "or "best " way to travel and my advice is to be thoughtful and careful in regards to your own personality whether you travel solo, single, as a couple or with friends or family !
"But no matter, the road is life " Jack Kerouac
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