When Solo Travel Becomes Second Nature
I have so many self-taken photos of me, it's kind of embarrassing.
As I prepare for my upcoming trip–which involves, among other things, researching the best beignets in New Orleans and how to best reach Tulum from Cozumel–I come to an oddly calm realization. I’m doing all of these things all by myself…and that’s absolutely fine with me. In fact, the solo nature of this trip wasn’t even a consideration when I planned it.
When did I become this person?
I think my first true solo trip (that wasn’t a road trip to a music festival) was in 2005. I went to Martha’s Vineyard for three weeks for a summer writing program. I cried when my husband–then not even my husband yet–dropped me off at the airport. I cried a lot. Not so much because I was going to miss him, but because I was scared.
Future solo trips were scary too. I was even nervous to visit Walt Disney World by myself last Spring. When I was looking into the Bermuda cruise I took in October, one of my main considerations was ‘will I enjoy doing this by myself?’ But something happened between then and now, because that wasn’t even a thought I had when planning this next trip.
When planning this next trip, I researched hotel costs and flight times. I thought about things I wanted to do in the port towns and which part of New Orleans I wanted to stay in. I tried to determine if this trip would be the best use of my time and money. But at no point did I wonder if I’d enjoy doing these things on my own. Of course I would. It took me almost 32 years, but finally solo travel has become second nature.
I’d love to hear from other solo travelers out there. Was it hard for you to start traveling on your own? If so, what changed? Do you remember the moment, the trip, the point in your life when solo travel became simply travel?
Since I graduated high school and stopped going on family vacations, it’s been solo travel 98% of the time. I don’t even think about it. I don’t want to wait around for other people to get their act together, so it’s go alone or don’t go at all. One guess which I choose.
I bet I guessed correctly!
That’s sort of my situation too–I either travel alone or don’t travel at all. Alone it is!
I just came over to your blog after reading the review of your cruise over on the cruise critics board. I’m glad I did, this blog is fascinating! I’ll be looking forward to reading more! I’ve done a little solo traveling but I’m very shy. Now my husband comes everywhere with me, but I wouldn’t be adverse to trying it again if the opportunity arose!
Well first let me welcome you to Suitcase Scholar and thank you for finding me! I’m glad you are enjoying the blog. It’s the best hobby I’ve ever had.
I’m impressed that even though you are shy, you’ve still made the effort to travel solo. I feel that solo travel really does help a person come out of their shell (though to be fair, my shell was thin to non-existent from birth!) The beauty of solo travel is that the opportunity always exists. It’s so much easier to plan a trip by yourself than with others. Of course, it’s a very different experience–but very liberating.
Honestly, I think that the new found fearless attitude I wrote about in this post came after my last trip–a solo cruise. I spent a week totally by myself, exploring a ship and a port I’d never been to before, and then disembarked in NYC, hopped in a cab, hopped on a bus, and drove myself home. No one helped me with anything. It was so freeing. I suggest that sort of experience to anyone and everyone~
I’ve been doing this for a long time, and honestly, all I really think about when I’m planning a trip is where to stay, what to do, how to get around. For me, the destination is always the focus. I do think it’s more of an “achievement” if you will for someone who is married to become comfortable with solo travel, because you’ve normally got a life partner to do things with. So you had to get used to doing things alone. I’ve been single my whole life; I’m used to doing things alone, so solo travel is really not that different.
That’s a very interesting perspective. I’ve not really thought about it that way, but I completely see your point. However, I still feel that anyone embracing solo travel has made an achievement–single or married or otherwise. To venture out into the unknown on your own is a very brave thing; I applaud and encourage everyone who does it.
I first started traveling alone in the U.S. when I was 17. I was 20 before I went overseas by myself and spent time in England. That was over 16 years ago and I’ve been doing it ever since. I’ve been married almost 13 years and I’ve warned my husband that this is me. He does get upset sometimes but frankly I don’t travel. Travel is who I am, I live without regrets.
Yeah–my husband knew what he signed up for, too. Just today, a bartender (who knows us–we’re regulars) commented on my tan, so I told her where I’d been for the past few weeks. When my husband arrived later, she commented that he’s not tan. I was like ‘yeah–that’s because he wasn’t with me!’