Incredible Solo Travel
In 2018 and 2019 I traveled solo for 10 months. I had never done a solo trip like that before - aside from a week in Europe, my solo adventures were pretty limited. Most of my travel was with friends - traveling on my own would be different, especially for that long.
But as someone who is an introvert and loves some alone time, I was excited about being by myself - getting to do the things I wanted to do, taking breaks when I needed, eating whatever I wanted. There were a lot of choices I would get to make on my own and without travel companions weighing in.
In the end, it was incredible. Sometimes lonely. Sometimes peaceful. Sometimes more fun than if I were with friends (and many times I missed having them around!). I made new friends, tried new things, and certainly stepped out of my comfort zone. And when I did travel with friends again, I recognized what I had missed while being solo and didn’t take it for granted.
Solo traveling may not be for everyone, but if you like traveling on your own or are curious about traveling by yourself, there are a few ways to do it that might make you feel more comfortable. Or perhaps you are really interested in booking a specific trip or just taking a vacation and you don’t have anyone to travel with - rather than letting that stop you from going at all, consider the solo option!
Cruises are great for solo travelers
If you like cruising or are open to cruising, this can be a perfect solo vacation. There may be many solo travelers onboard your cruise and the cruise lines often go out of their way to introduce solo travelers to one another so it’s easier to meet people on your ship. You may find that solo travelers get hit with a ‘single supplement’ - this is an upcharge applied for solo travelers and can be a bit of a bummer if you’re on your own. However, many cruise lines waive their supplements throughout the year or offer discounts on these charges. A few cruise lines even have single staterooms on a few of their ships - and there is no single supplement if you book one of these. Consider AmaWaterways, Celebrity, Atlas Voyages, or Holland America. Virgin Voyages - an adults-only cruise line - also has cabins designed and priced for solo travelers. With the plethora of activities on board a Virgin Voyages ship, you’re sure to meet a lot of new friends!
Travel for Self Discovery
One of the best ways to truly get in touch with yourself is to get away by yourself. Book a yoga retreat, spiritual experience, or spa vacation on your own. This is the ultimate Me Time. Imagine booking a week at the Capella Ubud in Bali and visiting the local temples, doing meditation and yoga, hiking through lush jungles, and relaxing in your own elevated, one-bedroom luxury tent complete with your own pool and private dining area. Or stay in the US and visit one of the three Miraval resorts around the country - you’ll create a personalized wellness journey and spend your time focused on what you want to get out of your time there. The resorts are all-inclusive so you’ll have your meals taken care of and all aspects of your experience planned just for you.
Join a Group!
If you’re not quite ready to be totally solo, taking an escorted group trip might be perfect for you.
These aren’t groups with tour guides carrying giant flags - think luxurious buses, 4 and 5 star accommodation, and small groups of 20 travelers. You can enjoy many benefits of traveling solo but on a luxury small group journey. Luxury Gold, one of our preferred partners, offers escorted group trips that are great for those traveling on their own - you’ll have a travel concierge to take care of all the details and personalize your experience, while having the peace of mind and comfort of a guided journey. The tours include curated, exclusive experiences like VIP, after-hours visits to the Temple of Luxor in Egypt or truffle hunting in Croatia.
Take the bucket-list trip you’ve been dreaming of!
If you’ve had a destination on your mind for a long time but have yet to find a time or travel companion to make it happen…why not go solo? Taking a meaningful trip on your own has a special quality - you’re making this happen for yourself and can take it all in. You won't worry about trying to find the right time to go or if your interests align with your travel companion - you will take the trip you want to do!
Given my own experience of traveling so long on my own, I personally love planning trips like this for my clients. By working together, we create the ideal itinerary for your trip and with my partners, we make sure every detail is taken care of. We’ll arrange expert guides and private transfers, as well as excellent accommodation. You can feel assured that you’re in good hands and that you will be safe while on your own, particularly a concern among my female solo travelers.
I had one client travel on her own to Vietnam for two weeks earlier this year - she was taken care of from start to finish, absolutely loved all of her guides, and even had one of her guides spend their day off with her so they could explore Hanoi together. If you want to go and don’t wait to wait for the perfect time or finding the right person, make it a solo experience you’ll never forget!