So, the two words that I think can tend to intimidate people the most are these: SOLO TRAVEL.
What if it’s not safe? What if I don’t have anyone to take my picture? What if I don’t have someone to share my experience with?
We can “what if” ourselves to death and trample down any wants or wishes of new and exciting experiences. I’ve done all the variables in traveling…. gone with classmates on the proverbial “senior trip,” traveled to a new country with a spouse, gone road tripping with family and even hobbled along in Europe with friends. The trip I’m most proud of though, was my first SOLO trip. Not simply driving a couple of hours away and staying in a nice comfy hotel…. I flew 13 hours away, across the ocean and into a foreign country. Even though I “spoke their language” … anyone who’s ever been to Scotland or met anyone Scottish knows that speaking English from the U.S. and speaking English from the UK
(Specifically Scotland) knows that the two are not the same.
I’m not totally sure what I was expecting when going, but I do know that nerves were high. The second I landed, I thought to myself “Welp! Too late to turn around now…here we go!” I dropped off my bags at my hotel (my room wasn’t ready yet) and I simply started walking. EVERYWHERE. I was cold and wet, I wasn’t in the shoes I had planned, I had no clue where I was per se… but I didn’t care. I was going to explore! I walked around and “HAPPENED” upon Edinburgh Castle (one of the benefits of having a travel agent who can book you in a GOOD hotel in a good location!) and noticed soooo many people walking their dogs in the park underneath. Everyone was so friendly, and it was sooo easy to just sit and talk with them. They gave me some good pointers on the public transit system (which I tried and loved!) and were also courteous enough to not keep me for too long while they knew I was simply out and about exploring. My own safety rules dictated to me to never let anyone know I was actually TRAVELING ALONE but simply that it was my first time visiting there and asking them all the questions.
Thankfully booking a part of a group tour with a reputable company, I was able to meet many other people, including some who were solo travelers like myself! I met sisters, couples who were retired, couples NOT retired, friends who were traveling together… the whole gambit!
It was soooo nice knowing that with the group tours I had, and the meals that were planned, there were people I could converse with, but then on our free time we were all able to go and do our own thing!
I was able to go and explore where I wanted to, I could stop and get snacks anywhere I wanted to, go into any shops I wanted to, sit and people-watch as long as I wanted to…. and when I wanted company? There was an older lady from the tour group who was readily available to go down and listen to some live music! It was SO GREAT!!!!
My largest take away from my Scotland trip was simply…that I COULD. I COULD travel solo, I COULD enjoy myself, I COULD navigate things on my own. I took plenty of precautions for my own safety, along with tons of research on the places I was going, but I also had the luxury of using my travel agent who was a great contact when I needed her if I needed her, and who made sure that I had PLENTY of resources readily available to me so that I wouldn’t ACTUALLY need her.
With 2024 coming to an end, most people think about what 2025 holds in store for them. The reality is… it holds whatever you want it to hold. While life may throw you a curveball or two, your choices and your perspective dictate how you maneuver them. So, I say, DO IT. Book the trip. Reserve the hotel. Plan the experience. Take plenty of photos and share them with all your friends and family on your own time. In the end, you’ll be thankful that you DID, and you’ll be grateful to know you COULD.
