As I write this, I am currently travelling alone. No, I’m not a loner, and yes, it was by choice.
Lone travel is an increasing popular way to travel, and when once there was a stigma attached to being the lone person in a holiday resort, or on the road, it is now acceptable and you will see many people doing it.
I enjoy lone travel, it means I only have to please myself and I don’t have to worry about anyone else. The key however is to make sure all details are taken care of before you leave the house, because extra stress will derail your plans, and that’s something you don’t want.
A good tip is to book your travel extras in good time. I regularly drive myself to the airport and book my parking spot through Airparks, because I find this a fantastic way to keep the control firmly in my hands, and cut out stress I don’t need. I regularly use airport parking, and I know my travel day will start without a hitch. Having everything in place is important when you only have yourself to rely upon.
Other than making sure travel plans are smooth, the important thing to remember when travelling alone is to be as sociable as possible if you want to make new friends on the road. Of course, you might not want to, and solitude might be what you’re looking for, in which case, you’re well catered for! For me however, I like to meet new people and I’ve found the best way to do that is simply to talk about random rubbish! Many a conversation is struck up over a random comment about the weather, and you never know, you might be talking to your future best friend!
If you’re not particularly outgoing, talking to strangers might be daunting, but just remember that others might be feeling as shy as you, and someone has to make the first move. It’s easy – make eye contact, talk about something random, and see if you get a response. If you don’t, so what? Move on!
Other than the possibility of meeting new people, the great thing about lone travel is the freedom. You can do whatever you want and you don’t have to worry about anyone else raining on your parade. Of course you do have to think about safety, but that’s common sense – don’t trust anyone you don’t know, and listen to your gut instinct and your common sense.
So, the next time you’re contemplating a holiday but you have no-one available to travel with, why not go alone? A lone adventure is something very special indeed.
