Trekking Solo
The month of February can be brutal for some. Some us who don’t wish to celebrate a Hallmark inspired holiday, glorifying how unloved we feel. So, from someone who has been through that, I would like to suggest falling in love—with a trip. I find traveling to be the remedy for heartbreak, like, go fall in love with a place not a person. The rewards will be better than any candlelit dinner or chocolates, I promise.
What I like about solo travel is that it opens you up to possibilities rather than adhere you to someone else’s itinerary or mood swings. Whether you choose to commune with nature or go for a foreign jaunt, traveling alone is liberating, rewarding, and gives you time to get to know yourself. Are you ready?
Pick a Destination. Make it fun, put all your bucket list destinations in a hat (mind you, just put those that fit your current budget), and choose!
Timing. Pick your date. Do you have to take time off of work? How long do you want to go for? Make sure you don’t have anything planned during that time like an upcoming wedding or shower.
Plan. Now that you have a destination, consider it’s locality. What are your necessities? How will you travel? Do you need inoculations or passports?
Book. Book your transportation, your lodgings, your restaurants, and any museums/events you plan on doing. This will save you standing in line or missing out on a wishlist item. AirBnB’s have been the best lodging experience I’ve had traveling unless you know someone where you are going. This allows you to get to know a neighborhood, meet someone local, and save money on food and lodging.
Research. Create a Google map and pin all the places you would like to see on your trip, even those you may not get to. Moods change. Make sure you see how walkable it is from your lodging or what the transportation options are (taxis, Ubers, trains, busses)
See Off-the-Beaten Path Stuff. Don’t be a tourist, check out some unconventional things and gain a new experience. Listen to the locals, talk with them, they always have cool suggestions.
Learn the Language. If you are traveling abroad learn a few phrases before going. DuoLingo is great for this. Things like, “Do you speak English?”, “Where is the bathroom?” “I’m lost, can you help me?”, and how to order food and drink are big ones. Most places, you will find English speakers, but ALWAYS be considerate to other people’s culture and language, that includes within the states (yes, Southerners and Yanks do things differently). We now have apps that can help you like Google translate.
Dressing. The biggest advice for packing is don’t pack too much. You’ll wear less than half the clothes you bring. Don’t forget these:
Mix-and-match ensembles will make your luggage lighter and give you the ability to buy something there if you wish.
A dress up look with shoes or a day-to-night look. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out all day and then I get invited to a dinner with no time to go back and dress.
Dudes, bring a dinner jacket (nothing says American like shorts and flip flops)
Don’t forget the bathing suit for hotel pools, rivers/lakes, and hot tubs.
Weather appropriate clothes.
A comfortable bag you can walk around with. I suggest cross body bags to deter any places with pickpockets.
Get Lost. If you are traveling in a city, take a day off and get lost. Sometimes not having a plan will help you discover real beauty or stumble across a treasure. DO NOT plan too many things in a day, give time for rests or just chilling.
Journal. Write about your travels, what you see, what you ate, who you met. I promise it is the most rewarding thing to go back years ahead and read about your experience. It is unique to you and others will be able to share in that experience.
Ladies. If you do travel solo, always be aware of your surroundings and know where you are. Once again do research. There is a great blog for you solo lady travelers called I Am AiLeen. Tell someone where you are going in case you are going a la “off grid”.
Check Your Vehicle. If you are traveling by car, make sure to get a checkup before you leave. Check the oil, tire pressure, bring a gas container, check your windshield wipers, and brakes.
Eat. Be adventurous. I hated olives until I went to Spain. Pickled herring is also not as bad as it sounds. Try all the local famous foodstuffs.
Do a Tour. I am not a fan of guided tours, but one which is customized to your interests or a smaller group is the way to go. You’ll learn a lot more from it. If you happen to go to Paris, I highly suggest paying the money to go on a tour with Art Journey, this isn’t your parent’s guided tour.
Go on a Date. Yeah, I said it. Get on that dating app and find someone who can give you a first hand tour of where you are, no-strings-attached. Be up front about it, have fun with it. You might make new friends!
Lastly, here are some essential items to bring on your trip:
Umbrella or Raincoat
Always bring a Jacket!
A First Aid Kit
Comfortable and Supportive Shoes
Medications (although they are cheaper outside the US)
Adapters if traveling outside the country
Wireless phone charger
The hardest thing for a lot of people is to do things by themselves, especially after a breakup. Traveling will allow you to do this easily because you are distracted by the sites and sounds of something new. Your date with a new destination will be your honeymoon for one and frankly, sometimes the best dates are about exploring a new canvas. Happy Travels!