There's something spectacular about traveling solo: you have the opportunity to be your own guide. The world, quite literally, is at your fingertips. Whether you choose a weekend getaway somewhere near home or indulge in an international destination that feeds your soul, traveling alone can be a life-changing experience.
Taking the first step to travel alone, especially for single women, can be an intimidating experience. But, with proper planning and a few essential travel items, you'll find inspiration wherever you go. As a single woman traveler, I'm constantly asked same questions from women:
Where do you start?
What do you do?
Is it safe?
Don't you get lonely?
Let's cut to the chase: Of course being single has a lonely side, but meeting new people and exploring new places will rid the feeling of loneliness faster than you can say, 'Amore!'
Where to start
Well, where do you want to go? If this is your first trip on your own, choose a destination in a big city or consider a place you've been before, but haven't had a chance to really experience. Visiting a big city - domestic or international - means lots of other tourists and hotels, car rental agencies and tour groups are used to accommodating out-of-towners. Some great cities in the U.S. for single women include: Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, and New York. If you're hoping for something a little more sedate, try Sedona, Santa Fe, Savannah, or Naples. If you're taking the world by storm, single women will do well in big international cities including Rome, Paris, Seville, and Lisbon. There's plenty to do in these international hot-spots, and you have a good chance of running into other single travelers.
Now that you have your destination, it's time to book your flights and hotels. Consider these important safety tips for single women travelers:
> Always book flights that arrive at your destination in daylight. For starters, you'll have the entire day to tour, but more importantly you'll arrive alone when the city is awake, making it more inviting and less intimidating. Arriving during the day also means you'll have an easier time navigating the streets if you're renting a car.
> Look for a hotel in or near the city center. Don't compromise location for price when booking a hotel. Staying in the more populated areas means there's always people around - you can still find peace and quiet at a local cafe, restaurant or in your hotel room, but you'll feel safer knowing there are always people around.
> Make sure the hotel has a 24-hour concierge or 24-hour staff on duty. This ensures that any time of night, there will be someone to greet you when you arrive back at your hotel.
Now that you've chosen your destination, and booked your flights and hotels, it's time to plan your trip!
What to do:
Travel books and guide books are your best friend in new destinations. Buy them, read them, don't leave home without them. Do your research before your trip and choose your top five 'must-see' attractions. Before leaving for your trip, schedule those five things into your itinerary and you'll have plans immediately upon arriving. Having a set schedule before you arrive offers a little bit of excitement in flight...
On my first trip to Paris, I planned out my five must-sees before the flight. I was arriving Paris early morning and knew I would have time to kill before checking into my hotel room. I grabbed a cab from Charles de Gaulle airport, dropped my bags off at the hotel, and immediately made my way to the Eiffel Tower. With a few hours to kill, I made my way to the top of the Eiffel Tower - a magical experience - and then spent the rest of the morning walking aimlessly through Paris. On my walk, I ran into the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris and checked another item off my must-see list. Wandering through the city was a great way to see Paris in daylight, and by the time I arrived back at my hotel my room was ready.
For day trips, consider a tour group organized by your hotel. The groups are strategically planned to include the must-see attractions for any first-time visitor, and are usually no more expensive than if you booked the tour yourself. What's more, you'll feel safe knowing the hotel and the tour group work together and there won't be any confusion as to where you'll end up at the end of the night.
Make sure to spend a day pampering yourself. Enjoy the hotel spa, spend the afternoon at the pool or order in breakfast in bed one morning. You'll be happy to do things on your schedule, and you won't be far from your hotel room.
Safety:
Safety is the number one concern for single women traveling solo. These top 10 travel tips will help you feel safe, and connected, while you travel:
Well, where do you want to go? If this is your first trip on your own, choose a destination in a big city or consider a place you've been before, but haven't had a chance to really experience. Visiting a big city - domestic or international - means lots of other tourists and hotels, car rental agencies and tour groups are used to accommodating out-of-towners. Some great cities in the U.S. for single women include: Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, and New York. If you're hoping for something a little more sedate, try Sedona, Santa Fe, Savannah, or Naples. If you're taking the world by storm, single women will do well in big international cities including Rome, Paris, Seville, and Lisbon. There's plenty to do in these international hot-spots, and you have a good chance of running into other single travelers.
Now that you have your destination, it's time to book your flights and hotels. Consider these important safety tips for single women travelers:
> Always book flights that arrive at your destination in daylight. For starters, you'll have the entire day to tour, but more importantly you'll arrive alone when the city is awake, making it more inviting and less intimidating. Arriving during the day also means you'll have an easier time navigating the streets if you're renting a car.
> Look for a hotel in or near the city center. Don't compromise location for price when booking a hotel. Staying in the more populated areas means there's always people around - you can still find peace and quiet at a local cafe, restaurant or in your hotel room, but you'll feel safer knowing there are always people around.
> Make sure the hotel has a 24-hour concierge or 24-hour staff on duty. This ensures that any time of night, there will be someone to greet you when you arrive back at your hotel.
Now that you've chosen your destination, and booked your flights and hotels, it's time to plan your trip!
What to do:
Travel books and guide books are your best friend in new destinations. Buy them, read them, don't leave home without them. Do your research before your trip and choose your top five 'must-see' attractions. Before leaving for your trip, schedule those five things into your itinerary and you'll have plans immediately upon arriving. Having a set schedule before you arrive offers a little bit of excitement in flight...
On my first trip to Paris, I planned out my five must-sees before the flight. I was arriving Paris early morning and knew I would have time to kill before checking into my hotel room. I grabbed a cab from Charles de Gaulle airport, dropped my bags off at the hotel, and immediately made my way to the Eiffel Tower. With a few hours to kill, I made my way to the top of the Eiffel Tower - a magical experience - and then spent the rest of the morning walking aimlessly through Paris. On my walk, I ran into the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris and checked another item off my must-see list. Wandering through the city was a great way to see Paris in daylight, and by the time I arrived back at my hotel my room was ready.
For day trips, consider a tour group organized by your hotel. The groups are strategically planned to include the must-see attractions for any first-time visitor, and are usually no more expensive than if you booked the tour yourself. What's more, you'll feel safe knowing the hotel and the tour group work together and there won't be any confusion as to where you'll end up at the end of the night.
Make sure to spend a day pampering yourself. Enjoy the hotel spa, spend the afternoon at the pool or order in breakfast in bed one morning. You'll be happy to do things on your schedule, and you won't be far from your hotel room.
Safety:
Safety is the number one concern for single women traveling solo. These top 10 travel tips will help you feel safe, and connected, while you travel:
- Pre-program your cell phone number with emergency contacts including: Your hotel's phone numbers, car rental companies, the local taxi/AAA companies, credit card companies.
- Carry a whistle in your purse. If you're in danger, blow the whistle - it's an alert signal recognized in every country.
- Make two copies of your passport/driver's license. Keep one copy in the hotel room safe; stash the other copies in your sneakers. Most tennis shoes come with pull-out cushioned soles - place the copies of your ID under the sole of the shoe. If your purse or wallet is stolen while you're out, you'll have ID in your shoes and can go immediately to the local authorities or US Embassy.
- When you check into your hotel, ask for the general manager's card. These business cards have email addresses, phone numbers and the address of the hotel, giving you the name of someone to contact locally if you need help.
- Don't forget your map! Throw all your concerns about being a tourist out the door and take your map with you. If you get lost while you're sightseeing, you're going to want it.
- Always travel with a camera. You'll be happy you have it to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments, and in the event you think something suspicious is happening around you, you'll be able to capture it on film.
- Always make sure someone at home has your itinerary. In addition, snap a photo of the front of the hotel when you arrive and email it to a friend or family member, if you have access to the Internet. They'll have your location on paper and in a photo and will be able to find you in the event of an emergency.
- If you're traveling internationally, buy an international calling card. It's likely your cell phone or PDA is equipped for international calls, but sometimes technology fails. Having a calling card on you will help if you need to use a pay phone or make a call from a local store or hotel.
- If you're renting a car, it's worth the extra money to rent a GPS system that is programmed for the local area. Maps are great, but if you're the only one driving, who is doing the map reading? The GPS can be programmed to only give directions on state highways or populated city streets.
- Learn the language. If you're traveling internationally, grab yourself a pocket translation book and practice the most commonly used phrases on your flight before you arrive. Don't leave home without knowing how to say, "I need help," "I'm staying at the [hotel name]," and "Where is the [police station, taxi station, hotel, etc.] in the local language.
OK single ladies - go forth and travel! Consider these tips when planning your next solo vacation and I guarantee you'll discover a new, more confident you (and if you don't, email me... I'll go on the next trip with you).
Stay tuned for the upcoming single travel columns which will detail the best cities for singles, how to pack effectively for your solo journey, and meeting new people when you travel. Have an idea for a column or a question about single travel? Email me at melanie@melanienayer.com
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