What's worse than sitting at the dinner table with your family, surrounded by all your siblings and cousins, and all their spouses and kids, and having to explain why you're still single? Having to explain your single status to a total stranger while you're trying to relax on vacation.
There's something rejuvenating - even inspiring - about taking a vacation by yourself. But there's not a single woman on the planet who doesn't know 'the look' when she gets it. Not that look -- the look of pity from those around you who are coupled off for life, or at least the night, when you walk into a bar alone or, heaven forbid, ask for a table for one. So what do you do when you want a beach vacation by yourself but you're surrounded by lovers romping the sand? No worries single ladies, I've got some sure-fire techniques that will keep you living large alone on vacation, and matching their looks with a new look of your own.
The scene: You've booked a beach vacation on a resort island near paradise. Passport: Check! Bikini: Check! Finally, you're escaping the bad dates, long fights, recent breakups, economic downturns and corporate conundrums. You need a vacation, and you're on your way to beautiful <insert destination here> for a long weekend in the sun, cocktail in hand, cabana boy on call. You arrive at the resort, walk into your room and find your bathtub filled with roses, a place-setting fit for two and towels in the shape of love birds adorning the king-size bed. Before you tear the towels to shreds and down the champagne from the bottle, consider this: shouldn't you enjoy a little pampering, even it comes disguised as passion?
Here's the deal ladies: If you can't escape it, you might as well embrace it. Next time you find yourself traveling alone, enveloped in a rainbow of romance, take heed of these quick tips to make yourself feel a little better about traveling solo:
1. Count your days: The idea of escaping the chaos of life is intriguing, to say the least, but be realistic about how many days you can really spend in solitude. One week might be too much, a weekend might be too cramped. Opt for 4 nights/five days. This gives you enough time to tour and get in some good R&R before heading back home. Travelers tip: The longer your hotel stay, the better your chances of being upgraded. When you check in, remind the front desk that you'll be spending some QT with the hotel and could they make sure to give you a very comfortable room.
2. Plan ahead: One way to avoid the dreaded down time is to book tours, activities and events ahead of time. Before you arrive in your destination have 3-5 activities planned out. Great options that take hours out of the day include sightseeing trips, spa bookings, and water sports. On a recent trip to Mexico by myself, I booked a cooking lesson with one of the resort chefs. The experience was truly unique, and it took about 3 hours out of my day. I learned something new, met someone new and had some great conversation around food, wine, life and sharing. And, I came back to Boston with a recipe for zucchini flowers!
3. Hunt for hidden treasures: One of my favorite things to do when I visit a new destination is to shop among the locals. You'll find truly fascinating artifacts, hidden treasures and mementos symbolic to your destination. Dedicate half a day to exploring the best things about that city/town and head out in search of something to bring back. For example, in Morocco you might visit various weaving shops before purchasing a famous Moroccan rug. In Rome, you might tour leather lofts before deciding on a pair of Italian leather gloves. In Portugal, pottery is way of a life in many coastal towns, while in Paris, the artist's square in Monmartre will yield one-of-a-kind oil paintings. Treat yourself to something local so you'll always remember your trip.
4. Set aside time for doing the things you never do: One of the best things about being on vacation alone is doing the things you don't have time to do at home. Commit to reading a book or two, write in a journal, go on a photography expedition, take some yoga classes or make a pledge to go running on the beach. Allowing yourself the time to check things off the "I wish I had more time" list will make the vacation a little more self-empowering. I combined two of my favorite things in Mexico - sunrises and running. The best part: I got a great shot of the sunrise from my iPhone while out for a morning jog.
5. Food for Thought. If you're a people-watching person, you know some of the best sights to be seen are at a restaurant. First dates, blind dates, old friends and new meetings converge around their tables to learn a little something new and you've got the best seat in the house: a table for one. Choose something off the menu you wouldn't normally get, order and watch the world take place around you. Not comfortable eating alone at a restaurant? That's why hotels invented room service. Plan a night off the order-in menu, choose a pay-per-view movie and cuddle up under the covers. A table for one doesn't seem so bad when you're enjoying something new.
6. Indulge in the finer things: OK, so your room is meant for two and has everything you need for a romantic evening. What's to say you can't enjoy it, just because you're traveling alone? Hop into the tub, pop open the bottle of champagne, light a few candles and enjoy the ambiance. When was the last time you did this at home? And the best part: It's all yours, and you don't have to worry about someone hogging the covers in the middle of the night.
Remember this one last tip ladies: It's completely normal to feel alone when you're traveling solo, but it's up to you to get out and experience something new. Chances are, you'll learn a little about yourself in the process.
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