As a woman who
married later in life, I have done a great deal of my traveling alone. I found that there are many pleasures that
traveling single affords. I have been
surprised to learn that many people won’t travel unless they have a
companion. I believe that this occurs in
part because people aren’t fully cognizant of the benefits of traveling alone.
Your Agenda is Your Own
When traveling
with others, you must consider their agenda, wants and personal quirks. Not so when traveling alone. Do you want to take photos for five hours straight? What about leisurely meandering along the
back streets of a favorite city? None of
this is a problem when traveling alone.
It’s A Wonderful Way to Meet New People
Whether you are
looking for romance or just companionship, traveling alone makes you more
approachable. In Banylus-Sur-Mer, France,
I enjoyed a fun conversation with some Australians
at dinner. On my way to Copenhagen, I
met a lovely woman from New
Zealand on the ferry.
Regarding
romantic interests, I had a potpourri of delightful men approach me (well—some
not so delightful and this was when I was younger and cuter). I met a sophisticated Italian gentleman on a
train to Paris, and though there were no future encounters, I still remember
his refined manner of speaking (in English and German) and how he made a long
ride more enjoyable.
Hotels Will Sometimes Offer a Discount on Your Room
I didn’t know
this was a possibility until I stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Vermont. The proprietor simply offered me a discount
for occupying a room by myself. When you
think about it, it makes sense.
Generally, one person requires half of the maintenance of two. Be sure and ask if a discount is available
for single occupancy,
It’s all about
you when traveling alone—your wants—your needs—your comfort. What a change this is for most of us!
Catch Up on Your Reading or Other Solitary Pursuits
I found that
traveling alone was a wonderful time for me to pursue my interests in writing,
reading and photography; there are few distractions on a plane or train for
long periods of time.
It’s Both Rejuvenating and Relaxing
When is the last
time you had as much time as you wanted to work out or just lie in the
sun? One of the most relaxing times I
had was in French Catalonia sitting outside in a cafĂ© drinking coffee—watching
and listening to the waves of the Mediterranean.
Are you ready to
treat yourself? IVHE has this luxury
exchange home in Paris—perfect for the single traveler. See how this works and read testimonials.
Thanks to travel writer Sona Schmidt-Harris – Follow
her on Twitter @Sonag2000
great blog - sure to peak the interest of all the moms home w/kids on summer break ;-)
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