My late husband and I were fortunate to be able to travel a lot – both domestically and internationally. But when he passed away, I was left to make the decision of not whether I would continue to travel, but how I would travel – now solo. Luckily, I had traveled for business for most of my career, and a lot of that included navigating flights and hotels by myself, so I was used to tackling the challenges of traveling solo.
The first test came the first Christmas after my husband passed. I knew I couldn’t face participating in holiday festivities, and I didn’t want to ruin the joy of Christmas for my grandkids. So, I put on my big girl panties, and decided to book three days over Christmas at a wellness resort. I wanted to forget it was Christmas.
That was my first experience as a senior traveling solo for leisure. Not flying alone and meeting someone at the destination – but just spending the whole vacation alone. Looking back, I consider this trip a success, because I knew what my objectives were, and I made my choices accordingly.
If you are a senior embarking on your first solo trip, I would suggest you do some self-reflection on what a successful, pleasurable trip would look like…would include…would not include:
- What is the purpose of your trip? Spiritual development? Health and wellness? Cultural? Meeting new friends? Relaxation? Sitting on a beach? Exploring new cities?
- Is there a type of travel you want? Adventure travel? Themed travel? (Wine tasting, cooking, art and architecture, etc.) All female group?
After you ascertain the purpose of the trip, design the trip to match your objectives, personality and financial parameters by exploring:
- Are you comfortable traveling by yourself? Or would you be more comfortable traveling with a group?
- Are you able to navigate on your own? Or would a tour guide handling arrangements more your style?
- Do you want to travel domestically or internationally? Do you have a destination in mind?
- Are you interested in a cruise? Does an ocean cruise sound good? Or a river cruise? Do you want an adults-only cruise?
- How much do you want to spend? Are basic accommodations sufficient? Or do you require some luxuries?
- Are you willing to pay a single supplement for a private room? Would you accept a roommate?
And be realistic about any special needs that you have:
- Do you have any mobility issues/requirements? Food or dietary restrictions?
Once you are clear on your priorities, the next step is a personal choice. If you are a planner and very tech-savvy, there are many resources on the internet to book your own travel. But if you’re someone like me, I value the idea of using a travel agent. An experienced travel agent brings additional knowledge to the planning process. For example, they would know which tour companies cater to solo travelers, which cruise lines don’t charge extra for a single room, or which hotels are located in safe neighborhoods. Traveling solo is a unique challenge, and even if you have to pay a fee to use an agent, it will probably be worth it. [I highly recommend Angela Isherwood at Olive and Atlas travel for helping plan a more high end, custom travel experience at angela@oliveandatlastravel.com].
Once you have your trip booked, a senior traveling solo will probably want to make sure that they have done everything to make sure they have a safe trip. Here are some safety suggestions to think about:
I always thought you are not supposed to lock your checked suitcase anymore in case TSA needs to inspect it. But there are locks for your suitcase that are approved by the TSA. The lock has a special port in it where the TSA in 60 countries has a key to open the lock if they choose to inspect your luggage. [I bought a Forge lock on amazon.com.]
Once you get to your hotel, you want to ensure that remain safe in your room. Of course, when you enter, look around your room, in the bathroom, closets, etc. It is suggested that you leave your TV on at a moderate volume even when you are not in the room. There are door alarms that you put under the hotel room door and if someone tries to open the door, the alarm goes off. [I bought a Monsin door stop alarm on amazon.com.]
When sightseeing, tourists should always be aware of pickpockets and getting their purse stolen. There are some really cool anti-theft travel bags you can get that help keep your mind at ease. An anti-theft purse has zippers that lock and is made of material that can’t be slashed with a knife. They also have RFID (radio frequency ID) protection so thieves can’t scan your credit card information through your bag. [I bought a Travelon anti-theft RFID bag at magellans.com.]
Of course, there are so many more tips and suggestions to travel safely. Some quick internet research before you depart will help you learn more tips and tricks to stay safe. Bon voyage!