When it comes to travel, record numbers of women are hitting the road on their own.
That’s the word from travel coach Nina Lesiga. The Stratford resident, who retired after 30 years in the corporate world, decided to create a “dream job” for her second career. Building on her love of solo adventuring, she created a website and blog, (gottatravelsolo.com), created a group for solo travelers on MeetUp.com and began offering seminars for those interested in hitting the road on their own.
“Solo doesn’t necessarily mean single,” says Lesiga. “As the world changes, so do relationships. Yes, there are women who are widowed and divorced. But there are also women whose partners are unable or uninterested in traveling. These women have bucket lists of places they want to visit, so they look for ways to make that happen.”
To that end, Lesiga helps solo travelers connect up with travel buddies and plan trips. She also provides practical advice on how to achieve solo status gradually.
“A lot of women are looking for travel buddies to share costs and for the social and safety aspects of having a companion,” says Lesiga. “Others are more comfortable in a small group tour which provides built-in companions, but also allow for some time for exploring on their own. Still others are excited about setting out alone and just need a little guidance.”
Overseas Adventure Travel (oattravel.com), a travel company offering small-group trips to Americans 50 and older, saw such a demand for information from women that it created an 86-page booklet, “101 Tips for Women Travelers.” (More than 40 percent of the company’s customers go solo.) The information in the booklet was from those who knew the subject best — women travelers themselves.
The booklet includes a range of information for both the novice and seasoned female traveler, including trip prep, packing, health and hygiene and safety. There’s even a “Bandanarama” section which offers 25 uses for a scarf (sling, pillow cover, cold compress are just a few.)
Some tips for those who choose to go solo: Don’t take more luggage than you can handle on your own, wear a wedding ring whether you’re married or not (helps fend off unwanted attentions) and research locations before you set out.
Lesiga suggests checking out books for business travelers before setting out to a foreign country.
“They’re great sources of information on local customs, appropriate wardrobe and manners, especially if you’re a woman alone,” says Lesiga.
But although traveling alone can be a rewarding experience, it’s not for everyone.
“You have to be able to deal with bumps in the road, because they will happen, no matter how prepared you are,” says Lesiga. “Traveling is a skill just like anything else. The more you do it, the more self-confidence you’ll have and the more comfortable you’ll be.”
The type of vacation you choose can help. Planning your trip around a hobby, for example, provides plenty of activities to keep you busy as well as built-in fellow travelers with like interest. Staying at a bed-and-breakfast offers more opportunities for socializing than a chain hotel.
Connecting with local residents and other solo travelers offers opportunities for socializing while on the road. Global Greeters, globalgreeternetwork.info, is a network of Greeter programs around the world. (Greeters are local individuals who volunteer to meet visitors and show them around. There’s no charge for the service, which is available in countries around the globe and cities throughout the United States.)
Apps can help as well. Backpackr connects backpackers traveling to the same destination and Skout helps travelers meet locals or other travelers.
Cost is another consideration for single trekkers, because many companies add on the dreaded “singles surcharge” to solo travelers’ bottom line.
Strategies for avoiding supplemental fees include booking with companies like Overseas Adventure Travel, which does not charge single supplements, or luxury travel company Abercrombie and Kent, Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, which offer waived or reduced single supplement charges. Some of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships have solo travel cabins with discounted rates.
To order or download a free copy of “101 Tips for Women Travelers,” visit oattravel.com/101-tips.
