This month’s Travel Maestro interview explores the pros and cons of traveling solo. To get a true perspective of going it alone, I talked with one of independent travel’s preeminent authorities, Janice Waugh, aka ‘Solo Traveler.’ Janice is a top blogger, sought-after speaker, published author and experienced traveler with a passionate for solo travel. Warning: If you haven’t tried solo travel for yourself yet, you’ll be convinced; if you have, you’ll be planning your next trip!

 

1) We know you’re a solo travel advocate and can share many benefits of solo travel. If you could only cite one, what’s the top benefit and why is it the most important?

When you travel solo you leave behind any preconceived notions of who and what you are. As you set out into the world, you can be whoever you want to be. You discover, develop, and define yourself as you go. Your world expands, and your confidence grows. Any form of travel will allow you to see new sights. Solo travel changes you.

2) What were some of your best solo trip destinations?

For solo travel I like going off the beaten path a bit. While I have done London and Paris solo (and wouldn’t miss such iconic cities) I really love going to places with smaller populations where I have a better chance of meeting people. Ambleside in the Lake District of England was wonderful. Another hiking holiday was Torres del Paine in Patagonia. State-side, places like Bar Harbor, Maine or even Rochester, New York. I absolutely loved Chautatuqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York – it’s like a summer university for adults with week-long courses. I’m going back this summer. I loved it so much that I offered to teach a course on blogging and social media for beginners.

3) Solo travel may not be for everyone, but should everyone at least try it once?

Absolutely! Even if you normally travel with your partner, friends, or family, try a solo trip sometime. It doesn’t have to be a grand journey – it might just be a weekend spent exploring a neighboring city, pursuing your individual interests and going at your own pace.

4) Do you consider joining a tour as a single or cruising alone as much solo travel as backpacking across France by yourself? Why or why not?

Oh, yes. And they’re not mutually exclusive. You might very well be backpacking across France and decide that you want a day or more of not having to make every arrangement and decision yourself, or that you just want to be in the company of a group of other travelers. Yes, picking up a day tour can be great. There are also places that might be complicated to travel solo or offer experiences that might be impossible to arrange on your own. That’s another great time to take a tour. For example, I joined a group tour for China. It was a good decision. Another time I was backpacking Europe and staying in hostels and ended my trip in the lap of luxury on a river cruise. Independent and group travel makes sense for solo travelers.

5) Give us the most important safety considerations for women traveling solo.

Public is always safer than private. Stay in public spaces where other people can be recruited to help ensure your safety. Going solo to a bar? Let the bartender or your server know. Don’t tell new acquaintances where you are staying. Be polite, but vague. Be in control of your own transportation – don’t get into a car or even a taxi with people you have just met.

6) Many people dislike or are even afraid of dining alone. Does this ever bother you and how do you cope with it?

Many readers have written to us about this very topic. It’s a common concern. One of the things you can do is to sit at the bar – it is naturally more social, and it will be less apparent that you are on your own. Engage others in conversation. Ask a local to order for you. Because more people dine alone these days, many restaurants now have large communal tables as well, making it possible to meet new people while enjoying your meal. But really, if you can, try sitting and mindfully enjoying your meal. Relax into the experience. If it’s not working for you, there is no shame in pulling out a book.

7) Do you ever mind not having a travel companion to relive a spectacular experience with at the end of the day?

I meet people everywhere I go, so it’s not as though I have no one to talk to for long stretches of time. I keep a travel journal where I make notes about my trips. Friends and family are always eager to hear all about my travels when I return home. So no, not really.

8) What’s the biggest lesson (positive or negative) you’ve learned through solo travel?

That I am strong, capable, flexible, and adaptable. When you have to handle anything that comes your way, on your own and on the fly, you often discover strengths you didn’t know you possessed. How great is that!

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Well said, Janice. Thank you for sharing your solo travel passion – I, for one, am convinced!

Read more solo travel tips in The Solo Traveler’s Handbook and more of Janice’s own stories on her Solo Traveler blog. You can follow Janice @SoloTraveler on Twitter, engage with the lively Solo Traveler Society on Facebook, and see her travel photos on Pinterest.