Solo travelling – it can sound both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. Perhaps you’re so used to caring for others, you’ve had a tough year with family health issues, you just need a break, you need to get away. Perhaps you find yourself alone after many years, your husband has died, your partner has found someone else, it feels daunting to even think about travelling… yet its something in your heart you want to do.
For me, after divorce, it was frightening, so I chose a relatively easy option first time round. I went to Rome for a long weekend, stayed at a reasonably smart hotel where I felt safe, and on the first day organised a tour guide, a young Irish archaeology student as he turned out, to help see the sites. It meant that I had someone to help navigate so that I saw what really interested me (the Colosseum, Forum and Vatican museums have SO much to offer) and had company. He shared his knowledge, was a wonderful story teller and had a great sense of humour – it was fantastic.
No matter what stage of life you’re at, I think that travelling solo is a great thing to do… simply to challenge yourself and get to know yourself a little bit better. It’s never too late to do something new! It doesn’t necessarily mean you will be alone…you ALWAYS meet people along the way (on a bus, in a queue, at the table next to you) and of course can choose who you want to be with. For many of us, it can open the door to a completely new chapter, it can literally change your life.
If you’re planning a trip for the first time, here’s some of the practical stuff that you will want to consider to help you set out on your journey…..