Traveling Solo. Seeking adventure, connection and escape.
Seeking adventure, connection and escape
“Yes, just me!”
“WOW!”
When I first began talking about taking my first solo journey, the reaction was mixed. Some people looked at me with pity; others with envy and respect. Although many questioned why I was striking out alone, I did have my fair share of cheerleaders.
“You go girl!”
I chose to fly to Athens, Greece, and take a cruise through the Greek Isles and Turkey. It was my dream to see and explore these beautiful sun-kissed places full of history and culture. My “Greek Glow” cruise took me to Rhodes, Santorini and Crete, as well as Bodrum, Turkey.
As a former ninth-grade English teacher who loved introducing her students to the Greek myths and Homer’s “The Odyssey,” I imagined myself a modern-day but feminine Odysseus. I was on an epic quest, braving the seas, testing my strength and endurance, and making new friends along the way.
In Athens, I found myself admiring a stunning statue of Athena, the patron goddess of the city. Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy and warfare. She is also associated with the arts, crafts and heroic endeavors. I also connected with her. Traveling alone was my heroic endeavor. I was nervous, but confident.
Athena’s motto is “quod obstat viae fit via,” which translates to: “When the obstacle becomes the way.” There would be no obstacles for me. I was determined to strike out on my own, battle any trepidations and make my dreams come true.
A GROWING TREND
I am far from alone when it comes to a desire to travel independently. Solo travel, particularly for women, is the fastest-growing travel trend.
The Solo Traveler 2024 online reader survey (solotravelerworld.com) showed some interesting trends. 80% of the respondents were women, and most were over the age of 55, like me.
Here are some of the statistics:
72% of American women travelers were taking solo journeys.
American women ranked first in frequent solo travel and were most likely to take three trips or more in a given year.
65% of U.S. women polled have vacationed without a partner.
According to Booking.com’s 2024 travel predictions, “solo travel is booming, with 59% looking to venture alone. These are not just single people. Even parents are joining the trend, with 58% planning child-free trips and prioritizing self-growth.”
WHY TRAVEL SOLO
I know my “why” had much to do with wanting to travel and see the world, but I was unwilling to wait for others who did not have the budget or ability to take time off work. I unapologetically had a “nothing is stopping me” attitude.
Janice Waugh, a writer for Solotravelerworld.com, explored the question, “Why do women travel solo more than men?” Her conclusion is a desire for individualism. She believes the traditional role for women in the past — that 1950s expectation for the stay-at-home mom — gave women “a greater hunger for individualism than men, a greater need to ‘do your own thing,’ and this has contributed to their desire to travel solo.”
Waugh also believes women who came of age during second-wave feminism in the 1960s are now Boomers with the confidence of feminism, and they “are in a position of less responsibility and the freedom to travel solo.”
That is me. I’m a Boomer born in 1961.
Waugh adds that women are also “simply better at being on their own than men.”
The most common response women give when asked about a decision to travel alone is “to do what I want, when I want.” There is a self-sufficiency we solo travelers embrace.
On my first solo cruise, I was fortunate to meet a lovely woman from Texas who was on her first solo cruise as well. Carol Sheehan is a recent widow embarking on a new chapter of her life she bravely calls “Carol 2.0.”
“Solo travel, especially for women, is very empowering,” she said. “My decision to go solo came after discussing various trips with friends. When none of them were able or willing to join me, I suddenly realized that I didn’t have to wait! I could literally go anywhere by myself! My journeys have given me a renewed sense of confidence and pride. I realize now just how capable I really am!”
WHAT TO DO
Prior to her solo cruise in May this year, Sheehan had taken a land-based solo tour to Ireland with EF Tours in December 2024. She made several new friends on the excursion and has already taken trips with some of her new travel gal pals. EF has long been a source for the solo traveler, but recently introduced a new endeavor called “EF Go Ahead Tours for Women.” The motto is: “Come as you are. Go for you.”
The EF ad paints a picture of sharing “heart-expanding moments” with new friends by your side. There are seven immersive new tours designed just for ladies “to foster connections (and late-night belly-laughs) with your fellow women travelers.” Destinations include Ireland, Italy, Egypt, Peru, Spain and the Greek Islands.
EF is one of many resources for women seeking solo travel, but a Google search will reveal there are many to choose from. A few I discovered were: New Solo-ish Adventures by G Adventures, Cosmos, Road Scholar and Solos Guided Tours. And introtravel.com, Trip Advisor and Booking.com are also good resources. Look for excursions using the apps Viator or Get Your Guide. These tours offer every kind of vacation from all-inclusive travel adventures to river cruises, city discoveries, photography trips, culinary experiences and more.
Many cruise lines now offer single staterooms and amenities specifically designed for solo travelers as well. Cruise lines like Norwegian, Virgin Voyages, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises offer dedicated solo accommodations and social events.
I chose to cruise on Virgin Voyages for my solo trek because it is an adult-only cruise line. I imagined I would fit in better in that setting. I immediately joined every Facebook group I could for tips for solo travelers to get familiar with opportunities. My first mate travel agent on the cruise line also gave me advice. I am the type of person who enjoys my own company, but I am also very social. I found it ironic that my ship was named The Resilient Lady — fitting because that describes exactly how I felt going it alone.
The first night, Virgin, like many other cruise lines, offered a solo meet-up so independent travelers could connect with like-minded individuals. It is there that I met my newfound friend, Sheehan, who became my dinner companion each night. The solo group of us connected through WhatsApp. Each night there were offers to meet for karaoke, trivia or to see shows together. Solo travel does not mean solitude — unless that is what an individual is seeking.
MAKING FRIENDS
I also found that travel was much about making new friends. Daunting as it seems, it is actually not just a thing for the extroverted and outgoing.
Waugh from Solotravelerworld.com acknowledges not everyone takes to it naturally.
“There are concerns around loneliness, safety and more,” she explains.
I admit, I did have a few fears of sitting awkwardly at a dinner table by myself, but that was certainly not the case. Like Waugh, I found if you plan and put yourself out there, “solo travel can be as social as you want.”
Kimberli, a blogger with Worldpackers.com, offers several tips for solo travelers, such as joining online travel groups, being approachable (minimizing electronics and avoiding closed body language), allowing for spontaneity and striking up conversations during transit. To stay safe, choose who you speak with carefully and stay in public places.
FINAL REFLECTION
I did make a few rookie mistakes on my first solo trip. I overpacked; I overplanned; I overbooked myself; but I learned a valuable lesson. I am more than capable of enjoying my own company, making new friends and fulfilling my dreams of seeing bright, beautiful places without a companion by my side. Like Sheehan, I feel empowered, and like her, I am ready to go again.
