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Welcome to the Active Travel Adventures podcast where you'll find inspiration to lead a bigger life through adventure travel.

On each show we explore exciting multi-day active vacations from around the world where you have to MOVE!  You'll have to hike, bike, paddle, horseback ride (sometimes in combination) to propel yourself to the next destination.

If you're tired of typical vacations and are looking for a more authentic experience by exploring the landscapes and meeting the locals on your vacation, then this is your podcast!

All adventures will be doable for someone reasonably fit (I'm a 58 year old woman and I have to be able to do them).

Be sure to visit activetraveladventures.com to see photos and get more details, plus you can download the FREE Travel Planners for each destination!  These handy summaries summarize the tips and provide all sorts of helpful links to help you plan your trip.  You get them automatically if you subscribe to the newsletter.

  1. All Episodes
  2. Solo Adventure Travel Tips and Advice

Solo Adventure Travel Tips and Advice

Dec 16, 2018

Seven Reasons to Solo Travel

There are lots of reasons you might travel solo:

  1. Maybe youcan't find anyone to travel where you want to go, when you want to go.  If you want to go, but aren't comfortable going completely on your own, considersmall group travel.  Be aware of any single supplements and look for companies that pair you with someone if you don't want to pay extra to travel alone. ATA affiliate, Active Adventures,is one such company.
  2. You need some time to yourself to just THINK!If you need to figure some things out in your life, consider taking a long distance hike or cycling trip.  You'll have all day to yourself, but will meet people along the way for when you could use a little company.  Check out my West Highland Wayand Cottswold Waylong distance walking holiday adventures for some inspiration.
  3.  You want to develop your'Grit Bone' or what Jackie calls her"Courage Muscles". There's nothing like adventure travel, and in particular, solo travel to test your mettle and to expand what you think possible for yourself!  It's a great way to boost your self esteem and self reliance, too!  If you want to feel empowered, try adventure travel, and in particular SOLO Adventure Travel!
  4.  It's easier to meet new people when you travel solo.  Locals are more likely to come up to introduce themselves when they see you alone, so you'll havemore local interaction.
  5.  You'lldevelop better problem solving skills.  When it's just you, YOU have to figure out what to do when something goes awry.  You'll learn that you are quite good at finding a solution, no matter how clumsy it is, when you know that you simply HAVE to!
  6.  You'll discover what you really like and dislike:  when your schedule is completely your own, you have to make ALL the decisions, from what time to wake up, to what, when and where to eat, to how to spend your time, etc.  If you go someplace and decide you've had enough, you can simply leave without conferring with travel mates, or you can spend all day in a museum that rocks your boat, but would bore your normal partner.
  7.  Traveling solo can sometimes be lonely, soeven introverts learn how to strike up a conversation (my go to questions is,"So how was your day?"  You'll always find other solo travelers at the bar next to a hostel, so head there at cocktail hour to find others that would love to chat.  For that matter, consider even staying in a hostel so you can meet folks in the common areas.  Many offer single rooms so you don't have to sleep dorm style.  

Alternately, stay at an Airbnb where the people live there as well and the comments from previous guest indicate that the hosts like to be social with guests.  Consider Couchsurfing.  Also sign up to do a Walking Tour or other group activity to meet others.  See if there are any interesting Meetupsgoing on while you're in town and reach out to the group organizer to attend.

Solo Travel Tips and Rules

I've been traveling solo for five years now and I've come up with some rules that help keep me safe and reduce stress (in no particular order):

  1. When 'winging it' while traveling, I make sure that I know where I am going to sleep before noon.
  2. Whenever possible, I make sure that I arrive at the night's accommodations before dark.
  3. When out, I never leave my food or drink unattended.
  4. Don't drink too much or do any drugs.  Get back to your room at a reasonable hour.
  5. Be careful of overly cautious locals who might be setting you up... does someone on the bus or train act like your best friend and rush to try to share a cab with you?  This could be a setup: the cabbie could be a partner in crime.  Check theUS State Dept Travel advisoryfor the country you are visiting to see what the current local scams are.  Register your trip with theSmart Traveler Program.
  6. Ask your hotel to call you a cab or take highly ratedUber or Lyfts to avoid rogue cabbies. 
  7.  Ask a local to circle bad areas on a paper map.
  8.  Be mindful of your surroundings at all times and have an exit plan. 
  9.  Hold onto your luggage, going so far as to bike lock it to yourself should you be on a long train or bus where you might sleep.
  10.  Make sure someone knows where you are supposed to be and what time you are supposed to arrive AND when to sound an alarm should he or she not hear from you.

 Episodes Mentioned in this Show:

Galapagos

Dolomites

Kilimanjaro Part I

Kilimanjaro Part II

Machu Picchu

Annapurna

Travel Safety Tips

 

Tour Company Mentioned in this Show:

 

Active Adventures

Active does NOT require that you pay a Single Supplement.  If you want, they will try to match you with a same sex roommate, but if they can’t, you are not required to pay the supplement, so may end up with a single room anyway.  However, if you want to make sure you have your own room you CAN pay a supplement to ensure it.

 

Active Adventures, while a similar name to Active Travel Adventures, is a completely different company, although as an affiliate, I highly recommend them and may receive a small commission or discounted travel if you use my links - at NO additional cost to you.  Using my links is a great no-cost way to help support the show - Thanks!  Kit

 

Budget Minded Traveler Podcasts and Posts:

Budget Minded Traveler Website

BMT Solo:  https://www.thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/find-your-courage-through-solo-travel/

BMT Solo Women:  https://www.thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/solo-female-travel-a-dangerous-business-with-amanda-williams/

BMT Cycle Danube Solo: https://www.thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/danube-bike-path/

 

Traveling Jackie:

On Loneliness: https://travelingjackie.com/even-superwoman-gets-lonely/

 

Connect with Jackie:  Community - Podcast - Instagram

 

Connecting with Kit and the Active Travel Adventures Community:

 

When you get back from your solo adventure (or indeed any adventure), be sure to post some of your pics in our Active Travel Adventures Facebook group so others can be inspired and live vicariously through you!  I look forward to getting to know you in the Facebook group.

I'd love to learn more about what you’re looking for when you travel or any other insights as to how I can offer you more help at Active Travel Adventures (podcast and website). Email me or tag me and reach out on your favorite social channel.

Thanks and never hesitate to email me if I can help in any way.

Adventure On!  Kit


www.ActiveTravelAdventures.com
Host of the Active Travel Adventures podcast

 

Twitter@Kit_Parks

Facebook Group:  Active Travel Adventures

Instagram:  parks.kit