Solo Travel
Solo travel and me?
It all started out of necessity. Would I have loved to travel with family, friends, or a partner? Absolutely. But those opportunities rarely came my way. So it was either go it alone, or never go at all.
Fast forward many years and I honestly cannot imagine travelling any other way. The freedom to make my own decisions, to decide on a whim where to wander, what to see, or where to eat without having to check with anyone else, is magic. My time is mine to enjoy and embrace.
In the beginning, I will admit that travelling alone felt intimidating. Figuring out transport and navigating unfamiliar places seemed daunting. With a little planning and a few trips under my belt, I realised it was no harder than travelling with others, just different.
I was a late starter to travel. In my twenties, marriage and raising a family took priority. I skipped the after-school backpacking adventures that many had, although it was not as common back then as it is now. Most of our holidays were road trips to visit family on the Gold Coast, living on one income while I was a stay-at-home mum.
Years later, divorced and a single mum doing it tough financially, I began to dream about one day affording an overseas trip. Greece was always at the top of my list. I fell in love with it from afar after watching the 80s film Summer Lovers set in Santorini, and later Shirley Valentine about a woman re-discovering herself in Greece after years of losing her own identity.
That dream finally came true years later in my mid life when I travelled with my Aunt and daughter for part of the trip (the last portion solo). Those three weeks in Greece were everything I had imagined and more. It confirmed what I had always known in my heart. I loved travel, and I adored Greece.
Since then as an empty nester, I have been fortunate to enjoy many more adventures. Mostly solo, with Greece as a frequent stop, along with many other European countries. I have also sailed around the South Pacific, visited Indonesia three times, and enjoyed a family trip to Hawaii. New Zealand will be my next destination this year.
Travelling solo there have certainly been moments along the journey where I have felt loneliness and being in spectacular settings where I wish I had a companion to share it with. However those moments are fleeting and the times I enjoy of solitude and reflection are something that I cherish and always look forward to.
These days, planning a solo trip excites me as much as the trip itself. I love the process of finding the perfect location, accommodation, day tours, transport and activities. It is why I am so passionate about my work as a travel advisor. Crafting unforgettable trips for others and hearing their joy when they return is priceless (and not just solo tours but also any couple/family/friends trip that you can imagine).
These days I’m very lucky to have the freedom to travel regularly - but it did not happen overnight. It took patience, years of waiting, and keeping that long-lived dream alive.
If you are still in that waiting stage, please know this. The years fly by way faster than you think. One day, you will have the freedom to set off on your own adventures. Keep that dream close, it is worth it.
And if you’re lucky enough to be able to take that adventure but unsure where to start, let me help you. With my extensive knowledge and industry contacts, I can help you design the most perfect solo adventure!
You don’t have to start with a totally solo trip, there are so many fantastic tour companies out there now that cater to small solo groups, many specifically for women only. I can certainly recommend the best ones.
Best of all, I organise my own ladies solo group tours, specifically for those of us in that mid-life phase where we now have the freedom to travel, but are still young at heart and love to laugh, have a cocktail or two and dance under the stars with like-minded women and experience some incredible adventures!
A Ladies Solo Greece Tour hosted by me, is planned for next year (dates TBA). Reach out if this is something you’d be interested in and I can email more information.
If you’re feeling a little afraid or unsure of how to start, trust me when I say that you’ve totally got this! The hardest part is deciding to just do it! All it takes is a dream, inspiration, passion and planning. Before you know it, you’ll be jetting off on your first of many, many adventures!
Email me today for more information….
Having my own “Shirley Valentine” moment in Milos, Greece
Feeling ‘on top of the world’ in Sifnos, Greece
Long awaited moment of being in the “Summer Lovers” filming location.
Stunning Samos
