PRESENTED BY PALACE RESORTS By Juan Sempere
August, 2019
Wake up and smell the single serving of coffee: going on vacation by yourself is the #1 travel trend for 2018, according to Intrepid Travel. If you haven’t discovered the joys of this singular (pun intended) way of touring the world, here are a few quick tips to wake up the one man –or woman– wolf pack that lies within all of us.
FEELING ABSOLUTE FREEDOM IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT NOT HAVING A TRAVEL PARTNER NEXT TO YOU MEANS FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING THINGS WORK LIES WITHIN YOURSELF.
SCHEDULE YOUR DAY, BUT KEEP IT QUIET
DO… PREPARE A SCHEDULE
Yes, spontaneity may be the main appeal of traveling solo. Who needs to adhere to the strict itineraries that govern group plans, right? Well, it turns out you do need a certain strategy in order to fully enjoy the trip.
“Even your plans for chaos require a certain structure,” says photographer and world traveler J.C. Hernandez, whose work as a diplomatic liaison has forced him to renew passports that actually ran out of pages to get stamped. “Feeling absolute freedom is all well and good, but not having a travel partner next to you means full responsibility for making things work lies within yourself,” he adds.
DON’T… ALERT EVERYONE WITHIN EARSHOT YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
“This is crucial for women: Don’t boast about traveling by yourself to every person you meet, it shows your vulnerability and dramatically increases your chances of being exposed to a bad experience,” suggests Rocío Vázquez, a renowned travel blogger and influencer who also runs her own gastro-cultural tours of Mexico City.
Some experienced solo travelers even encourage flat-out lying about your status when engaging in casual conversations with the locals: Tell them about the group you’re meeting later, or state that you’re enjoying a few minutes of “me time” before rejoining your party.