Enjoying Solo Travel

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Although traveling alone has its drawbacks, more and more people have been joining the bandwagon of solo travel. It is not really surprising considering the efficiency and mobility of traveling solo.

If you are alone, you just have to mind your own comforts, well-being and safety. In short, you don’t have to worry about anyone but yourself. However, if you do try going on the road by yourself, you have to prepare for some bouts of loneliness.

Before I was married, I’d been traveling on my own too. It’s just the road, my backpack and me. It was fun but it can be really lonely when you’ve been spending day after day with no one to talk to but yourself.  Once the novelty of the experience wears off, which is usually after a day or two, the longing for a good conversation and social contact will catch you unaware.

Eating in a restaurant will start to feel a little awkward especially when you are sitting alone on a table surrounded by groups of people enjoying themselves. A few more episodes and you’ll give in to the compelling force of hearing a familiar voice. Then you’ll find yourself calling long distance to your family and friends back home and telling them stories of how much you are enjoying yourself. Trust me, it can easily cost you lots of money if you give in to it.

What you can do instead is to employ some means to enjoy yourself with strangers. If you feel the need for a good conversation, then find someone to engage in small talk with. What I find most effective in drawing others for a conversation is a big sincere smile and a question of interest that’ll make them talk about their hometown, themselves, their children or their pets. 

If you like pets, visit a park where dog owners go for a walk. If you find anyone of interest, approach them and start a conversation about their dogs. You may just get an interesting conversation and an opportunity to play with their dog(s).

 Restaurants frequented by local residents are also a great place for social contact. Talk to the waitresses and diners. Ask them about local cuisine and their recommendations. Order some of the suggestions and share with them the similarities or differences with your native favorites. You just might get invited to their table and have a wonderful time. 

This reminds me of a nice couple I met in a small town in Italy who invited me to visit a trattoria at the other side of the town. The food was heavenly and the owners were more than happy to entertain me with funny stories and treat me to several bottles of local wine.

You may not know it yet but saying hi and hello to reisdents (especially in their language) is a powerful icebreaker. If they hear that distinct accent of yours, they may engage in an interesting and  fun discussion of their town and help you to discover local treasures unknown to most tourists.

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