“Bye, All! I’m Off To See The World”
Megy Davis ~ Copywriting sample
You shove your make-up bag into your brand new, lipstick-red, 360 degree rotating-wheel luggage, give one last kiss to your dog, and hug your adult kids. The hot summer air provides a blanket of humidity that sticks to your skin as you open the door and step off the front porch.
You are among a rapidly growing number of women who have decided to take the plunge, to travel solo. Women of all ages worldwide have embraced the solo-traveler lifestyle. And the travel industry has jumped on board. It’s scrambling to meet the needs of you free-spirited, independent travelers.
Intrepid Travel is also working overtime to cater to you wonderful, adventurous, discerning travelers. They know this liberating lifestyle is BIG, and will only get bigger.
Why Are Women Choosing Solo Travel?
The motivations behind you female adventurers stepping out on your own are personal and numerous. As numerous as the number embarking on such journeys.
Like me, you may have gotten tired of waiting for that other person in your life —
To clear their calendar.
To save their money.
To commit to hitting the road with you.
And, looking ahead, you might be waiting for that person the whole trip long — especially if they don’t live life at the same ‘speed’ as you. You may be ready to embrace the adventure of the day, only to find yourself pacing and fidgeting as they spend so much time in the bathroom mirror. Or they may only want to shop those Barcelona boutiques, while you want to spend the afternoon photographing the amazing Sagrada Familia. You get the picture. You’re compromising all the way.
Ready to escape ASAP, you feverishly search the internet, relentlessly seeking the perfect getaway. With a click of the mouse,’BOOK’ flashes before your eyes — announcing you have found your ticket out.
Your heart races with anticipation.
You commit to a journey into the unknown —
You’re doing what you want.
When you want.
Where you want.
Solo travel gives you all this, and more. The sky’s the limit! You’ll meet fun, interesting people. Whether you’re strolling the boardwalk, enjoying a latte in an Italian plaza, or socializing in an internet cafe, your opportunities are constant.
Because you’re finally out and about … and there are people everywhere! Each person has their own, unique story — and so do you. Yours is a one of a kind, and you now have the power to shape every chapter. From chatting up the local baker to winking at that beautiful man in a black polo shirt, his olive skin serving as a backdrop for deep blue eyes, the choice is yours. Or, if you prefer your own wonderful company, delightful opportunities abound whether it be the beach, a bookstore or a museum.
Where Are Women Solo Travelers Headed?
Today’s women solos are a new breed of traveler. You’re not hopping on a smelly, sixty-seater tour bus to Buckingham Palace. Nope. ‘Cattle call’ travel is not for you. You are opting for small group adventure, and/or nature tours. Away from urban areas.
You want the authentic experience only a local guide can provide. Think hand picked restaurants for small groups, bicycle tours through the backroads of the Bordeaux villages, or a small group kayak tour along an Austrian river. High on your list of desires are tour companies that incorporate sustainable tourism into their tours. Intrepid Travel incorporates sustainable tourism into its mission statement.1
Sustainable Tourism, as defined by the UN World Tour Organization is: “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”
Intrepid Travel is a solo travel tour company taking sustainable tourism to a new level. Their tours are designed to teach local animal welfare while only visiting animals in their natural habitat: safari’s, animal rehab centers, and sanctuaries. Doesn’t that sound more adventurous and exciting than visiting a zoo where the animals are held behind bars?
We believe that with great travel comes great responsibility.2
Let’s Talk Finances. What Is a Single Supplement?
Traditionally, Tourism pricing is set for couples or groups, not solo travelers. If traveling in a group, people traveling alone had to pay the same price as a couple for their accommodations and meals. The evidence that this is changing, is the number of tour companies that are offering a single person charge, without the upcharge.
Trending this winter are tour companies offering a considerable amount ‘off the double price’ as a sale, thus encouraging solo travelers without actually saying it’s a single price. Hopefully this is the industry’s move toward making solo travel affordable for all.
In a survey taken by Solotravelworld.com in 2023, 80% of solo travelers polled said price directly influenced their tour choice. 75% polled made their decision based on if a single supplement was offered.3
You Choose Your Unique Solo Travel Style
Along with desiring an authentic solo travel experience, women are opting for cycling tours, foodie tours, wildlife tours, polar tours, barefoot sailing, and walking tours.
Pedal your bicycle through Burgundy’s Cote d’Or wine country as the scent of chardonnay grapes fills your senses. Pedal past rolling vineyards, along the Route des Grands Crus and Morvan. Park your bike and enjoy wine tastings with the vineyard owner at Les Hospices de Beaune, as he gives you a history of the region. Drink in the beautiful scenery including placid lakes, thick, tall forests, and farmlands dotting the landscape. Enjoy the picnic lunch your tour operators have gone ahead and set up for you. Freshly baked French baguettes, churned butter, meats and cheeses. And of course, the local wine.
The list of solo tours doesn’t stop there. National Geographic has specialty tours: birdwatching, hiking, kayaking, rafting, photography tours and snorkeling and diving tours. Board the Nat Geo Explorer for a polar expedition. You’ll learn from, and travel with naturalists, experiencing the arctic wildlife up close and personal. Hang out with the penguins on the Falkland Islands or kayak through the icebergs of the Antarctic Peninsula. Again, there are as many travel styles as there are travelers. As a solo female traveler you can choose exactly how you want to travel.
What Experiences Are Female Solo Travelers Looking For?
Many solo travelers are looking to get away from your overcommitted lives. Choosing serenity, personal growth and relaxation, you may opt for island life. The Bahama Islands, Bali or the Thimble Islands in Connecticut, USA have places to book where you can hike, explore, relax, meditate, take yoga classes, or one of many workshops offered on personal growth.
For others, the adventure of traveling from place to place for months on end is the ticket. Purchase a rail pass, bus pass or air pass and decide as you go, where you’ll end up next. Stay at a luxury hotel, spa or hostel, meeting new and interesting people every step of the way. Step outside the box and eat unidentifiable street food. Choose restaurants off the beaten path or just dine in your hostel kitchen, exchanging stories with your fellow travelers. Solo female travelers know no rules when they’re looking for adventure.
What Is Travel Without the Apps?
Google Maps is a must, and you can put it in walking mode when on foot. After that, download GeoSure. This is a more detailed and in depth map of a city’s neighborhoods. It also includes neighborhood safety ratings from 1–100.
WiFi Finder and Map. It also rates the connectivity of the places on the map.
May Day Safety will let you send an SOS to pre selected people on your phone.
Flush will let you find the toilets nearby. It also notes whether there are handicap facilities or whether you have to pay for use.
XE Currency — currency exchange rates at your fingertips.
Pack Point App: input your place of travel and all activities and it will generate a packing list.
Open Table App lets you book ahead.
Vegan Maps App is for vegetarian eaters.
Solo female sojourners are using the usual dating apps before and during their travels to connect one on one.
What are you waiting for? Seize the day — don’t let anyone or anything hold you back — the world is waiting for YOU!
Sources:
Solotravelworld.com
Intrepidtravel.com
Solotravelworld.com
Megy Davis ~ 100K+ Mile Club Traveler! Preaching my passion for sustainable tourism, energy efficient travel modes, use of carbon credits & more. The world IS our oyster!
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