Solo Travel at 50Plus vs. Traveling with Loved Ones
Benefits of Solo Travel at 50Plus
I asked several women aged 50Plus who travel alone the reason they would recommend it to others. Here’s what they told me:
Empowerment and Independence:
Traveling alone allows women over 50 to gain a sense of empowerment and independence. It can be a transformative experience that helps build confidence and self-reliance.
Personal Growth and Discovery:
Traveling solo provides an opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. It allows women to explore their interests, passions, and desires on their own terms, without compromising or considering others’ preferences.
Flexibility and Freedom:
Traveling alone gives women the freedom to create their own itineraries and make spontaneous decisions. There’s no need to negotiate or compromise with travel companions, enabling a more flexible and personalized travel experience.
Cultural Immersion:
Traveling alone encourages deeper cultural immersion. Without the presence of familiar company, women may be more inclined to engage with locals, learn the language, and experience the local way of life, fostering meaningful connections and a richer travel experience.
Increased Self-Care:
Solo travel allows women over 50 to prioritize their own well-being and self-care. They can set their own pace, indulge in relaxation, focus on their health, and take time for activities they enjoy, such as spa treatments, yoga retreats, or exploring nature.
Expanded Perspectives:
Traveling alone broadens perspectives and challenges preconceived notions. It exposes women to diverse cultures, traditions, and lifestyles, fostering empathy, understanding, and an appreciation for the world’s diversity.
Overcoming Challenges:
Solo travel presents opportunities to overcome challenges and step out of comfort zones. Navigating unfamiliar territories, solving problems independently, and adapting to new environments can enhance resilience, problem-solving skills, and personal strength.
Pursuit of Interests:
Women over 50 can use solo travel as a means to pursue their specific interests or hobbies. Whether it’s art, history, nature, cuisine, or adventure, they can design their trips to cater to their passions and curiosities.
Making New Connections:
Traveling alone often leads to forming new connections with fellow travelers or locals. Engaging with people from different backgrounds can result in lasting friendships, cultural exchanges, and shared experiences.
Rediscovering Joy and Freedom:
Solo travel offers a chance to reconnect with one’s own joy, freedom, and sense of adventure. It allows women over 50 to embrace a spirit of exploration, spontaneity, and living life to the fullest.
Resources
Below are some great resources that might be helpful for your solo travels!
JourneyWoman.com
Empowering women aged 50plus to live the life of their dreams. JourneyWoman.com offers solo travel tips and trips for women over 50. Journeywoman.com was one of the first sites devoted to female solo travel and includes general tips as well as personal stories.
RockyTravel.net
Solo travel at 50Plus has never been easier. And this site offers tips and tricks on traveling alone at this stage of the game.
OttsWorld.com
This website inspires other professionals to take a break and use travel to help find out what they want out of life. The blog owner says, “You’re a badass and don’t want to wait for others to go where you want!”.
SoloTravelerBlog.com
If you’re looking to become savvy with respect to solo travel, be sure to check out the great tips and checklists on this blog. Learn about how to choose your trip, what to bring, safety precautions, and more.
RoadScholar.org
Read great solo female travel tips from Road Scholar’s complete guide for traveling alone. Road Scholar offers educational opportunities across the globe and caters primarily to the 50Plus community.
Solotravel.org
Solotravel.org addresses all aspects of solo travel, whether you want to go on a cruise, backpack, or do something in between. There are dedicated sections detailing money, budget, travel safety, resources, and more.
WomenTraveling.com
Women Traveling Together® caters to women who want to see more of the world, but don’t want to go alone or travel as a single on a tour designed for couples. Read through the detailed descriptions of the tours planned all over the world and choose the one that works for you! 80% of the women traveling with this organization are traveling solo.
SoloTravelerWorld.com
Check out SoloTravelerWorld.com for solo travel tips, destinations, and deals for those who travel alone. This site provides great tips so you can travel alone with confidence!
Women-Traveling.com
If pages such as Singles Travel International provide tours and excursions for solo travelers in general, this website is dedicated to offering trips for women traveling alone. Specifically, they focus on small-group travel with about 15 other women. The tours are open to women of all ages. All tours are guided and destinations range from domestic trips to international ones. Check out the website for details on what is planned for this year and beyond.
Over50andoverseas.com
For those interested in seeing parts of the world while serving others, this site details international volunteering and travel opportunities for people aged 50Plus. Search by organization, location, or your area of interest!
Volunteer Organizations
Peace Corps: www.peacecorps.gov
United Nations Volunteers: www.unv.org
Global Service Corps: www.globalservicecorps.org
Earthwatch Institute: www.earthwatch.org
DiscoverCorps: Discovercorps.com
Inspiring Quotes for Solo Travelers
These are some of my favorite quotes about traveling alone. They motivate me and help alleviate my fears. Sometimes I write them on sticky notes and put them on the bathroom mirror, both at home and when traveling. They remind me that going outside of my comfort zone is a good thing, and gives me confidence to continue with my plans.
“This is the journey of your life. Don’t try to explain it to others, because only you can see it.”Nitin Namdeo
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
Neale Donald Walsch
“Adventure can be an end in itself. Self-discovery is the secret ingredient.”
Grace Lichtenstein
“Travel far enough to meet yourself!”
Unknown
“Not I, nor anyone else, can travel that road for you. You must travel it for yourself.”
Walt Whitman
“You don’t need magic to disappear, all you need is a destination and a great hostel!”
Unknown
“You must go on adventures to find out where you belong.”
Sue Fitzmaurice
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain
“Just because my path is different, doesn’t mean I’m lost!”
Unknown
“I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone because they reflect more.”
Thomas Jefferson
” A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.”
Gael Attal
“You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.”
Diane von Furstenberg
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
Helen Keller
“Travel is an investment in yourself.”
Unknown
“Dare to live the life you always wanted.”
Unknown
“Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one thing that is going to require the most from you.”
Caroline Myss
“Traveling alone doesn’t always mean you’re alone. Most often, you meet marvelous people along the way and make connections that last a lifetime.”
Jacqueline Boone
“I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth. Then I ask myself the same question.”
Harun Yahya
“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going inspires me to travel it.”
Rosalia de Castro
“Live your life by a compass, not a clock”
Erica Jong
“Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone.”
Wendell Berry
“You have exactly one life in which to do everything you’ll ever do. Act accordingly”
Colin Wright
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”
Mary Anne Radmacher
“The question isn’t who is going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me.”
Ayn Rand
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Mary Oliver
“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world.”
Freya Stark
“Travel doesn’t become adventure until you leave yourself behind.”
The Bottom Line
Get out and see the world! Just because you may not have someone with whom you like to travel to join you doesn’t mean you can’t go. Check out some of the resources listed above for tips and ideas. It’s natural to be a little hesitant prior to taking your first solo trip, but do it once and you will want to do it again!
Remember, while traveling alone can be incredibly rewarding, it’s essential to prioritize personal safety. Research your destination, inform loved ones about your plans, and take necessary precautions to ensure a secure and enjoyable journey.
Leslie Farin is the Publisher and Founder of 50PlusToday. She is an experienced communications and marketing professional passionate about working with older adults and their families. She works with a team of writers to provide essential and cutting-edge information related to the 50Plus community.
