If you want to see every post I’ve written, starting with the most recent, this is the place to start!
I’ve been traveling the globe solo, and many of my posts share thoughts and resources specifically for other solo travelers. If you’re a fellow solo traveler, or you’re thinking about solo travel, this is a collection you will find of interest.
If you’re looking to read blog posts about specific destinations, click the country of your interest below to go to it’s blog page and get country-specific reviews and thoughts.
Sometimes I write posts where I give insider information on certain cities I’ve visited, which may be more along the lines of places to go, how to save money, etc. If that’s your main interest, check out this compilation of posts.
In 2020, I was traveling in New Zealand as the coronavirus pandemic brewed, and, got stuck there. If you want to read about what this time was like and traveling during this time, check out this page.
At the heart of international travel is learning about the many different cultures and ways of being around the world. The posts compiled on this page speak, specifically, about the cultural observations I’ve had.
Many of my blog posts are about things I’ve discovered about myself or about being, while I’ve traveled. If you’d like to focus on posts that only have self-discovery themes, click the button below.
The Ups and Downs of Traveling Alone
I’ve been traveling the globe on my own for 6 months now. I’m what they call a “Solo Traveler.” (Like we need a label to declare we’re on our own!!) When I meet people for the first time, one of the first questions they inevitably ask is, “You’re traveling alone?” My answer is met with various reactions:
- Complete horror – assumption that it’s lonely and dangerous to be on my own.
- Praise of my courage and bravery – because it takes guts to travel on your own
- Fellowship – because a lot of other people out there solo travel, too!
I’ve met many people that want to travel but are too afraid to do it on their own. They have preconceived ideas of what will happen if they’re on their own, but the end result is, they cut themselves off from any travel experience. It’s so sad! While it’s great to travel with friends, a lot of the time friends really do want to join you but then life happens and when it comes to booking tickets, they’ll leave you with the decision of traveling on your own or not going.
For anyone considering solo travel, here are a few ideas of the “good” and “bad” (in quotes because those are just judgments) aspects of traveling on your own:
Full control and freedom. You get to decide where you go, when you go, what you do, your schedule, and more. You have 100% choice and when you make a plan, or change a plan, you don’t have to run it by anybody. If you feel like meditating on the top of a mountain, you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone you can just go do it! If you meet someone you like, you can stay with them. If you meet someone you don’t like, you can leave!
Eating alone. I often eat lunch and dinner by myself, in a cafe or a restaurant, if I’m not staying in a place that has a kitchen. I’m so used to it I don’t care. But, I happen to be really social. So, most of the time I end up chatting either with the restaurant staff, or the table next to mine, and making a new acquaintance, and, in some cases, a new friend!
Getting sick. Sometimes you do want to know someone will take care of you, or at least check in with you, if you’re sick. Going to the doctor on your own isn’t so fun, but can be an adventure! Worst case, find a place you feel safe and comfortable, notify the hotel staff you are sick if it’s that bad, contact a friend or family member and ask them to check on you.
Being safe. Yes, there are some places that are unsafe for women alone. So, don’t go there! I made a habit of asking the owners of anyplace I stayed whether it was unsafe for me to be out past a certain hour. If they warned me, I listened. I never got drunk and would not accept a drink from a stranger. Putting down my location with the STEP program also made me feel that at least the US government would know where I was.
Meeting other people. For whatever reason, when you’re traveling alone, you meet more people. I think you are more approachable because you’re alone, and on the flip side, you are more eager to meet people, so will try harder to connect with people. I love this aspect of solo travel!
Running into challenges. So far, whatever issues I’ve run into, I’ve been fortunate to meet someone that can help, or simply ask someone for help, or get myself out of a bad situation. Being alone teaches you that it’s OK to ask for help and accept it.
Selfies. OK, it can feel kind of dorky to take lots of selfie photos, but most people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting have been willing to take a photo of me with my camera when I asked! 🙂
PS – if you are considering solo travel, check out The Solo Traveler blog by Janice Waugh. It has fantastic resources and tips!
![Could taking time away from work be one of the smartest decisions you make for your career and your life?
In this episode of How to Travel Full-Time, I explore why intentional time away, including a career break, sabbatical, or travel reset, may become an important part of the future of work.
Inspired by the Harvard Business School Managing the Future of Work episode, "Why Time Away May Be the Future of Work," this conversation looks at how longer careers, workplace burnout, artificial intelligence, and rapid professional change are challenging the traditional idea that we should work continuously until retirement.
But taking time away is not only about recovering from burnout.
A well-planned travel reset can give you the space to reconnect with yourself, reconsider what you want from your career, and decide what your next chapter should look like.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why the traditional 40-year career model is beginning to crack • How burnout can be information, not personal failure • Why vacations often do not solve deeper dissatisfaction • How travel creates distance, perspective, and clarity • Why taking time away does not have to damage your career • How a travel reset differs from a vacation or permanent full-time travel • What keeps accomplished professionals from taking extended time off • Why time away could become part of a long-term career strategy
If your life looks successful from the outside but no longer feels aligned with the person you have become, this episode is for you.
🎧 Subscribe to this podcast for more conversations about travel resets, extended travel, burnout recovery, career reinvention, midlife transformation, and using travel as a catalyst for personal change.
🌍 Sign up for my upcoming free webinar (https://heatherbegins.com/future-webinar-interest/) , How To Use Travel To Transform Your Life, Even With A Busy Career [https://heatherbegins.com/future-webinar-interest/]
Link to HBR podcast: Click here (https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/podcast/why-time-away-may-be-the-future-of-work)
💬 Question for you: Have you ever considered taking one to six months away from work? What's the biggest thing stopping you?
#TravelReset #CareerBreak #FutureOfWork](https://heatherbegins.com/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png)
i whole heartedly agree with all of your points here about solo travel. I absolutley love it, so much so, that now i Think it would be almost impossible for me to go anywhere long term travel with a group of people. I’m so used to my freedom
I know what you mean! I love being with people but finding the right travel buddy after solo traveling so long is a definite challenge!