Talking solo travel with AAA Magazine

Journalist Kate Siber recently interviewed me for a AAA article about traveling solo. I have yet to read the article itself (which came out this spring), so for now I’ll just share our Q&A:

What have been some of your best experiences traveling solo?

I’ve had so many great experiences traveling solo that it’s hard to pin one down. If pressed, however, I’d have to say that my solo travel experiences in the Middle East in 2000 rank as among my best. Not only did I get to meet lots of Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians, Israelis, and Lebanese I might not have otherwise met, but some of the fellow travelers I met during that time still rank as among my best friends. I keep in touch with as many American and European pals I met in Cairo’s Sultan Hotel as I do with friends from high school.

So, believe it or not, traveling alone actually increases your social options on the road.

What are the perks, in your mind, of traveling solo? The downsides?

The biggest advantage is that it forces you to be an extrovert of sorts, to engage your environment and break out of your shell to meet new people and interact with your host culture in a way that would not be possible if you were in the “bubble” of traveling with friends.

The downside, of course, is the occasional loneliness and isolation you feel when you’re alone in a new place. This usually doesn’t last long, but when it does happen it can be alienating.

Sometimes traveling solo can be slightly more expensive as well, since you aren’t splitting costs with other people.

What safety, logistical and other concerns must you consider when traveling alone that you wouldn’t have to otherwise?

Solo travelers pretty much face the same safety dangers as group travelers. Be sure to check the travel-safety information in your guidebook to be aware of general safety dangers in a given region. Your fellow travelers (and locals) will also have advice for staying safe.

Logistically, traveling solo isn’t much of a problem, though occasionally it can be less convient in situations where, say, you can split up and have one travel partner watch luggage while the other goes off to find/bargain-for hotels.

Have you had any particularly sketchy or bad experiences traveling alone that might make you think twice about it? If so, what did you learn from those experiences that you could pass on to other travelers?

Yup. I got drugged and robbed in Istanbul by some Arab guys who were posing as travelers. Turns out this is a common scam in Turkey, and that I could have been privy to it had I read the safety information in my Lonely Planet (which tells travelers that these guys prey on solo male travelers in tourist areas). So my advice to other travelers would just be to read up on safety concerns, practice caution, and follow your instincts in regard to keeping safe.

Do you think you have learned any skills while traveling alone in general? What are they?

I haven’t learned specific “skills” so much as I’ve cultivated an attitude of confidence and optimism for solo travel. That is, I’ve learned to keep a positive attitude traveling alone, knowing that solo travel keeps me open to amazing experiences, and that if I need some company it really isn’t that hard to find companions.

As a solo traveler, you have to be friendly and open in order to meet people, but you also have to maintain a healthy skepticism to maintain personal safety. How do you personally approach this balance?

I’ve traveled so much now that this is just an instinct that I practice all the time. So I’d say just trust your instincts without being paranoid. If you think you’re being scammed, exercise your right to excuse yourself from the situation in a courteous manner. And if someone tries to “bully” or “guilt” you into an uncomfortable situation, that’s probably a good indicator that something is amiss. Just smile and firmly excuse yourself from the situation.

And again, read up on safety information, since most all scams are the same in a given area!

Do you have any advice for folks thinking about going solo for the first time?

It can’t hurt to practice before you hit the road solo in earnest. If going on a two-week journey solo, for example, you might take a weekend traveling solo and practice being an extrovert and getting out and having experiences. If going out for a longer solo journey, take a one-week solo journey near home as “practice”.

Trip planning for a solo trip need not be all that much different than traveling with others. Just pack light and have a good time! You might also let people know your itinerary and changes-of-plan by email, just so you have people who know where you are and where you’re headed. Past that, just get out and have a good time!