From last-minute getaways to a Gilmore Girls-inspired trip, there are so many adventures one can have. It’s the reason we love the way Eat, Pray, Love helped change the way people think about solo travel. But, what if you decide it’s time to broaden your horizons with a trip abroad even if you’ve never done it before?
It’s equally exhilarating and scary to travel beyond what feels familiar, especially if you’re doing it alone. Thoughts about your safety and how to understand a country’s exchange rate may run rampant in your mind, but they don’t have to control your experience. Just ask Karen Gershowitz, travel aficionado and author of Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust along with Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places and Curious Cuisine.
Introduced to new experiences and travel at a young age, Gershowitz found herself enamored with the beauty of travel. After a brief stint in college, she decided to move to Europeat the age of 17. “The ‘60s were a different time, so I’d graduated from high school at the age of 15 and went to college for a year only to have a horrible experience,” said Gershowitz.
From that point on, she found herself traveling to various countries — 95 to be exact — and fell in love with helping other people see life outside of their neighborhoods. Here are all the travel tips she wants you to know so you can have a personalized version of an Eat, Pray, Love tour.How To Choose Which Country To Visit
With so many options, it can be hard to narrow your choices. On the other hand, you may already have a good idea of where you want to visit. Either way, Gershowitz recommends letting your interests guide you. She said, “Plan a tour based on what you like — be it music, sports, or food — and figure out where you can experience them.” For example, she loves to cook and has taken cooking classes all around the world.
Above all else, she especially wants you to know, “There are no must-dos. Just go do what’s fun for you." She also said that if you decide to go on a group tour, keep the number of people traveling with you small so you avoid feeling like you're being herded around.
Focus On One Country
Image via Alesia Kozik/Pexels
Instead of trying to cram multiple visits to various places in one trip, Gershowitz believes it’s better to focus on one country at a time. “It’s hard to really immerse yourself in the experience of a country if you’re jetting off to your next destination a couple of days later,” she said.
Gershowitz encourages you to get familiar with what’s local instead of relying on what’s in a guidebook. She said, “I’ve come across amazing restaurants just by asking hotel staff about where they recommend I eat. I’ve found they’re usually very eager to tell you about a hidden gem.”
Sometimes these restaurants have a communal table that allows you eat among other people instead of being seated by yourself. It's one way to begin connected with travelers or locals but more on that shortly!
How To Travel Safely
Being concerned about safety is something that crosses everyone’s mind but Gershowitz doesn’t think it should stop you from exploring the world. “My best piece of advice is to use your common sense. If something doesn’t feel right, either get out or don’t engage. Trust your intuition,” she said. Going even further, she said, “If you’re staying in a hotel or at an Airbnb, have the address printed out just in case you need to quickly hop into a taxi.”
Gershowitz also noted that you should leave most of your valuables wherever you’re staying instead of carrying them with you while roaming wherever you’re visiting. “Don’t take anything unless you absolutely need it. One credit card and cash is fine. Also, have the number of the local police on hand in case you need to make a call,” she said.
Still, she’s adamant about being open to traveling because things can happen no matter if you’re traveling abroad or to somewhere in the U.S. “Honestly, most of Europe is easy to get around once you get the hang of it,” she said with a laugh
How To Connect With Other Travelers And Locals
Image via Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels
Aside from safety, traveling solo can stir up the fear that you’ll be alone and won’t connect with others. Luckily Gershowitz said the opposite is true. “Throughout my traveling experience, I’ve found that people are looking to connect with others. If you show the slightest interest, they’ll return it,” she said.
It’s one of the things Gershowitz looks forward to the most during her travels. “I’ve found that truly engaging with people outside of what society and social media says we’re supposed to talk about allows us to have greater empathy for people who aren’t like us,” she said. She often brings photos of her family, dogs or a neighborhood gem to talk about because that usually invites others to do the same.
Another thing Gershowitz recommends is sitting in a public area while reading a book. “Look up every once in a while so you don’t look like you’re completely closed off. Sooner or later, someone will be intrigued by the cover of your book and ask what you’re reading about,” she said. This could be a tip to talk about the book club you’ve just joined!
Fearing the unknown is something we all feel at some point in our lives but there can be beautiful moments on the other side of fear. This is true no matter if you’re traveling solo or choosing to chase your dreams.
We hope that Gershowitz’ tips help you feel empowered if you’re looking to have your own Eat, Pray, Love experience.
Let us know how feel about solo travel in the comments!
Lead image via Monica Turlui/Pexels.
