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2021 is the Year to Solo Travel

2021 is the Year to Solo Travel

We all saw what happened to the tourism industry in 2020. Cruise ships became ghostly quarantine pods, airline stock plummeted, border restrictions sprung into place, many tourist spots closed their doors and a few limitations to solo travel. Travel came to an eerie standstill and the worst part was none of us knew when it would go back to normal again.

Flash forward to June 2021 when vaccines are widely available, countries are opening their borders again, new flights are being added back to websites each day, and businesses are starting to make a steady recovery. Travel is back on the menu but… something is different. The hiatus of 2020 created a fundamental change in the way we think about travel. Do we go back to group vacation package deals? Do we wait for the once-a-year opportunity to pool our allotted time off to go to a single destination?

The answer is solo travel. With more millennials choosing to put off having a family, group vacations are bound to see a decline as adults feel comfortable to set off on their own. The rise of remote work has created a unique post-pandemic environment that has made travel historically more possible than ever before. With remote work here to stay, there is no longer a need for people to bundle their meager allowances of sick days and vacation days for one-week annual vacations with their families. Remote workers are free to go anywhere they want at any time, provided there is Wi-Fi to connect to their jobs.

While we are returning to a sense of normalcy, safety precautions still play a major role in any travel currently taking place—and this doesn’t just mean masks and vaccines. Traveling alone poses a significantly lower risk of COVID spread. Airlines and hotels are ramping up their capacity to pre-COVID levels, but many believe that those decisions are premature and risky. By solo traveling, you are lowering the risk of infection for both yourself, others around you and the cultural communities you interact with on your trip. A happy consequence of having that valid safety reason to leave behind piggybacking relatives is that you have the freedom to build your own itinerary.

In 2021, new and seasoned solo travelers will find that the best part about traveling to places alone is the empowering revelation that you can be totally in control of your own decisions when it comes to where you want to go, where you want to eat, how much you want to spend, the activities you’re interested in and what you want to experience. The inner confidence and self-love you develop from solo traveling are things that will live within you even as the pandemic passes over us.

After the economic crisis that COVID-19 caused, many people have struggled to recover financially yet are still itching to travel after being cooped up inside for a year. This is where solo travel comes into play. If you’re traveling by yourself, booking flights, accommodation, and creating an itinerary is much cheaper without the added expense of other people. Even if others are carrying their own financial weight, traveling alone ensures that each penny you spend is spent how and when you want to. You’ll never run into an awkward issue if your friend wants to go to an expensive restaurant while your bank is near dried up. Traveling with friends can be fun, but if you are someone whose wallet is still reeling from the pandemic and you still want to hop on the summer 2021 travel bandwagon, know that you are able to travel cost-effectively much easier when you are going solo.

The travel industry and travelers in general have experienced a rollercoaster of events between 2020 and 2021. While we can expect many things to go back to pre-pandemic normalcy (like high flight prices, sadly), there will be some major shifts in attitude towards travel. The pandemic has forced people to come to terms with the fact that our world is not just school, work, and sleep and that solo travel is actually quite cheap. Now, those who previously thought travel was inaccessible due to budget, job, or family constraints are suddenly finding doors swung open before their eyes—all thanks to the emergence of solo travel.

 

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By Sarah John & Chizoba Anyaoha


Tips on how to make solo trips cheaper? Share it with us @travsolo or submit your story above today!

Cheril Clarke – Explore. Enjoy. Surrender

To me, solo travel means freedom. It means adventure and uninhibited exploration. And it means opportunity. When I think of trips I’ve taken alone, I think of all the creativity and excitement that came out of being by myself and not having to be responsible for anyone else for a few days.

The inspiration for my first solo trip was a decision to no longer skip destinations because my spouse, friends or family didn’t want to go. As much as I love international travel, I also want to explore all 50 states. For most people, there’s nothing exotic or sexy about places like Idaho, Wyoming, or Utah, but I think there’s beauty everywhere and too many people often overlook what is at home in favor of what is abroad and may get more social media clout. Also, when you live and work with your spouse, solo time is healthy for both partners to maintain individuality within the union.

Speaking of marriage, I have to note the biggest risk I ever took on a trip—leasing a condo in Montreal. My wife and I fell in love with the city on YouTube. We went up for a weekend and ended up leasing a condo. It was one of the most spontaneous and wonderful decisions we’ve ever made. Also, I LOVED the poutine!

It was also the memorable for me personally. I’d never realized the burden of living in a constant state of fear and polarization until I left the states to gallivant in Montreal. I could walk my dog at night alone without distress. There was never a thought that a gunman might enter a private establishment and start a massacre. It’s funny because I was born in Toronto and am a Canadian by birth, but I was raised in the States and completely detached from Canada until a few years ago. The locals were fantastic, and it was refreshing not to worry about random violence, nauseating political discussions. Realizing how much that weighed me down at home was enlightening to say the least.

Traveling alone gives me time to find unexpected inspiration from new people and places. I write for a living—both corporate and creative—so traveling alone gives me time to inject freshness. I think it also keeps me open-minded to people who live differently than me and more empathetic overall even when there is an obvious difference of opinion and belief system.

If you’re thinking about traveling alone, use common sense when it comes to safety, do your research, and just do it. Embrace the chance to live unscheduled and more imaginatively. Use common sense when it comes to safety measures, research your location and locals before you go, and go or it. You’ll be fine. Even if there are hiccups or unexpected challenges, you’ll grow as a person from figuring out how to navigate them on your own.

 

Cheril N. Clarke is Founder of Phenomenal Writing. You can find more about her here and follow her @cheril.n.clarke.

 

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By Chizoba Anyaoha


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Everything to Know About Solo Travel in Summer 2021

The sun is out, vaccines are out, and passports are starting to come out. As the world slowly begins to recover from the pandemic, summer solo travels of 2021 is becoming less of an aspirational Pinterest board and more of a reality. Before you spontaneously hop on the next flight out, there are still some important travel restrictions, risks, and precautions to make note of.

Here is a guide for where you can and cannot go, as of May 2021. Bear in mind that travel rules are changing constantly, and your best course of action at any point is to check the CDC website to see what risk level your destination is coded as.

 

Europe

Currently, travel in this area is advised against because of the recent COVID-19 spikes in countries like France, Germany, and Italy. As of May 3, the CDC website has coded the entire continent of Europe as Level 4: Very High Risk. The EU has designated a small (but growing) list of countries where tourists are accepted.

That being said, two weeks ago it was announced that Europe is planning to allow vaccinated American tourists back into their borders. While this has yet to be solidified, there are some European countries that are allowing Americans in early: Greece, Iceland, Croatia, the UK, Malta, Slovenia, and most Eastern European countries like Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, and Albania.

 

Asia

Traveling to India and most of South Asia at the moment is definitely not a good idea in light of the massive spike in cases happening at the moment. The US has banned nonimmigrant travelers from entering, though the ban does not encompass US citizens or residents and commercial flights between the US and India continue to operate. Creating tentative plans for South Asia travel for late summer is probably not a wise idea, as there is not nearly enough clarity on when the COVID wave will end there, and most businesses and activities are shut down.

South Asia may be off limits, but East and Southeast Asia are in fact classified as Level 1 (Low) and Level 2 (Moderate) Risks. In late April 2021, China began to accept vaccinated American tourists into the country. Thailand, a Level 2 country, is accepting American tourists but with a two-week mandatory quarantine upon arrival until July, when vaccinated Americans can enter without quarantining. Vietnam is another low-risk country with similar arrival requirements to Thailand. Malaysia and Indonesia, however, are Very High-risk countries that the CDC does not recommend traveling to until circumstances change.

 

Africa

Four out of five of Africa’s top tourist destinations (Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, and Mozambique) are essentially off-limits for American tourists. All four of these countries are labeled as Level 4 risks on the CDC website. While borders are not firmly closed to Americans, travel to these countries has various arrival requirements like mandatory COVID testing, quarantine periods, and enforced mask-wearing. Morocco, the number one most popular tourist destination in Africa, is at a slightly lower Level 3 risk but still has mandatory testing and quarantine enforced for all foreign travelers. Morocco is also under a partial lockdown at the moment, so if you do visit you may find certain activities and restaurants restricted.

 

Australia

Thanks to stellar pandemic policies and early-stage precautions, Australia and New Zealand have both been cruising at a mellow Level 1 (Low Risk) on the CDC website for months now. But their low cases is also due to incredibly low rates of international travel. To this day, Australia and New Zealand are not accepting American travelers. In fact, they are even restricting some Australian nationals entering from abroad. There is no new information on when this strict ban will end, and some even speculate that it won’t be for another two or three years. It is safe to say that you can knock Australia and New Zealand off your summer 2021 bucket list. Do keep an eye out on the situation, as travel restrictions and requirements are constantly changing—especially as vaccination rates climb.

 

North & Central America

Canada is a Level 4 (Very High Risk) country, and tourism travel is not recommended. The Canadian government has restricted travel by almost all foreign nationals, including Americans, for non-essential purposes. Most of North America including Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America are classified as Level 4 countries. Still, many flights are operating between the US and Mexico. Resorts and hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean remain open for Americans and usually offer COVID-testing on-site. The only countries in Central America and the Caribbean that are not Level 4 are El Salvador (Level 3), Belize (Level 2), and Haiti (Level 3). Despite the fact that flights are operating and resort deals are luring more and more travelers, it is recommended to vaccinate before your trip, wear a mask at all times, and avoid large social gatherings.

 

South America

All countries in South America are listed as Level 4: Very High Risk, other than the Falkland Islands. Chile and Uruguay have a total ban on American entry, while Venezuela allows Americans under certain conditions. All other South American countries do allow Americans in as long as you have a negative COVID test and complete mandatory quarantines upon arrival (the length of quarantine varies per country, but generally falls between 10-14 days). Because tourism is a major industry in South America, many countries making optimistic opening plans to kickstart their economies by way of allowing tourists back in freely. These plans are yet to be confirmed, but your South American vacation may be on the horizon very soon—especially if you are vaccinated.

 

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By Sarah John & Chizoba Anyaoha


Anything people should know about solo traveling in 2021? Share it with us @travsolo or submit your story above today!

Janice Holly Booth – Never Being Truly Alone

TravSolo aims to inspire people to solo travel more through authentic storytelling, by sharing real travel experiences

Tell me a little bit about yourself: What do you do for a living?

I help companies, individuals and teams become more productive and harmonious. Most problems stem from poor or ineffective communication and I help fix that through workshops and coaching. It’s a lot of fun and I love what I do! I also create content for companies and organizations — everything from grant writing to blogs to Facebook posts and inspirational presentations. Now that the world is beginning to open up again for travel, I’m looking forward to getting back on the speaker circuit, delivering keynotes on how to become more brave. www.adventurista.us

Solo Travel: What do these two words mean to you?

Endless possibilities, personal transformation, indelible memories…

What inspired you to take your first solo trip?

My first solo trip to the slot canyons of Utah happened not because I WANTED to travel alone; it’s just that no-one would agree to go with me. But I had seen pictures of slot canyons when I was a teenager and had vowed to see them up close and personal one day.

Favorite International Meal?

Locro de Papa, an Ecuadorian potato soup that is just indescribable.

What is the most memorable moment you had with a traveler or local?

In Petrified Forest NP I met a woman who was living out of an RV, traveling from NP to NP, working as a ranger and seeing the USA. “Oh my God!” I shouted. “You’re living MY dream!” We became good friends and continue to stay in touch.

“Solo Travel means the ultimate freedom because you are in full control of what you want to do

What is biggest risk you have ever taken on a trip?

Early morning, Monument Valley. A Navajo man in a white jeep called out my name and told me that he had a horse waiting for me. Now, I had inquired about riding THREE DAYS EARLIER at another part of the reservation. Evidently, the Navajo grapevine is pretty effective. I got in the jeep and suddenly realized I might never be seen again. I had about 10 minutes of internal terror, but that all went away when we crested a hill and I saw five horses tied up, waiting for riders.

What inspires you to travel more alone?

Traveling alone is the ultimate “me”time. It’s the most rejuvenating, rewarding and transformational time I get to spend.

What advice might you give people afraid of being on their own or thinking of taking their first solo trip?

People should not fear traveling alone, because you will never be truly alone, if you don’t want to be. It’s easy to make friends on the trail!

You can learn more about Janice’s book about her solo travel story called “Only Pack What You Can Carry,” published by National Geographic on her website.

 

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By Chizoba Anyaoha


Got a story or amazing travel content to share? Tag us on IG @travsolo.

Solo Traveling During a Pandemic? Here’s What to Expect

With warm weather finally here, people are itching to finally break free from quarantine and solo travel away from school and work emails. Although summer temperatures and sunny skies have certainly given back a sense of normalcy and newfound freedom to the public, the reality of the situation is that we aren’t out of the pandemic quite just yet.

As of May 2021, the CDC still has most countries classified as a Level 4 risks, the highest risk category for COVID-19. Despite these warnings, many of these countries have begun to open up their borders (often for vaccinated individuals) and as a result, there are many flight and hotel deals circulating around the web to lure in those with severe cases of cabin fever. If willing to take all the necessary precautions—vaccinating, masking up, checking travel and quarantine restrictions, and taking proper hygiene measures—then international solo travel may be on the near horizon for you. If you’re thinking about taking your first steps into the world since the pandemic began, here are some things to expect between booking your ticket and arriving back home.

 

Deciding where to go

Obviously, your destination will ultimately depend on how safe it is at the time that you’re planning on visiting. Though many Level 4 countries are welcoming tourists (such as Greece), other Level 4 countries like India and Nepal are off-limits due to the dire COVID circumstances occurring there now. Make sure to do thorough research on what the case count is at your destination.

Departure

Once you find a safe destination and book a plane ticket, go to the airline’s website to see their pre-boarding requirements. To avoid quarantine requirements in different countries, they may require negative COVID tests prior to boarding. If you are vaccinated, you may still be subject to a COVID test depending on the airline and the destination. Most importantly, bring your vaccine card—even if the airline doesn’t explicitly mention it—as you never know when or where it may come in handy.

Arrival

Proof of a negative COVID test is usually necessary in most countries -see if the test is offered upon arrival or if your negative results are needed as soon as you arrive. As usual, it depends on the country when it comes to whether they offer you a free test or not. If you are vaccinated, this may save you from a COVID test as long as you present your vaccine card. Quarantine requirements differ from place to place but are becoming more and more a thing of the past as countries are eager to accommodate tourists, especially vaccinated ones.

Your Stay

The rule of thumb is to wear a mask. Currently, there are no countries that are completely maskless (other than Australia, which is not accepting international tourists anytime in the near future). Even if you are vaccinated, it is better to err on the side of caution while solo traveling to ensure that you don’t pick up any variants that may be floating around. Keep in mind that many countries are behind on vaccinating their citizens, so wearing a mask will help keep both you and the locals safe. Other things to make a note of: city curfews, if restaurants and bars are open, and fun outdoor activities like hiking and swimming that you can enjoy without worrying about COVID.

Coming back to the U.S.

Recently, U.S. airports have been ramping up safety measures for international arrivals. Though the rules are constantly changing, there is currently proof of a negative COVID test required when you get to customs at the U.S. airport. Because of this, you should schedule a time at your destination when you can receive a COVID test and get your results before you depart. COVID test results are only valid within 2 days of arrival in the U.S. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated U.S. citizens are subject to providing proof of negative COVID results.

If you regularly keep up with both the news and solo travel deals, you’re likely to find some fantastic prices since demand isn’t yet where it used to be pre-pandemic. The bottom line is that international solo travel still carries a risk (as of May 2021) no matter where in the world you decide to go, but because there is such a high level of variance between different countries when it comes to COVID severity, it is up to you to weigh the pros and cons, do the research, and find out if you are ready for an adventure again.

 

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By Sarah John & Chizoba Anyaoha