More women are hitting the road solo — are you ready?
Many women used to feel guilty if they went on vacations without their husbands or families in tow. Are they entitled to time alone or with female friends?
They might have been forgiven if they were heading to a spa. The first Golden Door was inaugurated in 1958 in Escondido, Calif. Its founder, Deborah Szekely, was a pioneer in the keep yourself in shape, pamper (and lose weight) movement. Discretion was guaranteed as many of rich and famous, actresses and socialites were the center’s primary clients. But they were considered select since money wasn’t an object.
What began as something “exclusive” is no longer. All-female retreats and women-only travel companies have grown by more than 200 percent since 1993.
Some married women may feel guilty about leaving their husbands alone while their spouses are frequently delighted. There’s nothing like watching a man pace in front of a store while his wife shops. Husbands often prefer staying home and supervising the couple’s children which minimizes another concern.
Karen Fawcett is the president of Bonjour Paris.
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5 Responses to “More women are hitting the road solo — are you ready?”
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I started traveling alone several years ago because my boyfriend at the time was not into hiking or photography — or anything else that didn’t take place in New York City. Now going solo is my preferred method of travel on certain types of trips, especially those that involve taking lots of photos of wildflowers. I don’t have to cater to anyone else’s schedule. I can stop as often as I wish, enjoy the sounds of nature rather than chatter, eat where I want, etc. My daughter and I travel well together (except for my wildflower obsession), but we don’t have the chance to do so often enough. I’m heading to Tasmania next year, and if she can’t make it, I’ll go by myself.
I second Paulette’s preference for traveling solo. I’ve traveled both with boyfriend and solo and traveling by myself is so much more fun! I’m currently planning a trip to Hong Kong for sometime in the future and I know for a fact I won’t be able to find someone to go with me. I wouldn’t dream of letting that prevent me from going!
I’ve done both (pre-marriage was the solo or just with a friend travelling). Now I wouldn’t go without my husband unless it was a girly overnighter. The fact is I have so much fun with him and we enjoy a lot of the same things and it’s always a blast! We do have different personalities and do like different things in some cases, but we’ve always managed to come up with a compromise - and then enjoyed ourselves anyway. So a short trip with the girls is fun; but exploring new places and travelling longer lengths of time - definitely take the husband along.
I travel solo quite regularly and have done so over the last 30-some years. Truth is: I have more time to do so and I have a great desire to travel. One of the things I love most about traveling solo is meeting new people - I tend to gain a better understanding of life in the countries I visit when I’m alone. I also travel with my husband and with friends, and each adventure with others has its own dynamics. For example, I am leaving next week for 8 weeks in Eastern Europe: a mix of traveling alone (4 weeks), with a friend (1 week), and as a group of 2 couples (3 weeks). I have traveled solo in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. I have always felt safe and welcomed whenever i have been solo. I particularly cherish the many lovely times that I have been “adopted” by local folks, who have shared a moment of their lives with me.
YES, never hesitate to travel solo! I’ve loved travelling since I spent 6 weeks in Europe as a student decades ago. After divorce and as the 4 children became more independent, I decided that if I “waited for someone to go with, I was waiting too long”. I started with a ski trip with a group, then headed over to Spain as a volunteer for an English language immersion program-all by myself. I’d not yet visited Spain, and as the plane was landing, I thought I must be out of my mind. I don’t know this company, I don’t know the people, etc etc. I met them all, and realized I was SO lucky. I’ve made over 24 visits to Spain and neighboring countries-at every possible vacation from work in the last 8 yrs.
The best part-I now have a job offer from that company to live and work in Spain! I leave in a few days for two months-will see how it goes. I’ll either love it, or if not, I’ll be happier remaining here. I suspect I’ll still love the adventure, the constant learning of new cultures and will spend weekends exploring-again, most likely-and easier- on my own.
After successfully raising 4 children as a single professional woman, I treasure my time alone and independent-it is priceless! I love my friends, but I never wait for someone to go with. I create my own enjoyable experiences-like dancing at a small bar in Sevilla at 3AM with some new found friends from my hotel-unforgettable!