Boldly Go Solo

Holidays for solo travelers from the Mail in Great Britain

Here's a fun read on solo travel from the Mail Online, a British Web site. The writer rounds up "the best" (that's subjective, though, isn't it?) "holidays for solo travellers." That is, the "best vacations for solo travelers" in American English (just taking the mickey, that is, kidding the British friend who gave me the heads up on this article).

Not all of the trips will make sense for Americans because they're based on British pounds and are geared to travelers starting in England. Nevermind. The article is a good basis for ideas and a reaffirmation that going solo can work out well for all types of travelers, including those who leave spouse and children behind.

Besides, how often do you hear about people vacationing in the Isles of Scilly, off the Southwestern tip of Great Britain, or hiking the Atlas Mountains in Morocco? It's a fun cultural experience for Americans and other non-Brits just to read the article.

I also like sharing articles like these so I can have other people say what I've been saying all along: that things often work out great when you take the risk of traveling solo.

In the article, a 29-year-old court reporter went snowboarding on her own in the Canadian Rockies because she was "fresh out of a relationship" and had no desire to go on a singles tour. " I thought it would be all couples, but there were only a few. It was really good fun and very bonding."

A 46-year-old divorcee who went to a health sanctuary in Thailand: "At the end of my stay there were six of us eating together – a German headhunter, New York museum curator, Italian lawyer, Greek fund manager and a lecturer."

I bet she stays in touch with at least one or two of these new-found friends.

Photo: Ellen Perlman. Thai buddha.

Trips and tours for singles, also known as solos who are looking

A Brazil cultural and multisport tour. A Napa Valley long weekend wine tour. A Montana camping trip. Skiing in Chile in July. These are some of the vacations offered by Singles Travel.

I can't vouch for this particular tour operator. But I'm impressed with the variety of adventure trips they offer all over the world. It's worth taking a look and weighing them as an option. Especially of you are single and looking. Or single and looking for a vacation fling.

I like the fact that they offer a fair number of camping options. Those are great for saving money, although I know a lot of you like your luxuries. But these are not cheap trips so you may be a convert to camping for the sheer economics.

Be aware that if you want a private room on some of these trips, you might still pay a single supplement. But the organization does offer roommate matching if you're willing to bunk with a stranger. I've done that many a time. Let me clarify. I've bunked with a roommate of the same sex.

I can't say I love sharing a room. I like my privacy as much as the next guy. But the match up was never a disaster and I got to go on some pretty amazing vacations, for less money, by willing to make that compromise.

Photos: Singles Travel

Going solo to Kalaallit Nunaat, the world's largest island

Want to kayak where the kayak was invented? How about go dogsledding, snowmobiling or on a musk ox or whale safari? Then Kalaallit Nunaat is the place for you. Also known as Greenland. A place where you can view icebergs from a hotel terrace. A place where dog sleds have the right of way. Seriously. 

I haven't been to Greenland, a nation of 56,000 people.  But the other day, in Washington, D.C., I had a chance to meet Aleqa Hammond, the country's minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs.

The United States wants to work more closely with Greenland. In 2004, then-Secretary of State Colin Power, in the shepherds' village of Igaliku, signed an agreement, along with Denmark and Greenland (which is part of the Danish realm) to expand cooperation and deepen ties with Greenland. That's why Hammond was in D.C. last week.  

As for tourism in the land of Erik the Red, there is bittersweet excitement over a new natural phenomenon. Due to climate change, the seas around the island have turned into something astoundingly different than what anyone can remember.

Solo traveler dreams about future trips. And just might take one or two.

For me, love of travel includes daydreaming about where I might go next, and what I might do. At the moment, I'm in Park City, Utah with friends. We've skied Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons. The snow has been awesome. (that's ski-dude speak for "awesome"). So we've been having a great time. Except for the crazy $79 a day lift tickets. Youch!

In between slaloming down mountains (in my intermediate sort of way) I've been thinking how fun it would be to try snowboarding. In October, I met someone who works at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont. She told me that several times a season, the resort offers special packages for women to take snowboarding lessons over two, three or five days. 

I've looked it up online and it looks pretty reasonable. A little over $300 for two days, including lift tickets, lessons, breakfast and lunch daily and video analysis of one's technique. And an optional morning stretch class. Although, those are midweek prices.

Still, for me, Vermont is a whole lot closer to home than the West Coast, so a trip of a couple of days isn't out of the question.

Continued...

Hitting the slopes solo

It was just one day, but I didn't want to go skiing alone. But I was in Denver on my company's dime and it seemed a shame not to take advantage of Colorado's gorgeous snow and sunny skies. So I steeled myself, booked a rental car and headed off to Winter Park, an hour away from Denver. By the time I sat down to syrupy French toast and bacon in a little cafe in the mountains I was pretty happy with my decision.

Once I got to Winter Park, I signed up for a group lesson for the morning. I figured it would be a good way to not feel alone on the slopes. I also hoped I'd meet someone to ski with in the afternoon. No such luck. But the lesson had eased me into a good mindset and I didn't mind spending the rest of the day on my own.

On my first chairlift ride after lunch, the guy next to me struck up a conversation. Turns out he was a ski instructor! Knew the mountain like the Easter bunny knows eggs.

He skis alone a lot because few members of his family want to ski as many days as he does. He offered to give me the insider tour of Winter Park. He had no problem slowing down to my intermediate pace. We skied from one end of the place to the other. I took nary a glance at the trail map. It was glorious.

And to think I almost didn't go skiing because I didn't want to ski alone.