Boldly Go Solo

Tips on getting cheaper flights, packing, what to do on the road, and more

I've read a lot of great travel tips over the years. And I've probably forgotten just as many. So I always like reading stories on how to be a better traveler.

I've learned through experience to bring an empty water bottle to fill after going through security. That saves paying exorbitant prices to buy and throw out yet another plastic container.

For years, I've taken along photocopies of my passport in case I lost the real one. Having the passport information is supposed to speed up the replacement process.  

Recently, I was intrigued by an item about an inflatable footrest for airplane travel. Seems like a godsend. I'm always looking for someplace to put my feet when I'm trying to sleep on an overnight flight. 

On a site called Bookmundi, the post "The Ultimate Travel Hacks and Tips" provided many useful tips.  

For instance, have you ever noticed that the more you return to an airline site to check fares for a particular flight, the higher the prices seem to go?  You're not imagining things. Bookmundi suggests using "incognito mode" to browse. Who knew there was such a thing?

The section on airport hacks gave me several new ideas. Like downloading an app called Flight Board so you know your connecting flight's gate without ever having to stop at an airport departure board. Or sticking a "fragile" sticker on luggage to get your bags treated with care - and possibly taken off the plane first.

Bookmundi also offers useful tips for being on the road. Such as downloading offline maps. Or making sure to have the apps best for traveling internationally.

I learned that one in Italy a few years ago when I discovered WhatsApp was the only thing on my phone that worked in the rural village where I ended up. Having it was a lifesaver. I could have wandered around that place for days before being able to get in touch with the friends who were waiting for me.

Check out all the tips on the site to find some you might not have thought of. Google Goggles anyone?

(Tip 10 under the "On-the-road Travel Hacks and Tips") 

Farmers markets around the world

The Matador Network wrote a post recently about farmers markets around the world, from Dane County Farmer's Market in Seattle to Mercado Central in Valencia, Spain, and  Rialto Markets in Venice, Italy. 

I'm a fan of food browsing. I love walking up and down every aisle of shops in other countries to check out unfamiliar products, the foreign-language packaging of familiar products and tasty foods that could be gifts to bring home.

Yet I have mixed feelings about visiting farmers markets when traveling. With no kitchen, I can't do anything with the gorgeous fruits and vegetables I spot. 

On the other hand, these markets are places where locals shop, and they often feel less touristy than other places in highly visited cities. And there are often nonfood items for purchase, including handmade items. Knitted scarves. Ceramic mugs. Framed drawings.

Solo travel tips and insights

 

While I gear up to write about my recent trip to Italy - Emilia Romagna specifically - I offer a roundup of solo travel stories by others. 

 

• From an Australian website called "Starts at 60," a solo female traveller's (spelled the British way) checklist for traveling alone. The story addresses issues such as best destinations for solo travelers, cost, safety and where to stay. 
• From a Malaysian newspaper, "5 things you learn when traveling solo." All of the five "things" ring true, but two you may not always think about are: your perspective is changed forever; and you can be anyone you want to be. Powerful concepts.
• From a woman thrilled about her solo trip to Italy who "loved every freaking minute of it." As she put it, "I did some super nerdy/gluttonous/luxurious/stupid things that only I could judge." (Remind me to tell you about the time I forgot my passport and lost a day on the way to Europe. Imagine if I'd caused someone ELSE to lose a day due to my knuckleheadedness. Hm is that a word?)
• And finally, at least for this post, a story on the "big mistakes" a woman made while traveling solo. They're not what you might think. The writer talks about taking too much stuff (no one's going to notice you're wearing the same things all the time) and not allowing enough time (when planning your connections and travel).

Like this kind of post? I get solo travel alerts all the time, so from time to time, I'll pass along some of the most interesting and fun to read. Stop me when you've had enough.

Photo: Ellen Perlman. Fall in Massachusetts

Solo travel tips from writers and experts

Nearly every day, I find solo travel stories from around the world. Here are just three of the dozens I've collected. More to come.

Activities good for solo travelers:

From Peter Greenberg, a story on how to find friends when traveling solo. Some of these I've mentioned about before - such as staying at upscale hostels or B&B's or going to a dude ranch - but he offers some interesting new ones. 

For example, certain hotels that have wine hours every night, or cocktail parties for single parents on Mondays (Mondays?!). One even has a "yappy hour" if you're traveling with your dog.  

Traveling solo Down Under:

From an Australian writer out of Melbourne, a story on "Why we prefer to travel alone." She shares thoughts and stories from several solo travelers.  

Delayed flight remedy: tweet the airline

A decade ago or so, I remember feeling so clever when, after my flight was canceled, I called the airline to find me another flight, while I stood in a long customer service line at the airport.

Within a few minutes, I was rebooked to my destination and I stepped out of line. It had barely budged.

Twitter has upped the ante. A Washington Post story today describes how a woman got great service from United Airlines by tweeting her troubles about a delay due to mechanical problem.

United responded to several of her tweets and she was rebooked much faster than others who tried calling the airlines or using its app. 

The story, "How tweet it is," offers a list of tweeting tips.

United's Twitter page says, "We like hearing from you. Tweet us any time." And, according to the Post piece, people do and United has folks assigned to respond. 

Note to self: Make sure you're following all the airlines you ever plan to use. 

Note to followers: You should too.

@boldlygosolo

A stroll on top of the CN Tower restaurant in Toronto. What a high.

Here's one Guinness World Record you can match without having to lift a table with your teeth or live with scorpions for more than a month:

Walk outside on top of the CN Tower restaurant, 116 stories high, to match the record for "highest external walk on a building" set in 2011.

Here's my Washington Post story about doing the Edgewalk during a June visit to Toronto.

Photo credit: CNTower

Solo travelers on solo travel

A round-up of solo travel news

Lately I've enjoyed reading posts from solo travelers on the reasons they travel solo.

From a blog called the Simply Luxurious life, two thoughtful posts on solo travel.

Why Not...Travel Alone?: When traveling alone "be reminded of what stirs your passions" and "boost your confidence" and "realize the difference between alone and loneliness." I like the quote the writer found: “The first rule of travel is that you should always go with someone you love, which is why I travel alone.” – Andrew O’Hagan 

Why Not...Part Deux offers some tips on dining alone and getting a seat at a New York theater. And there are cautions about safety. For instance, travelers should dress to fit in and consider springing for a taxi from the airport or train station at night rather than walk around a strange place alone, in the dark. 

Is solo travel becoming trendy?

The number of women traveling alone is increasing, according to Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a hotel booking site. Between 2010 and 2011, bookings by women traveling solo increased 53 percent in this company's core markets, which include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia, the UK and the USA.

Red Bank, New Jersey - retro, but contemporary too

Ever heard of Red Bank, New Jersey? I hadn't. But I went to visit for a travel story and ended up loving the place for a variety of reasons, nostalgia being no small part of it.

Red Bank calls itself a "cool little town" and I agree. It's the kind of place with few chain stores, where teens walk from homes nearby to wander around on their own, hanging out at the yogurt shop, grabbing a slice of pizza, playing some pinball at a pinball and video arcade.

I wrote about Red Bank for today's Washington Post travel section. 

If you're a shopper, you'll like the many stores selling high-end clothes or the consignment stores offering the hand-me-down version. (Hey, I'm all about a deal.)

The town is a draw for antiques lovers too. If you're into pinball, which I remembered I was when I got there, or classic video games, you'll have a great time at YESTERcades.

Mexican food isn't really Mexican food - think chilaquiles and pozole

If you're planning a trip to Mexico, or have been and want to reminisce, you'll enjoy reading this story about Mexican food from BootsanAll, a travel website.

The basic point is, don't expect Mexican food in Mexico. That is, don't expect the Tex-Mex taco fare you're used to in the United States.

I loved trying the food in Guadalajara when I visited there a few years ago, particularly the discovery of chilequiles and cheese-stuffed tortillas for wrapping meat and vegetables.

Mexican food in the States is so predictable, isn't it? I know I'll always find pretty much the same style of fajitas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and quesadillas, with sides of refried beans and rice, right? 

But what about huevos divorciados for breakfast? (Yes, those are indeed divorced eggs.)

Half the fun I had during my most recent visit to Mexico was learning about all the variations in Mexican cooking and the foods at Mexican markets. My favorite find ended up being those chilaquiles, also the favorite of the writer of the BootsnAll post on Mexico.

9/11 memorial in Israel

Three years ago, a memorial for 9/11 was inaugurated in Israel outside of Jerusalem. The 9/11 Living Memorial is a billowing American flag, partly surrounded on its circular plaza by the names of the more than 3,000 people who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.  

The waving flag is meant to resemble an eternal flame.

Enclosed in the base is a piece of a beam from one of the destroyed buildings, reddish iron a couple of feet long, behind a piece of glass. Today, the U.S. ambassador will attend a memorial ceremony.