by Thuli Montana
In 2019 I committed to travelling solo. This decision was largely influenced by my move to a new city and the realization that if I planned well, nothing was stopping me!
After successfully completing three solo trips abroad in 2019, my goal for 2020 was to double the number. For many of us who have been team “catch flights, not feelings”, the pandemic put an abrupt halt to our travel plans.
A common view shared by some of my friends is that traveling solo can be lonely. While this is valid, there are also some benefits and considerations which I intend to convey in this article. Another common view and frustration that I have observed among my peers is the request to join WhatsApp groups aimed at planning getaways, and the high dropout rate attributed to shifts in financial obligations, work commitments and reduced interest. This is a disappointment one inherently avoids when planning to travel solo.
Covid-19 has had multifaceted psychosocial impacts on people across the globe. One of my challenges was accepting the confines of familiar walls for an uncertain period of time. This was mainly because I had based a large part of my life on transitions, change and the freedom to explore unfamiliar and new spaces. I had found a rhythm and comfort with being away from home and connecting with family and friends in transit.
Young travel enthusiasts like me, have been forced to ask themselves what travel looks like in a Covid world. With reduced passenger confidence in travel, we have had to rethink what a safe, fulfilling and valuable getaway looks like.
A 2019 article by Senior BDO Consultant, Jabulani Debedu, highlights that young people (ages 34 and younger) make up an increasingly larger share of the travel market. Debedu highlights that the average youth trip spend has more than doubled since 2002, and youth travellers generated about $280bn in tourism receipts in 2016. Millennial Travel Statistics and Trends show that on average, 82% of millennials travelled annually prior to the Covid- 19 outbreak, compared with 75% of all other generation. This is based on young people viewing travel as a way of learning, a source of personal and career development and an opportunity to gain exposure to different cultures and ways of life (UNWTO, 2014:6).
While the future of boundless travel remains precarious, these are my top five considerations if you are tired of waiting on others and willing to travel solo despite the reality of our Covid world:
Safety first. Apart from being mindful about the Covid-19 protocols for travel and accommodation services. There are gendered dimensions to safety when travelling solo. As a woman, I have had to meticulously research the safety of the cities/town’s I planned to visit; this includes crime hotspots, incidents of social unrest and appropriate dress codes (see additional solo travel tips specifically for women). While unforeseen circumstances may occur, fear should not deter you from travelling solo. Adequate research, including speaking to people who may have been to your desired travel destination should set you up for a safe journey.
Explore your immediate surroundings. Covid- 19 has forced us to look closer to home for our desired travel adventures. When South Africa moved to Level 2 of Lockdown, people were itching to travel and there was an increased trend in exploring domestic and local getaways (i.e. safaris, lodges and hotels around the country), which goes to show that there is a lot to explore (even alone) in our immediate surroundings.
Mental preparedness to be your own best friend. Many of us have had to be in isolation or quarantine with family and friends and possibly only being able to be alone while shopping for essential items. Solo travel allows you the space and time to step away from the voices and bodies you are normally surrounded by and fully embrace yourself. It provides an opportunity to explore and learn autonomously. I have found that carrying a travel journal is one way to record the multiple conversations you have with yourself along your solo journey.
Capturing your solo travel moments. Pictures make up a large part of our travels. When travelling solo, I have had to develop the confidence to ask strangers to take pictures of me. This has interestingly turned me into a person who always offers to take pictures of others. Solo travel in a Covid world may mean that people are reluctant to touch your phone or camera. As such, when considering a solo trip, think about investing in a selfie stick, mini tripod or just stepping up your selfie game to capture your solo travel moments.
Just do it (with precaution). Overthinking is one of the greatest limitations to travelling solo. If you have had the thought and desire to travel solo, then do the research, make the bookings and just do it, with all Covid protocols observed.
In a world where we are encouraged to be socially and physically distanced, solo travel provides an opportunity to intentionally step away from the multiple pressures and responsibilities of life and simply enjoy some alone time. It is an opportunity to “fall in love with your solitude” – Rupi Kaur.
