Welcome And Today’s Big Question

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Welcome to the Z Michelson Travel Podcast, where we are going to explore the travel industry through the lens of the independent travelers, through travel advisors, and also travel vendors. I'm your host, Z Michelson. And today we're going to be talking about the number one concern people have about solo travel. I know that that is a major, major concern. So here's the question. Is solo travel really safe? I'm going to point out some myths, some facts, and some smart strategies for you. Well, let's take for granted that you've never solo traveled before. Now, when I started traveling many, many years ago, I traveled by myself. And that was pretty scary, considering I was only about 20 years of age. But as I wound up in the travel industry and learned more and more about being prepared, it became less and less scary. So is solo travel actually more dangerous? Or does it just feel that way? Well, let's separate myth from reality, shall we? Why safety feels scarier soloing? Traveling alone. Well, when you're traveling alone, you feel vulnerable because responsibility isn't shared. What kind of responsibility? Well, like there's no one else watching your bag. No one else is navigating directions. You might be driving and then you have a navigator. No one else is double checking plans. So you gotta do this on your own. So that is something that kind of sits at the top of your head saying, Oh boy, I don't have anybody helping me with this. But here's the truth. Most travel incidents don't happen because someone is alone. They happen because someone is unprepared. That's right, unprepared. Awareness, not fear, is the real safety tool. So what do I get out of this? If you are planning to go solo, make sure you've done your double checking. Make sure you have your navigation plans worked out, double check everything. Don't carry 9,000 suitcases with you. Usually when I travel, I have my backpack and one overhead piece of luggage. So keep that in mind. Being prepared is number one. Now, a common solo travel safety myth. There are quite a few safety myths. So here's the first one. Solo travelers are targets. How many times have I heard that? Oh, they're traveling alone, they're gonna be a target. Again, reality. Travelers who look lost, distracted, or are disengaged are targets. And that could be anybody. That could be whether you're alone or not alone. So remember, when you're traveling, you don't need to look lost if you're prepared, if you have your little map. Don't be distracted, and don't be disengaged. Now myth number two. Myth number two, I've heard over and over and over again, but there are a lot of female travel advisors traveling alone. Myth number two is women shouldn't travel alone. I guess a lot of female travel advisors don't listen to that myth at all. Because in reality, millions of women are traveling solo, very safely, every single year. That's right. Millions of women are traveling alone. And why? You heard this in my first episode about why would they be traveling alone? Well, they may become a widow, or they may have been divorced, or now they're an empty nester and nobody wants to go with them. So more and more women are traveling by themselves and they're doing it safely every single year. Myth number three group travel is always safer. Okay. I have a lot of theories on this. One is groups can create false confidence and a distraction. However, safety comes from awareness, not numbers. But I kind of like group travel. So when I'm traveling by myself, sometimes I will join the group because it's a lot of fun. So keep that in mind. Group travel is not always safer, but it can be a lot of fun. And remember, distractions can cause the problem. So always, always, always be aware. Now, what actually makes solo travel safe? Let me think about this. I must have said it a million times already. Preparation matters. Be prepared. Go ahead and research your destination. You can go online. Um, there is one person out there, Rick Steves, he writes tons of books. You can actually look at some of his books to see his little tips and hints. There are so many things out there that you can research on the destination you're going to. You can actually go online and go to some of their travel sites on that in particular location. So research your destination always. Now here's another one. Choose your accommodations wisely. Do your research on the accommodations because even though it shows very pretty on the computer screen sometimes, you want to have some background. Look into some of the information behind that. Or choose a travel advisor that actually has been to these locations or knows about them. So choose your accommodations wisely. Okay, transportation options. Know your transportation options. Many, many places overseas and in Europe, transportation is widely used and encouraged. You can get passes to go jump on and off buses, on and off trains, but know your transportation options. That's another thing that you can utilize a travel advisor for. They can help you with this. And always, I always say this: trust your instincts. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. So trust your instincts. Remember, confidence is one of the most effective safety tools a solo traveler has. Remember that. Okay. I have tools and habits of confident solo travelers. Yep, there are a lot of solo travelers, they have a lot of habits, they have use a lot of tools. But what are they? You know, the solo travelers, it's a network in itself. Solo travelers share itineraries, whether on Pinterest or Facebook or other social media outlays, they all travel solo and they post. I've been here, I've seen this, I've done that, I've stayed here. And they do post quite frequently. So the solo traveler shares their itineraries. They check in regularly. So here's what you have to do. So if you decide this is gonna be your first solo travel adventure, let somebody in your family or friend network know where you're going. Let them know your itinerary. And then when you get to where you're going, or periodically, you know, you don't have to call them every five minutes, but check in regularly. So if you're gonna do, say, Italy and then France and then maybe Germany, maybe check in when you get there and maybe when you get to your next destination. So periodically check in. Posting on the social media, again, always helps. Now, when I say post on social media, use your technology wisely. Yeah, you're showing everybody that you're here, there, and everywhere. But don't post on social media. Oh, by the way, I'm leaving my house on the 15th of April and I won't be back until the 19th of April. Not a good idea, but use your technology wisely. You can post your locations. Hey, I'm here, I'm having a great time. I just seen the, you know, I just seen the pyramids and I'm walking to the next thing and blah, blah, blah. No, I can't emphasize this enough. You should have insurance. I always tell people when they're going on any trip, whether it be solo, with a group, with their spouses, carry insurance. You may not need it, but when you do, it does come in extremely handy. Because there have been a lot of incidents where people didn't carry the insurance, and they had a very big problem. Now, also, one of the things that is a tool or a habit of the solo traveler is they listen to the local advice. Some of the great things to do when you're traveling around and you're by yourself and you talk to some of the locals and you want to know where to eat. The locals know where to eat. They know the good food. Or they also know places you should stay away from, or places you should visit. So listen to the local advice. And remember, being prepared doesn't mean paranoid. You can be prepared, and that will make your trip a whole lot safer. Now, how can we empower the first-time solo traveler? That's a good one. You know, solo travel isn't about being fearless, it's about being informed. Again, informed, prepared. All of these words go together. Confidence grows with experience. So what does that mean? You've taken your first trip, you've learned by it, you've figured out, oh, next time I have to do this, and you're ready to go on your next trip because you were confident and you made it through the first trip, and it was a lot of fun. Some solo travelers, they like to go out on their own. They like to explore. But just because you're exploring does not necessarily mean you should be unprepared. So remember, traveling alone, always, always, always follow those rules. There are safety guidelines, and there are myths, but the myths can be solved by following the guidelines. Now, all of these things that I've been talking about, who's gonna go on their first solo trip? I'd love to hear about that. Feel free to put it on my Facebook. I have a Z Michelson Facebook, Z. Michelson Travel Facebook. Just go onto my Facebook, say, I'm going on my first solo trip, let me know where. I'd like to hear about it. Or when you come back, share some pictures. And remember, everything must be a little clean, you know. So if you go to that nudist camp, I don't want to see your pictures, sorry. So if safety concerns have been holding you back, let this be a reminder to you. You don't have to be reckless to be adventurous. And you can subscribe to my podcast, that's the Michelson Travel Podcast, for more conversations like this on solo travel, safety, destinations, industry insights. You'll hear more about people traveling. I spoke with one solo traveler, she went to South Africa by herself. She had a great time. But she did her research, she did her homework, and she had a ball. So remember, until next time, travel smart, travel confidently, travel on your terms. And like I always say, shoot for the stars. And if you only get to the moon, at least you made the trip. Thank you for listening today. This is Z Michelson. Have a great adventure.