Enjoy your own company? Then take it to the next level and book a solo vacation.
That’s the advice of Christina Ford, a 63-year-old seasoned solo traveler and lifestyle blogger (a-spacious-in-london) and author of the award-winning book Finding Mr. Darcy: Lessons Learned in the Search for Happily Ever After. She tells MailOnline Travel why traveling alone is “fabulous”, the best countries to visit alone and the common mistakes women make when visiting somewhere alone.
So why is it great to travel alone?
Christina says: ‘There are so many great things about traveling alone. You’re on your own schedule, doing what you want to do. Your time is yours and you can pivot at any time.
And you meet new people. Much more than if you traveled with someone. Plus, you learn how capable you are. I’ve learned more about myself traveling alone than almost any other time. It’s amazing to discover what a great company you are!’
Enjoy your own company? Then take it to the next level and book a solo vacation. That’s the advice of Christina Ford, a 63-year-old experienced solo traveler. She is pictured above in Sicily, Italy, a country she says she is a big fan of.
Christina says Cinque Terre (left) in Italy is her “solo favorite place.” She is pictured in Taomina, Sicily.
“Travel is a gift; don’t wait for your schedule to coincide with a friend’s,” says Christina, pictured walking through Cinque Terre.
Christina describes Cinque Terre (above) as “five ancient fishing villages connected by sea, train or hiking.”
If you find the idea of socializing with new people daunting, Christina suggests joining a walking tour.
She says: ‘They’re available in almost every major city, are usually free and packed with other travelers just like you. Start a conversation, share that you’re traveling alone, and suggest having a drink together.
‘On a solo ski trip to Whistler, I asked my ski instructor for recommendations and, at the end of the lesson, she invited me to join her and other instructors at the local bar, an unexpected and fun evening that wouldn’t have been had That would have happened if I hadn’t mentioned that I was traveling alone.
But be sure to stay away from romantic restaurants.
The seasoned solo traveler warns: ‘When dining alone, look for lively, fun places, nothing romantic at all. I once told my Madrid guide that I didn’t want to be in a restaurant where there was even the slightest chance that someone at the next table would propose to me. I prefer restaurants with a bar where I can eat. Then I hang up the phone, stay present and engage with people.”
While planning your first solo excursion can be exciting, Christina warns that the most common mistake solo women make is “biting off more than you can chew.”
She explains: ‘If it’s your first solo trip and you’re afraid of flying, don’t plan a two-week trip with multiple flights. Choose a place you can fly directly to.
‘Also be brief at the beginning: it is better to want more. Research and plan something you’ve always wanted to do but within your comfort zone.’
The avid traveler tends to use ChatGPT to plan short trips and recently used the AI chatbot to design an excursion to Rome.
The traveler often uses ChatGPT to plan short trips and recently used the AI chatbot to design a trip to Rome (above).
Christina says: ‘I prefer restaurants with a bar where I can eat. Then I hang up the phone, stay present and engage with people.” She appears in the photo above in Seville.
Christina advises new travelers to “plan something you’ve always wanted to do but within your comfort zone” and says you’ll “learn how capable you are” on a solo trip. It appears in the photo on the left in Marbella and on the right in Corfu.
She says, “My message was, ‘Single traveler, three days, loves sightseeing, history, good food, and of course shopping.'” Within seconds, I had a three-day itinerary and was on about 90 days. percent of it. Bravo, ChatGPT!’
For a longer trip, like an African safari, Christina recommends joining an “existing tour group,” explaining: “You may only have to pay an extra fee, but it’s a good way to meet new people, since a lot of of the itinerary is already planned. you.’
So what are Christina’s top destinations for solo female travelers?
She says: ‘I’m a big fan of Italy and have traveled there a lot. My single favorite place is Cinque Terre, five former fishing villages connected by sea, train or hiking. It’s the perfect combination of healthy living, beautiful views and fabulous food. I recommend going during the shoulder seasons, like October, when there are fewer people.
Christina also recommends her native Canada as “ideal for solo travelers.”
She explains: ‘If you prefer something more urban, Toronto is a fantastic choice. Often described as New York run by the Swiss, it is a great food city with clean and safe public transportation. If you’re traveling alone, it’s easy to get a single ticket to a Broadway-style show.
‘Canada is generally a safe country full of friendly people who will be happy to point you in the right direction and will probably apologize if you get lost. But part of the fun and growth of traveling is allowing yourself to get lost!’
And where would she leave it off the wish list?
Christina previously spoke to MailOnline about her ordeal in Mykonos, where she felt she was discriminated against for traveling alone.
However, she says: ‘There is nowhere else I wouldn’t return, whether alone or not. But there are places I would avoid as a solo female traveller; namely, countries where women don’t have the same freedoms as men.’
While Christina’s mother was “worried” and her friends think she’s “brave” for venturing abroad alone, she says it’s worth the step, explaining: “It can be scary to do something new or get lost in a foreign country, but think about what you would be missing!’
How do you stay safe abroad?
“If you prefer something more urban, Toronto (above) is a fantastic option,” says Christina. “It is often described as a New York ruled by the Swiss”
Christina is pictured above during a solo ski trip to Whistler.
Emphasizing that “safety is crucial” for women traveling alone, Christina recommends always carrying a phone charger as “you never know where the day may take you” and sharing your live location with a friend or family member.
Christina always pins her hotel’s location on Google Maps and recommends “using common sense” in the “sketchy areas.”
Another important safety tip? Buy travel insurance.
Christina says: ‘It’s quiet, especially in America. I once broke my pelvis at Burning Man and ended up in the hospital for eight nights. I can’t imagine the bill without insurance.’
Still not sure whether to take the leap?
Christina says: ‘Travel is a gift. Don’t wait for your schedule to align with a friend’s. Life is short and the world is big. To quote Anatole France: “Sometimes a day in a different place gives you more than ten years of life at home.”