A lone traveler has revealed the harsh realities of life as a lone globetrotter.
Jenny Chevry, from Florida, has been working her 9-to-5 corporate job in Human Resources to explore the world for the past seven years.
Ticking places off his bucket list, including Estonia and El Salvador, he has visited 48 countries and seen hundreds of stunning sights.
But the 37-year-old has claimed that traveling alone is not for the faint-hearted and comes with its own set of dangerous challenges.
Jenny Chevry, from Florida, has been working her 9-to-5 corporate job in Human Resources to explore the world for the past seven years.
Ticking places off his bucket list, including Estonia and El Salvador, he has visited 48 countries and seen hundreds of stunning sights.
But the 37-year-old has claimed that traveling alone is not for the faint-hearted and comes with its own set of dangerous challenges.
“I was almost a victim of possible kidnapping or human trafficking in Budapest in 2019,” Jenny candidly revealed.
“It was one of the scariest moments of my life, but I made sure I made enough noise to get attention and called for help.”
To stay safe, Jenny has since created a list of dos and don’ts.
She said: ‘My cardinal rules are: I don’t go out drinking, and if I go out at night, I only have one drink, which I keep my eyes on.’
‘I don’t tell people where I stay or that I’m alone.
‘I try to memorize the map before I leave a place, so I’m not glued to my phone and can look around.
“And I share the location of my iPhone with my family, so they can track me in case of an emergency.”
The travel enthusiast, who documents her experiences on her Instagram account @poorlittlenomad, says being self-sufficient is rewarding but comes at a cost.
People online have rallied behind Jenny, thanking her for sharing the harsh reality of traveling alone when it’s so glamorized online.
‘I can be as selfish as I want to be. I don’t have to give in or please anyone,” Jenny shared.
‘Travelling alone has also helped me become more self-sufficient and confident as I navigate new environments.
‘I’m normally an introvert; When I travel you can’t imagine how antisocial I really am.
‘But it’s expensive. Travel packages often assume double occupancy, so solo travelers miss out on discounts designed for couples or groups.
‘I was in Guatemala last weekend and I wanted to sign up for a cooking class, but I couldn’t because I needed two guests to sign up.
‘I tried to sign up for a volcano tour in Nicaragua and the cost was $45 per person, however, when I signed up they charged me $90, even though I was alone.
“There are so many things I would have loved to do but I had to give them up.”
Jenny started traveling alone after getting into a fight with a close friend on a trip.
The travel enthusiast, who documents her experiences on her Instagram account @poorlittlenomad, says being self-sufficient is rewarding but comes at a cost.
Jenny started traveling alone after getting into a fight with a close friend on a trip and hasn’t looked back since.
She said: ‘Seven years ago, I went on my first adult international trip with a close friend and it ended up being a disaster.
‘I found out the hard way that there are people you can’t travel with, no matter how close you are.
‘My friend and I stopped being friends after that trip and since then I have always preferred to travel alone.
“I don’t have to worry about anyone but myself.”
Jenny says that always being the organizer can also be exhausting, adding: “I like the planning part of the trip – booking accommodation and activities.”
“But people who have traveled alone for a long time know that it can be exhausting to make all the decisions, big and small, from where to eat to how to handle unexpected situations.
‘I have had hotels or Airbnbs cancel my reservation at the last minute and I had to find an alternative solution on my own.
‘Sometimes it’s good to have someone else take charge from time to time.
“It’s also nice to have friends to share your excitement with.”
Jenny shared, “It’s certainly not for everyone, but I’d rather travel alone than not see the world at all.”
“Travelling alone has also helped me become more self-sufficient and confident as I navigate new environments,” she added.
People online have rallied behind Jenny, thanking her for sharing the harsh reality of traveling alone when it’s so glamorized online.
‘Loneliness is my biggest fear. Also, when she travels alone, I miss my husband a lot,” Kristy commented.
A fellow solo traveler said: “This is all exactly what I feel when I travel alone.” I love it, but I can’t overlook some of the downsides to it.’
Another joked: “Very true.” And not being able to share the cost of a hotel room with someone.
“Decision fatigue, I know it in everyday life… and then a good trip quickly becomes too exhausting,” someone else shared.
‘The hard truth, girl! This is all on point! Thanks for sharing!’ added another traveler.
Jenny added: “I didn’t expect so many people to be receptive to my content and relate so much to the ugly truths about traveling alone.
‘It seems we all share the same feelings. Although we love it, it also has its challenges.
“It’s certainly not for everyone, but I’d rather travel alone than not see the world at all.”
