Frequently Asked Questions

“ Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ” Mark Twain

Be Safe and Be SMART. Be friendly but not TOO friendly. If you are alone in a strange place, the LAST thing you need to do is to get caught up in any type of drama or unpleasantness. Here are some of the questions I'm often asked about vacationing alone:

Q: Have you ever gotten into any dicey or unsafe situations?

A: Yes. I learned a Golden Rule: Never be too friendly with the local men. Sometimes they can mistake your friendliness for something else. I ran screaming (YES, SCREAMING) from a taxi on a small island because I was thinking..."wow! what a nice tour guide" and HE was thinking..."wow! my next wife!"

The obvious lesson I learned was in how others interpret friendliness. Some of us are more naturally outgoing so we have to measure our openness, especially when traveling alone. What the other person perceives is often directly tied to what we project. Of course, I'm not saying that by 'being friendly' we're opening ourselves up for undesirable situations, I'm only cautioning that women travelers be more aware of how they project to others.

Q: How about a word or two on attractive people you meet?

A: Ladies, always remember: if you meet a HOT guy on vacation, particularly if he's a local, chances are YOU aren't the ONLY one who has found him attractive. 90% of the time, he at least has a local girlfriend or two, if not a wife.

If he just happens to truly be single, guess what? You and all the rest of the women on the island probably give him attention too. Use common sense. The last thing you need to do is to get caught up in another woman's drama while you're on vacation. "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" was only a movie. Don't go there if you're traveling solo. It’s not worth the potential drama, headache or safety risk.

Q: What about pictures when you're traveling solo?

A: Yes, you can come home with great pictures -- with YOU in them. I have an older Minolta Dimage G400 digital camera that still takes spectacular shots. I've taken every picture on this site. My camera has a self-timer so I have shots of myself just as I would if I was traveling with someone else. If you stay at a resort, the hotel staff and others are always happy to take pictures for you. I have found that most of the tour guides on island tours are very adept at picture taking as well so rest assured that you can come home from solo trips with fantastic pictures of scenery including you.

Q: How about Clubs and other local hotspots?

A: A word about Clubs and Bars...all of us know about the horror stories of young women who've gone on vacation and never been seen or heard from again. But please keep in mind: The exact same thing can happen anywhere --New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami...even small towns. We have to be VERY careful at all times -- but not paranoid. Personally, I don't recommend women traveling alone going to nightclubs and other night hotspots. First, it won't take a predator too long to figure out you're by yourself unless you go with a group of women. Watch your back -- and front!

Next, if you go to a club, be sure to let the hotel concierge know where you are going and when you expect to return. Remember, you are traveling solo. Someone needs to know where you are. If you accept a 'date,' make sure you see official ID for him and leave his name with the Concierge as well. Not romantic, but hey, I'd rather be a little cautious than swimming with the fishes --in an unplanned manner.

Also, be very careful with drinking -- even if the drink comes from a bar tender. Yes, I realize this is a little paranoid but again, safety first. If you must have a Bahama Mama to have fun, keep it in your hands and eyesight at all times.

If you feel caged up in your hotel room and you simply must go out, stay at a nice hotel and go to the hotel bar. That way, if you get tipsy, you can go to your room -- alone.

Local restaurants are just fine. The food is good, safe and clean. Again, use the same caution you'd use if you were traveling to Chicago or New York City alone. Even though these islands are small, and most of the locals are completely warm and friendly, there are still unsavory types for which you have to be on the look out.

Q: How do you do your research before you go?

A: When planning a solo voyage, I check a lot of sites, both popular as well as smaller ones. All of the information helps me to get a balanced view of what to expect. I usually start at Tripadvisor and then go to other sites like Frommers.com and Fodors.com , which are also excellent sites to find travel deals along with local information, including great places to visit, stay and eat on each island. The same can be said of the Independent Traveler newsletter.

Q: What are your travel reservation sites?

For the most consistent air and hotel packages, check out Orbitz or Travelocity's Last Minute Deals if your plans are flexible. NOTE: be careful because many of these sites add a 'surcharge' for single travelers (hopefully this practice will change soon!) At the same time, sign up for each airlines' weekly saver fares if your plans are flexible. You can get GREAT deals -- even better than the sites above if you keep your eyes open.

Q: What about international traveling?

A: Keep your passport handy and up to date. ALWAYS keep it in a safe place while on vacation. General Travel Advisories are published and regularly updated on the US Department of State website. This site contains information regarding travel destinations around the globe. I highly recommend that solo travelers browse this site to find out if there are any major concerns brewing.

Q: More Questions?

A: Send Me a Note at girlsflyingsolo@gmail.com

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Vacation travel adventures of women who aren't afraid to go it alone!