| Kristy, aged 32, had recently separated from her | | | | "old trains", so she spent the day in London, visiting |
| partner and needed to "get away". All her previous | | | | museums, galleries and, surprise, surprise, shopping! |
| travels had been with a friend and traveling solo was | | | | TRAVEL TIPS. |
| real "out of comfort zone" stuff. Kristy did her | | | | Lonely Planet offers the following tips for women |
| research and made some pleasant, surprising | | | | travelers: |
| discoveries. | | | | Try to speak a few words of the local language. |
| Her first pleasant discovery was that many travel | | | | Avoid flights that arrive late at night. |
| organizations now no longer charge a single | | | | Explore the area where you are staying thoroughly |
| supplement. Out of a selection, she chose Intrepid | | | | by daylight. It's important to have your bearings and |
| because it provided the kind of travel experiences | | | | know any parts to avoid. |
| that suited her. I met Kristy on an Intrepid tour | | | | If you're taking a taxi, only use registered or |
| based in Lucca, Italy and she was having a ball. She | | | | government run ones. If you don't know which they |
| discovered that as a single traveler, it is so much | | | | are, go to one of the upmarket hotel chains and get |
| easier to make new friends. Her initial fears had | | | | the staff to call one. Ask them how much you should |
| disappeared and she joined in the activities, including | | | | expect to pay. |
| Italian cooking classes, cycle rides through the Tuscan | | | | Spend a bit extra on a hotel in a decent area. The |
| hills and winery tours, with enthusiasm. | | | | streets will be safer at night and there will be more |
| I was surprised at the number of single women in | | | | security in the hotel. |
| the group. Most were in the age range between 23 | | | | If you get unwanted attention from men, don't say |
| and 50 and all expressed initial fears of traveling alone. | | | | you'll meet them later to try and get rid of them. |
| Then they discovered 2 huge advantages. | | | | They will turn up. Say "no" politely and firmly. |
| The first was personal freedom and the second, | | | | Wear a wedding ring and say you've got seven kids, |
| independence. The simple pleasures of YOU deciding | | | | if anyone asks. Yes, you shouldn't have to, but |
| where to go, where to eat and where to shop, | | | | sometimes it's the easiest way to fend off advances. |
| cannot be beaten. If you want to stop for a while to | | | | { Note from Graeme: If you're only 23, make it two |
| watch the setting sun change the snow on the | | | | kids, but the message is the same!} |
| Matterhorn from white to gold, you do! If you want | | | | Footnote: When our Intrepid tour finished, Kristy, full |
| to enjoy the peace and silence of St Mark's Square, | | | | of confidence, was off on further adventures. She |
| Venice in the early hours of the morning, you do! | | | | had purchased a Eurail pass before she left home and |
| As a professional travel writer, I frequently travel | | | | was planning to explore Italy, France and Switzerland |
| with my wife, but often we travel alone. It allows me | | | | {staying in Youth Hostels} before traveling on |
| to explore and discover cities and attractions that | | | | Eurostar to London, then flying home. |
| interest me. My wife Ros, has travel interests of her | | | | She was already planning future trips. Her parting |
| own. I have a particular interest in rail travel and on a | | | | words: "I love walking and plan next year to go to |
| recent visit to England, traveled to York to explore | | | | New Zealand to take the Milford Sound and fiord |
| the famous railway museum. She has no interest in | | | | walk. |