Posted on October 10, 2009 - by Janice

Interview with Two Senior Solo Travelers

Bookmark this on Delicious

When I speak to people who travel solo I am always inspired. But when I speak to people in their 60s and 70s who continue to travel solo I’m not only inspired but also happy with the knowledge that the adventures I have now can continue for another twenty or twenty five years.

I want everyone to have the privilege of hearing the thoughts of Claudia and Geraldine, two senior solo travelers from Australia. Here are their comments from an interview by email. There are so many questions I could have asked but since it was by email, I pared my list down to three:

• Why travel solo?
• What do you want out of solo travel?
• How is solo travel different as a senior than in the past?

Why is solo travel important at your particular stage of life?

Claudia - To go off on one’s own, to be able to indulge in the choice of destinations without compromise is very attractive and makes me feel very alive. The freedom to do what I want, when I want and how I want is a driving factor.

Experiencing other cultures and climates, and engage with people of different nationalities is another lure. Also, if you have a passion you can enlarge your knowledge on that subject. For me it is art. I collect “Major Art Galleries” for example and have been to many. Gardens of the world are another interest of mine. To look and be inspired by the art treasures of the world is why I need to travel.

Geraldine - The most important thing for me is that I get time to reconnect with myself. I need solitude and quiet after being so actively engaged all my life in raising a family, running a business, caring for elderly relatives and teaching fulltime.

By going away by myself, I can be me without anyone expecting me to “act” out the roles they normally know me by. I can choose whether I turn on my phone, what time I get up, when I want to go to bed and how I spend my time. I also love the unexpected, like a man offering me olives fresh from a market stall while I’m sitting in the sun in Barcelona or accepting invitations to stay with people after a retreat or conference and so taking off on a different route.

By continuing to travel solo, even if occasionally staying with others, it helps builds my confidence. I know I am testing myself to see if I am still capable and strong enough mentally and physically to do this in my late sixties. I intend to continue to travel until my eighties. At times, the physical takes more effort and I am learning to adjust to that. I give myself more time to get to places and I don’t expect to do as much in one day as I did 20 years ago.

What do you want out of solo travel now that you may not have wanted in the past?

Claudia - After living a life of obligation to husbands, family and friends it’s liberating to travel solo. It enriches my life, is mentally stimulating and I am forced to get out of my comfort zone.

At my stage in life, I’m not looking for night time entertainment or activities. As a budget traveller in the my 3rd Age , I’m looking for a clean bed, hot shower and a quiet area that ensures a good night’s sleep so that tomorrow can be made the most of.

It is a very positive force to visualize yourself in the different destinations you choose to go to. Train or bus is a preferred option as that mode of transport puts me right in the centre of a place, Staying in hostels is also preferred as I am with people that have been or may be going to where I’m going and I can pick up lots of travel tips.

Geraldine – I am looking for deeper experiences while travelling now. I want to spend time with the people in different countries and dialogue with them.

I enjoy taking part in experiences and events with like-minded people. Things such as women’s conferences, writing, art or environmental workshops, music festivals or spiritual retreats give me the opportunity to share with others. These are opportunities to engage with people from other cultures.

How is solo travel different now than in the past?

Claudia – I have traveled solo for 20 years now, with a lot of travel in between with a partner. I have been in the position of having heaps more stamina. I would go day and night, running on adrenaline, trying to cram everything into the time I had.

Now I’m happy just to ”be there” wherever “there” happens to be.

I find no need to beat myself up if I don’t achieve as much in a day, or I don’t experience all that that particular destination has to offer. Now I make plans, but if I see something interesting I will abandon those plans and follow by intuition. I’ve have had some serendipitous moments because of making decisions on the spot.

A mobile phone is a must now and can save the day; for example, when accommodation is a bit tricky or when you have made a reservation and your day doesn’t go according to plan!! Email has also become important for me. It allows me to stay in touch with my family on a regular basis so that they know I’m OK. I’m over sending Postcards and bringing back presents for everyone.

Geraldine – I now want hostels or B & Bs that are close to main transport and don’t require hiring a car to get to. I want to be able to do short day tours from the hostel or from a central place that is easy to get to. I would like to have a mobile phone that worked in every country and doesn’t cost a fortune and I also want to be able to check my emails every few days.

I have always enjoyed staying in hostels and with further financial restraints I am now exploring how I can travel doing volunteering as well as joining groups that will give me inexpensive accommodation and the chance to meet new people.

THANK YOU to both Claudia and Geraldine for sharing their experience and insights.