Part 1 was a general introduction.
Part 2 covered Find the trip you want, we’ll walk through the itinerary to identify scary parts. 1- Did the luggage arrive? 2-Is someone there to meet me? 3-If my plane is delayed, should I get hysterical?
Part 3 Can you sleep in this hotel? Will you be ok in a room alone?… Will you be ok in a room alone? What if you can’t do something on the trip? What if you get sick? What if you don’t understand the language?
Part 4 What is the others don’t welcome you? Will you be less traveled than the others? Are they are from big cities? Are you richer? Poorer? Fatter? Skinnier? Quieter? Chattier?
This blog post is more about women than about travel. Who doesn’t remember the first day of school? I was 5, just across the street was Public School 9. Was I ever scared! I was 17 off to college; again excited but scared. Women are concerned when walking into a party alone. Similarly, we are nervous when joining a new travel group. So how do we get over this?
Practice being new! Spend a day away from home and talk to 3 people during the day: salesperson, cab driver, waitress? Just do it even if it seems awkward.
Ask for names and contacts of others in the group and connect before the trip with a simple email.
Come prepared to smile and be positive. No one likes a downer or complainer. If you do have a complaint, speak to our guide or rep away from the group. Some complaints are valid of course; just don’t brand yourself as the negative one.
Practice a tag line if you need a crutch: I am so-and-so from Chicago and this is my first trip solo. I am looking forward to the xxx museum? to the village visit? to the speaker? Most of us do this subliminally before going to an event alone, don’t we? You don’t want to share? Then don’t. Remember the trip is for you and about you. It is to make friends for some and not for others.
It is hard in a post to comment on how different we all are. Here are some snippets about women we have traveled with:
She grew up in Appalachia, ran away, and is now a municipal employee at a mid-level.
She was an MD in the US Cabinet.
She lost a child and learned to travel as a new gift.
She lives in N Dakota, knew no one who even had a passport.
She drives a school bus and spends a small salary on travel.
She is a young exec, joined us from Italy to see S. America with a women’s group.
She got the first promotion in IT and celebrated with our trip.
She is single, a widow, divorced, married or partnered to someone who hates travel, can’t travel, won’t travel, nervous about travel. Or did it all with his first wife.
We are all different, we are all the same. Don’t spend another second worrying about fitting it.
There is a last-minute spot on Berlin April 29-May 5, on Chile and mysterious Easter Island, Sicily with medieval parades and fabulous food, or Ixtapan Spa and Fitness May 28-June 4, or October in New York City as test tastes of our group. More on our site.
www.thewomenstravelgroup.com Phyllis@thewomenstravelgroup.com
Call us also at 646 309 5607 Share with friends who are armchair travelers.
