Getting Started with Your Travels

Earlier this week I met with a lovely woman, Trish, who is embarking on a life journey of travel. She’s newly divorced and her daughter is off to college this September. What’s a gal to do? Head out to see the world, obviously!

She has funds to travel for a few years (a very lucky Wanderluster) but will be coming back to Seattle when her daughter is home from college to spend time with her. In the meantime, just where DO you start when there are so many options?

Trish’s first stop will be the Dolomites, where her brother and sister-in-law will be this fall to do some hiking. “Excellent,” I told her. “This will help you slip into traveling in a relatively comfortable situation because you’re starting off with people you know.”

There are many things that I talk about in my book, Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, to help the reluctant traveler get started. Here are a couple of suggestions:

1)    Have a purpose – What is it that floats your boat? What are your hobbies? Are you a salsa dancer? Love photography or cooking? Plan your next adventure around what you love to do at home. At the very least you can incorporate a pursuit of this into a bigger trip. This will help you feel more comfortable in both planning the travels and actually putting yourself out there in new environments.
2)    Talk to those who have gone before you – there is a wealth of information today about every destination on the planet. Seek out others who have traveled where you plan to go and ask lots of questions. Visit travel forums such as those found on Wanderlust and Lipstick, Lonely Planet and Fodors. Post questions and contact others who’ve been to where you are going. It will make you feel SO much better!

What do you do to get started?

Happy Travels!