Traveling solo, in groups, or for business

1. Solo travelers

My friend Stanley told me a story about his mom traveling through Venice, Italy when she was in her early seventies. While sightseeing she met another woman around the same age, who was well- dressed, well mannered, and a charming woman. The two start talking and hit it off, so they decided to have lunch in a nice restaurant so they could keep talking. After their delicious Italian lunch, the Italian woman excused herself to the restroom and never came back! Stanley said his mom was fond of the memory and mentioned the story for the rest of her life, into her 80’s before she passed away. The point of the story is that being alone makes you more approachable which can be good for making
friends, but also exposes you to undesirables so you have to be alert. Although traveling solo can seem scary, you are more likely to get bumped, upgraded, or allowed to join groups of other people. When you’re solo, you are never outnumbering or intimidating, which makes it
easier to join in with others. You’ll make friends faster and you can decide to stay as long or as little as you like in the company of your new friends. Leave off the headphones to increase approachability.

While in Nepal, I was trying desperately to book a tour to Bhutan (which is the only way you can get into the country due to its restrictions on travelers) for the next day since I was only there for a few days and had not made any prior arrangements. The tour groups were all full for 1-2 weeks out, but I kept asking until I found an operator who had a group of Chinese tourists headed to Bhutan. The group was very friendly and would ask me questions throughout our trip, they were extremely curious about American culture. I found the experience very enriching as I had 7 other people always asking, sharing stories, and reflecting on the differences in our cultures. The folks were very cool and each of them would line up to take a solo picture with me at every sight we visited, they seemed very proud to have an American friend with them, as was I to have the opportunity to share the experience with these kind folks. Bhutan is amazing, but the time I shared with the group of middle-aged friends from China was even more rewarding.

2. Group travel



Going on a group trip with a group of friends or family can be an awesome and unforgettable experience. But in practice, it can be tough agreeing on details, and can often result in disagreements over hotels and the itinerary. The key is to be cool, patient, flexible to whatever comes up and be a team player. Be on time, don’t make the others wait or the group is not going to appreciate you. Steer clear of conversations that are tenuous as in politics or religion. Communicate so everyone is clear on what the objectives are, be democratic so everyone feels they have a say in things, typically its majority rules. Plan out all the details, so there are fewer decisions to make and less unexpected changes that someone may not agree with, and finally consider signing up with a tour group who will handle all of the logistics for you and make things a lot easier for everyone to agree to. If you decide to plan the trip yourself I’d recommend renting a house on Airbnb or Home Away. Renting a house can save money and create a convivial environment because no one can hide out in their hotel room. Renting a house allows you to cook together, eat together, and just sit and talk as much as you’d like. You can buy groceries in advance using PeaPod or Amazon Pantry so everything is waiting for you when you arrive at the house.
Resorts are also a good option as they have a lot of the details worked out for you ahead of time. Such as meals and most have a variety of activities available to guests. I booked a trip to Cancun for a group of 10 for 10 days and it was one of the best trips I have taken. The hotels were running around $100 a night and I would have had to rent 3 rooms. Instead, we rented a 4 bedroom house for 16 people on Airbnb for $40 a night. We rented a 12 seater van for $35 a day and we found some buffets out by the pyramids for $2 a person with traditional Mayan dancers included.
The most important lesson I learned was not to be overly ambitious as everyone slept different schedules, ate at different speeds, and took different amounts of time to get ready. The best part was just hanging out together cooking, chopping veggies together, eating together, everyone cooking their favorite dish to share with everyone, talking, playing games together, and planning our outings together. The time just seemed to fly by as we just enjoyed being interwoven in each other’s company.

3. Business travel



It is especially important to travel light during business trips. Minimalists have an edge, financially you save money, health wise you do not tire from carrying items around (your back and shoulders will thank you), and you will have increased mobility to be on time and get in and out of places.

Do as much preparation and research as you can before your trip, so you can have a schedule of what you’d like to see before you get there. If you have limited time go for the must-see. Use your time wisely before dinner or during a lunch break eat while you tour around etc. Try combining elements of your trip with your business trip. So you can deduct parts of your trip from your taxes.

Here is a quick business list:

• Maintain a bag ready to go with the essentials so you can get up and go quickly.


• Always bring at least one outfit for going out somewhere nice.


• Pack light, use some of the previously mentioned suggestions.


• Avoid checking in bags, since these trips can be short, you don’t want to waste time waiting for lost or delayed luggage.


• Bring items that can be used up, so their space can then be used up on the way back with items you are bringing home.


• Make sure you getting miles for as many aspects of your trip that you can rentals cars, meals, tickets, and all purchases.


• Make sure your cell phone plan covers the country your visiting, buy a plan that does, buy a SIM card for a local carrier, or at least know how much it will cost you. So you do not have your phone in airplane mode for the entire trip.

I talk more about any other concept of traveling in my latest Amazon book. Click here to be redirected to the book.