{"id":29872,"date":"2022-06-11T01:51:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-11T01:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=29872"},"modified":"2022-06-13T07:03:50","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T07:03:50","slug":"why-you-should-travel-solo-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/why-you-should-travel-solo-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you should travel solo this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Claire McCamley<\/a>, University of Huddersfield<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you think about booking a summer holiday, you might think of trips with partners, friends or family. The idea of going on holiday alone can be daunting, or even unappealing. It raises all kinds of questions \u2013 who will you talk to? Who will you eat with? Will you be safe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has long been a stigma against solo consumption<\/a>. Societal norms encourage us to be with someone \u2013 leisure experiences are billed as something to share with others<\/a>. There may also be a level of guilt or self-indulgence associated with solo travel, feeling as if you are shirking responsibility or abandoning time with family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An increase in single-person households<\/a>, however, means the hospitality industry is now serving solo consumers in addition to families and couples. The continuously blurred line<\/a> between work and play, particularly for Millennials and younger generations, makes it easier to work remotely or travel as part of our jobs. We are more transient than ever, and have more opportunities to work and travel alone without feeling completely disconnected from the rest of our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Quarter<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This article is part of Quarter Life<\/a><\/strong>, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be interested in:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working in the metaverse: what virtual office life could look like<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love Island ditches fast fashion: how reality celebrities influence young shoppers\u2019 habits<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long social distancing: how young adults\u2019 habits have changed since COVID<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In recent years, people have been increasingly<\/a> travelling alone \u2013 including younger vacationers. They also share their experiences to a large audience on social media \u2013 the hashtag #SoloTravel has over 7 million posts associated with it on Instagram. Solo travellers are taking part in the growing solo economy<\/a> \u2013 new products and services targeting the lone consumer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotels, cruises<\/a>, restaurants, tourism companies<\/a> and festivals are showing how design, staff and technology can be tailored to accommodate \u2013 and even encourage \u2013 solo consumption in travel. Our research<\/a> into the experience of solo consumers in coffee shops offers insight into how solo consumption can be as pleasurable and fulfilling as going with a partner or friend. Through freewriting<\/a> exercises, these consumers shared their own experiences. Their words offer some reasons you should try it too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be together, alone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our research participants highlighted key factors that help them enjoy their solo experience \u2013 high seats and window views allowing them to sit back and observe others\u2019 lives without any direct interaction or connection. You don\u2019t need to arrive with others to feel part of a social environment. Alone in a crowded square or on a busy beach, the proximity of other people and their conversations can be a source of comfort, distraction or even entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seat is important -\u2013 I like the window especially a stool and \u201cshelf\u201d table facing out \u2026 I see people, imagine their lives, see cars and life pass by. I watch other customers, I watch the street out the window, the clich\u00e9 of \u201cwatching the world pass by\u201d. The setting, context and environment of the caf\u00e9 are important to that moment of pause.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Take time for yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being alone can be a therapeutic experience<\/a>, a time to process thoughts, feelings and emotions and leave you ready to tackle the world again. Perhaps take time to write, draw or practice another creative activity in your own time. Bask in your own thoughts without feeling pressure to please anyone else or force a conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting alone with my thoughts can be a comforting experience; picking a seat, getting comfy\u2026I can find silence with my thoughts and don\u2019t feel any pressure to act for anybody or involve myself in a conversation that doesn\u2019t interest me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Something as simple as a counter seat by a window can make solo travellers feel more comfortable. Rawpixel.com \/ Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Get out of your comfort zone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being able to do your own thing, without needing to consider others can be relaxing and can also give you the opportunity to do something you\u2019ve never done before, free of judgement. You might want to go to some sort of class, shop or have a complete chill-out day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Findings from our research indicate that time spent doing things alone can relieve some of the pressures that companions can bring. Alone time gives you the space to experience things in your own time and take in your surroundings without distraction. In doing this, you may find yourself in new situations, away from your comfort zone \u2013 an energising and enthralling experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embrace solo traveller culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Solo travellers have their own way of doing things<\/a>, they have a shared behaviour and process and often become a collective in themselves. They acknowledge the process of travelling alone and respect others doing the same, and may even seek out spaces to be alone, together. Solo travellers can engage in a shared experience and dialogue while maintaining their own individualism \u2013 helping each other when needed, but also leave one another alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We search for places where we feel we fit \u2026 We are happy to smile at one another. We don\u2019t need to chat to engage. We are happy on our own with a coffee. I am amongst my tribe.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Claire McCamley<\/a>, Senior Lecturer in marketing, University of Huddersfield<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Claire McCamley, University of Huddersfield When you think about booking a summer holiday, you might think of trips with partners, friends or family. The idea of going on holiday alone can be daunting, or even unappealing. It raises all kinds of questions \u2013 who will you talk to? Who will you eat with? Will you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":29873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[277],"tags":[224,11961,11607,11960],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29872"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29872"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29882,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29872\/revisions\/29882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}