The benefits of Solo Travel

#65 - Benefits of Solo Travel (EDITED)

Thu, May 23, 2024 12:32PM • 18:47

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

retreat, people, travel, solo, adventure, book, friend, tour, share, trip, emma, itinerary, husband, space, find, coming, days, business, wanted, safe

00:01

Do you want to live a life of freedom and adventure? Are you wanting more than the daily grind? Me too. Welcome to the Emma Lovell show, a place where we talk about living a life you love now, I'm your host, Emma Lovell, and my number one value is freedom. I've spent the last 14 years running a business and traveling the world. And now I take my husband and toddler along for the adventure to it's possible and I know you can create a life doing what you truly love as well. This podcast will inspire, motivate and encourage you to go after your dreams to create a life you love until you get now don't wait for a time and or someday in the future. I'll be sharing episodes weekly about how I harmonize business travel and self care. I'll also bring on incredible guests to share their journeys, wins the challenges and how they're creating a life they love. Let's jump in and get dreaming. This is a space for you to manifest a life you love.

01:03

I would like to acknowledge and recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this place now known as Australia. I am grateful for the continuing care of the land waterways and skies where I work live, listen, learn and play. From here on you can bear country and from wherever you are listening, I pay my respects to the elders past and present.

01:25

Hello, lovely one. And welcome to the podcast today I am actually filming inside what was a bank. So there's amazing manifesting energy going on these few days. I'm here on a private retreat that I organized with three amazing creative business friends, just to come and focus on our business not working in our business. I am in the master suite, which is fantastic. I thought I would do a video today, as well as a photo as well as an audio podcast. So for the ones will this will end up on YouTube as well or you'll see some snippets on socials. But if you're listening Hello, and I hope that the audio is okay for you. Trying to get all of the content covered, which is something I should probably do an episode about how we how we capture content, how I use content, to promote my business to promote my personal brand, and share all the things so I love giving you a behind the scenes look and telling you honestly where I am. I'm currently in active where I have a fabulous outfit. Behind me I did a an amazing photo shoot here kind of impromptu yesterday. And tomorrow I have my book cover photo shoot. So I've got another outfit over there, which is very, very exciting. The book, the book launches have now been announced you can go to Emma lovell.au forward slash capital B, book launch capital B capital L, we've just noticed that some people aren't getting to the link because of that. So the book launches are on my website, it also on the events page. So Emma lovell.au, forward slash events if you want to learn about that. But today we're talking about the benefits of solo travel. I have done a lot of my travel solo. So this weekend is not solo, I'm on a private retreat that I organized. So I came with people. But I travel a lot solo like I travel to places solo, then I go meet up with people that I have gone and done adventures and trips where I don't know anybody. And then I turn up and I meet them.

03:25

I think there's some incredible benefits of solo travel. And I've actually written two articles about this that we'll put into the show notes. So I wrote an article, a guide to traveling solo for travel bulletin. Travel bulletin is an industry publication for the travel industry. And so I shared some of my tips in there. And I will talk a little bit to that one today. And you can get that online travel bulletin.com.au. I've also shared about this on she defined which is an online magazine for amazing women. And I talked about how to make the most of a solo adventure.

03:58

I've done many, many of those. But what I wanted to also sort of talk about was, I think sometimes people really wanted to go on things because they don't know someone. And so even with my retreats, I've got two coming up at the moment, as well as my retreat days where I teach people, but don't really believe like a nervous to come and I've got it in my FAQs like what if I'm coming solo, I think it's great. I think you can meet people, I think sometimes what I've found is when I've done these trips, and people have come or come on a retreat, and they'll come with their friend, they then feel restricted by their friend or by the colleague because they know them in a certain way. And you'll you might be worried about their experience or how they're thinking or

04:43

I don't know kind of be a bit too comfortable going away with them. Like going away from the group and not engaging in the group. And I don't know for me, sometimes it can be a little bit of a red flag when I'm tour managing or when I'm posting something and two people come together and like are they really going to allow themselves to be open

05:00

Are they going to be open to the experience? Or are they going to sort of just want to be like in a clique with their friend? Sometimes I've been proven wrong. And it's been really great. Sometimes the friends have, yeah, like, God, I'm better with other people and almost separated during the trip. But there's also obviously traveling, traveling with family, traveling as a couple. And there's, you know, so often, especially with India, and this year, I've got Sri Lanka, I hear people wanting to come because they're like, my husband won't go with me, or none of my friends want to go. Or, yeah, I can't get anyone to go with me. So I want to come on your retreat, because I know that we safe, I know that meet other people or be with other people. You've been there before. So you can help me. And so yeah, I'd really invite that as well as like,

05:44

as a retreat host, I'm going to make it a safe, beautiful environment for you. Even traveling internationally, and it's a big deal. But even for, you know, I've got someone coming on my northern New South Wales one, and they said, it's a really big deal going to something by themselves, and choosing to put themselves forward, choosing to put themselves first and have this tree of like, I think the other thing that comes with it is people can feel if you're not single, you're like, Oh, well, I'm taking money away from the family, or I'm taking money away from my partner, or, you know, who am I to indulge in this? And it's like, My husband actually tells us like one he likes having the house to himself.

06:20

So he's actually quite happy for me to go throughout. We've been together 10 years in September.

06:27

I think he enjoys his alone time. But yeah, again, there's places that he doesn't want to go. He doesn't, doesn't want to travel, the volume that I travel. Some trips, I don't think like people said, I went did Coda trek, and I went by myself, and they're like, oh, isn't that coming with you? And I said, No. And thank goodness, he would have winched the whole time. I love him so much. But he would have been complaining about it. And and it was a challenge I needed to undertake myself. And then there's other things I've done, where I'm like, Oh, I'm glad I'm here. And I'm doing it. But I want to come back and do it with him. I went on my own to Bali last year. And my husband really, I was like, I kind of feel like I need this. I was reaching burnout. And he was like, Yeah, I think you do, and I'm happy for you to go. And it was only five days, I only went for five days. And so I went solo, I went without my husband and my son. But I went and I stayed in a hotel across the road from a hotel. My dad was attending a conference out. So I didn't wasn't on my own. But I made a lot of time on my own. He said, You know if I wanted to bunk in and I said no, I really need my own space. So I booked my own hotel room.

07:33

But yes, I've got the benefits of being able to hang out with people, but also being able to have some time on my own. So solo travel to me means going, going, you're on your own. It doesn't mean being alone. I think that's people think solid travels, like you've got to go and do like Cheryl strides wild, go into the wild and be alone. And I think that's a terrible idea. That's not safe sometimes.

07:59

But I think, you know, maybe it's been confident or comfortable enough to spend some time on your own have your own company. But also you just you're never going to be alone for long, people always gonna find you actually find out sometimes, like, I want to be alone, leave me alone. So I have some tips for that as well. And I'm just going to refer back to a few for my sheet to find because I don't write things down. But I like to, to share these. So yeah, look, it's been on whether it's a trip interstate or a multi country tour or traveling to visit a friend somewhere in the world, there's, I just think there's something so inspiring about traveling by yourself. And I love spending time with my family and friends. I think everybody knows that about me. But I've shared some amazing trips and experiences with other people.

08:44

And I like who I've met along the way. But I also just really like my alone time as well.

08:51

Hey, I'm back and I am here on the restaurant, save India retreat. It's been completely different to what anyone told me it would be. And it's been completely different to yeah, all the things people say. And it's just been eye opening coming here. But in such a magical way.

09:07

I've gone on a path that I didn't actually anticipate before this retreat, and I've landed on answers that I've definitely been avoiding. So it's been really eye opening and more than just the work that I've done on myself. It's actually been the gift of everyone that I've met on this retreat. I genuinely think they've been friendships that will last a lifetime. Traveling on your own is an adventure. It's, you don't know what's going to happen, you can be challenged, everything's up to you. So for me, that's a wonderful feeling. And it's it's really like freedom. But I know that like for some other people that the idea of this is horrible and heading out in a solo adventure could be so daunting. So you know having to make every decision and be dependent on yourself can be really intimidating. So I've just put together some tips. One of those is plan ahead. So you know, I think that makes sense for travel but especially when you're on your own make sure you have booked

10:00

Your flights, you know, one of my girlfriends is going away for three months. She's initially doing a tour so that she's like just can ease into being in South America. And then she'll do some other things on her own later, but she's locked in accommodation, at least for the start some tours some things that she knows she has some structure and can meet people, and then potentially, then she might meet new people and do things with them. But having some the travel routes and the research before you go can really help.

10:28

I think you need to allow some flexibility, I don't think having like you could just go solo, but join a tour or join a retreat. So to me, that is still solo travel, like you just going alone, you're not going with a friend or family member. So booking your retreat, booking a tour can be a great way for you to put your toe in the water with solo travel. And you might just literally catch the flight alone. But even then, you know, I had a client who's like, Oh, I'm a bit nervous about getting the flight. And I said, Well, we'll find somebody who's flying at the same time as you and or from the same city as you and you can book the same flight as them so that you have someone to literally travel with. Some of my clients have asked me, When are you flying, I'll fly wherever, whatever time you're flying, so I can be with you. And that's fine. I'm happy to do that.

11:11

But I think having some flexibility within your itinerary. And even if you go and do that group tour, maybe just booking one night by yourself so that you can just have a little bit of time to do the thing that you want to do. safety wise, I really think you should share your itinerary, I think you should do this, regardless of the solo trip or any type of trip, make sure you're sharing your writing at ternary. With a loved one. People know where you are. You can also register yourself on Smart Traveler and things like that, like that's just safe, common sense, especially for international travel. But tell people where you're going. Give them the details of your flights and locations and stuff. I'm again, I'm not advocating for people going out into the wilderness. And just being alone, I'm advocating for you having a daring, backing, confidence building of yourself. And that trip, like I said, could be going on a retreat, it's not it doesn't have to be going on a big challenging adventure and a one month trip around the world, it could just be going for you the challenge could be leaving your children or your partner for the first time doing something for yourself for the first time. You know, it might be re connecting with yourself like a client who has doubled travel is really adventurous, but then she had kids and was always with them. And she flew from Perth to Gold Coast to come on my retreat. And like that was a big deal because she was leaving her kids for the first time. And I felt really honored that she trusted me and felt safe to do that. And that meant that she could knew she could do and she could open the door to doing more of it. Um, communicate with friends and family again, like you don't have to be switched off and totally in, like, no man's land. You're not really alone. Like you never have to be really alone. Like you can always you could be on WhatsApp, you could be like talking with people, but making some time for yourself and doing it solo. Doing the actual physical act of traveling solo, like getting the plane getting the train, getting the bus going for the walk, going to the event on your own without the safety of your other like of that the safety of the connection, I guess, but you can still be connected. And so yeah, doing something like Larapinta where I was offline for six days, that was really challenging. After having my son was the first time being away from him for six days. And I really pined and ate for him. But I knew it was kind of important to push myself to do it again, probably a little bit long and a little bit too soon. For the age he was for me he was fine. He had a great time. But for me, it was just a little bit.

13:42

It kind of tainted the experience slightly because even though I've done lots of that type of stuff before.

13:48

I just, it was really just too much for me to do that solo at that time. So it's recognizing where you're at in your life and not not doing it just because of other people. Other reasons.

14:00

I think as well, one of the things I say is take a book. So like if you do want to be alone, always have a book with you. Like you're never alone if you have a book. And so sometimes when you're alone, people can sense it. And so say you go to a bar or restaurant, you want to have a meal by yourself. I want to be on the plane and I don't want to talk to someone people always are very open and warm energy. So people always want to talk to me. And I'm I know I talk a lot here but people think I want to talk all the time. I do not.

14:29

I just I want some alone time. And so if you carry a book with you if you have a book with you and even Sarah Jessica Parker said this on tour, she's like I always have a book in my bag. Because then you can always have your book and you can pretend you're reading or you can actually be reading, you can feel like you're

14:47

you know have company within the characters. But you can also be like, it's like a sign to other people. Like leave me alone. Don't speak to me. You know, there's times where I'm even like writing in my journal, and they will because I'm writing so much they actually interrupt

15:00

Need to ask me what I'm writing? Or am I a writer? And it's like, Yes, I am currently writing. Leave me alone. You actually want alone time. But I think the one of the greatest things I love about going solo is is giving yourself the time to reflect, I think you need that. And even though I'm here on this private retreat, with three business girlfriends, we have all separated in the house. And it is a big house, thankfully, but we've all got our own rooms, we've all got space within the house. And we've all been working independently on our own stuff throughout the day just to focus on what we need and what we want. And if you don't give yourself that time and space, you don't grow, you don't move forward. And so even coming on one of my retreats, even though there are 12 other people, you have plenty of space in the itinerary and program that you can take yourself away from the group. And that you can have some quiet time, go for a walk, go in the sauna, go in the spa, get a massage, sit in your room,

16:02

you know, go in the pool,

16:05

go and sit at the dining table. And just and just say like, I just want some time for me, that's fine. One of my clients doesn't get a lot of that. She's actually here with me this weekend to she just was so stoked to be able to like use the free time to sit and work on her business and think about future ideas. Because when she's at home, she's got kids and a husband. And when she's at the office, she's got staff,

16:28

she didn't get a lot of time to herself. So for her the greatest gift of the retreat was just getting time to work on whatever she wanted to work on and do whatever she wanted to do in that free time. So that's what I wanted to share today. Some of the benefits of solo travel again, I'll share those are in the article. And like I said, it's simply could be that you come on a retreat, or you go on a group tour, but you go alone, you don't take a friend, you don't rely upon your partner, or your family member or your friend, to keep you company, you back yourself and you have the confidence to do something for yourself to give yourself time and space. And to have your own little adventure in whatever degree you want to have it. So I hope this has inspired you. Again, I've got spaces on Northern word haven't said again. In the show notes, you'll find the link to the northern New South Wales retreat, you'll find the Sri Lanka retreat, which both have spots available only to left Sri Lanka. A few more for northern New South Wales, but that's coming up fast.

17:28

You can also find all the information about my retreats on Emma lovell.au forward slash retreats. I also plugged my book, I hope you will come to my book launch Emma lovell.au forward slash book launches capital B capital L on the book launch. And

17:45

yeah, you can also read those articles that I mentioned which will be in the show notes from travel bulletin and she defined with some of my guidance and experience about having a solo trip. So have a wonderful day and I would love to hear about any solo trips or adventures you have planned or you end up taking. Thank you.

18:04

Thank you for listening lovely one. I hope this has inspired you to dream big and start creating a life you love today. If you love what you're hearing, don't forget to follow and rate on Spotify and rate review and subscribe on iTunes. It helps other awesome people to find this podcast and get motivated and inspired as well. Want to stay connected. Come and join the live a life you love group on Facebook or connect with me on Instagram. Emma lovell.au The same as my website that all the details are in the show notes lovely. I'll see you next episode for more inspiration, motivation and freedom seeking. Go out there and live a life you love