Solo travel is having a moment. For me—a backpacker at heart, with a penchant for arty, boutique hotels—that moment began around 20 years ago when I embarked on my first solo sojourn to Central America, inspired by the Latin-American handicraft store I was working in at the time. After saving relentlessly, I took off, and the solo travel bug firmly took hold. I haven’t looked back since.
I still enjoy holidaying with friends and have backpacked with a boyfriend on a seriously tight budget ($20 a day for a year), yet I always return to traveling solo, especially during trips when I’m away for prolonged periods. Good books and new acquaintances keep me company, and I like to travel slowly, often by local bus or train. This style of travel affords me time to think and ponder and to truly drink in the experiences I have without too much distraction.
