Top 10 single gal travel tips

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller

It took nearly thirty years, but I developed the passion, the desire, the adiction to travel. For so long I felt that I needed to make my journey one that was shared with a special someone and in so doing, I denied myself the wonders of seeing the world. By circumstance, I found myself with the opportunity to travel solo last December. When suggested to me, I thought it was preposterous. Why would I want to see the world's most romantic destinations -- Italy, Barcelona, Paris -- by myself? The thought of all the kissing in the streets of Montmartre and the hills of Tuscany was nauseating. Still, a wave of reason (or maybe bravery or insanity for that matter) swept over me and I knew it was something I had to do.

So, I did the unthinkable. With my single ticket in hand, I boarded the plane, I disembarked in Rome and I started the voyage that would change everything. What surprised me is that no one questioned why I was there by myself. As someone who couldn't even go to a movie theatre alone, here I was, half way around the world and feeling comfortable in my own skin. It was the most liberating experience. I allowed myself to open up to strangers, to try things that I never would at home and to just learn more about what it meant to be me. I learned more about myself in those three weeks than I had in a lifetime. There is something about travel that tears down the walls us North Americans have built and allows us to see the world's basic foundations.

For the single woman who is considering this option, I wanted to provide the following tips:

1. Stay in hostels. Through my professional life, I had had grown accustomed to five star accommodation and had preconceived notions that "hostel" was a euphemism for "dorm". Go to www.hostelworld.com and read all of the comments. Find a balance between social environment, price, fun and location, and go in with an open mind. Hostels can be for all ages and allows the single traveler the opportunity to make friends and touring partners.

2. Buy a bottle, make a friend. In addition to the above, a hostel allows the opportunity to make friends while preparing dinner or just hanging out in the evening. Buying a cheap bottle of wine and being prepared to share will grow your friendship circle exponentially.

3. Keep an open mind. Hostels come in all shapes and sizes. Some are like big college dorms, others are like homey apartments that have been transformed into rooms with multiple beds. When visiting a new location, remain positive and be prepared for anything. You will never be disappointed but you may be pleasantly surprised!

4. Try to speak the language. If you are single and female, it is quite likely that you will have a lot of men making an effort to speak to you. They will likely start a conversation in English, but try your hardest to respond in their language. Even if you make mistakes they will be impressed with your attempts and will be that much more willing to help you out.

5. Stay close to the town centre. As a single traveler, you are bound to want to explore the streets and - hopefully - enjoy the nightlife. Plan to arrive in a new city by daylight and find accommodation in the city centre. It may be tempting to stay close to a train station, but these areas are sometimes less desirable and are often a fair distance from the city's main attractions. Having a central starting point for each day's adventures will also help you thoroughly cover the city and allow for quick trips should you have forgotten to visit a monument or two.

6. Pack a dress and heels! A necessity for the single gal at home, don't get caught up in the idea that you will just be visiting monuments and rolling into bed at night. A cute cotton dress and heels does not take up much room in a backpack or suitcase but will make all the difference. If you are visiting multiple locations, no one needs to know that you have already worn the dress several times. Dressing up increases your chances to have a glass of wine purchased for you and also makes for great vacay pictures!

7. Pack light and be ready to shop. Like a single woman really needs to be told to go shopping, but use this opportunity to buy great clothes for cheaper than you would at home (Canada in particular).

8. Be open to any experience. Even if your intention is to soak up as much culture as possible, don't prevent yourself from being open to wonderfully eye opening and life changing experiences. You never know what a chance encounter might become.

9. Read more. The above tips are light and fun, but for information on how to remain safe while traveling view this article. Your safety is your #1 priority and concern.

10. Live and enjoy. This is your time to learn about yourself and shine. Live your life with no regrets and make a million memories.

Singled out: Two minus one equals not invited

It happens so suddenly. One moment you’re part of the club and the next you find yourself excommunicated from your girlfriends, your confidantes. Did you get in a fight? Maybe you told a lie? Perhaps you engaged in a little backstabbing cattiness? No, it is all much worse than that. You broke up with your boyfriend.

Once upon a time your friendship made sense. Dinner parties would be evenly matched, your boyfriends would have XBox competitions, Entertainment Books would be purchased for 2-4-1 outings and the planets would align in coupled bliss. You shared dreams of weddings, births and your children growing up to become boyfriend-girlfriend. You would be seated together at weddings and watch the single ladies fight over the bouquet. Life was perfect, as was your friendship.

But then one day you announce your break-up. On the road to this end, your friends stood behind you. They listened and offered a shoulder as you cried yourself to sleep. They even came over with a bottle of wine to help you drown your sorrows. But as the dust clears, so do they.

The reality is, you are no longer part of the couple’s club, so what could you possibly have in common? After all, what is there to talk about if you can’t talk about your significant others?

Maybe this all sounds a little exaggerated, but when you are dealing with a breakup, losing your friends at the same time makes it so much worse. The questions you have about your own self worth become amplified and you feel very alone. After all, no one wants to be around you.

So, can singles and couples co-exist? Here are a few tips for couples to help their single friends:

1. Do invite singles to dinner parties. Even if there isn’t an equal guy-gal ratio, chances are your single friend can hold their own.


2. Don’t assume that two single people over thirty would naturally be a perfect match. There is more to relationships than the fact that both individuals are alone.


3. Do indulge your single friend by letting her have a “plus one” at weddings. There is nothing worse than having everyone refer to you and your other single friends as the “Sex and the City” gals.


4. Don’t tell her that there are “plenty of fish in the sea” or that they have “lots of time”. It is the last thing a single wants to hear from someone with a husband and two kids.


5. Do remember that it might have been a while since your single friend has had some lovin’. Don’t complain about your husband going away for the weekend.


6. Finally, and in all seriousness, do remember that your single friend is going through a lot of changes and may need you now more than ever. Please stand by her and try to put yourself in her shoes. There may come a time in the future that you will be in the same situation.