Hello from Home - A Note & Request from Solo Traveler

Published: Mon, 10/22/18


As you may have noticed, the fourth Monday of the month is when I send a more personal email to readers.

In August I sent it from Sicily. In September I was in Belfast and shared a bit about that city's meaning to me. This month I'm home - all month - and it's sweet to be here with Simon, my family and friends.

One Routine Added, Another Dropped
Being home has given me a chance to get back into my routine of morning walks, bike rides or workouts at the gym. Last week I added yoga to my activities as I have noticed my flexibility getting, well, less flexible. One routine added.

I also chose to drop a routine this month. My habit was to listen to music and podcasts while I worked out - with the exception of biking, of course. I've decided this month to go in silence and see if it has any benefits. Sure enough, it has.

As my mind wandered on these early mornings, it went to the number of requests I've received from readers for help with trip planning. But it's not just the planning process they have wanted help with. They want to gain confidence to go solo as well. In the silence, I've developed lots of ideas for an email program for solo travel planning. If it's of interest to you, watch for it in the coming months. Also, watch for today's post on "Our Need for Solitude – How Solo Travel Delivers".

A Request. It's Time to Have Your Say! 
This is a special request. The better we understand solo travelers, the better we can advocate on behalf of all of us. That's why we're asking you to complete our 2018 reader survey.

Please click here to take the 2018 Solo Traveler “Have Your Say” Survey. We’ll share the results with you in a couple of weeks and we’ll use your thoughts as we plan the coming year. 

What's Next? I'll take the Survey Results to the National Tour Association
In November I'll be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, speaking at the National Tour Association's annual conference. It's a great opportunity to continue on our mission of encouraging the travel industry to treat solo travelers well.

Then, the following weeks, I'll be speaking about "Solo Travel Two Ways" in a variety of cities in Southern Ontario. The tour is sponsored by Just You, a tour company that is just for solo travelers. You can read what it's like to take a solo-only tour here: Solo Traveler on a Solos-Only Tour

That's it for this month. Happy travels to all,

Janice

P.S. If you're traveling soon, don't forget...