When asked why people don’t travel. Some people respond by saying, “I don’t have anyone to travel with”. My response,” One monkey don’t stop me from traveling, the trip must go on”. The reason I say this is because if you wait on others to do something that you want to do, it may never happen. People are often too busy, don’t have enough money, content with not traveling and so forth. As a matter of fact traveling solo has benefits. You have the ability to plan your agenda without the opinion of others, you can get to know who you are, flexibility to change plans as needed, and the freedom to meet others along the way if you choose to do so.
I am addicted to Facebook and Facebook groups. I am an over 15 different groups as it relates to my interest and hobbies. I recently traveled solo to Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. Due to my involvement in my groups and old friends, I was able to meet up with people along the way. I initially flew solo but I never felt like I was by myself.
One of my favorite groups is Nomadness Travel Tribe that was founded by Evita Robinson. Nomadness is a group for people who love to travel. In order to gain access to the group, I had to watch a short video, take a quiz about the video and have at least one passport stamp. The reason I love this group is because I can send out a signal to ANYWHERE in the world and somebody will be able to meet up with me.
I inboxed my Soror (Zeta Phi Beta) on Facebook and informed her I was going to be in Nashville. She set up a dinner to welcome me and Evita into town. We meet up at Jalisco’s Mexican Restaurant. After the restaurant closed, we continued our discussion at the Radisson Hotel. We laughed, ate, and talked until almost midnight. I would also like to shout out the Nashville tribe because they supporting my endeavors by buying products from my business Sweet Tiffy’s Inspirations.
I contacted another tribe member who is from Memphis, Tennessee to see if she could have dinner with me. She agreed to see me when I came into town. I told her that I was having a dilemma about where to stay. She immediately drove by the Airbnb address just to make sure I would be in a safe neighborhood! When I arrived in Memphis, she picked me up from my Airbnb. We drove to Mississippi for dinner at Memphis Barbecue Co. The night was still young so went to an open Mic night! The open mic had some dope singers, poetess, comedians, and Rappers. She wouldn’t let me pay for anything, I had to sneak and pay for lemonade! We have a saying in Nomadness, “family by choice” I had a wonderful evening in Memphis because she treated me like family and not like a stranger she just met! I can’t wait to show her around Los Angeles if she is ever in town.
I had the opportunity to finally meet Zaakirah in person. We initially met in a group called Foreign Wives of African Men (a group designed to support those women who are dating or are married to African men) We soon discovered that we were in other groups together because we love to travel and are travel bloggers. You can check out her blog at http://www.zaakirahnayyar.com.
Zaakirah picked me up from the hotel after my Ladies, Luggage’s, and Lipsticks Conference. Two of the conference attendees were a little apprehensive about me going out with Zaakirah because we had only met over Facebook. I reassured them that I felt comfortable with her and I would post on Facebook later that evening to let them know I was alright. LOL. We went out to eat and walked around Downtown Nashville. It was great to finally put a face to the person who I had been communicating with over the past several months. I do advise everyone to exercise caution when meeting people from social media sites. Trust your intuition, if something does not feel right don’t meet up.
Lastly, I posted on Facebook about being in Nashville and my old King/Drew Medical Magnet High School classmate reached out to me. She was gracious enough to pick me up from the Grey Hound Bus Station. We went to the Opry Land Hotel. It is a beautiful hotel that has an indoor garden complete with waterfalls and animals made out of leaves and grass.
After leaving the hotel, we went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel and she insisted that it was her treat.
It was nice to spend time with her as we have not seen each other in 13 years.
Remember to make a public post letting other members know that you are coming to there city or country. Or send people a private message, letting them know you want to have dinner etc.
Overall my heart was filled with joy and love because of the various people I met while on this trip. The best part was that I didn’t feel like a stranger, I felt like we had been apart for a couple years and were coming together for a reunion. Southern Hospitality is real and I am so appreciative of all the new and old faces I met along the way.
Awesome! I love this!! I want join the fb groups!
Thanks Jess! Yes just use the search bar to search things things that interest you. Let me know how you enjoy the groups as you join.
That’s an awesome way to travel and still have fun with friends! I like that idea.
Yes, I’m so glad i reached out to people during this trip, it made for a great time!
Good for you! Being alone doesn’t mean one shouldn’t travel. I did it for years before l met my husband. I would go sometimes with my best friend. Even now, l still take trips without my husband. You meet so many lovely people.
I hate I didn’t get the chance to meet you but glad you had a great time.. Nashville and Memphis are both great cities with excellent culture
I know I should have reached out to you to see what your agenda was like! I had no plans Sunday evening and Zaakirah drove down from the city you live in Sunday afternoon. Great cities especially loved Memphis!
I have traveled internationally by myself twice! I totally agree with your reasons for traveling solo. This was a great post and it looks like you had a great time!
Where did you travel too? Thank you so much for reading , glad you enjoyed!
I went to Europe twice, first for study abroad and seconds to mentor young girls.
Sorry to keep asking questions, By how did you get involved with mentoring girls? Was it through an organization or do you have your own mentorship program?
Ask as many questions as you’d like! I have my own program, Queendom T.E.A. I was able to partner with Leysin American School in Switzerland for a summer…
Wow, that seems really cool! Good luck on your future endeavors with your program
Thank you so much, queen!
Great post Soror! I have just recently become comfortable with traveling alone. I became tired of plans being cancelled due to last minute changes by others.
Hey Soror! Exactly, I love traveling with people! But what i wont do, is not travel because you cant! LOL
The food looks great. I would love some BBQ ribs. I like either traveling with someone or meeting up with friends in different places.
Hey Holly, i was determined to eat ribs since that is what Memphis is known for. I also enjoy traveling with other people, I’m adaptable i ca do both.
Good for you getting out there and exploring regardless of the company. I’m not much of a traveler, but it would be nice to meet up with a few people I know in different areas.
Hi Latoya, you can def meet up with people in your city with out traveling. I’m pretty sure you will discover new things to do in your city as well.
Good for you.
I took a trip in 2013 by myself to Los Angeles. It was the most rewarding experience I’ve had as a traveler. I met so many amazing people at the AirBNB rental that I wouldn’t have met at a hotel.
Great, glad you had a good time in my city. I actually need to explore Los Angeles, born and raised, and I’m pretty sure I’m missing out some great things to do and see. Yes the benefits of meeting people staying at a airbnb and a hostel vs hotel is much higher.
I admire the fact that you aren’t afraid to travel alone. Looks like tiu had an awesome time. Great pics!!!
Aww, that is so awesome. I have become friends with so many awesome ladies I met in FB groups. Good to know you can call on people when you’re any part of the country/world.
Hi Vashti, love your name by the way! Aren’t FB groups awesome, lots of people on FB don’t even know about them, let alone the benefits they have..
Yes to all of this, I’ve met some amazing people from the social media. I know crazy exist, but I’m so thankful that hasn’t been my story. I’m just now easing into solo travel, so far so good. I want to do more of it for sure. Joining travel groups is a really smart idea.
Right, Im glad i have been safe as well, because i def have met people in other countries as well. I like joining travel groups because you see and hear about other places that you may not not about, prompting you travel to new and exciting destinations.
I love that philosophy! I agree that one person shouldn’t stop the show. I will admit though I’ve never gone on a trip by myself.
It def takes courage to go by your self, Ill admits a little scary. You should try a mini trip by your self for 2 days and see how you like it.
yes. I stand up and cheer you on because I believe in going against the norm. And you are totally doing that. traveling solo has so much perks and one of them is definitely learning yourself.
Yay glad to see somebody cheering me on as most people still cant understand why I travel solo. Yes traveling solo def has some perks.
This was an awesome read. It looks like you had a great time.
The advice is great for someone like me who doesn’t travel as much as I’d REALLY like to.
Do you have any advice for somone who has a kid in school and wants to travel? His father is in the home but he works outside the home. Soo… I’d be traveling solo.
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He Ebony, Thank you so much for reading, I appreciate it! Im not sure if you want to travel with your kid but, going on a cruise is a great way to go. You can have fun with your child on the cruise but if you want adult time or solo time they have a day care complete with activities. If you want to travel solo, the best time would probaly when he is on vacation (summer, winter, spring), so that who ever is taking care of him does not have to take him to school daily or homework time. Before traveling join some traveling fb groups and let people know you are coming there way or enjoy you time by yourself because I’m pretty sure you are 95% in mommy mode.. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
Great idea! Thanks so much!
I definitely feel where you’re coming from. One of my biggest pet peeves is waiting to do something because of other people. I went on a company paid trip to Disney this year and everyone wanted to do stuff in groups, which resulted in more disgruntled folks not getting to do something they liked. They watched me throw the deuces up and carry on by myself because I’m not with it. I got to do everything I wanted to do and some and had no regrets!
Wow, I need to work for your company, I always hear about companies giving great trips away for employees. LOL that is funny, then they were probably mad because you left the group. I probably would have done the same thing. I’m the type of travel if i want to do something i do it, if you want to come along fine, if not your free to do you as well!
Gurl I love to travel Solo! At least I know I am going to be able to do what I want to do. You were in my neck of the woods. I and from Memphis and I went to school in Nashville. I am so glad you had a great time in Tennessee. Those ribs look amazing!
Awe I wished I would have know you before this trip, I love to meet new people especially with the same name. Yes one of the reasons i love it to, you can have your own agenda with out someone asking you to make changes to it.
Sounds like you had a great trip! Sometimes going solo is the best way to go because as you said you’re in charge of how the trip goes.
Yes this was an excellent trip! Traveling solo, allows you to do/ see things your way without the the opinion of others.
Brave and exciting. You inspire me. I think I may have to take my next trip on the road…solo because so often folks can’t commit or plans are cancelled.
Awe, glad i can inspire you. Sometimes i think people have great intentions but sometimes intentions are not enough. Yes take that trip by yourself and let me know how it goes.
It has been a challenge to always find someone to travel with, so I decided to start traveling alone. I have learned that it’s fine to travel alone with taking proper measures and so planning my first trip alone next year, thank you for sharing.
Yes people say they want to travel with you but when its time they often back out. While its great to travel with other sometimes you just have to go alone. Yes make sure your are careful. Where are you headed next year?
I LOVE solo travel. Nashville is definitely on my list. I met Evita a few months ago and she’s super dope. Great post. Seems like a great experience.
I like both solo and group travel but lately its been more solo travel. It was my first time in Nashville but i must return because I didn’t get to explore much! Evita is cool, I was honored to be speaking at the same conference as her.
I have to start traveling solo. I hate that when I want to do something my friends either can’t or don’t have the money. 2017 will see rolling silo bolo. LOL
Yes new goals for 2017! I would never travel anywhere If it waited or listened to peoples opinion. People say “its unsafe or “I want to go” or “I wish you would have told me, I would have went”. I say “see you when I come back”. LOL
In all of my 44 years, I have never travelled to a destination Aline before. I have taken a MaCation where I needed time away from being Mom and wife but no beach was involved. Something to strive for in the next few years. Great ideas!
Hey Kim, you have to def try a solo vacation. Trust me if you take one, you may be planning several after that. I not a mommy but i like the concept of a macation! Sometimes you need to get away from the duties and recharge. I love the beach even though I dont know how to swim, its very calming..
Great job w/ the connections.
I traveled to LA solo, stayed in a shared AirBNB, met cool guests and had a blast!
Yes that’s the best way to travel! Making connections is awesome way to have a great time!
A solo travel trip is on my must do list. I am waiting for my kids to get a little bit older but I am looking forward to it.
Yes you will enjoy, excited for you to try! Let me know how your first solo trip goes
This whole post was just awesome!!! You left your house alone but you were never alone on this trip. So great to know there are groups out there like that. I love how supportive everyone was and that you were able to sell your products. I lived in Nashville so I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.
Thank you so much, I appreciate the kind words. Yes I had never been to Nashville, so it was a great introduction. I know it was such a warm feeling to know that although we didn’t know each other we were connected by this one group called Nomaadness (its making me feel all warm and fuzzy as I write this reply)
You are so right, you shouldn’t wait on anyone to do what you want to do! There are people all over that you can meet up with and have fun!! Love it!!
Yes and this is why I can’t/don’t wait. Yes but some people don’t realize there is a whole tribe out there in the universe that would love to meet up and show you around. Thank you for reading.
I am a HUGE proponent of solo travel having done it a numerous amount of times. I completely agree that just because you are traveling solo, you do not have to be alone. I love groups like Nomadness where you can meet like-minded people who are willing to meet up with you/ travel with you during trips 😀
I’ve always admired how you just go! You literally are traveling somewhere every month and I love your spirit
LOL, people say I’m gone every month but I literally travel every 3-4 months. I think you have me beat in that department, I see you traveling to all different types of destinations all the time, I’m trying to be on your level.
I love the idea of traveling solo to meet up with others. I’ve done that at blogger’s conferences and it’s a lot of fun.
I have never been to a blogger conference and look forward to attending one day.
I have mostly travelled solo and as you said if you are a nomad, you will find your tribe and they will keep you going along the way.
I am excited to visit the USA again in the fall.
Where are you from and whats parts of the US are you headed to in the Fall?
I love the idea of connecting with travel groups to meet with friends. That would definitely make me more comfortable traveling alone.
Solo travel can be very intimidating, but knowing you have someone you can meet up with or can call if trouble occurs is very reassuring.
I actually like meeting new people on trips, even if its just for the time while I”m there. Helps you get out of your comfort zone. Group trips can be a lot of pressure to please everyone.
I love meeting new people as well. Yes as the organizer of my last trip, I did feel pressure to make sure that everything was ok for everyone.
Great philosophy, and great tips on how to meet up with others when traveling solo! Making connections is fun and can open so many doors!
Thanks, connection is the key word, making connections is super important
Wow sounds like an amazing trip filled with positive memories. I’m in several tracel groups, but I rarely travel without my spouse.