In Senior Solo Travel Opportunities-Part 2, let’s talk about how you can travel solo to your favorite destination and be met by a friend. Perhaps a new friend. One of the same or opposite sex.
The first time I traveled to China, I was met at the hotel by a pen-pal. A lovely Chinese girl who showed me all the best spots in Beijing and introduced me to her local friends too!
This was way back in the days before social media and the internet. When mailing paper letters and phone calls on rotary phones were still a thing.
While out meeting her friends one day, one of her male friends asked if I’d like some water. I said yes. And was quite surprised when he returned with a cup of hot water, on that sunny, 80 degree day. Turns out, it’s customary to serve hot water in China. Whereas here, we’d have brought a cup of ice water.
This is why I love to travel. To see and experience new things. Especially to discover, or at least bring to the forefront of my mind, that there is quite often more than one good way to do things,
More on my new friend later…
How did I become acquainted with the joys of solo travel?
In my younger years, I enjoyed traveling solo.
I enjoyed the freedom to go where you want, when you want. The ability to meet new people where ever, on a whim, whenever the opportunity arises. The ability to be non-scheduled, non-compromising, non-conforming is so refreshing to me.
When traveling solo, you’re free to be whoever you want to be! You’re newly anonymous. Free from any and all of the stereotypical behavior that characterizes you back home. Shave. Don’t shave. Wear a suit. Go casual. Sleep ’til noon, or rise before the dawn. Anything goes when you travel solo!
Later, when I began traveling with family, I always had to play Dad or husband. To take votes on where we would go and when. Someone it seemed, would always end up disappointed. And to a people-pleaser like me, that took a lot of the fun out of vacationing.
So if you have to travel alone (no wait, GET to travel alone) lucky you! You’re free!
I must admit though, it is nice to have someone along on your travels at times. Especially when that someone is a local who can guide you to the off-path, the really good secret spots enjoyed by the community. Not just those money-grabbing, false-reality tourist traps.
So how do you get the best of both worlds?
Pen-pals are probably out now. But replaced by something faster and better!
Social media and the internet.
It’s so fast and easy to meet and get to know someone now. And there are so many platforms (Facebook, and Instagram are two of the biggest). There’s instant messaging through Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, text messaging, and probably 100 more avenues I’m not aware of.
But I bet my kids would know!
But what they would not know anything about, is that surprise $200 bill you could get from Ma Bell for your long distance phone call back then. Scary!
Luckily, that has gone the way of the pay phone and the telephone booth. They’re extinct now!
Nobody worries about long distance phone charges anymore. Your cell phone instantly connects you to everywhere, instantly. Cheaply!
Back in the day, I used to write letters. Mail them to China. Wait four weeks or more for a reply. Calling was nearly impossible because of the time difference, long distance calling expense, and the language issues.
Now, it’s a global communication heyday,
and that’s great for solo travel opportunities!
Translation for every language is right at your fingertips on your smartphone too.
Talk, text or face time video communication are all just clicks away.
“So how do I use this amazing technology to meet people where I want to go?”
Remember in my previous post, how to make friends after 50, I recommend always to use your interests as a way to meet new people?
There would be no point in befriending a Punk-Rocker, if your interest is in seeing all the beautiful gardens at your travel destination. Or in meeting a 90 year old man if your interest is in hiking there. Though I’d bet some 90 year olds could certainly out-hike a lot of 60 year olds, if that’s their home turf!
Anyway, you get it. Look to meet the kind of people you’d like to hang out with.
Search the social media channels, the internet, for groups or individuals who share an interest in what you are interested in. “Like” them. Follow them. Message them casually, just as you would casually strike up a conversation with someone you just met in a class, or a shop, or at the gym.
Don’t rush. Get to know them for a while. Then, if it seems appropriate and they seem trustworthy, sincere, straightforward, mention that you might like to visit this place where they live sometime. See where that goes. See how it’s received.
If they let it drop, you let it drop too. Find someone else to befriend.
If they respond positively, perhaps are excited for the possibility of your travel, up your communications. Text more, message more, and definitely talk more. There will need to be a lot of communication prior to your visit to coordinate things.
But make it clear, you will travel and stay in your own place, a hotel or airBnB. You will travel just as if you are traveling solo, but with the added benefit of meeting up with your new friend once you are there and settled in. And you will always meet at public places for everyone’s safety and peace of mind.
This way, if you meet someone and they are not someone you are comfortable with, you can limit yourself to that one meetup, then go about the rest of your travels sightseeing, touring, or meeting other people, all on your own.
Some may be wondering, “What about using those online dating sites?”
I have nothing at all against those sites. I’m sure many opportunities for solo travel and senior solo travel opportunity can be found there. I just have no personal experience with them, so I’ll neither condemn nor recommend them here for the purpose of solo travel. I only share with you things I know about from experience.
I will, however, list a few in case you want to check them out.
Here are ten dating websites that seniors and people over 50 might enjoy:
- SeniorMatch – This website is exclusively for people over 50 and has a large user base.
- OurTime – is a dating site that caters to people over 50 and has a simple user interface.
- SilverSingles – a dating site that focuses on finding compatible matches for people over 50.
- eHarmony – dating site which uses a scientific approach to match people based on compatibility.
- Zoosk – a dating site that has a large user base and offers a simple user interface.
- EliteSingles – is a dating site that caters to educated singles over 50.
- SeniorFriendFinder – is a dating site that caters to seniors offering a variety of features such as chat rooms and forums.
- 50Plus-Club – is a dating site that offers a community for people over 50 to connect with like-minded individuals.
- Stitch – a dating site that focuses on building connections between people over 50.
- Lumen – this is a dating app that caters to people over 50 and offers a simple user interface.
Time out, for this public service announcement:
[Commerce regulations mandate I inform you I may have an affiliate relationship with one or more of the dating websites listed above. This means, if you should sign up, or use their services, they may reward me with a coin or two for mentioning their website to you. You likely know how this works by now.]
Anywho…check them out if you like. Who knows what kismet may ensue!
That’s it really, in a nutshell. Use the internet, apps, and social media, any and all modern tech to meet people at the destination you wish to travel to. Then go there, meet them, and have fun!
Exciting right!
OK, nosey Nellie. You want to hear more about me and that lovely Chinese lady I met in Beijing.
Sorry, nothing juicy to tell. She came by the hotel a few times to take me out to visit local parks and restaurants. To share info about Chinese customs. Language tips. Cautions. Etc.
We had a good time. Shared some laughs. But when it came time to visit and walk the Great Wall, she declined and I went alone. Met some travelers from all around the world on the tour bus, and had a good time. Even thought it rained every minute we were on the wall.
Days later, we parted as friends her and I, and never spoke again after that week in Beijing!
However, on my second trip to China, Shanghai, again to meet a woman, I met my wife. Who was not the woman I went there to meet, but a singer in the band that was playing at my hotel.
What fate right? Kismet!
Senior solo travel opportunities abound in 2023.
If you’re having trouble meeting folks in your own town, or merely wish to expand your horizons and travel solo, modern computer and smartphone technology is truly your friend, your matchmaker.
Why not give it a try and see?
It worked for me!
And of course, this solo travel opportunity isn’t limited to romantic encounters. Which is why I did not lead this article with that.
Make new friends abroad. Meet someone for golf. Or to see the Louvre, or to ride the giant ferris wheel in London, or walk the Great Wall in China. Or just meet someone to show you around town.
People all over the world enjoy meeting new people, learning about new places just like you do!
People everywhere are looking for new friends. Travel makes it possible.
Where would you like to visit next?
You’re running out of excuses now!
Go travel!
“Bene Vivere”
Bob (Elderbob) Schwarztrauber
P.S. Be sure to watch for Senior Solo Travel Opportunities – Part 3 where I’ll discuss how you can travel alone and never feel self conscious about it – because you”ll be traveling with purpose!
