A lone globetrotter has shared the ugly truth behind life as a solo traveller.
Jet-setting around her 9-5 as a HR worker, Jenny Chevry has been exploring the world for the last seven years.
Ticking places off her bucket list including Estonia and El Salvador, she’s visited 48 countries and seen hundreds of awe-inspiring sights.
But the 37-year-old says travelling solo is not for the faint-hearted and comes with its own set of challenges.
Sometimes, it can be incredibly dangerous.
“I nearly fell victim to a possible abduction or human trafficking in Budapest back in 2019,” Jenny, from Florida, US, told Luxury Travel Daily.
“It was one of the scariest moments of my life.
“But I made sure I made enough noise to attract attention and asked for help.”
To keep her safe, Jenny has created a list of dos and dont’s.
She said: “My ultimate rules are: I don’t go out drinking and if I do go out at night, I have just one drink, which I don’t take my eyes off of.
“I don’t tell people where I’m staying or that I’m alone.
“I try to memorise the map before I leave a place, so I’m not glued to my phone and I’m able to watch around me.
“And I share my iPhone __cpLocation with my family so they are able to track me in case of an emergency.”
The travel buff, who documents her experiences on her Instagram account, @poorlittlenomad, says being self-sufficient is rewarding, but it comes at a cost.
Jenny said: “I get to be as selfish as I want to be.
“I don’t have to compromise or accommodate anyone.
“Travelling alone also helped me become more self-reliant and confident as I navigate new environments.
“I’m usually an introvert – when I travel you wouldn’t guess how antisocial I really am.
“But it’s expensive.
“Travel packages often assume double occupancy, so solo travellers miss out on discounts designed for pairs or groups.
“I was in Guatemala last weekend and wanted to sign up for a cooking class but was not able to because there needed to be two guests in order to sign up.
“I tried to signed up for a volcano tour in Nicaragua and the cost was $45 (£35) per person, however, when I signed up, they charged me $90 (£70), although I was alone.
“There’s so many things I would have loved to have done but had to pass on.”
Jenny started travelling solo after falling out with a close friend on a trip.
She said: “Seven years ago, I went on my first adult international trip with a close friend and it ended up being a disaster.
“I found the hard way that there are people you cannot travel with, no matter how close you are.
“My friend and I stopped being friends after that trip and since then I’ve always preferred travelling on my own.
“I don’t have to worry about anyone else but myself.”
Jenny says always being the organiser can also get tiring.
She said: “I like the planning part of travelling – booking the accommodations and activities.
“But people who’ve travelled solo long enough know it can be exhausting making all the decisions – big or small, from where to eat to how to handle unexpected situations.
“I’ve had hotels or Airbnbs cancel my reservation at the very last minute, and I’ve had to figure out an alternative solution on my own.
“Sometimes it’s nice to have someone else take charge once in a while.
“It is also nice to have friends you can share your excitement with.
“People online have rallied around Jenny, thanking her for sharing the harsh realities of travelling solo when it’s so glamourised online.
“Loneliness is my biggest fear. Plus when I travel solo, I miss my husband so much,” commented Kristy.
A fellow solo traveller said: “All of these are exactly what I feel when I travel solo. I love it but can’t overlook some of the downsides.”
Vanessa quipped: “Sooo true. And not being able to split the cost of a hotel room with someone.”
“Decision fatigue – I already know it in everyday life… and then a nice trip quickly turns into something too exhausting,” related another person.
“Hard truth girl! This is all on point! Thanks for sharing!” added another traveller.
Jenny added: “I didn’t expect so many people to be receptive to my content, and relate so much to the ugly truths about solo travelling.
“It seems like we all share the same feelings.
“Although we love it, it also has its challenges.
“It certainly isn’t for everyone but I would rather travel solo than not see the world at all.”
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