By Vickie Leow
UC San Francisco retiree and UC Retirees Travel escort

I was bitten by wanderlust at an early age. Whenever I heard a train whistle or saw a cargo ship heading out to the open sea, I was filled with wonder and longing. This desire to travel has taken me to many wonderful places around the world. After I retired from UCSF, my “itchy feet” only intensified.

When I was younger, I traveled mostly with family and friends, but they are not always readily available to travel or they have other priorities. Not wanting to sit around and let the world pass me by, I decided to try traveling solo.

Initially, the prospect of going solo was a bit intimidating, especially because I am a retiree, female, and Asian. But, after a few trips, I can say that I love it! I love the freedom that traveling solo affords me. I discovered that I could cover more territory, meet more locals as well as other travelers, see and do more things that specifically interest me, decide how long or short a time I want to stay in one place, and more…much, much more. Solo travel has offered me opportunities for reflection, introspection, self-development, and confidence building. And I learned to become my own best friend.

If you do not feel comfortable about traveling solo, joining a group tour can alleviate most of the anxiety. Especially if that group tour has a built-in commonality, such as being a UC retiree. As a UC Retirees Travel escort, I have met men and women traveling solo on many of our tours. Some are single, like me. Some are married but traveling without their spouses and some are widowers or widows. Their gender or age have not stopped them from doing what they love—traveling, meeting new people, experiencing new adventures, discovering new places, and having fun. Many solo travelers who have traveled with UC Retirees Travel are “repeaters,” which speaks heaps about the comfort, safety, and enjoyed experience of traveling with the UC Retirees Travel program.

Whether or not you decide to travel truly solo or with a group such as UC Retirees Travel, here are some things I suggest:

• Research your destinations before traveling by reading books or travel blogs and/or watching travel videos on YouTube.
  
• Use smart phone apps such as “Google Maps” for directions, “Translate” to facilitate conversation or to read signs using your phone’s camera, and “Currency” for easy money conversions.
  
• Get a physical map at your hotel, a visitor center, or a kiosk to orient yourself to the area.
  
• Be flexible and open to situations and, most importantly, enjoy the journey.
  

I will continue to travel as much as I can, either solo or with family, friends, or group tours. Having these options, I am always looking ahead to the next adventure. So, when I see a plane flying above me, I can think to myself, “I will be onboard soon enough.”