Locals offer travel tips

PRIME – August 2014 By Debbie Gardner debbieg@thereminder.com Solo travelers from western Massachusetts shared the following pros and cons – and some tips – on traveling alone Larry Weber of Westfield, Massachusetts, who at 50 has been vacationing solo since he took a trip to Hawaii at 18, said one of the biggest pluses of traveling alone is the ability to set your own timetable for sightseeing. "You can see what you want. You don't have to worry that [a companion] doesn't want to do something," he said. Dawn Mulvey of Chicopee, Massachusetts, another mid-lifer who travels primarily for business, said the biggest drawback to traveling solo is that "there's nobody to talk with on long trips." However, when the trip includes a plane flight, Mulvey said she sees traveling alone as a plus, as "I know what's packed in my bags" and where it is packed when it's time to go through security. If there is any holdup, she's not inconveniencing someone else, she added. Because both of these individuals have traveled primarily in the U. S. and book their own accommodations, neither could speak to the issue of a solo supplement charge for rooms or tours. However, both willingly shared some tips for those who might be planning to hit the road on their own sometime soon. Mulvey said she likes to plan her departures for as early as possible in the day, especially if she is driving to a destination. For example, on a recent road trip to Pennsylvania, she left her home at 4 a.m. "I know when I get into unfamiliar territory, it will be light," she said. Weber said when he plans a vacation he tries to book accommodations at hotels that include a buffet breakfast and/or dinner. "When you go out to eat alone, and you are the only one sitting at the table, you do every once in awhile feel kind-of weird," he said At hotels with buffets, he noted, people often share tables and there is the chance to chat with other guests and get tips on attractions and other events in the area. For example, during a stay in New Orleans, fellow travelers told him about a concert that was taking place just down the street, he said. Weber also researches his destinations and hotels carefully to find accommodations that are on established tour bus or trolley routes, or offer other transportation for visitors, so he doesn't need to rent a car. Weber and Mulvey agree that traveling solo offers the added plus of having a more flexible schedule, which comes in handy when booking plane flights and hotels. Weber noted that, as he can travel off-season, it was easy for him to avoid the peak flight and hotel rate for an upcoming visit to Nashville. The biggest tip both Weber and Mulvey shared is that it's important to do your homework when planning a trip, especially if you are trying to keep to a budget. "Do a little research about what you want to do," Weber said. "I look for where I can stay and where I can get what I want without too much difficulty."