Get away from it all

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Get away from it all

If you find that everyone around you is going off on romantic weekend breaks, who is to say that you can't have your own? It will be even better because you are single, so the choices and decisions are all yours to make. If you decide to spend the weekend bungee jumping because YOU like it, then the adrenaline rush and fun is all yours.

First, decide where it is you want to go. Be it a local spot or even somewhere distant, you must decide so that you can make the necessary bookings and transport arrangements. The earlier you make all the arrangements the better so as to avoid disappointment and not getting the destination you had in mind.

Talk to your local travel agent or look at any of the numerous travel sites on the Internet. Some travel spots and centers even offer a singles package or a singles tour group. If you have the chance of getting involved in this, then you would probably have the opportunity to meet other singles from your area or even end up knowing people from all over the world.

When booking through a travel agent, make sure that you have a copy of all paid bills and you are certain of the arrangements that have been made. The last thing you need is to liaise with an unreliable agent who leaves you without a booking, or even worse -- get at your destination and find out you are double booked.

Traveling on your own will not only give you a sense of discovery about a certain destination, but it will also give you a sense of independence and probably more appreciation for being single. There won't be any issues about where to go, what to eat and how to do what you want to. This is your time away from everything and you can probably even give yourself a shot at that holiday romance if the chance arises.

If you are traveling alone, then the obvious first word of caution would be to be very careful with your personal belongings, especially where cash and identification documents are concerned. If you are traveling to more than one destination then have a "check in" system with a close friend or a family member, so they will have less to worry about. Make it a point to call or send a text message at least once a day.

Very few holiday destinations do not have today both Internet AND phone access, so most places will definitely have at least one of the two. So, even if phone calls or mobile phone contacts are not possible, then an email a day would settle some nerves.

If you do have a medical condition or are on medication, then make it a point to write this down and include it with your identification documents. This also applies for emergency contact numbers. Sometimes when things happen, you might panic and the necessary contact numbers will become extra-difficult to find. Write it down and if you have a loved one's business or calling card, place this with your identification documents as well. Should anything untoward happen, this will make things easier for you, your family and for the locals at your holiday destination.
Maybe you are thinking "What can go wrong?" Not to dampen your spirits but the horrific Tsunami in 2006 happened and left many loved ones in utter panic simply because so many caught up in the dreadful bents at that time were traveling alone and could not be located. And the winter 2007-2008 has started with several unexpected ski accidents and avalanches...Yes, of course, that's the absolutely worst case scenario, but there's really no point in taking chances, is there?

Identification documents are always best kept in safe deposit boxes and if you are staying in a place that does not provide one, be sure to have these stored in water proof sealed packets and kept somewhere safe. Request a locker or have this kept with the hotel manager itself.

Always, always keep a copy of your documents with you at all times with the originals stored away safe and sound. Should you lose the documents, contact your embassy and/or make an immediate report to the local authorities. Beware of unfriendly authorities -- Canadians has some taste of it in Mexico. Revolutions or coups d'Etat have caught tourists unawares at all times.

In fact, it is always best to have an idea of your embassy's address when selecting your destination, as this allows you to be taken directly there in cases of emergency. Better yet, check with the touristic office if there are any problems in sight. Lebanon was one sad case, when thousands of Canadian citizens of Lebanese origin there on a visit, were caught in the local conflict and could not return home for quite a long time.

So, if traveling out of the country is too much of a hassle, then just stay relatively local. Travel to a different state (that goes for multi-state entities like USA or Canada, or the European Union) or even pick a hotel within your vicinity.

Make full use of your stay by checking in on time and you will find that it is a perfect opportunity to laze around, luxuriously. Order room service and spend the day in activities to give you maximum satisfaction, visit the hotel's spa and enjoy a deliciously relaxing massage or even a manicure and pedicure. Remember that this is your day and you have no one else to give an account of it to and that this is a very good thing!

If the hotel has a beach area that you can walk out to, this is even better. Take a long walk or grab the opportunity to be involved in some water sport that you especially like or even want to try for the very first time.

Enjoy the sunsets and perhaps make arrangements with the hotel to pack you a picnic to take with you as you walk along the beach and enjoy the outdoors.

Love is in the air, just like spring, and it will come to each of us at the right time.

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