A former United Airlines employee and TikTok founder discusses why you should plan a solo travel.
Megan Homme, who has had a few TikToks go viral urging others to plan solo travels, told Fox News Digital that the first solo trip is “life-changing.”
When she worked for United, Homme said she had the benefit of cheap flights, and many of her coworkers would go on solo vacations, which she initially thought “there’s no way that’s enjoyable.”
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“I did not believe it could be a pleasant moment. I was thinking, you’re going to be really lonely. But no, once you’ve done it, it’s like, “Oh, I understand now.” “Everyone tells you that you just have to do it, which is so true,” she explained.
Homme stated that she was “tired” of waiting for others to join her to use her flight benefits. For her first solo trip, she chose Key West, Florida, as a “easy” and “comfortable” destination.
“Once you do it once, you’re like, ‘Okay, I can do this.'” So, since then, I’ve grown increasingly comfortable traveling to new places,” she explained.
Homme noted that one of the primary benefits of solo travel is the ability to focus “100% of your time” on the trip, highlighting the fact that people don’t always have a lot of vacation time or money to spend on travel.
“When people spend a lot of money on a trip, you don’t want to be forced to do things you don’t want to do simply because your buddies want to. So I believe that being able to use 100% of your time is quite valuable,” she concluded.
According to the TikToker, traveling solo forces you to connect with new people in ways that traveling with friends does not.
“When I am with my pals, we may not bother to socialize with other people on the trip because we already have individuals to hang out with. But when I’m alone, I’m lot more inclined to start a discussion and meet someone,” she explained.
When planning your first trip, Homme suggests starting simple and traveling somewhere that seems comfortable to you, adding that a weekend trip to a beach in the United States is a fantastic place to start.
“I think everyone pictures solo travel and [sees] these videos of people who are backpacking Southeast Asia, [but] that does not have to be your first trip,” the TikToker stated.
“You’re becoming accustomed to the physical aspects of traveling by yourself. For example, going to the airport, boarding a flight, or checking into a hotel on your own. So I think that’s probably the simplest place to start,” she remarked.
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Homme explained that there are numerous ways to make acquaintances and keep secure while traveling alone. Staying at hostels is a terrific way to meet other solo travelers, but if that’s not your thing, Homme recommends scheduling a range of group trips to get you out there.
“You have a captive audience on these things. [Say] you’re on a small river cruise for a couple of hours with the same 15 people, you’ll be able to strike up a discussion with them,” Homme stressed, adding that another smart approach to meet others is to ask someone to take your photo.
“A pair of females requested me to take their picture, and then I began talking to them. They say, ‘Oh, we’re just waiting for our dinner reservation. You want to come? “And then I end up hanging out with them for the rest of the weekend,” the creator said of her summer vacation to Denmark.
Homme says staying in a hotel rather than an AirBnB is one of her favorite ways to feel comfortable while traveling alone, citing how she feels the hotel staff is “watching” over her. Otherwise, taking basic safety precautions at home is the same as when traveling.
“Don’t stay out too late by yourself after dark. Simply be aware of your surroundings. But these are all things that will apply to you, whether you’re traveling alone or with a group,” Homme said, adding that she has never felt frightened while traveling alone.
The developer encourages individuals to schedule solitary trips and emphasizes that you are never “stuck” if you need to end your holiday.
“There is always a flight home. You are never stuck. If you go and have a bad time, there will be a trip home tonight or tomorrow,” Homme promised. “You can always alter your mind if things don’t work out. But I believe you don’t actually know what it’s like unless you try it, and you just have to go for it.”