Unlike shoes, scissors or deuces, people don’t come in pairs.
During a doubles tennis match, this may be a problem. But when it
comes to traveling, being alone is often a blessing. No one understands
this better than travel agents, who love sending solo travelers
around the world, especially around Valentine’s Day.
While Valentine’s Day is important, teaching the world to
appreciate greeting cards, chocolate samplers and the color red;
the holiday is lost on a great number of people who are single and
loving it. Yet loving the single life can only stretch so far, and
the pro-couple mentality that drives Valentine’s Day can weigh
heavily on a single person, forcing him or her to suddenly feel
more lonely than alone.
Many
singles are turning to travel as a healthy way to deal with the
Valentine blues. Tour operators throughout the world offer holidays
specifically designed for singles, in both a group setting or as
a solo journey. Your travel agent knows the value and reliability
of these companies, and they can match your personality and expectations
with the best fit.
So if being alone on Valentine’s Day gets you down, follow
the advice of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and travel
to a new and exciting destination. Some of the most travel-wise
people in the world, ASTA members know that when you travel abroad
on Valentine’s Day, there’s a good chance you’ll
end up in some place that doesn’t celebrate it.
Footloose and Fancy
Free – Why Solo Travel is Better
Solo travel is not two weeks of playing solitaire in a hotel room.
In a lot of ways, traveling on your own provides a richer vacation
experience, for it forces you to interact more with other people
and cultures, turning you from a tourist into a traveler. And in
the spirit of Valentine’s Day, you might meet someone during
your journeys who turns out to be instrumental in your life, for
locals are more apt to approach someone on their own for a friendly
chat, and vice versa.
You’ll get to know a lot about yourself; people who previously
had never traveled alone often describe their first solo trip as
a religious experience. All of the decisions, mistakes, triumphs
and glories are yours, as well as the aches and pains of a hard—but
glorious—day’s hike. Traveling alone makes you a stronger,
more self-reliant individual, as you solve problems, translate bus
schedules and find hidden restaurants all on your own.
Most
importantly, traveling alone is about freedom—the core of
every great vacation. The itinerary, pace and excursions are all
up to you. This is an exotic type of freedom; the kind that allows
you to erase the concept of boundaries and go—physically and
mentally—around the world and back again.
Besides, traveling solo is the best way to get your money’s
worth from the trip, for you always get to do what you want, when
you want to do it. Don’t be put off by stories of steep single-traveler
supplements; some suppliers have noticed the growth in the single
traveler market and have changed their policies accordingly. Your
travel agent can show you which hotels and cruise lines have special
single rooms at discounted rates. The cost of a single person traveling
alone should never be more than that of two people traveling together,
and with a travel agent on your side, it never is.
Where to Go this
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is coming up, and you’ve decided to
globetrot alone. Now comes the fun part—choosing where to
go! The good news is your options are varied and numerous. You can
join a singles tour with like-minded travelers or conquer the world
on your own. Either way, the main goals for any solo traveler are
to discover new corners of the world, enjoy creative activities
and experiences, and always be ready to meet new people.
Below you’ll find a list of general ideas to accomplish all
three goals. If any of these spark your interest, consult a trusted
travel agent to take care of the details,
Yucatan Peninsula
The Yucatan
Peninsula is an exciting locale where history meets paradise,
and where the weather on Valentine’s Days will warm anyone’s
heart. You’ll enjoy the area’s breathtaking natural
beauty and the depth of its thousand-year-old history through nearby Mayan ruins. And you’ll
definitely enjoy the beaches, where people mingle all day long.
You can stay at a sparkling resort along the Mayan Riviera —
such as Cancun, Playa
del Carmen or Cozumel — and then visit Mayan ruins during exciting daytrips. Beach,
sun and exceptional trekking around fabled ruins — now that’s
a solo journey to remember.
Singles
Cruise on the Queen Mary 2
The Queen Mary 2 is not like other cruise ships, and this voyage
is not like other singles cruises. Mix and mingle on the waves of
paradise around San
Juan, St.
Thomas and other Caribbean hot spots while enjoying the luxury of the world’s grandest
ocean liner. You’ll soon forget that it’s Valentine’s
Day, and you’ll soon forget what it’s like to be alone.
Irish Pub Tour
What better way to enjoy Valentine’s Day than a pub tour through
the Emerald
Isles. Ireland’s pubs are as diverse and friendly as its
people, and a tour from village to village is a grand way to see
the real country and meet some of the finest, most enthusiastic
people on the planet. Toast your way through such towns as Dublin, Kilkenny, Limerick and more, while developing a fine ear for the charming Irish music.
The sweet tunes and tastes of the Isles will forever stay with you.
Follow Your Passion
The key to solo travel is you. This is your chance to follow your
passion in life and explore it to the fullest. It just might be
the most rewarding vacation you ever take.
Wherever your passion leads you, always consult a travel agent
first. Travel agents are loaded with useful information, steering
your in the right direction and saving you time and money in the
process. A lot of them have been to the places you want to go and
know how to get the most value while you’re there.
Home 
Travel Agent Home 
Many
singles are turning to travel as a healthy way to deal with the
Valentine blues. Tour operators throughout the world offer holidays
specifically designed for singles, in both a group setting or as
a solo journey. Your travel agent knows the value and reliability
of these companies, and they can match your personality and expectations
with the best fit.
Most
importantly, traveling alone is about freedom—the core of
every great vacation. The itinerary, pace and excursions are all
up to you. This is an exotic type of freedom; the kind that allows
you to erase the concept of boundaries and go—physically and
mentally—around the world and back again. 
Singles
Cruise on the Queen Mary 2