Solo travel: the ultimate JFC guide
Plus: free pancakes， mechanical bulls， and grizzly-spotting in Canada
Jack's Flight Club sent this email to their subscribers on March 29, 2024.
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Travel Inspiration | |||||||||
The Ultimate JFC Guide To Travelling Solo | |||||||||
Solo travel is one of those topics that we get asked about all the time. Understandably, the idea of going it alone for the first time—or in a new part of the world—can be daunting. Thankfully, there are loads of great resources out there to help us find our feet, and many of you, our wonderful readers, have been kind enough to share your experiences and advice. \t\t\tWe’ve visited the topic from various different angles over the years, so it seemed only right that we finally pull together all the best tips we’ve gathered. Let’s start off with general rules of play from across the JFC community, including member Shuo, who weinterviewed in 2021: \t\t\t
 \t\t\tAdopting these mindsets and tips should work for everyone, regardless of where you travel. However, it won’t quite cut the mustard for many of us. Indeed, we’re often asked for advice specifically for women travelling solo. \t\t\tWomen’s Solo Travel \t\t\tA couple of years ago, we interviewed JFC-er Priti, who packed in her job, car, and house in California to become a full-time traveller at the age of 55. Here’s what she had to say when we asked her what advice she had for other would-be female solo travellers: \t\t\t \t\t\t
\t\t Priti also recommends staying in hostels, as much for the social aspect as for the budget. As an avid cook, she has found that people naturally gravitate to the kitchen for a chat—an excellent solution for anyone anxious about eating alone every night. But since most hostels also offer private rooms, you still have the option to retire for the night in peace. \t \t\t\tYou can read ourfull interview with Priti here. Fair warning: these interviews were originally published in November 2021, so prepare yourself for more than a few mentions of the pandemic. Back to the present day, and Detour reader Margaret recently got in touch to share her favourite solo travel experience with us: \t\t\t \t\t\t \t\t\t
\t\t\tCommunity advice from travellers just like ourselves is often exactly what we need to help us find the confidence to take that leap. TheSolo Female Traveler Networkis an invaluable resource for finding answers to those questions you never knew you had, whileWomen on the Roadhas handy resources for budgeting, packing, finding a travel buddy, and more. Of course, concerns about solo travel can stretch beyond gender, to race, religion, sexuality, accessibility, and more. \t\t\tJust last week, CN Traveler published an article full of great pointers forsolo Muslim women looking to join group toursthat work for them. While religion isn’t necessarily the focus of these tours, things like prayer schedules and finding Halal restaurants are all baked into the plans. You’ll also find comprehensive advice for solo Muslim travellers—and Muslim-friendly travel in general—over onMuslim Travel Girl. \t\t\tBlack Solo Travel In the past, we’ve also covered tips for Black solo travellers. While we always recommend doing your own research when it comes to concerns about prejudice or racism abroad, we have found a few useful websites to get you started. \t\t\tPersonal blogs on sites like Travel Noire, which has afantastic selection of traveller stories, and the community reviews fromBlack And Abroadare good starting points. Checking those recommendations against first-hand experiences onRedditor groups likeThe Black Travelers Networkis the best way to make sure you’ve got all the facts.  \t\t\tIt can also be pretty reassuring to read the experiences of solo travellers likeDiana PettersonandJessica Nabongo—officially the first black woman to have visited every country in the world—whose main takeaway is that most people across the globe are essentially welcoming and kind. \t\t\tYou can find thefull article on Black solo travel here, including the destinations that come most frequently recommended by Black solo travellers. \t\t\tLGBTQ+ Solo Travel \t\t\tAnd then there’s the other kinds of prejudice you might worry about, such as homophobia or transphobia. For LGBTQ+ solo travellers, Asher Fergusson’sLGBTQ+ Travel Safety IndexandGlobal Trans Rights Indexare invaluable resources when it comes to working out just how safe a country is. \t\t\tFor international travel guides and research advice specifically for LGBTQ+ travellers,IGLTAis a fountain of knowledge. They also have a great tours section, where solo travellers can find all kinds of group trips, from simple city breaks to Antarctica Pride Cruises (that’s right, you can celebrate Pride on theDrake Passage!). And for some of our favourite LGBTQ+ friendly destinations, check outthis Detourfrom September 2022. \t\t\tAccessible Solo Travel Finally, we’re delighted to have noticed an increasing number of resources surrounding accessible travel and, as a result, more advice for solo travellers with disabilities. \t\t\tWorld On Wheelscovers practical tips for air travel and cruising with a disability, as well as wheelchair-accessible group tours, whileJourney WomanandCN Travellerhave countless inspirational stories from travellers with all kinds of accessibility needs. \t\t\tMany of the sites and group tours aimed at disabled solo travellers still tend towards the assumption that you’re also of a certain age. I’d suggest that no matter how old you are, joining an online community such astabifolkis the best way to find out how accessible the places you hope to visit really are.  These resources are by no means exhaustive, and we’d encourage anyone to research their destination thoroughly before embarking on a solo trip. Not just because it’s wise to know how safe, accepting, or accessible it’ll be for you, but also because this time, it’s up to you to make your trip what you want it to be. It’s exciting. It’s scary. But it also feels pretty good! \t\t\tHave you ever travelled solo? Did you find any handy resources that helped you prepare? Hit ‘Reply’ to tell us about your experiences—good or bad—and share your tips with the JFC community. | |||||||||
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Reader's Corner | |||||||||
\t\tAs a Western Canadian, your Canada trip dates are the exact time that I'd recommend, so great planning! You will get warm weather (although no promises), jaw-droppingly gorgeous hiking, active wildlife and even a little peek at theCalgary Stampede. \t\tGolden is home to one of the best bang-for-your-buckvia ferratasin Western Canada. In a few short hours, you can be clinging to the side of a mountain, hundreds of feet in the air, or walking the plank between sheer cliff faces. As a bonus, the gondola to the start of the climb flies over a grizzly bear preserve—keep your eyes peeled forThe Boss. \t\tGolden also has adizzying cliffside swing, axe throwing and a zippymountain coaster. Essentially, there are plenty of opportunities to get your thrills!  \t\tWith those free six days, I’d recommend you look to The Rocky Mountain parks: Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. They’re absolutely world-class destinations in their own right, made for getting out there and enjoying the wilderness. Check outthis article I wrote on the Canadian Rockiesfor some of my favourite hikes in the area. \t\tBanff (Canmore) has theTriple Crown challengeif you’re looking to really push yourselves. But afterwards, you should definitely relax those aching muscles with a loooooong soak in steaming mineral water. Skip the touristy Banff Hot Springs and splurge on a day pass to theFairmont Banff Springs. \t\tWhile you’re in Banff, I’d highly recommend checking outParkfor some of the best food in town, set in a laid back plaid-and-campfire atmosphere. The cherry on top? They have a distillery right on site… \t\tBack in Calgary itself, the Stampede runs July 5-14, so you should catch the start of it. However you feel about the rodeo or fairgrounds, the Stampede is a fun time. There arefree pancake breakfastsacross the city, and everyone/everything is dressed up in their shiniest cowboy gear. \t\tAlso, a little known fact is that the Stampede actually opens on the Thursday night before the official run (on the evening of 4th July). As a Calgarian, this is when I go to the show—waaaaay fewer crowds in line for theweird and wacky foods, and half price to boot. Make sure to checkkijiji.cafor Grandstand Show tickets for this special event (they aren’t officially sold, just given away to their sponsors’ employees who may resell).  \t\tFor non-Stampede-but-still-charmingly-cowboy-themed Calgary activities, I’d recommendRanchman’s Club, a fairly authentic western bar that still has two-stepping before the post-dinner crowd turns the place into a proper club (albeit one that still includes a mechanical bull). \t\tNext up? Alberta beef is famous for a reason, if your wallet is really weighing you down, you couldtackle a tender tomahawkor hunt downAlberta’s Wagyu steak.Big Sky BBQis a more budget-friendly hit that never disappoints… \t\tFinally, if you need to give your cowboy boots a break, there are many modern and creative restaurants to be found as well.Ten Foot Henry,OrchardandMajor Tomare always solid choices (but make reservations well ahead of time!).Curiocity Calgaryis the go-to for hearing about pop-ups and special events in the city.Betty Lou’s LibraryandAjitoare my favourite hidden bars, but there are a surprising number of options, socheck out this listfor different themes. \t\tI hope that gives you some inspiration, and you both have a great trip! Don't forget to send us a postcard :-) \t\t \t | |||||||||
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