Plan carefully to make
your solo experience safe
and rewarding

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Traveling solo can be an insightful experience full of freedom and intrigue. But with that independence comes responsibility.

Before going it alone, you must plan ahead and be prepared to deal with all sorts of situations. Fortunately, there's been a barrage of good advice in recent years for those considering the solo adventure. Here's a general guide:

Step 1 -- Pick a destination with care.

Eleanor Berman, author of "Traveling Solo: Advice and Ideas for More Than 250 Great Vacations," says some of her favorite places are Amsterdam, Montreal, New York and Paris, because they are walking cities with good public transportation. She also recommends San Francisco, Chicago and Boston.

"The kind of cities that I see as good places for the solo traveler are places where it's easy to get around," Berman says. "Driving by yourself is very stressful because you have to read your map at the same time."

But for those unsure about doing it totally alone, Berman suggests small travel groups that focus on hobbies such as photography, painting, cooking or archaeology.

John Loncar, of International Travel Service, books many solo trips to Micronesia for scuba diving and Australia or Indonesia for outback adventures. Many such outdoor activities -- white-water rafting, mountain climbing, hiking or mountain biking -- can be arranged through tour packages, he says.

Step 2 -- Research, research and more research. "The more information you have, the more confident you will be while you are traveling," Berman says.

For example, find out how long it takes to get from the airport to the city you're visiting and how much cab fare you'll need.

Look into a basic language class at a local university -- or at least carry a basic travelers dictionary.

Sandy Mckee asks friends if they know anyone who lives in her destination city. Then she asks to be introduced through a phone call, fax or letter. "This habit has lead to such great experiences as a delightful afternoon in Gisborne, New Zealand, with the mother of one of my friends, and a day of bargain shopping with a Tokyo housewife who knew all the best places to buy clothes at reasonable prices," Mckee says. She brings bags of Kona coffee along for thank-you gifts.

Step 3 -- Pack light, protect your valuables and be sure your health records are up to date.

"Don't take more luggage than you can easily carry by yourself," Berman says. "You won't have anybody to watch your things."

Sharon Wingler, author of "Travel Alone and Love It: A Flight Attendant's Guide to Solo Travel," suggests making two copies of important papers -- tickets, passport, credit cards. Leave one copy at home with a friend and keep the other in your suitcase, she says.

Wingler also suggests carrying your name, address and the phone number of your hotel -- in the native language.

Other things to pack include a journal, a novel set in the place you are visiting -- both can keep you occupied when traveling or eating alone -- and what Wingler calls your "life story" -- pictures of family and friends, and post cards from your home town.

"It's a wonderful experience to be able to share your culture with the people you meet," she says

Step 4 -- Once there, stay safe. Don't dress like a tourist, be careful whom you tell you're an American or traveling alone. Store your passport, return ticket and most of your money in the hotel safe.

"I only carry with me enough money for one day," Mckee says. "That way, if my purse is taken, I'm not completely devastated. I can still pay my hotel bills and get back home."

Keep hold of your day bag. "If you sit down at a restaurant, don't just hang it over the chair, keep it on your lap or keep the strap around your arm," Wingler says.

And divide up your credit cards "so that if you lose one wallet, you'll still have access to cash," Berman says.

Wingler suggests consulting the hotel staff about parts of town that should be avoided.

Mckee even gives the staff her itinerary and tells them when she expects to return. "You want to make it so that if you get into trouble, it'll be as easy as possible for someone to help you."

Step 5 -- Grab your ticket, get on that plane and have fun!

Don't let these safety tips scare you. Traveling abroad alone can be just like exploring your own back yard as long as you use your head and take precautions.

"You have to open yourself up to experiencing something great -- and you will," McKee says.

Hawaii is paradise,
except for all that romance
in the air

As a destination for solo travelers, Hawaii has its ups and downs. It's beautiful and certainly relaxing, but overrun with lovey-dovey honeymooners who might spark a touch of envy.

Yet that hasn't stopped those determined to see the Aloha State. The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau says solo travelers for the last few years have represented one-fourth of visitors to Hawaii.

Travel author Sharon Wingler, a Delta flight attendant, has visited Hawaii alone twice. But even Wingler, who has seen much of the world on her own, has reservations about Hawaii.

"A lot of Hawaii is so honeymoon- and couples-oriented that when I go, I just want to park myself under a palm tree and read good books," she said.

But all that romantic nonsense aside, Hawaii really is a paradise, Wingler said.

"I remember standing on the beach on Maui and watching the whales jumping out of the water. There was a man standing next to me and he just shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Yes, it's paradise.'"