There and Back Again
Tips For Solo Traveling Far From Home
One big life lesson I have learned is that if you want to take the trip, take it.
When I was younger, I used to wait in vain for friends to get back to me, for people’s schedules to align, for others to help plan so that I wasn’t carrying the responsibility (both mentally and financially) of having to book flights and hotels for everybody.
And finally, one day, I woke up and thought to myself, “Why?”
If I want to go somewhere, and I have the time and the means and the ability, then I should. I can plan my own trip, tell everyone, “Hey, I’m going to be in this city on this date,” and take off and have a great time whether or not anyone shows up.
A few years back, I mentioned wanting to go to New Zealand to a group of friends. As a big fan of the Lord of the Rings films, I had been hoping to visit since I was in high school over two decades ago. “I have a big birthday coming up in 2025,” I announced. “I want to get over my anxiety about how far away it is and actually go!”
Everyone enthusiastically agreed to come. “Yes! Let’s plan on it!”
But life gets in the way, which I understand. People forget, which I understand. Excitement can be dampened by the reality of cost and preparation, which I understand. One person wanted me to plan around her children’s school year schedule, which didn’t allow us much time to travel. Another friend felt guilty about going without her husband, but also felt guilty bringing him on a girls’ trip. Yet a third was already going to be traveling so much that she would “let me know later,” and never did.
My own partner couldn’t make it, either, but he gave me his full support and lovingly encouraged me to go. So I shrugged, put my own plans in motion, and almost a year later, found myself wandering around a fully furnished hobbit hole in the Shire!!
As a solo female traveler who had never ventured so far across the globe, I knew I would personally feel more comfortable going with a tour group. All of the planning would be handled for me, from the itinerary to the food to the accommodations, and all I would have to do was book a flight for the correct date (no easy feat, considering New Zealand is almost twenty hours ahead of Boston. You have no idea how many times I double-checked what day the plane would land!). I wouldn’t have to worry about renting a car or driving on the left side of the road, since a coach bus would be provided for us, and I would be traveling with a large group of people.
So I looked online, picked the most reputable and official Lord of the Rings tour — more details on exactly which one later, because I highly recommend it! — and decided to shoot my shot and email the owner even though it was fully booked for the next two years (absolutely wild and a big green flag, considering it has been 24 years since these movies first came out). Lo and behold, they had one last spot on their two-week September tour that would coincide with International Hobbit Day and Bilbo Baggins’ birthday! There were already 35 people signed up, and I would be the last.
Of course, there was still a little bit of stress in the planning phase. I had to renew my passport and take new photos. I wanted to apply and do an interview to upgrade to Global Entry status. And even though I’m an American citizen who was born in New York, I was expecting shenanigans at the airport so I prepared a folder with copies of my birth certificate, a mortgage statement, etc. in case anyone tried to start nonsense about me coming back into my own country (it didn’t happen, but I was flagged for “random” screening and had to hand over my phone to TSA to be checked; more on this later). I also had to apply for an electronic travel authorization, fill out a traveler’s declaration, pay a levy, and figure out where to exchange currency.
Once that was all settled, though, I could relax a bit and get ready for the trip of a lifetime! I knew I would remember it forever, make wonderful new friends, and gain a ton of experience as a woman traveling alone. I have so many tips and photos to share today, so grab a snack because this newsletter will be a long one!
I decided to begin my journey in Hawaii, since there was a direct flight from Boston — twelve hours, currently the longest continental flight in the U.S., but sadly being discontinued — and Honolulu is roughly the same time of day as Auckland, just a different day of the week. (#TimeTraveler) This was the best decision I could have made from a jet lag standpoint…
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