Justine Waddington is the founder and director of Encounter Travel, a company that creates holiday groups exclusively for solo travellers. As a solo traveller with 60 countries under her belt and 15 years of arranging travel groups, Justine is in the unique position of being able to offer tips and advice from the perspective of an experienced solo traveller and also that of a travel agent.
SOLO TRAVEL: Taking The Plunge
Do you know the movie ‘Sliding Doors’ with Gwyneth Paltrow? The plot is based on the main character ‘Helen’ and how her life would be completely different depending on whether or not she catches a certain train, one certain day and time.
Just yesterday there was a Facebook post about our upcoming Fiji resort holiday in September. The post was from a lady thinking about taking the trip ‘Can people tell me what these single holidays are like and in booking a twin and getting a complete stranger to share...does this really work? I am keen but nervous of taking the plunge.’
I can’t say why but her post made me think of the moving ‘Sliding Doors’. On any given day we are never going to know how one decision or one action may direct the course of our future and how it could be so different if we had or hadn’t made that decision or taken that action.
Does a decision today shape your future?
WHAT IF I NEVER TOOK THE PLUNGE?
It takes me right back to when I decided to start Encounter Travel. What if I hadn’t ‘taken the plunge’ to start my own business? So many things would be different, not just for me but for everyone that’s been on one of our trips. Questions spring to mind about what would be for all our past single travellers. Would you not have taken a holiday that was long deserved? Which friends would you not have now because you didn’t take that holiday? Did taking the holiday have a profound effect on the course of your life?
When it comes to deciding about a holiday, sure there’s some considerations like timing, budget and where to go but once you get past these factors then it’s easy – it’s a holiday, plunge right in. You won’t know for sure where it’s going to take but you can expect it’s going to be fun. The rest you could say is fate.
Do you have a story to share about a holiday you’ve taken and how it’s shaped your future, the friends you have, the choices you have made?
Thanks for reading!
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