Travel Types: The SWOFTy
One of the things I've been musing about with regard to my recent holiday is the type of people who were travelling with me. Why? Because there really weren't very many who were like me (that may be a good thing ;-) ). That is, Solo Women Over Forty Travellers (or as I shall henceforth name them - the SWOFTy).
Yes, there were solo travellers, and female travellers, and plenty of us over forty, but looking at the nine group trips I've done over the years, I have met only three other women who would qualify. Why? Let's break it down.
Solo travellers
Over the many years, there have been very few people on my tours who travelled without a partner - and in the main, they were male. Perhaps it's a snoring thing? Anyway, predominent were married couples/people in a relationship, as well as those travelling with family (siblings usually - although I, myself, did two family trips - one with each parent). Interestingly, those travelling with same-sex friends are mostly female, and when male, for some reason, the group assumes they are either brothers or gay - is it that unusual for male friends to travel together?!
My point is - pairs prevail.
So, it is interesting that several travel companies pitch towards solo travellers - especially with the promise of not having to pay a single supplement (there is much about solo travel that is expensive, sadly!). I notice too that many travel companies prefer to refer to this group as "solo" travellers, rather than singles (plus, single travel tours seem to hint at dating in a global context, really).
In fact, quite a few of the travellers I met who were travelling solo were not necessarily single. After all, in a world where FaceBook offers us "It's Complicated" as a relationship status, then being "single" is not always so clear cut, anyway. Perhaps it is the very presence of online contact that allows people the ease of leading somewhat separate lives while being within a partnership? Yet the solo traveller is but one segment of the market, and on my travels I must say that I am made far more aware of two more ubiquitous types: the couple, and the family.
When travelling solo, there isn't anything more annoying than all the deals aimed at couples. Why do they get the financial breaks? When I was in Hawaii, I ended up giving away my wealth of coupons to a local married woman I met. They were all "two-for-one" specials - after all, Hawaii is a popular honeymoon destination, as I discovered much to my dismay - that being the first holiday I took after breaking up with a long-term patner! But, I really had no way of using them. Recently in Switzerland, I was denied the pleasure of trying out the country's famous fondue - unless I wanted to pay the price for two (Switzerland is expensive enough already!) and only eat half... They need some community service fondue meet up location for solo travellers to pair up with an eating buddy, I think! ;-)
I don't want you to think I am whining about not having like-statused friends to travel with (okay - well, maybe I am). I can almost sense all those mothers with young children turning green at the thought of women who are not tied down by children and their resulting financial commitments, so are thus able to travel where and when they would like. And of course there is no reason why families can't holiday with young children (after all, there always seems to be at least one prepared to cry during long flights!).
In a way it's a pity that some destinations are touted as "family holidays" - as I wouldn't mind visiting them, but for the fact I would probably have to queue behind an overtired 3 year old or fend off teenagers with attitude for the best seats. I suppose each destination presents its challenges. Wise tourist operators separate families from solos/couples - I know I have been on a few local tours where I have been happy to be shifted into an all-adult group (it frees up both the discussion and pace to adult levels).
Older Travellers
So if solos are mostly assumed to be singles, and singles are young people, is the issue about being old, then? It is always assumed that those travelling solo will be in their twenties, and if you're not, there remains little choice of things to do alone that don't involve nightclubs, backpacking, and extreme sports! And yet, we are seeing some changes here.
There has been a definite rise in the travel industry of the grey nomad - and apparently bumbling around in a caravan is no longer enough. I know you've seen the many ads for cruises, which are generally thought to appeal to an older demographic. But, it seems that more British Old Aged Pensioners (OAPs) are opting for travel with a buzz - bungy jumping, learning to scuba dive, three month mountain hikes - more a 20-something type of holiday - but with some accomodations for the creaky knees and dislike of loud places (and I daresay higher insurance premiums - unless they are really living dangerously with none at all)!
Certainly the older travellers I have come across are usually couples (with a new-found empty nest freedom), and I will confess they make for terrific dinner companions, with stories that have had many years to accumulate. Most older couples are always bemused though at a woman travelling alone, and even more so (and they do not seem shy at prying) at one without children waiting for her back at home.
Female Travellers
In a way, this is the crux of why there are so few SWOFTies. Women in their forties seem to either have familial obligations, or a partner to travel with (or having just lost them - girlfriends to travel with and bitch about it), or in being unable to acquire any of the above are thus not the sort of person likely to travel, let alone make interesting dinner conversation! (or those who do are certainly the minority...)
But there are plenty of female travellers, particularly in group travel, where they feel safer. I find this notion bemusing - I like to use a guided group to help me navigate countries with difficult languages, or customs. Maybe I'm just not daring enough in where I go alone, but I have never felt unsafe in the countries I have travelled to. Of course, I feel safe at home in Melbourne too, so maybe it's just me? And I would say that most of the female travellers in these groups have been younger women. I give you this tip if you are a twenty-something male (or an older male disgracefully seeking twenty-something females... good luck there!) - join a group tour! The problem for older solo female travellers is that unless you are also seeking a twenty-something woman... then you will probably not find you have much in common or much patience with your younger friends (particularly if you have to share a room with one of them!).
So, SWOFTies - unless you want to be the third wheel to older couples, or only given the options to partake in activities more appealing to younger women, then you (we) need to stand united - or failing that, hijack your similarly aged female friends, and get hubby to look after the kids!
Deal?
-------------
References:
Here's a good list of websites for solo older travellers
Read about Britain's "Silver Surfers"
