Travel Alone and Love It: A Flight Attendant's Guide to Solo Travel [Paperback]

Sharon Wingler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996

For those who are brimming with wanderlust but lacking a travelling partner, this book is the only companion needed for the trip. This traveller's aid lays out the steps for researching, planning and enjoying a successful solo journey. It explains the advantages of solo travel, how to overcome fear, deal with cultural differences, save money on food and lodging, dine alone, and meet people during a solo journey. It also addresses practical concerns, such as packing efficiently, scheduling flights, protecting belongings, and coping with jet lag. Encouraging readers to immerse themselves in other cultures, this book will provide inspiration for travellers looking for an independent journey.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Having traveled extensively for 26 years as a flight attendant, Wingler brings her experiences and insights to this unusual travel guide. Though much of it deals informatively with topics found in most travel guides (tips on travel planning, flight protocol, jet lag, etc.), the sections that set it apart from the mainstream guides are those that address the concept of traveling alone. Wingler convincingly argues that solo travel provides increased opportunities to meet and interact with people of another culture one-on-one, thus providing a much more memorable travel experience. In addition to attempting to inspire people to travel alone, she also offers ways of overcoming the fear of doing so. Appendixes list foreign tourist offices and publications about solo travel. Recommended for public libraries with sizable travel collections.?Pamela W. Bellows, Northwestern Connecticut Community Tech. Coll. Lib., Winstead
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Personal anecdotes, common sense advice and a friendly conversational tone will reassure those considering going it on their own. As though anticipating every possible fear in this regard, Wingler addresses every aspect of the journey, from insurance to jet lag to the oft-dreaded dining alone. Having chalked up a few travel miles of my own, I found myself nodding, even chuckling at times, at the author's travel savvy from 26 years as a flight attendant. Her packing suggestions are excellent as are her tips about health and safety. The nicest thing about this guide that should inspire and encourage even timid tourists, is Wingler's attitude. Her comment, as she describes differences in foreign food - "Be a good sport and just try things their way" - speaks of an openness and sensitivity that new or old visitors would be well-advised to take with them. -- Geraldine Levy, Small Press, October, l996

Practical advice and plenty of anecdotes from a longtime flight attendant on overcoming fear, keeping safe, meeting people. Her philosophy is, you may leave home alone, but you won't be alone for long. "In all my travels, I've found people more willing to strike up conversations and offer help and companionship to me as a solo traveler than when I've been accompanied." -- Rich Haddaway, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 1, l998

The author is a well-traveled flight attendant and it shows. From personal safety and health to the awkwardness of dining alone, she addresses all the issues that confront the solo traveler. Wingler's guide includes a handy list of tourist offices and solo travel newsletters and books. -- Scott Thurston, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 25, l996

Travel Alone & Love It is, above all, reassuring for the novice traveler, thanks to the level of detail it provides. Reading this cheerful, conversational book is like having a pre-trip chat with a good friend-one who happens to have 26 years of experience as a flight attendant. Author Sharon B. Wingler comforts the first-time or occasional traveler with step-by-step information about packing, navigating the airport and making the flight as enjoyable as possible. She does address issues of special concern to solo travelers-overcoming fears, ensuring your safety-but many of her tips are universally useful (after all, we all need to know how to avoid painful "jet belly"). -- Andrea Hanis, Chicago Sun-Times, November 24, l996

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Spectrum Press (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886094357
• ISBN-13: 978-1886094352
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,250,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A few gems, a lot of basics, January 17, 2001

By 

L. Mountford (Bellingham, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Travel Alone and Love It: A Flight Attendant's Guide to Solo Travel (Paperback)

I don't consider myself a "seasoned traveler," but I'm probably a bit beyond the "total novice" stage. I've done two guided/accompanied vacation tours in Europe, and one concert tour traveling with a large performing ensemble in Eastern Europe for 19 days. I've also done 5 or 6 international business trips that lasted a few days each. So, while I'm no globe-trotter, I've traveled a bit.

That said, I found a lot of the information in this book to be very basic. I didn't pick up any new insights regarding packing, wardrobe, personal safety, or health. Most of this really is common sense (drinking as much water on the plane as you can handle, packing no more than you can comfortably carry yourself, etc.). Some of the information is a little dated, too -- most airlines now count a woman's handbag as one of the two allowed carry-ons.

I _did_ find a few gems: taking along post cards of my home town and photos of my house, for example, is a lovely idea, which I will use on my next trip. I was gratified to find that Sharon's approach to jet lag is precisely what I've discovered (get yourself on the new time cycle as soon as possible, beginning the day of your departure flight, staying awake during the "wake" hours of the new time zone, and making sure you sleep during the "sleep" hours even if it means taking a mild over-the-counter sleep aid). Packing some extra "give-aways" like small candy bars is a nice touch as well.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more information on getting around once you're at your location, especially by car. The author seems to suggest that public transportation and walking are the only alternatives. This works great if you're visiting a city with public transportation. But part of the joy of travel is getting off the beaten path into the countryside. Sometimes, renting a car makes sense.

I'd recommend this book to someone who is looking forward to a second international vacation (I agree with the author that the first solo trip abroad should probably be a guided/accompanied tour), and wants to try "winging" it. If you've traveled by yourself more than a couple of times, you'll probably find this a little too basic.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel Alone & Love It, August 27, 2000

By 

A.M.Buie (Schaumburg, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Travel Alone and Love It: A Flight Attendant's Guide to Solo Travel (Paperback)

This should be your first and only stop when searching for solo traveling information. The price makes it a terrific value! If I had known of it's existence before I started my research, it would have saved me countless trips to the Public library! The information is easy to understand and very insightful reading on how to navigate the World without feeling like an amateur. It coaches you on how to invite people into conversation as a lone traveler and shows you how easily it is to withdraw from unwanted attention without giving offense. Sharon's tips really work. Her tips on what to pack were right on the money and saved me plenty of space in my suitcase for souvenirs. By using her tips I blended in so well that on numerous occasions the locals mistook me for a local as well. Imagine Their surprise when I answered their questions with my American accent! Read the book, make your notes and let it open the World to you. I have recommended this book to many people with an interest in traveling solo and I plan to give to both family and friends as gifts.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A defining moment book, October 17, 2002

By 

Marlene Johnson (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Travel Alone and Love It: A Flight Attendant's Guide to Solo Travel (Paperback)

I'm a middle aged woman & when I purchased "Travel Alone & Love It" I'd been searching for a women's travel group to join. While reading this book I realized "I can do this". Sharon make's solo travel sound exciting and her tips make sense. I made 2 pages of notes and booked my first solo trip...to London. Thank you Sharon for providing the encouragement I needed to strike out on my own. An excellent read for anyone who's toying with the idea of travel.