Comments on: Ups and Downs of Solo Travel

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:55:42 +0000

I’ve been ill while on the road solo, and it is the perfect storm for a pity party. Sometimes, we need those moments though and we’re stronger inside when it passes. I’m with you on wanting my mom around when I’m sick.

By: Dustin Main - Skinny Backpacker

Dustin Main - Skinny Backpacker — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:19:55 +0000

I’m the biggest wuss when I’m sick, and it’s really rough and terrible being alone and sick in a hotel room on the road. Like above, one of the few times I wish to be home and have someone take care of me.

In your case, at least there could be worse places to be sick, where you don’t have a staff of 5 at your side to help out! I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a follow-up trip to spend a bit more quality time there, this time sans illness!

By: Leigh

Leigh — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:11:17 +0000

Getting sick on the road is the pits no matter how you slice it though alone and sick just amplifies the situation. I think you’re much better off being sick in a nice place though than a hostel- and if you’re sick it’s worth springing for the private bathroom. You don’t need to add the misery of running down a hall to a bathroom – and that’s if you can run at all.

What a beautiful looking spot.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:44:44 +0000

Oh goodness – you are not alone! When I arrived in Nepal last year I thought I had digressed back to rookie traveler – it really took me a while to get my travel legs again. I’m sure it will take you time to convert back to being in the US soon!

By: Migration Mark

Migration Mark — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:33:07 +0000

I am the same way, when I get sick while traveling is about the only time I start to miss my friends and especially my family. I think it is finally a time when I start to think and am not fully busy all the time.

So sorry you didn’t get to enjoy this wonderful place to its potential. I hope you are making a speedy recovery.

By: Barbara at Hole in the Donut Travels

Barbara at Hole in the Donut Travels — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:22:30 +0000

One of your sentences really struck a chord with me. You said “Every time I strike out on my own I have to get used to it again.” I have the exact same experience. No matter how much I’ve traveled, each time I set out on a long-term trip, it takes me a week or two to get back into the rhythm, to feel comfortable in my travel skin. And here I thought I was the only one. Good to know it happens to others too.

By: Mark H

Mark H — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:50:44 +0000

I quite enjoy travelling alone, but dinner time and eating alone can be a bit thankless at times. Good food and good conversation is a good formula for enjoying evenings.

By: Earl

Earl — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:23:11 +0000

Although it’s only happened a couple of times, I tend to lock myself up in my hotel room at the first sign of sickness during travels. And even though I generally avoid taking medicines when I’m at home, when I’m traveling alone and I get sick, I’m suddenly willing to take anything that will help me feel better as soon as humanly possible.

It’s never a good time of course, but a comfortable hotel room and even semi-attentive and caring staff go long way in helping us get better!

By: Scene by Laurie

Scene by Laurie — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:23:50 +0000

Sherry,
Sorry you were sick, there’s never a good time or place. But as you say, maybe being in luxury and at least with some peope who could take care of you, if not your family, is better than being truly alone.
It’s only happened to me once solo and it does suck, I don’t know if there’s a magic answer for what you do other than just try to get through it as fast as possible and sleep a lot!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:07:58 +0000

What an awesome looking place. Wow.

I too was lucky that the few times I got sick…I somehow was in a place and had time to allow me to just lie in bed.

First I was sick around Chile and Buenos Aires. Both places I actually had friends who met me there from the US. I remember spending my whole first day in Buenos Aires in bed in our hotel. And the second whole day trying to get meds and deal with my travel insurance. I ended up just following a complete stranger I met at the ‘phone’ place to the pharmacy who described to him in Spanish my symptoms. As usual, all I needed was a local…screw the insurance company! It did mean we cut out our trip to Iguazu Falls so we could spend more time in BA, but I was happy about it.

I was sick again with fever in New Zealand. But fortunately, I was staying with friend’s of friends so they let me just crash in their guest room and brought me to their doctor. it also meant less time to see NZ, but when you’re one a 2-3 year trip…you just can’t stress over a few lost days. I was happy to have a bed and soup!!

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:22:32 +0000

Being sick in a place that looks like paradise- sounds rough! Glad you had a friendly looking dog to comfort you. When I get the solo travel blues, I usually write home to friends and family. It generally does the trick

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:48:58 +0000

Sri Lanka is so gorgeous; my favorite place is right on the river and it’s super inexpensive. It’s geared toward independent, nature-loving travelers and (bonus) it’s shaped like a giant elephant! It’s next to a quaint little village and really allows visitors to get a feel for the local lifestyle. If you want to go back to Sri Lanka again I’d definitely recommend it.

http://www.globalbasecamps.com/sri-lanka/okkampitiya-eco-lodge/kumbukriver

Happy Traveling!

By: megan

megan — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:57:33 +0000

Being sick on the road is no fun – I’ve just gotten over a cold and sinus congestion (which I had to fly with – yuck!) and I felt pretty sorry for myself for a couple of days. I think the best thing to do is to acknowledge that it’s ok to take it easy, and not to feel guilty for skipping sites, or taking it easy – after all, you’re sick and won’t get better any faster if you run yourself into the ground.

By: Heather on her travels

Heather on her travels — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:36:33 +0000

Not great being sick and not being able to enjoy sucha lovely place, but even if you were well, this looks to my like the kind of place that is crying out to be enjoyed with friends and family

By: Alison

Alison — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:41:48 +0000

This looks like an absolutely magical place. Being sick while you were there… not so magical. Poor you.

As for being sick on the road, I fortunately *knocking furiously on wood* haven’t had anything more than colds and headaches.

It took we quite a while to get used to being sick in Belgium when we first moved here. Not having 24 hour super-sized drug stores was a pain. It’s funny how when you’re sick you turn to the remedies you’ve always used (even when you suspect they don’t really do much). The big thing I missed – Neocitran. I stock-pile it now when I go home to visit.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:25:30 +0000

I didn’t get to go outside the grounds much – but I felt completely at ease. My friends live there as a vacation home and they have never said that they didn’t feel safe. I would recommend anyone to go there in a heartbeat. I felt much more on edge in Rio and Ulanbatar…always watching my back.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:16:05 +0000

So sorry you were sick, but the place does look like paradise! I’m really drawn to Sri Lanka, and was so happy to see the safety advisory recently lifted. How safe did you feel outside the hotel grounds?