Solo Travel a Growing Trend

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that solo travel is a trend that’s happening more and more around the world.

Recent figures from Britain indicate that 15.4 million Brits are planning to holiday alone, up from 9.6 million a decade ago. 

John Noake, manager of the Australian travel company Solo Traveller, said it was a growing trend in Australia.

“Since the beginning of 2005, when we began Solo Traveller, our single travel market has increased and women now make up over 70 per cent,” he said.

Jenifer Bird, communications manager for adventure travel company Intrepid, said: “I think that many people are travelling solo because we are all so busy these days, and as a result often have a specific time frame within which we travel. It is increasingly difficult to find a travelling buddy ready to go at the same time, hence the group environment offers an alternative.

“Intrepid has always appealed to single travellers, largely because we don’t demand a single supplement for going solo. In addition, single travellers, women in particular, like the company and security of travelling in a group. The advantage of Intrepid is that the group remains small, and comprises like-minded travellers.”

Online travel agency Zuji is also noticing the trend towards more women travelling by themselves.

 

Leave Your Values at Home

When you volunteer abroad, you will probably have your first “I’m not in Kansas anymore” moment very early on in the trip.

It might go something like:

> A school teacher whacking a misbehaving child with a bamboo stick.

> Your taxi driver offering a marriage proposal.

> The Director not showing up on your first day volunteering at an orphanage.

One volunteer in Ghana wrote to us:

My values and belief systems were confronted daily in Ghana and I had to reconsider things that I had taken for granted. I don’t know if I’m more worldly as a result, but it definitely changed the way that I view societies.

Say What?

Perfectly nice locals in our host countries will often ask seemingly intrusive questions about your appearance, marital status, religion, education level, and income.

Your host family will not understand your desire to come-and-go as you please. They will have a strong paternalistic sense of responsibility for you and will get very worried if you are not home by sunset; they might call your mobile in a panic.

Thousands of pre-teen girls sell goods on the street everyday in our host countries (often in lieu of going to school). Yes this is child labor, but to her family the girl’s income is their only way buying food. Do you ignore the girls or buy from them? 

Elders, especially in village areas, expect people to greet them by crouching down with their arms resting on their knees. In Nepal and India, you will even see family member literally kissing the feet of parents before going on a journey. Are you going to do the same?

What To Think?

First of all, understand that you are in a very different country now. You’re living and volunteering in communities abroad that have cultural practices, life experiences, histories, needs, infrastructure (lack of), and world views that are likely very different from yours.

You can either fight this type of reality or learn to adapt to it.

We strongly suggest the latter.

You have to accept the responsibility that comes with being a stranger in a strange land.

This is their house; not yours.

What To Do?

Here are some strategies for dealing with your new culture when volunteering overseas:

  • Be humble and respectful
  • Observe & Listen
  • Be Inquisitive
  • Ask Questions
  • Do not judge
  • Do not act offended by comments or questions
  • Offer your help
  • See yourself in others
  • Smile

Oh, and how does Dorothy deal with her own culture shock in Oz?

I think she said something like, “There’s no place like Philly home…”

Let’s listen:

STA Travel Flights for Volunteering Abroad

For booking flights for our groups volunteering abroad, one of the companies we use is called STA Travel.

For each trip, our organization designates a point person who deals with STA Travel so that you as a volunteer — or trip leader — do not have to worry about coordinating the flights.

Below are some questions from STA Travel’s FAQ for volunteers like you. This will give you a better idea of how things work with flights.

What does the airline consider a “group”?
Most airlines consider a group to be at least 10 or more passengers traveling together.

How soon should I start looking for flights?
Most airlines have their schedules posted 330 days in the future and we would be more than happy to check rates if schedules are available at that time. We recommend inquiring at least 9 months in advance of your travel dates, as this is when you will typically find the best rates. Waiting too close to departure can result in the possibility of limited availability and a higher fare.

Will I pay a deposit when I return the group contract?
Initialed and signed contracts are due back to STA Travel within 7-10 business days from the date of confirmation. Space will be cancelled if a signed contract is not received by the due date listed. If applicable, your contract will include information regarding a required deposit. Ask us about ways to have your deposit waived.

What are my options for providing passenger details?
Booking will be handled with group coordinator (from Cosmic Volunteers) from beginning to end. The group coordinator will be responsible for providing the passenger details and any payments per the contract.

What is your process for payment?
We accept most major credit cards for payment. We also accept university or organization checks (no personal checks) via our credit and invoicing process.

When do we get tickets and other travel documents?
Confirmations will be sent out once the entire group is booked. Tickets and other travel documents are sent out at least two weeks prior to departure.

What are the benefits of booking a group rate?
Group rates lock in the same fare and itinerary for every passenger. When booking individually, fares can vary from passenger to passenger, and fluctuate frequently. Utilizing group space evens out the fares for everyone in the group and avoids price hikes. We can usually hold group space up to three to fours months in advance with no financial obligation. We do require a deposit, unless you have a line of credit with us, in which case the deposit is waived.

Does STA Travel have a price guarantee?
We pride ourselves in accommodating your needs and openly welcome you to let us know your budget and other quotes you have received from competitors. We will be more than happy to try and fulfill your request as we understand the importance of pricing. However, please keep in mind that shopping can actually have adverse effects on pricing. Other agencies are known to hold space with the airline during the quoting process. In this case, STA Travel will no longer have access to that airline’s fares and our low contracted rates, so we recommend that you approach STA Travel first for your travel needs.

What if I am unsure of how many seats I need to hold?
We recommend holding the maximum amount of seats you think you might need as long as you are not within the commitment deadline. It is easier to drop seats, than to add them at a later date.

What is commitment deadline?
After a certain date the airline requires the group to commit to the number of seats being held, otherwise they will penalize you for seats you do not use. The commitment deadline varies depending on airline, and can be anywhere between 30 – 90 days prior to departure.

What We Do to Ensure Your Safety Abroad

Here are just a few of the important things Cosmic Volunteers does to make sure you stay healthy and safe on your volunteering program abroad:

24 hour emergency support while

Our Trip Supervisor in the host country, Staff in US, Country Coordinator, and Host Family are available 24 hours.

Safe towns and neighborhoods abroad

We have carefully chosen every town and neighborhood you’ll live in and visit with health and safety considerations in mind foremost. Our staff has lived with many of our local host families.

Prepare you for the experience

Our staff will hold pre-trip sessions covering local health, safety, and cultural knowledge and etiquette. Our Volunteer Handbook has even more detailed information. When you arrive in the host country, our local Country Coordinators will reiterate all of the health and safety information.

Hire reliable, knowledgeable local Country Coordinators. Our local Country Coordinators live in the host country full-time, are fluent in all the local languages, and are experts in hosting foreign volunteers.

Lost or Stolen Passport Abroad

If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, our staff in the host country will assist you with obtaining a replacement passport from the local U.S. Embassy / Consulate.

Here is a list of documents / items you will need:

• Passport Photo
• ID (driver’s license or copy of missing passport)
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate or copy of missing passport)
• Travel Itinerary (airline tickets)
• Police Report (if applicable / available)
Form S-11 Application for Passport
Form DS-64 Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport

The U.S. Embassies / Consulates abroad typically process replacement passport only Monday-Friday during business hours. However they all have 24 hour emergency service, if for example your departure flight from the host country is within 24-48 hours.

From the State Dept website:

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are abroad, contact or visit the local U.S. embassy or consulate immediately and ask the American Citizens Services (ACS) unit to report the loss/theft.

The consular officer there may have you fill out an affidavit or a sworn statement to state the circumstances under which you lost the passport or under which it was stolen.

Remember, embassy officials are there to help you. Telling the truth is always your best course of action – you don’t want to have any difficulties getting a new passport to get home.

Your identity and citizenship will need to be confirmed by the officer through a personal interview. The officer will then have you complete an application for a replacement passport to get you home safely.

Usual application fees do apply if you have to replace your passport. However, if your money has also been stolen, we can help you contact friends or family to replenish your funds.

Replacement passports are normally valid for a full ten years for adults or five years for minors. The normal passport fees are collected from applicants for replacement passports.

Click for website of U.S. State Department for Lost or Stolen Passports.

WhatsApp: Stay in Touch When Volunteering Abroad

Staying in touch with family when you’re volunteering abroad has come a long way.

My cousin who traveled to India in the 1980’s stayed in touch with family and friends back home via handwritten letters, postcards and the occasional (and exorbitant!) landline phone call.

Even on my first trip abroad in 2000, I did not have a cell phone. I relied entirely on email and phone calls at the local Internet cafe (which was a 30 minute bicycle ride away).

How things have changed for the better.

These days most volunteers take a smart phone abroad of course.

There are many smart phone apps that let you message and talk easily with family and friends back home — and for free.

Our favorite communication app is WhatsApp Messenger.

WhatsApp Messenger is a FREE messaging app available for Android and IOS. WhatsApp uses your phone’s Internet connection (data or WIFI) to let you send and receive messages, calls, photos, videos, documents, and voice messages. 

WhatsApp works with your phone number, just like SMS, and integrates seamlessly with your phone’s existing address book. 

With WhatsApp, you’re always logged in. You never have to remember a login name or password.

Even if you turn off your phone or have no connection, WhatsApp will save your messages until the next time you use the app. This is especially useful when volunteering abroad because WIFI and data connections can be spotty.

WhatsApp is also preparing to introduce payments to its messaging app, making it the latest service to let users transfer money to one another with a text. 

The only catch is that the people you want to communicate with also have to install WhatsApp on their smart phone.

Oh — and WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, in case that bothers you.

Lake Atitlán: Best Beach You Haven’t Heard of Yet

Lake Atitlán in Guatemala was named the “Best Beach You Haven’t Heard of Yet” by TravelChannel.com in 2015:

The best under-the-radar beach does not find itself alongside an ocean, but the most beautiful lake in the world. Situated in the highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlán is Central America’s deepest lake. “Nestled in the valley of 3 volcanoes (one of them still active), you’ll not only take in peaceful volcanic views, but also absorb the vibrant pink, yellow and blue colors of the surrounding vegetation,” says Sara Gilliam. “In fact, Atitlán is Mayan for ‘where the rainbow gets its colors.’”

Why do we care about Atitlán? Well, it’s one of the regular weekend excursions for our participants on our Volunteering Program in Guatemala.

Gabriela Sagastume and Andres Ranero posted a travel diary video Lake Atitlan in 2016. They show drone footage of Hacienda Real in Tecpan and San Antonio Palopo in Solola. They also show the lovely towns of Santa Catarina Palopo and Panajachel.

ABC News explains further the appeal of Lake Atitlan:

Lake Atitlán isn’t an ocean beach, but as it’s name suggests, on a lake. Lake Atitlán is the country’s deepest lake, in the Guatemalan Highlands of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range.

Surrounded by volcanoes and dotted with tiny Mayan towns accessible by boat, the area surrounding Lake Atitlán is known for its spectacular views and friendly people.

Medical Emergency Procedures: Volunteering Abroad

Cosmic Volunteers maintains and adheres to strict emergency policies and procedures.

Our most important objective for the trip is to ensure the health and safety of our volunteers and staff.

The following is our procedure for medical emergencies:

Procedures for Medical Emergency when Volunteering Abroad

The On-Site Coordinator in the host country is responsible for:

1. Attending to the immediate needs of the volunteer(s) / staff involved.

2. For medical emergencies: Transporting volunteer(s) / staff to the nearest clinic/hospital.

3. Contacting local law enforcement officials (as appropriate).

4. Contacting our Coordinator in the U.S. (24 hours).

5. Contacting the volunteer’s embassy in the host country (e.g. The U.S. Embassy for Americans)

Our Coordinator in the U.S. is responsible for the following:

1. Contacting the volunteer’s emergency contact back home (designated before the trip).

2. Contacting the volunteer’s school back home if this is a school-sponsored trip.

3. Contacting law enforcement officials back home (as appropriate).

4. Contacting the volunteer’s insurance provider to coordinate any medical care and transportation.

International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis

When you go on a volunteer trip abroad, we recommend that you carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis Card (ICVP).

This document serves as a record of all major vaccinations you’ve had such as Tetanus, Hepatitis, Rabies, Typhoid, and tuberculosis.

Carrying an ICVP card is little like carrying a (very) abridged version of your medical records – specifically for vaccinations.

But really, the ICVP card’s most essential purpose is to show proof that you have received a Yellow Fever vaccination within the past 10 years.

When you need a Yellow Fever shot

There are a number of countries that will not allow entry without proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. One of those happens to be Ghana, one of our most popular host countries.

Also, there are countries that require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever for all incoming passengers who have recently visited a country where Yellow fever is prevalent – even if only for transit.

For example, if you are from Australia and volunteer in Ghana, then Australian Immigration will require you to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination.

If you already have an ICVP card

We recommend that you take the ICVP card with you on all international trips — even if you will not be visiting a country that requires you to show the ICVP. Why? In case you need medical treatment abroad and your doctor needs proof of your vaccination history.

If you do not have a ICVP

Obtaining an ICVP is as easy as asking for it when getting a relevant vaccination.

For Yellow Fever vaccinations, you will be given one automatically. The relevant area on the card should be stamped AND signed by the person certifying that you’ve been vaccinated.

For most other vaccinations you will normally not be given one unless you ask for it, and they will normally not be stamped or even signed.

Emirates Airlines Rocks

Thinking about volunteering in Ghana, India, Nepal or Vietnam? Then you might find yourself flying with us on Emirates Airlines.

Based in Dubai, Emirates is one of the top ten carriers in the world in terms of passenger miles.

Emirates was named the World’s Best Airline 2016 at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2016, in addition to scooping up the awards for World’s Best Inflight Entertainment for a record 12th consecutive year, and Best Airline in the Middle East. 

I have flown Emirates many times over the years. From the great food to the friendliness of the staff to the huge number of destinations available, Emirates is my favorite airline, hands-down.

Emirates’ commercials with Jennifer Aniston as the face of the brand are cute too: