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2 a 3 8 s 5 iS 3 3 5 a 3 @ i g 2 5 2 = a 2 i [} im: —9. CAN ME insidehalton.com Share your space and start Living Livita Today! TWICE THE FUN, HALF THE COST! Sharing a living space with a friend or new friend is great budget friendly option and you’ll always have someone to talk to in person. If you have ever wanted to explore the social life and amenities of retirement living but were concerned about the cost, this could be the solution for you! Book a tour with a friend and meet the family at LIVITA QUEENS AVENUE RETIREMENT RESIDENCE today. AV RETIREMENT RESIDENCES. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 905-815-0862 TODAY. LIVITA QUEENS AVENUE: 1056 Queens Avenue, Oal Lifestyle Why you're never too old By Carolyn Ray, CEO, JourneyWoman Solo travel is on the rise, and women over 50 are leading the way. If you're still sitting on the sidelines, there's no time like now to get started. Not only are mature women pursuing transformative and life- affirming adventures, our research shows that they are exploring new, less-travelled destinations, with the UK, Europe and Scandinavia at the top of their bucket list. How to get started in solo travel If you're wondering how to get started in solo travel, here are six tips, gleaned from our global community of women travellers. 1. Consider your personal safet While we'd like to think that women should be able to travel anywhere in the world safely, we still face discrimination and safety challenges. Older women and those with mobility challenges can be even more vulnerable. Feeling safe is important. Many men will never truly appreciate the potential dangers we face as female travellers. When we feel safe, we can push our boundaries and fuel our freedom and independence. Packing light, dressing appropriately for the culture, and planning ahead are all ways to stay safe when you travel. Before you travel, ask other women for their first-hand advice on the destination. For example, our private Solo Travel Wisdom for Women Over 50 group on Facebook has more than 9,000 mem- bers who can answer just about any question. For Canadians, women often recommend countries like Ireland, the UK or Scandinavia as safe choices for newer solo travellers. 2. Book a weekend away near home Many women feel anxious thinking about eating or taking a flight alone. Let me tell you - we've all been there. Sometimes, fear of the unknown can often hold us back, so why not start to travel at home first? Being a tourist in your own city can not only tefresh your mindset, but it allows you feel comfort- able in a place where you have a built-in support system. Book a hotel room for a staycation or find a rental apartment in a different neighbourhood. Bring a book, a journal or just enjoy your own company. Get used to the liberating feeling of being with yourself and responsible for your own decisions. 3. Follow your interests or cultivate new ones For your first solo trip, start with something you really like to do. It could be a music festival, craft show, bird watching, hiking, biking, or cook- ing, whatever you feel drawn to. You could choose whale watching, theatre, a coastal drive, or plan to to travel solo visit museums and attractions close by. Build an itinerary that suits you. There are also many tours designed just for women that focus on special inter- ests including culinary, art, history or textiles. 4, Prepare for the unexpected Travel is definitely more complicated since the pandemic. It’s also more unpredictable and many places are busier, understaffed and more expensive than before. Even if you are in good health, purchase travel insurance. Work with a travel agent and have con- tingency plans in place, and a little extra in your budget, in case you need to rebook flights and pay for extra hotel nights. 5. Travel on a group tour There are many women-friendly group tours that create safe travel experiences for women, in environ- ments that respond to our sense of adventure. In fact, in 2022, tour operators in our Women’s Travel Directory said that solo women travellers over 55 made up for 77 per cent of all bookings. Surrounding yourself with women can be empowering and educational. Ifa tour interests you, don't ask Google — ask other women for recom- mendations. Look for tours that cater to women’s needs, with female guides or porters, and take safety into account. Our Women’s Travel Directory has hundreds of women-friendly tours, including safaris, wellness retreats, and walking and hiking trips. 6, Instead of a hotel, try houseswapping, hous- esitting or hospitality groups While hotels, Airbnb, booking.com and local fentals might be top-of-mind for many women, there are other ways to travel on a budget, includ- ing homestays, hospitality exchanges, housesitting, and volunteering. Look at websites like Servas, Women Welcoming Women World Wide (5W), Trusted Housesitters, Workaway or Friendship Force International. You can find more women-tecom- mended places to stay here. It’s never too late to get started in solo travel. As | shift into midlife, 'm emboldened by the magic of discovering a new place, connecting with other women, and learning something new. That’s the power of connection - and solo travel. - Carolyn Ray is the CEO and editor of JourneyWoman, the world’s largest publication and community for female solo travellers over 50, estab- lished in 1994. In 2023, she was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse for bringing awareness to the influence of mature women in travel. 'n 2022 alone, Carolyn travelled to 17 countries, spend- ing several months in Mexico and Spain. She is always seeking new destinations where she can enjoy mar- garitas, practice Spanish and live the life her dreams.