Greetings and Happy Monday, everyone! May this blog post bring you what you need in the present moment. May my light exude positivity and kindness, and may my love be extended to all who could use a little extra. Asé! Let's seize the moment!
Because of my busy schedule, my blogs will start aligning with "A Monday Moment with Dr. Mal," my live-streamed episodes on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. Check them out at the aforementioned links!
I’m grateful for this very moment to be here with you. May blessings flow abundantly in your life!
Now, you know I love me a good definition, and I'm team #factsoverfeelings, right? So let’s get into it! According to dictionary.com, for the purposes of this topic, to travel means “to go from one place to another, as by car, train, plane, or ship; take a trip.”
There are many ways to travel! The Tourism Teacher wrote about 50 ways to be transported to a different place. Of course, cars, planes, bikes, motorcycles, scooters, boats, and trains made the list, but I never thought about tuk-tuks, gondolas, coco taxis, jeepneys, funiculars, and yaks! And don’t forget about our legs! My legs have taken me on many short excursions. Extra heavy on the short! LOL
And shoutout to the Travel Challenges Blog for providing the following 10 fun facts about traveling:
The first scheduled passenger airline service occurred on January 1, 1914, and flew from St. Petersburg, FL, to Tampa, FL. It was only 21 miles and 23 minutes.
The world’s longest non-stop commercial flight is currently operated by Singapore Airlines and flies between Singapore and Newark, New Jersey. Passengers embarking on this flight will fly for approximately 18 hours and 45 minutes. I’d have to prepare my heart AND mind for that one! Yes!
On the other hand, the world’s shortest commercial flight operates between Westray and Papa Westray, two islands in Scotland's Orkney archipelago, and lasts for 47 seconds and costs $25. Wheels UP, then right back down!
The world’s busiest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The latest statistics show that ATL served 104.7 MILLION passengers by the end of 2023. I’ve had many layovers in ATL and have even flown into and out of ATL. It’s a whole experience, to say the least!
Do you like to cruise? The largest cruise ship in the world is Royal Carribean’s Symphony of the Seas. It has the capacity to hold 6600 passengers and approximately 2200 crew members. It’s literally a floating city.
Like to travel to all-inclusive resorts? Well, the first all-inclusive resort opened in Jamaica in 1950.
The world’s oldest hotel lies in the mountains of Japan. Nishiyama Onsen Keiukan dates back to 705 AD.
The world’s fastest train is in Shanghai, China, and it travels at speeds up to 430 km/h (267 mph). It only takes 8 minutes to travel 30 km/18 miles.
Bangkok, China, is a city that has the most international visitors per year!
Like natural reserves? To visit the largest natural reserve in the world, you have to visit Greenland. The park is larger than all of California and three times the size of Texas combined! It’s also one of the least populated places in the world.
This brings me to the topic of the week: SOLO OR GROUP TRAVEL? THAT IS THE QUESTION! That really IS the question! I’ve done both, and I prefer one over the other. There are a number of factors that have settled me into my preference, but the biggest determining one is my need for freedom. So if you ask me, I prefer traveling alone. For me, it was an incredible experience, but traveling with others can be just as incredible. Both options of traveling alone and traveling with others can also come with their own set of challenges. So, I took the liberty of comprising a list of pros and cons for each!
SOLO TRAVEL
PROS | CONS |
Independence and Freedom: One of the biggest advantages of traveling alone is the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. You can make spontaneous decisions, change your itinerary on a whim, and explore at your own pace without compromising with others. This level of independence allows you to fully immerse yourself in the destination and truly follow your own interests and desires. | Safety Concerns: Traveling alone can make you more vulnerable to safety hazards, such as theft, scams, and accidents. It is important to stay vigilant and take precautions to protect yourself. |
Self-Discovery: Traveling alone allows you to spend quality time with yourself, allowing you to reflect, introspect, and discover things about yourself that you may not have been aware of before. | Loneliness: While solo travel can be empowering, it can also be lonely at times. There may be moments when you wish you had someone to share experiences with or to have a familiar face around. |
Meeting New People: Traveling alone can be a great way to meet new people and make new friends. You are more likely to initiate conversations with strangers and form meaningful connections. | Higher Costs: Traveling alone can be more expensive, as you don't have anyone to split costs with. Accommodation, transportation, and dining expenses can add up quickly when you are alone. |
Personal Growth: Traveling alone can be a challenging and sometimes daunting experience, but overcoming these challenges can help you develop empowerment, self-confidence, independence, and resilience. Navigating a foreign country, communicating in a different language, and overcoming challenges alone can boost your self-esteem and sense of resilience. It can make you more self-reliant, resourceful, and adaptable in the face of adversity. By conquering your fears and stepping out of your comfort zone, you can build a greater sense of confidence in your abilities and your capacity to thrive in new and unfamiliar environments. I can attest to this because this happened on my first solo trip! | Limited Support: When you travel alone, you don't have anyone to rely on in case of emergencies or unexpected situations. It is important to be prepared and have a plan in place for any unforeseen circumstances. |
GROUP TRAVEL
PROS | CONS |
Bonding and Support: One of the biggest benefits of traveling with others is sharing new experiences with people you care about. Whether exploring a new city, trying new foods, or embarking on an adventure, having someone to share these moments with can heighten the overall enjoyment of the journey. Traveling together can strengthen relationships through shared experiences and create lasting memories. Having companions can provide emotional support, comfort, and security, especially in unfamiliar or challenging situations. | Conflicting interests: One of the biggest drawbacks of traveling with others is that everyone may have different interests and preferences. This can lead to disagreements on activities, places to visit, and where to eat. Compromising and finding a balance between everyone's interests can be challenging and may require sacrificing some of your own desires. It’s this fact alone that makes me love solo travel the most! |
Splitting costs: Traveling can be expensive, but traveling with others allows you to split costs for accommodations, transportation, and meals. This can make traveling more affordable and allow you to enjoy luxurious experiences that you might not be able to afford alone. It’s a plus when you can get a discount! Many attractions, tours, and accommodations offer discounts for groups. | Lack of independence: Traveling with others can sometimes limit your ability to explore and experience things on your own terms. You may feel pressured to go along with group decisions or activities, even if they are not what you would choose to do. Since I’m already on other people’s schedules at home, when I vacation, I don’t want to be on other people’s schedules. I want to be on my own schedule! |
Safety in numbers: Traveling with others can provide a sense of security, especially in unfamiliar or potentially dangerous locations. Having companions to watch your back can alleviate worries and help you navigate new environments more confidently. And you don’t have to pick up all your personal belongings just to go the bathroom when you just got the perfect spot on the beach. Ask me how I know! | Potential conflicts: Spending extended periods of time in close quarters with others can lead to tension and conflicts. Differences in personalities, communication styles, and travel habits can create stress and strain relationships. Whether you live with them every day, have known them your whole life, AND have lived with them at some point, or don’t live with them at all and are good friends, this does come up. When it does, important to communicate openly and honestly to address any issues that may arise. Expert tip: Having a positive attitude goes a long way! |
Memorable Moments: Probably my favorite thing about traveling with others is the moments that I’ve shared with the other people on the trip. Those moments make the trip more meaningful. There are SO many things that have happened on trips that have made me go through the full spectrum of emotions. But mostly, I smile in gratitude for even being able to go on trips. And as a person who LOVES taking pictures, having a person there to do so is like having a personal photographer! | Pacing Issues: Listen, when I’m outside, I’m OUTSIDE! Vacationing energizes me. I want to see everything and do all the things, but I’ve found that that can cause friction with others who might want to chill or don’t have the same pace as me. So, managing group fatigue and ensuring everyone is rested can be complex. If you’re in a large group, you might have to divide and conquer! If you’re with family, you might have to compromise. If you’re with a partner, you might have to go on a solo excursion. |
Call to Action:
So what is my suggestion to you? Discuss Your Travel Profile BEFORE the Trip to see if you are compatible with the person or people you’re traveling with. Do you splurge, or are you frugal? Do you wake up early, stay out late, or both? Do you want some alone time, or do you want to do everything together? Do you want to be a beach bum, or do you want to hike the mountains? What do you eat when you’re on vacation? Do you want to work out while we’re on vacation? Do you drink, smoke, or do mind-altering drugs when you vacation? Ask me how I know….
I could ask a million more questions, but those are pretty important starter questions. If you travel with me, you can expect the following:
I love the beach, so we’re going somewhere hot.
I don’t put much weight into the room I’m staying in if I’m close to the beach. It can be as basic as possible. As long as it’s clean, I’m in there! It’s just housing my clothes anyway. I'm ALL THE WAY OUTSIDE!
My day-to-day life is shaped around others’ schedules, so if I decide to go on a trip with others, I will certainly need time to myself.
I’m fast-paced and like to cram as many activities as I can in one day.
I’m going to eat at all the vegan restaurants that have great reviews. I only eat one big meal a day, so it HAS to be worth it.
I’m a natural communicator, so I will probably spark conversations with strangers, and we’ll leave as friends! That doesn't mean I love my people any less... I just love to connect with as many people as possible.
I’m ready to travel again after this episode!
To wrap up, I leave you with a quote and a list of affirmations (shoutout to Let’s Go Wandering for such empowering affirmations):
Well, that's all for me this week! Because there are so many weddings and anniversaries taking place in June, the Summer Solstice is coming up, and our next full moon is a Strawberry Moon, I decided to speak on astrology and relating. So, join me next week’s episode entitled “How Learning Astrology Transformed My Relationships.”
Alexa, play “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul, & Mary. Sometimes, when I travel, I want to stay, but I miss those I left at home or miss home itself. There's nothing like home and the people in it.
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