Joyce has attended six Elderhostel programs in the past three years, traveling to three of them on her own. “My first Elderhostel experience was in Virginia Beach, Virginia,” she says, “because I wanted to get as far away from Portland as I could, within the continental United States.”

Now working fulltime as an interior-decorating consultant (“I love my job! I get to go into other people’s homes and make them beautiful,” says Joyce), Joyce makes the time in her busy life to get away at least once a year – sometimes alone, other times with a companion. Some of Joyce’s friends raise an eyebrow when she announces that she is taking off for another adventure alone, but she takes it all in stride, explaining that it’s a choice between staying home or going solo and not missing out on all that life has to offer. “Traveling with a companion sometimes is not an option,” she says. “Sometimes, you have to travel solo out of necessity.”

Joyce adds that sometimes, it’s good to travel alone by choice. “I see it as a way to refresh myself, get back in touch with myself,” she says. “There are so many things we do in the company of other people, so now and then getting away on my own is a way to rejuvenate.” Joyce advises others that it helps to look at solo travel that way. “It’s really not difficult, especially with programs like Elderhostel,” Joyce says.

Here are some of Joyce’s responses to questions we put to her about traveling solo, her experiences as a single traveler, and what she suggests to other lifelong learners and would-be solo adventurers:

Elderhostel: Do you ever encounter other “solos” at Elderhostel programs?

Joyce: Quite a bit. At one program, one of the Elderhostelers was a gentleman traveling alone. His wife stayed home – she was a professional quilter in South Carolina and had other things to do that week. I've met others who have left a spouse at home to attend a program. On another program – in Arizona – I met a retired orthopedic surgeon whose wife was in an extended care home with Alzeheimer's disease. He attended on his own. And, I’ve met many single women attending an Elderhostel program on their own, like me.

EH: What motivates you to travel alone? Is it something you do frequently?

JS: I don't always opt to travel alone. It's just that sometimes it happens because I can't find a companion to go with. There are other times that I truly look forward to traveling alone, as kind of a retreat. I still am working fulltime. The way the calendar works out, I always plan a trip for myself in February, as a rejuvenation retreat.

EH: What is Elderhostel like for you as a solo? Do you feel comfortable being there as a single?

EH: Do you prefer rooming by yourself?

Joyce: Generally, yes. As I said, I often look at these programs as an opportunity to get away by myself.

EH: Do you ever have any concerns or reservations about traveling alone to get to an Elderhostel program?

Joyce: Traveling alone on a plane was never a problem for me. On my previous job I was a sales manager for an advertising company, and did a lot of solo travel. I was on the road a lot. I didn't mind staying alone in a hotel. The part that was the killer was EATING alone. That's something you never have to do at Elderhostel programs.

EH: What was your first solo travel experience? Where did you go, what did you do... and why did you choose it?

Joyce: Elderhostel was my first experience. It makes you feel so secure to do it. It was February, 2000, and I went to Virginia Beach all by myself. The program was Big Band (music is my other "thing"), ballroom dancing, and weather/local climatology... That turned out to be the best one! That's one of the highlights of Elderhostel... the instructors. Everybody is so enthusiastic, that it’s infectious! We had a professor who had been struck by lightning twice, worked as a television weatherman... He was just a kick in the pants.

I went thinking that this would be a retreat and an opportunity to meet other people. I love to swim, and the program had a swimming pool. So, I figured that I was protecting myself in that if I didn't meet anyone, I could swim during free time. But, I met another woman and we clicked and went swimming together. At Elderhostel programs, people just step right up to you and talk to you and make you feel comfortable, even couples. Everyone at the program interacted with the single participants, everyone ... there were several singles.

EH: What were your friends' and family's reactions to your decision to "go solo"?

Joyce: Everybody kind of went "You're going where?!" and "Why?" "You're going by yourself? Who's going with you? Alone? Really?!"

EH: What is it about being in a group of fellow Elderhostelers that makes independent travel a positive experience for you?

Joyce: Having people to share mealtimes and some adventures with, is the best part. There are times when even if you are comfortable by yourself, you’d rather have companionship. For example, I have single friends who want to go to a movie alone, but I like to have someone to talk to – to discuss the movie. Some activities need to be shared.

EH: In your opinion, what are some of the challenges that face older independent travelers?

Joyce: I think that many times, what's scary about going on your own is feeling compromised by age. Younger people are usually bolder about risk taking. People become more cautious and concerned with age. Women in particular often feel vulnerable, and their anxiousness may easily be conveyed by how they carry themselves – which makes them more susceptible to what's out there. The more prepared you are, the more confident you appear, and less likely you are to be a victim.

The bottom line is, a program like Elderhostel is great for solos because they provide everything. They tell you what to bring and what you'll need, so you don't feel as though you're walking into something blind. It's all spelled out – where the facilities are, the weather, what to wear, whether to bring insect repellent. And, you know that the group is expecting you and that you will be looked out for.

EH: What advice or tips would you offer to other solos about independent travel – not just with Elderhostel, but in going anywhere on one's own?

Joyce: You need to sit down and do a little bit of planning to cover the bases and not leave anything up to chance. You have to put more effort in planning so that when you arrive you know you'll have a hotel room and an itinerary (with some flexibility), and feel safe and secure.

EH: What destinations and activities are on your wish list for future travels?

Joyce: I can hardly wait to travel overseas with Elderhostel. Mostly it's a time issue, as most of the programs overseas are a minimum of two weeks long. I have my job, and also have pets, so I'm hesitant to commit so much time. I desperately want to go to Venice and Greece. You get more of an actual cultural experience with Elderhostel [than on a typical commercial tour].

Also, now I'm really looking forward to sharing a room with someone, participating in a service program –one of the presenters at that community college program spoke about tutoring Indian children in Arizona, and it completely fascinated me. Gosh, what an opportunity!

Traveling solo really isn’t an issue for me, because it’s just a means of getting to the Elderhostel program, where I’ll be part of a great group of diverse and interesting people.

Note: Editors and journalists who would like to speak with an experienced “solo” Elderhostel participant in their area, can contact the Elderhostel Public Relations Office at (617) 457-5488 or (617) 457-5502 for more information.