With airfares and ad hoc baggage fees getting out of control in the airline industry, it might be time for you to consider making your next vacation a solo road trip (assuming there isn’t a pesky ocean in the way).  An old friend of mine did that many years ago.  He’d had a health scare and decided it was time to “see the country” while he still had time, so he hit the road from Vermont, driving out West and back again through a number of states.  This is a dream I think many Americans share–hopping in the car and just going.  Anywhere.  Everywhere.  Stopping when you want to stop, seeing what you want to see.  There’s a bit of nomad in all of us travelers, I think.  If you can stand being in a vehicle for several hours at a time, it’s worth considering.  Traveling cross-country is a quintessential American experience.  Just ask any RV enthusiast.  Several writers have done it–William Least Heat-Moon, John Steinbeck, Jack Kerouac.  I don’t recommend following Kerouac’s example of hitchhiking, though.

Maybe you don’t want to start your solo travel life with such an ambitious agenda as driving coast to coast.  Take baby steps.  Drive a few hours away to a different city for a long weekend.  Then maybe a weeklong trip a few states away.  Ease up to something bigger.  Maybe you’ll discover your inner nomad, or maybe you’ll learn (like me) that you really do prefer flying, no matter the cost.  Either way, it’s an adventure.

Women might feel a little hesitant to try a solo road trip due to safety concerns.  If it’s something you really want to do, then don’t let safety concerns stop you.  Just be prepared.  Here are some safety tips from edmunds.com for women who are driving alone.  They apply to any time you’re driving alone, but are especially important when you’re traveling to strange places.  They include such things as always knowing where you’re going, not stopping for a “stranded motorist” (call for help on your cell phone instead), being careful where you park, giving your planned travel route to a family member or friend, and arranging a periodic “check-in” call with someone.

It’s all very good advice.  I would add a few more tips:

• Make sure your car has emergency supplies, such as snacks and water, a first aid kit, and a warm blanket.
• Keep your cell phone charged and on you at all times.
• Plan exactly how far you want to drive each day and where you will spend the night; book ahead.  (You don’t want to wind up in a motel in a bad part of town just because it’s the only place with vacancies.)
• Don’t leave any valuables in your car in plain sight of thieves.
• Don’t speed, don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and don’t drive while sleepy.

Once you’ve taken necessary precautions, relax and enjoy your solo travels on the road.  After all, this is supposed to be your vacation.