Flicking through the chapter headings in Lee Mylne’s new book Solo Travel For Dummies, one immediately caught my eye. Chapter 7 is called Table For One.
As an occasional solo traveller (for business) I have had the sometimes-uncomfortable experience of dining alone.
An early dinner alone at Bennelong restaurant at the Sydney Opera House stands out for me. I felt very uncomfortable and sat there looking around, as if I was waiting for someone, checking my phone and hoping the food came out quickly so I could decamp as soon as possible.
Lee Mylne, a Brisbane-based travel writer and former colleague, has written a whole chapter on this subject. My first thought when turning to it was – had she mentioned the classic dining alone scene from the film The Lonely Guy? Yes, she had. That made me smile.
Mylne has her own riff on the scene in the book:
“Once, in a relatively busy restaurant in Ireland, the waiter indicated to his colleague that the drink waiting to be delivered was mine by shouting across the room: ‘It’s for the lady on her own!’ I wanted to crawl under the table, but smiled brightly and sipped my gin and tonic calmly. It was the moment I felt like comedian Steve Martin in the classic scene from the 1984 movie The Lonely Guy, where the whole restaurant falls silent as he is led to his table for one, under a tracking spotlight.”
Priceless. Mylne has a sense of humour and a light touch in what could have been a rather dry old argument. It isn’t. Her energetic style and anecdotes enliven the text.
This book is a wonderfully practical guide to travelling solo, but it is so much more. It’s actually one of the sanest travel guides I have ever read (and I have read a few). It’s applicable to travellers of all persuasions, not just the solo variety, although that is her focus.
The central tenet is that solo travel is nothing to be ashamed of.
“Traveling solo opens up the world in a way you may not expect,” Mylne writes. “If you’re daunted by the thought of going it alone, be assured that the rewards are great. Solo travel will change you and your views of the world. As you leave the comfort of everything you know to see new places and meet new people, cherish every moment – along with every mistake you make – and know that you’ll return home with memories and stories to last a lifetime (or at least until the bug bites again).”
Mylne has spent the past three decades specialising in travel and tourism writing for magazines, newspapers and digital and online publications. She is the author or co-author of about a dozen guide books including Australia For Dummies (2008) and Sustainable Travel For Dummies (2024).
She is a life member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers and served three terms as the society’s president. She holds a doctor of creative industries degree from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane.
Mylne is very good at outlining the practical ways to prepare and undertake solo travel but much of her advice suits any sort of travel. A good way to gauge if you could travel solo, she suggests, is to take a short trip more locally by yourself first. Good idea.
She also quotes the Dalai Lama who suggests: “Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before.”
Solo Travel For Dummies teaches you how to plan the solo trip of a lifetime with must-know information including insider tricks and safety essentials. Whether you’re a seasoned jetsetter or nervous first timer, you’ll learn everything you need to know. Choose your destination, plan a fulfilling itinerary, save money and stay safe, no matter where in the world you might roam.
As a solo traveller, you’ll appreciate this book’s specific tips on how to avoid loneliness, what to do if you get lost and how to plan ahead so you can enjoy your trip. You will find expert travel tips for minimising stress and maximising enjoyment, learn how to plan the perfect solo itinerary for your goals, discover unique destinations and can’t-miss cultural experiences and get expert tips on safety and budgeting.
Safety is upper-most in her mind at times. For example, she warns that you must always keep an eye on your drink when travelling alone. “Don’t leave it unattended when you go to the bathroom or ask for a fresh one when you get back to the table.” Excellent advice.
She also addresses the issue of romance and unwanted advances, which may apply to anyone.
If you’re single, for example, and you want to keep people at bay she suggests you buy a wedding ring: “A cheap gold band on your ring finger may help deter amorous suitors. Sadly, in some countries, married women are treated with much more respect than single women.”
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There is just so much practical advice in this book. And, helpfully, at the end of the book in Chapter 12 she gives her pick of the Ten Great Destinations For Solo Travelers. Australia is in the mix but her favourite solo destination is Austria.
“Not only is it incredibly beautiful, it is rich in culture and very safe.”
Solo Travel For Dummies by Lee Mylne, (John Wiley and Sons), $32.95
leemylne.com
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