I share packing tips and packing light motivation to help make your travels less stressful. Join the list to get my Minimal Wardrobe Visual Guide!
๐ HPL Guidebook May 2025: Table for One
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Hey Reader, Happy May! I hope you are getting ready to head off on new adventures whether those be from maximizing a long weekend or relaxing overseas for a week. (And if you are traveling in the U.S., don't forget that Southwest's new luggage policy takes effect on May 28th, and you may need to focus on carry-on only in order to get free luggage. Need a hand with that? Try this.) It's my birthday month, so I always have a soft spot for this time of year. It doesn't hurt getting some fun travel gifts ticked off my birthday wish list ๐ Speaking of gifts... I'm thinking about doing a couple of trainings very soon to help you with your packing. One will be a gift with purchase, and the other will be a gift-gift. I'll send you an email soon with more details! Now on to the Guidebook topic!I remember the struggle like it was yesterday: The dreaded question of, "How many?" when heading out to dinner ๐ซ A big part of travel is getting to explore and eat at the best restaurants in a new destination. Being the best, however, means they are often the busiest. And that can be super intimidating when you're there for a table for one. I will say that it does get easier with practice, so be brave and make it a time to enjoy your own company. Plus, no one really cares about what you're doing except for you - it's true! This guidebook is going to explore solo travel and taking part in activities alone - because sometimes you have to hit the road now instead of waiting for a day when someone else *might* be able to join you. ๐ From HPLTraveling solo can be dauntingโฆespecially if you've never done it before. We've got some advice to help you feel more at ease before your solo travels. โ๏ธ Don't let going alone keep you from traveling to less popular destinations. Learn how I gained the confidence to travel alone so that I could travel to off-beat destinations... and not always dine alone. โ๏ธ Don't let going alone keep you from feeling safe and secure. Try some of the practical safety tips here, and make your mind up on the controversial ones as well. โ๏ธ Don't let going alone make you feel like you need to pack more stuff. Instead, focus on bringing just what you need in a carry-on (or less) for all the reasons right here. Around the Webโ๏ธ Eat Alone Like a Pro: Tips to Prepare Yourself for Solo Dining: Melissa of A Solo Woman Traveling shares some excellent advice for when you find yourself at a table for one. She includes tips for finding the best eateries to accommodate solo diners as well as how to make the process less awkward. (Hint - love the to-do list idea.) โ๏ธ How Women Over 50 Can Get Started in Solo Travel: Solo travel can happen at any age. This article from Journey Woman has loads of great insight. โ๏ธ Why EVERY Woman Should SOLO TRAVEL: There are so many reasons to travel solo. Kristin has been a popular voice in the solo female travel space, inspiring many to explore the world on their own terms. Travel TriviaOn Our List๐ If you want to avoid dining alone when traveling alone, bring some travel-friendly cutlery like these utensils from Outlerly so you can picnic your lunch or dinner somewhere nice. ๐ If having a backup place for some extra money feels nice when traveling solo, these scrunchies with a hidden pocket are great for storing a room key and some cash. ๐ If you're concerned about feeling bored without a travel buddy, stay entertained with plenty of books to read on your Kindle or a travel journal to document your journey. As Seen OnTropicfeel has an ultralight backpack collection worth checking out. Their Scout backpack can range from 14 to 25L in volume (and it can go even further with their smart attachments). Best of all, the bag only weighs 580g (~ 20 oz), and lightweight luggage is a great idea especially when traveling solo.
ICYMI: Videos & PodcastsI hope you have enjoyed this edition of the HPL Guidebook! Happy packing, Brooke P.S. And your trivia answer is: 72% of all solo travelers are women! |
Her Packing List
I share packing tips and packing light motivation to help make your travels less stressful. Join the list to get my Minimal Wardrobe Visual Guide!
Hey Reader, Over a decade ago, I started experimenting with a plant-based diet. During that time, my main concern was, "How the heck do I make anything?" You knowโฆ like cake. ๐ง How do I make cake without eggs? Being without animal products felt like a huge limitation with cooking and baking. Until it wasn't. Because when I actually started diving into all of those plant-based recipes, I realized there were SO MANY alternative ways to make delicious tasting treats that I never knew before....
Hey Reader, Have you always thought that reaching carry-on only would automatically equal light luggage? ...only to find you still can't lift your bag easily or move around comfortably? Friend, you are not alone. There's no doubt that traveling with carry-on luggage instead of checked bags is a massive improvement. But here's the part most people don't talk about: Carry-on luggage is still a lot of stuff. Your carry-on can hold up to 45L.Your personal item can easily be another 20L. Fill...
Hey Reader, When I think back to how packing used to be for meโฆ Before I learned how to ultralight packโฆ ๐ก I can only compare the change to a light switch going on in my brain. Even though I had been on a downward trajectory in luggage size for years, that last big leap into leaving with just a 12L messenger bag for weeks truly changed everything. There was a very clear BEFORE and AFTER. That change was so profound, I often end up describing it as if I: Started operating on a different...