A solo traveler has revealed the harsh realities of life as a lonely female globetrotter.
Jenny Chevry, from Florida, has spent the past seven years working her corporate 9-to-5 job in HR exploring the world.
She’s checked places off her bucket list including Estonia and El Salvador, visited 48 countries and seen hundreds of awe-inspiring sights.
But the 37-year-old has made it clear that traveling alone is not for the faint of heart and comes with its own set of dangerous challenges.
Jenny Chevry, from Florida, has spent the past seven years working her corporate 9-to-5 job in HR to explore the world
She’s checked places off her bucket list including Estonia and El Salvador, visited 48 countries and seen hundreds of awe-inspiring sights
But the 37-year-old has made it clear that traveling alone is not for the faint of heart and comes with its own set of dangerous challenges.
“I almost became the victim of a possible kidnapping or human trafficking in Budapest in 2019,” Jenny said candidly.
‘It was one of the scariest moments of my life, but I made sure I made enough noise to attract attention and asked for help.’
To keep herself safe, Jenny has since created a list of do’s and don’ts.
She said: ‘My ultimate rules are: I don’t drink, and if I go out at night I only have one drink that I don’t take my eyes off of.
‘I don’t tell people where I’m staying, or that I’m alone.
‘I try to memorize the map before I leave a place so I’m not glued to my phone and can look around.
“And I share my iPhone location with my family so they can track me in case of an emergency.”
The travel enthusiast, who documents her experiences on her Instagram account @poorlittlenod, says being self-sufficient is worth it, but it also comes with a cost.
People online have rallied around Jenny and thanked her for sharing the harsh reality of traveling alone when it is so glamorous online
‘I can be as selfish as I want. I don’t have to compromise or accommodate anyone,” Jenny said.
‘Traveling alone has also helped me become more self-reliant and confident as I navigate new environments.
‘I’m usually introverted; when I travel, you wouldn’t guess how antisocial I actually am.
‘But it’s expensive. Travel packages often assume double occupancy, causing individual travelers to miss out on discounts intended for couples or groups.
‘I was in Guatemala last weekend and wanted to register for a cooking class, but I couldn’t because it took two guests to register.
“I tried to sign up for a volcano tour in Nicaragua and the cost was $45 per person, but when I signed up they charged me $90 even though I was alone.
“There are so many things I would have loved to do but had to pass on.”
Jenny started traveling alone after having an argument with a close friend during a trip.
The travel enthusiast, who documents her experiences on her Instagram account @poorlittlenod, says being self-sufficient is worth it, but it also comes at a cost
Jenny started traveling alone after getting into an argument with a close friend during a trip, and hasn’t looked back since
She said: ‘Seven years ago I took my first international adult trip with a good friend and it ended up being a disaster.
“I discovered the hard way that there are people you can’t travel with, no matter how close you are.
‘My boyfriend and I are no longer friends after that trip and since then I have always preferred to travel alone.
“I don’t have to worry about anyone but myself.”
Jenny says being the organizer can always be tiring, adding: ‘I love the planning part of traveling: booking the accommodations and activities.
‘But people who have traveled alone long enough know that it can be exhausting to make all the decisions – big or small, from where to eat to how to deal with unexpected situations.
‘I’ve had hotels or Airbnbs cancel my reservation at the last minute, and I had to come up with an alternative solution myself.
‘Sometimes it’s nice to let someone else take the lead every now and then.
‘It’s also nice to have friends with whom you can share your enthusiasm.’
Jenny said: ‘It’s certainly not for everyone, but I’d rather travel alone than not see the world at all’
“Traveling alone has also helped me become more self-reliant and confident as I navigate new environments,” she added
People online have rallied around Jenny, thanking her for sharing the harsh reality of traveling alone when it is so glamorous online.
‘Loneliness is my greatest fear. Plus, I really miss my husband when I travel alone,” Kristy said.
A fellow solo traveler said, “These are all exactly what I feel when I travel alone. I love it, but I can’t overlook some drawbacks.’
Another joked: ‘Sooo true. And that you cannot share the costs of a hotel room with someone.’
“Decision fatigue – I already know it in everyday life… and then a nice trip quickly becomes a bit too tiring,” said someone else.
‘Hard truth girl! This is all clear! Thanks for sharing!’ added another traveler.
Jenny added, “I didn’t expect so many people to be receptive to my content and relate to the ugly truths about solo travel.
‘It seems like we all share the same feelings. While we love it, it also has its challenges.
‘It’s certainly not for everyone, but I’d rather travel alone than not see the world at all.’
