Day in the Life…

of L.F. Wade International Airport, Bermuda has probably one of the most interesting and dynamic days in Bermuda. From leaky airport lounges to pesky pilots, Aaron Adderley deals with it all.

Aaron Adderley's Office/ Bermuda's gateway to the world

Read about it in my column today:

Some of us pull up our chair under fluorescent lights with, maybe, a window if we’re lucky. Want a better view? Try Aaron Adderley’s position. He not only runs the show at L.F. Wade International Airport, he watches too.

His morning view from the office? Continental Airlines arriving at Gate Two. That’s because the Manager of Airport Operations has his desk above Bermuda’s gateway to the world.

For the past five years Mr. Adderley has enjoyed the view and the job, which constantly keeps him on his toes. Last week, Mr. Adderley spent some time with me to try and explain a day in his life (hint: it does not include flying around the world. He doesn’t even get a break on flight prices).

9 a.m. The morning briefing. Operations management staff meet every morning to discuss any issues from the previous day. Example? Flooding in British Airways’ lounge. Or perhaps pesky pilots who will not pull up to the gate they are assigned to. And, of course, the weather.

A threat of strong winds and Mr. Adderley will have to consider closing the airport, coordinate with the airlines, Emergency Measures Organisation and Mark Guishard, the director of Weather Services.

Mr. Adderley said: “This year the winter storms we had were some of the worst we have ever had. We had nearly 100 flight cancellations because of Bermuda weather which is unprecedented.

“(When this happens) we come to the board room with department staff, the airlines, the ground staff and Customs and have a presentation. With hurricanes we would have a briefing perhaps four or five days out. As it gets closer we meet more often.”

And do people always listen when the airport is closed? Nope. Mr. Adderley received a frantic call from a duty officer this winter when an airline refused to adhere to the closure. The problem? As they watched the plane land and the wing tip nearly hit the tarmac nearly everyone fainted (and not in the airline). Mr. Adderely? “I called law officials to meet the aircraft. We went down there to see how he was going to land with winds blowing. When I got down here we could barely stand.

“He came in though. His wing almost clipped the runway. When he finally landed everyone had a sigh of relief.

“They were Ukranian and had come back from a Haiti relief mission. We met him on Apron Two and took them in for questioning.They broke the airport closure and we put in place punitive measures. It was something out of a movie.”

How does Mr. Adderley describe his day? “Dynamic. Any given day at the airport is not the same. After the morning meeting anything could happen.” From conferences with airlines, manager meetings, or flying to Toronto for the inaugural flight of WestJet Mr. Adderley never has the same day twice.

Coming in for landing

10 a.m. A manager meeting.

First topic: an application from a Ferry Reach neighbour who wants to extend the buildings on their property. The problem? The airport must comply with civil aviation regulations, which require an Airport Zone around Ferry Reach and Clearwater to ensure that flights landing will not meet any interference.

Mr. Adderley, said: “For building applications it’s our responsibility to ensure there are no obstructions within the airport zone.”

Next issue: The manager raises the problem of two hills in Ferry Reach, which also encroach the zone. Shaving the hill-tops off? Mr. Adderley hopes this doesn’t have to happen for both environmental and economic reasons. They discuss options.

Next: Communication towers. A new one near Tucker’s Point has a signal that crosses the airfield. Mr. Adderley will continue to work with the Ministry of Telecommunications as well as the tower constructors to reach an agreement.

11 a.m. Discussions about NASA. Recently Mr. Adderley along with the Bermuda Government and the US Consulate negotiated with NASA to place a temporary tracking facility at the airport. It went well and Mr. Adderley believes they may become a more long-term resident.

12 p.m. Ensuring new airlines come to the Island. WestJet just arrived and JetBlue is also a newbie, but Mr. Adderley is not done. Though these negotiations take between four and five years, he continues to plug-away and has another North American airline in the works. He’s not slipping the name.

That’s for the Island to enjoy when they arrive. “Airline negotiations is a big part of my responsibility and the Premier is a strong advocate to have competition on all routes and new routes too. That’s a very key part of our responsibility,” he said.

Arrivals Hall in need of renovations

1 p.m: Checking on the progress of the new airport and/or maintaining the existing facility: Mr. Adderley is tasked with ensuring the existing facility which dates back to 1940 in areas, functions until the budget exists for the new one. That means he has to monitor updating everything from the bathrooms to the carpet in the arrivals hall.

He said: “The existing facility has exceeded it’s life expectancy so we really are on borrowed time. The Island as a whole has capital needs and first we need a new hospital. It’s not our decision (to build the new airport). It’s our responsibility to ensure that when they want to move forward with it we have all the ducks in a row. So now it’s milking as much as we can from this facility.”

Minister of Tourism and Transport and Premier Ewart Brown has stressed that progress on the new terminal will have to wait until the construction at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital is underway.

3 p.m. Negotiations with the Federal Aviation Association (FAA).

Ground staff (baggage handlers, etc.) for L.F. Wade are outsourced to two different companies. So is security and the Airport Fire Department. So what do operations do? Supply the equipment. Where does this come from? The FAA.

An example? A new radar, which helps track airlines in the sky up to 220 miles rather than between 180 and 200 like the old one. That increases Bermuda’s ability to help the US monitor two more airline ‘highways’ in the sky. In turn they help us.

Mr. Adderley said: “We have an Memorandum of Understanding with the FAA. They assist Bermuda with new equipment and then we just have to service it and pay for the installment. It is in their interest to make sure Bermuda has the best equipment at the best prices and in some cases free of charge.”

4 p.m. New Passenger Processing System.

While the current facility is required to provide services for passengers, Mr. Adderley is working hard to provide a better experience.

Examples? Passengers can check-in by cellphone, screens at check-in with flight and weather information. In immigration a flat screen TV shows Bermuda images and advertising. And unfortunately, the band which normally greeted passengers became too expensive. Now a new music system has been installed in the arrivals area.

5 p.m. Media and public relations. It makes his life easier if the airport’s friends in St. George’s are happy. This includes his work on the East End Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “We are working with the Chamber looking at ways to drum up some life into St. George’s. We want to play as supportive a role as we can to make sure it continues to survive.” Example? Soon private planes will have US clearance on Bermuda (commercial flights already have this). That means private jets can remain on the Island for a few days.

Now it’s time for British Airways to land and Mr. Adderley to pack his bags and head home. One more day and one more assurance that Bermuda will continue to fly.

How do you pack your bags? How do you book your tickets? How do you do this for a trip around the world? Check out my website:www.robynswanderings.com and the column next week: How to plan a trip around the world.

New Bermuda Airport Designs

Looking East from Coney Island

Not in the pipeline anytime soon, this is the proposed design for a new Bermuda airport! It’s needed. Apparently the current facility dates from the 1940s in some areas!

And the new designs show places for boats and ferries to pick up arriving passengers as well as producing plenty of window on the world and a green building.

From the Causeway

Aaron Adderley, the Operations Manager of the L.F. Wade Bermuda International Airport, met with me last week and shred with me these designs. The development, however, of the project could take years.

Bermuda’s Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport Ewart Brown stressed to me that there was no way the Government would move forward with this possible $300 to $400 million project in the current financial climate.

Plus, Bermuda has other needs like the new King Edward VII Memorial Hospital! For the full story check-out my article in today’s paper.

CORRECTION: The company involved in creating the designs and the airport’s master plan is HNTB not HNBP as was reported in The Royal Gazette’s article.

Famous Fridays and Photo of the Week

Take a dip!

Bermudians are no longer waiting for May 24 so as I leave for Boston for the weekend can I encourage you to take a dip? Even with the rain?

This little boy was a bit reticent on this natural water-slide. I found him waiting for his fellow kids while on a motorbike ride around the North of Thailand and just outside of the town of Pai.

Only my two travel buddies had the guts to fling their bodies down this!

Remember I am still looking for photos and 500-word stories of Bermuda Abroad. That means I want to hear about similarities to the Island – where’s the best Dark n Stormy off the Island? And of course photos!! Lots and lots of photos!

Email these to robynswanderings@gmail.com and they’ll get their very own page.

Sex and the City….two…in….Bermuda? Can’t get to NYC?

Try this? Ok so the film opens to the public in New York (the Sex and the City home) today. But how many people can go to NYC for a film? Not moi. So those in Bermuda what’s there to do? Well the film also opens tonight at Specialty Theatre.

But even better? Tomorrow night, Tomorrow’s Voices– a Bermuda-based charity which raises awareness of Autism and various other disorders, is having a Sex and the City Premiere! There are two screening events both at Lusso followed by showings of the film. Bring on the Cosmos!

Not so fast. Erica Smith, Chairman of their Board of Directors, said the money raised will also help fund their goal for more one-on-one therapy.

She added: “Following on from our successful Eat! Shop! Give! 2010 fundraiser held in April during World Autism Awareness Month, Tomorrow’s Voices is always looking for innovative and creative ways to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders while raising funds to support our full-time centre in Bermuda.

“With a growing incidence rate of Autism now at a shocking 1 in 110 children and boys 4 more like to get autism than girls, the need for a centre such as Tomorrow’s Voices is greater than ever.

“Our Sex and City 2 fundraiser is a way to get mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends and others together to have fun while combating Autism.  The evening should be something else!

“For every $10 that we raise through fundraising we are able to provide 30 minutes of therapy to an Autistic child.  Since opening our doors in Oct 2007 Tomorrow’s Voices has provided over 12,000 hours of therapy to children in need.”

Need anymore reasons to get out Friday night and enjoy the necessary Cosmo? I didn’t think so.

Top Ten Airlines for Tuesd…ok Wednesday

Ok I know it’s Wednesday, but it feels like a Tuesday. That’s because for Bermuda it has been a four-day week as we celebrated our 21-square-mile island on Monday. How did I celebrate? Running through pouring rain and wind for 13.1 miles. Why? Not really sure. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

I still managed it in 1 hour 53 minutes and 33 seconds (thank you friend who pointed out the seconds). Anyway, since it feels like a Tuesday to me I saved my ten list for today.

Arriving in Bermuda

So what is it? The Best Airlines! The top ten, according to Skytrax an online airline award site, do not include a single North American carrier.  So who do the include?

I’ll tell you:

1.   Asiana Airlines
2.   Singapore Airlines
3.   Qatar Airways
4.   Cathay Pacific
5.   Air New Zealand
6.   Etihad Airways
7.   Qantas Airways
8.   Emirates
9.   Thai Airways
10.  Malaysia Airlines

I have to agree. Well I have never been on Asiana but I have flown Singapore Airlines and I loved it. The staff were so friendly. I fell asleep as we took off and continued to sleep through the food service.

When I woke I needed water. I ran to the back and the helpful stewardesses handed me a bottle of water. I turned and walked back to my seat.

“Miss, miss”

Oh no. I started chugging my water. They’re not going to take it off me. Wait! What if they want me to pay for it. What am I going to do? I have no money.

“You forgot your special snack.”

Of course I did. I had ordered a gluten-free meal, being celiac and all, but had missed it because of the sleeping factor. How she knew about it is anyone’s guess. I was grateful.

So you ask, what about North America? Well they had their own competition and who came-out on top?

1. Air Canada

2. Continental Airlines

3. Delta Airlines

Anyone agree? Who would you vote as the best airline? Any good experiences?

Travel buddies….how to pick the right one

Travel Buddies. My nick names for the friends and randoms I picked-up along my solo trip around the world. It was easier than ensuring everyone wanted their names in the daily newspaper of Bermuda, The Royal Gazette.

And it was also a term that could easily apply to people I met for lunch or someone I traveled with for a month. Often they would vary between these two extremes.

Who is it in the picture? Bond, Yes Thai Bond. Or at least that is what the jungle captain of Thailand fancied himself. He was fun. He led me and ten other travelers for three days through the jungles of Northern Thailand.

It was through this trek that I met two guys who I would take a four-day motorbike tour. Yes still in Thailand. They proved to be decent travel companions.

Which is why I wrote this recent column for The Royal Gazette. Travel buddies are hard to come by and even harder to keep. Travel is stressful. It can be more so than being at home. You need to find someone who can put up with you as much as you can put up with them.

Today’s column:

Why it is important to choose your travel buddy carefully

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By Robyn Skinner

 

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The author enjoys the view of all three pyramids in Egypt

Have you ever tried to live with a best friend? A grown-up sibling? A young sibling? Your parents after years of living abroad? You love them, right? (well we hope). It’s one thing to love someone. It’s another thing to survive situations that involve money, organisation and stress.

That means traveling. Yes, trips are not all roses. A bus ride that throws your head into the roof, two hours of sleep because someone downstairs decided to party the entire night and food that leaves you on the bathroom floor. Travel.

It can be a lot of fun, but it is also a heightened stress zone and if you pick the wrong travel companion, that will only increase. Whether it’s for a long weekend or a trip around the world, a travel companion can either add too or take away from your experience.

So an important part of travel is choosing someone. Here’s some tips:

One: Take a look at how you handle stress. I know I can’t handle anything when I get too hungry. I need to eat at regular intervals or everyone else will hear about it. I know I need a travel companion who cares about food as much as me. I also need someone who can keep a level head when I need to eat. What are your stresses?

Two: When I travel I want a little of everything: some history, a lot of the food, and some of the nightlife. What is your mixture? Are you a ruin-fiend? What about shopping? I hate shopping. If you’re a shopaholic we probably wouldn’t work as travel partners. When you figure out what you want from a vacation you need to ensure your travel buddy also knows. Then you can figure out a compromise.

Three: Maybe you went to nursery school with your friend. Maybe you borrow clothes and enjoy going out together. Maybe she’s the one you turn to when everything goes wrong. These are very different tasks from travel, so maybe she or he is just not the person to try to travel with.

Travel can require 24 hours together, sometimes in very close quarters. It requires finding a train station, in a different language, while ensuring your handbag doesn’t go missing. And what happens when you miss your train? Do you want your best friend who can sometimes be manic? Or someone who is level-headed? It also means if you start solo you will likely pick travel buddies on the same wavelength as you. Well.. ’cause otherwise they wouldn’t be in the hostel/Thailand/two-day slow boat to Laos.

Four: Money and budgeting. What do they say about money coming between friends? Well if you think figuring out the bill on a dinner out is tough, try sorting out every meal three times a day, the hostel and tickets for transport. It’s a headache. It’s a migraine when you’re on different budgets.

I love my friend Maria, but when she came to Buenos Aires she was on a week-long vacation. I had another two months of travel left. We had very different ideas of a hotel rooms. Luckily she’s generous and because she wanted luxury I got a free ride. But these are things that need to be discussed on any trip before you go. What is a hotel? (we’re talking hostel to five-star here. people have very different ideas). Where do you like to eat? Are food stands ok or do you need a sit-down restaurant? etc…

Which brings me to five: My favourite food. I am celiac. Anyone who travels with me has to be ready. But I also like spicy food. This caused a problem with one travel buddy who couldn’t handle a pad thai. His idea of food? A burger. Mine? A spicy curry. This might sound silly right now when you have to organise a dinner with friends once a week. But wait ’till it’s every day. You need to talk to your travel buddy and ask what they like to eat, whether they’re adventurous with their food and how you both see accommodating the choices.

Six: Food choices will obviously be influenced by the destination. Where do you both want to go? Does the idea of traveling through South East Asia sound good? Are you interested in staying in a resort or is visiting a ranch in Argentina more enticing? Both of you need to be honest about what kind of trip you want and where you want to go. This can require some research before having the discussion, but better now than separating in a Bolivian beer hall.

Seven: Length of stay: Even if you have a week to travel or five weeks, both of you may have a vision of how long you want to stay in a place. “No I want a week in Paris.” “Oh I was thinking of two days and then a visit to the Loire Valley.” Sort this out before you go. Talk about compromise and if you can’t….solo travel is great.

Eight: Is this a culture-crusade or an excuse for a party? While I was in Chaing Mai, Thailand, I shared a room with two Irish boys who spent their evenings drinking and their days sleeping. We barely made roommates let alone travel buddies. This will cause conflict and you both need to have a frank discussion about what you want to do. Are temples the only thing on your list? Well don’t go with someone who only has a passing interest.

Nine: Make sure you’re both ok with time spent on your own. Will the other person mind if you go home early from the bar and get up early for temple visits? Do you have to do everything together? Or will an entire day apart be ok? Some people will be up for this others will not. When I went biking with my travel buddy from California and another from Germany, California gave-up a quarter the way in. She didn’t mind that we continued which made life a lot easier for me.

Ten: What happens if something goes wrong? If you travel for long enough something will go wrong. Someone will get sick. The train tickets will go missing. Talk about possible challenges when traveling; i.e. a lot of ‘what ifs’. What happens if you get in a taxi that is sketchy? Do you have a warning signal that means you both jump out?

Good. That sorted. You are either travelling solo or with a companion. Either way…. you need to get off Bermuda.

Next week: The man in charge of this exact thing Aaron Adderley explains the day in a life as Manager at the L F Wade International Airport.

Three day weekend? What to do? Turquoise water, cool breeze…oh wait! That’s home!

Outside my window....

A couple of weeks ago on this blog and in my weekly travel column with The Royal Gazette, I advocated taking time to enjoy your own backyard. I gave examples like trying out Paget Marsh. Turns out Paget Marsh really isn’t that exciting (by human standards anyway).

But I also urged everyone in Bermuda to take the time to enjoy South Shore! I couldn’t think of a better time to try this than yesterday. Why? Because I tried to drive through Hamilton (Bermuda’ Capital).

Huh? You say. I’ll explain. I had errands to run – picking-up photos I had submitted to the Bermuda Society of Arts’ exhibition and a friend’s birthday present. After nearly killing three cyclists and ramming too many cars who decided to stop suddenly I couldn’t take it anymore.

And then it dawned on me….Robyn….you advocated trying something different in a column not so long ago. What are you doing? So I turned right on South Road rather than left and headed West – to Somerset. But not along Middle Road. No, I hit South Shore.

As a Bermudian who has done a lot of traveling, I have never found beaches that match the South Shore of the Island. Ok well except maybe Sir Lanka’s, but these are in my backyard not half way across the world. So where did I stop first? Southlands.

Southlands sign opposite its beach entrance

Yes, I know most of the island has walked through this nature reserve, but I haven’t. What a lonely beach. It’s just crying for a couple who want some peace to join it. So if you’re looking for somewhere isolated or a place to surf head here. Someone was attempting the waves yesterday.

A lonely little beach

But it was time to get serious and head to Dockyard to find a gift. I didn’t have all day. Too bad. Horseshoe Beach was packed, Church bay was asking for me to stop….Whale Bay was asking for a snorkel, but I couldn’t stop.

What does this all mean? I’m going to need another trip (yeah I said it…a trip) to the West End of the Island. For those who live down here well take a trip East.

Anyway, the best part of the trip? Arriving in Dockyard to be one of a pack. With the two cruise ship piers tourists were swarming. How nice to be able to disappear into crowds who don’t know my name and don’t want to argue about some sort of politics.

And the best part? It was easier to drive through the newly-enlarged Dockyard entrance than to board a plane and escape to New York, Boston…Chile, etc…

So what am I saying? Slow down! Enjoy our island and find something different to do this weekend! I mean you’ve got three days!

Wireless in London? Missing sick bags? It’s Wednesday.

Wireless in London

London’s going wi-fi. Yep! Bring your laptop to Trafalgar Square and update your Facebook status! You will never have to search for a Starbucks or wi-fi restaurant again. Well by 2012 just in time for the Olympics. Or so says Boris Johnson.

London's Olympic Village

Barf Bags? Where are they? I’m happy to say I have never used one so I haven’t noticed. Someone who has? Steve Silberberg. AOL Weird News reports this man has collected more than 2,500 of these sick lunch bags. He has even registered the domain names barfbags.com and airsicknessbags.com. Are these the next perks on planes to be cut?

Angels in the architecture? Yes for some reasons Angels seem to be dominating the travel culture these days. Now Istanbul, Turkey has uncovered an ancient lady on a ceiling.

Well not any ceiling. The covering of the Hagia Sophia – the church, turned mosque, turned tourist mecca. Apparently the last people to see the Mosaic’d Angel lived in 1849. So I’m sure you haven’t seen it. But the renovations of this ancient building are not done yet. There are three more angels.

Hagia Sophia

Finally Memorial Day in the United States is coming up. Three-day weekend for them from May 28 until June 1. Fancy leaving Bermuda?Looking for somewhere to go? Trying to find last-minute hotel deals?

Yeah, me too. I’m planning to be in Boston. Well besttraveldeals.net/ might just be able help!

Have a great Wednesday.

Ten Travel Sites…because it’s Tuesday

Travel Cambodia style

“Go out and Travel!” or at least that’s about what the US Chamber of Commerce President CEO Thomas J. Donohue came out to say this week. Who would have thought this man who is a suit would encourage people to travel? Not me so I’m sure not most.

So where do you start? Well it’s Tuesday so how about these Top Ten (cause it’s Tuesday and it’s quirky and rhymes) websites to visit if you want to travel:

1. www.wherethehellismatt.com because we all need to dance in the rain in Stone Town, Zanzibar. You think I’m crazy to become a travel journalist? This guy found sponsors to send him around the world “dancing” (you will understand the quotations when you watch these films) and filming himself. These four-minute flicks are the feel-good films of the year! When I didn’t think I could continue in Malaysia my travel buddy introduced me to this website. I continued for another three months.

2. www.hotwire.com: Because sometimes you need to live on the edge without actually traveling to Zanzibar. I have booked a number of hotels and at least one car through this site and I have always been happy. In New York especially I have always managed to find great deals ($80 hotel rooms in boutique hotels). The catch? You have to live without knowing which hotel you have booked before you hand your credit card over. Live with the unknown and love it!

3. www.hostelworld.com I lived for this site while I was on the road last year. Especially in Europe. Yes it will charge you $2 when you book your room, but the plus side is payback! Yep hostel owners live and die (well you know with some reason) for the reviews left on this site. I actually had one upset owner in Mendoza, Argentina ask me to take down my review (I didn’t. I had roaches and 6 a.m. blaring music. My bad review was there to stay). But it also means that what you read about the places is true. It also offers hotels for those looking for a more inclusive product.

4. www.hostelbookers.com Yeah so similar, but not. There is no $2 fee when booking, but the prices can often be higher than hostelworld. The benefit? There is often more selection and better photos and layout than hostel world. I would really use these in tandem and especially if looking for cheap, but good, resting places.

5. www.wanderlustandlipstick.com Ok so this one is mainly for women….but it can’t hurt the men to check it out. Might give you an idea of some of the concerns women have to deal with. With the adventurous woman in mind it gives tips on how to stay safe in your hotel room, lists tours and even ways to dress in other countries (i.e. in India you really need to be conservative).

6. www.gadling.com This site is constantly updating its blog with a variety of contributors (though really you should be coming to mine). I personally enjoy the links at the bottom which offer random travel stories like about an artist building a mountain out of….used clothes. Fun, quirky and informative.

7.www.nomadicmatt.com One guy, a computer and the world = Nomadic Matt. He also provides you with hundreds of links to blogs of all varieties. From traveling with kids to solo female travel blogs his is the source of any tip of information about travel you might need.

8. www.tablethotels.com I just came across this website and it looks great. Providing access and discounts to hotels that do not belong to chains, it’s a site worth trying out. I am for Boston next week! I will let you know how it goes.

9. www.matadortrips.com Off the beaten track and don de road, rond de corner (for the Bermudians out there) this website will take you everywhere with those who know. Best part? You’re not going to visit Amsterdam just to smoke pot. Yes, crazy I know, but there are other options. Matador with help you out with that.

10. Finally and yet…not finally, there really are so many out there: www.flickr.com. I know it’s a photo sharing site. I even have a forum on there, but if you search for anything about travel you will receive millions of photos that will ensure you try something different.

That’s what I’ve got to start the second day of the week. Hopefully it’s a place to start for travel and believe me once you do look into it….it snowballs. So be prepared. Back you bag and please, please….book a flight somewhere. If not for me..then the Chamber of Commerce.

Monday, Monday…

Backpacking in Patagonia

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

It’s back to the travel gig and here’s the latest column from The Royal Gazette.

Travelling solo – that wasn’t really my plan when I started travelling around the world last year. Yes, I started with a boyfriend (I called him a travel buddy) but that ended.

I debated. I was in India. I decided I was going to finish my round-the-world trip solo and boarded a plane, head cold and all, for Thailand.

I was nervous. I had done a lot of travelling before. I had lived in France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Turkey. I travelled through India and Sri Lanka for three months. But I had never travelled for long periods of time on my own.

I’ll tell you this: my mom was not happy.

Landing in Bangkok was easy. I changed my travellers’ cheques, bought a ticket for the bus into the centre of the city and into solo travelling. The first night I was not sure how it was going to work.

I decided I had to eat. I sat in the hostel’s lounge-restaurant and ended up meeting two girls who borrowed my guidebook and became my travel buddies for the next two days.

I will never turn back from solo travel and neither should you. Yes – women or men. The world is not scary once you are out there.

First tip to start travelling solo is: do it! Solo travelling is empowering, will push you to do things and meet people that you never imagined.

The scary part? Things will just make sense. As cliché as it sounds and I’m not a hippie: the universe works with you. The right experiences happen, the right people show-up and it just works. When I needed to see Machu Picchu I met two guys on the same travel page; they were not going to hike and were quite happy with a lazy train ride followed by indulgent dinners. They were there for a reason – to help me.

But if the idea of going global solo scares you, tip two: start small. Begin at home. Go shopping on your own, eat lunch solo (bring a newspaper, book or magazine to help) and when out try to start conversations with people you may never have talked to. I know … it’s Bermuda. You will run into people you know. That’s scary. What will they think? Who cares! I’m not saying close yourself off. Say hi, even invite them to join, but this is the beauty of travelling on your own – you’re open to new experiences.

Tip three: Don’t worry so much. Yes, take security seriously, women especially (sorry but it’s true). But the world is generally safe and with precautions you take at home you will make it through the world just fine. I only had one real scare on my year abroad.

It was going to Thai boxing on the back of a motorbike and the trainer went a separate way from the other bike. I made him stop and I got off. Turns out he was one of the nicest people and I ended up training with him. But there is no sense in being sorry.

Travelling solo you will find that the sixth sense kicks-in far sooner than when travelling with someone else too.

Which leads to my third tip.

Stay in hostels.

I never would have been on the bike trip, I might have even missed Machu Picchu if I had not stayed in hostels. I met my travel buddies here. I have said it before and I will say it again – these accommodation choices are of much better quality than their name precedes them. And they are a better choice for solos than hotels which generally cater to couples who happily wrap themselves in the safety of their double rooms.

Added bonus for women travellers are the mixed dorm rooms i.e. males and females. One: you meet guys (and I’m not saying this as a dating service). I’m saying it as a safety thing. In Cusco, for example, it is not safe to walk around at night by yourself – male or female, but it’s even more dangerous for women. I was lucky. I met two guys in my dorm room, plus a third in the hostel who would walk with me if we went out at night.

Fourth tip: don’t be afraid to extend yourself. You are going to meet people if you like it or not travelling solo. Someone on their own is more approachable and you will quickly find people sitting with you for dinner or grabbing a drink with you. Be open to this. I met some random people this way – an Israeli vegan who spoke fluent Thai, for example. We would probably not be friends at home, but we had some interesting conversations and his Thai definitely helped me.

Fifth: plan, plan, plan, but don’t be afraid to go with the flow when you start meeting other travellers (it will happen I promise). In Bangkok I could avoid the annoying taxi guys because I researched from the comfort of London, the airport and the ground transportation. Avoiding taxi touts soon became second nature.

I also soon learnt that many times it just makes sense to go with the flow. I was going to travel to North Thailand by bus for a day or two. I met two guys about to tackle a three-day biking tour. I found myself renting a motorbike. It was some of the best travelling I did and not in the plans at all.

Finally if I can encourage you to take the plunge into the world alone there is one reason and really one main reason to do it – you get to do what you want! If you want to stay in Turkey for a week you can. If you plan to go to Cambodia over land that’s what you will do. And I promise you will have fun, meet people who want to do the same thing and discover things about yourself and the world you never knew.

Visit my website www.robynswanderings.com and remember send me your photos and stories about travelling. These can be mere photo references to Bermuda from your travels or stories about your latest trip. You will be featured in a column and on my website.

Next week: now that you’ve travelled solo … how to pick a travel companion.