Traveling Solo: How Janetta’s Death Changed My Approach to Travel Guides
Traveling alone can be a liberating and exciting experience. But it can also be intimidating, especially for those who are not familiar with the destination. Many travelers rely on travel guides to make their journey smoother and more enjoyable. But what happens when the guidebook fails you? This is the situation that confronted me on a trip to South America, and it changed my approach to travel guides forever.
The Beginning of My Journey
I had always been an adventurous traveler, but I was nonetheless apprehensive about traveling alone. I decided to head to South America on a whim, without a set itinerary in mind. I landed in Ecuador with all my travel essentials, but I had no idea where to go next.
I decided to buy a guidebook to help me on my first solo travel adventure. I chose one that was highly recommended by travel bloggers and had good reviews on Amazon. It seemed comprehensive and promised that it had everything I needed to know to have a great time.
The First Warning Sign
The guidebook covered all the basics: where to eat, what to see, and how to get around. However, I noticed that it was more focused on the popular tourist spots rather than the offbeat destinations I wanted to explore.
I decided to take a chance and head to a lesser-known area in Ecuador. The guidebook didn’t provide much information on this region, but I assumed it was safe considering that I saw people recommending it online. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
A Tragic Turn of Events
I met Janetta, a fellow traveler, who was also exploring the area on her own. We decided to explore the local attractions together. We followed the guidebook’s suggestion of going to a nearby waterfall. When we arrived, I realized that we were the only ones there.
Janetta and I were enjoying the scenery, taking pictures, and chatting when suddenly, a group of six men approached us. At first, I thought they were friendly locals who wanted to take a picture with us. But before I knew it, they had robbed us, assaulted us, and left us stranded.
We managed to make it back to the city and reported the incident to the police. Fortunately, we were both physically okay, but the experience left us shaken and scared. The incident made me question the validity of the guidebook I was relying on.
A New Approach to Travel Guides
After the incident, I realized that I was relying too much on the guidebook to plan my trip instead of using my intuition and common sense. I also acknowledged that being a solo traveler in a foreign country came with significant safety risks that I had to be aware of.
I learned that guidebooks can be helpful, but they are not infallible. They provide a general sense of a place, but they cannot predict all the situations a traveler might encounter.
Nowadays, I use guidebooks as a starting point but conduct further research on my destinations. I check out travel blogs, social media platforms, and online forums to get a sense of what other travelers are saying about the places I want to explore. I also make sure to talk to locals and get their insights to have a more authentic experience.
The Bottom Line
Traveling solo can be both exhilarating and challenging. But it’s essential to be cautious and informed, especially when relying on guidebooks. While they can be helpful, they are not replacements for common sense and intuition.
The tragic event of Janetta’s death changed my approach to travel guides. I learned to rely on my intuition, research widely before and during my trips, and talk to locals to make most of my adventures. I hope that my experience will help other solo travelers avoid the pitfalls that I encountered.
