Rediscovering Yourself through Solo Travel: A Midlife Memoir
By Editorial Staff Location: Worldwide
For years, Dawn followed society’s rules—be a mom, raise a family, build a career, play it safe. Then life tested her: illness, the death of her father, and the discovery that her husband was dating other men. She tried counselling to save the marriage, but he returned to his old ways. A reminder that even the most steady lives can be upended in an instant. She took baby steps toward self-discovery—overcoming her fear of travelling alone, relocating, changing jobs, selling her home and moving into a small rental. She began her travels from a place that felt familiar. After a buyout and with the kids grown, she realized the life she’d always wanted was possible: full-time travel. Her memoir Lets Not Play Small blends travel stories, smart budgeting strategies, and lessons in resilience for mature solo travellers. Perfect for seasoned travellers and anyone dreaming of a bold new chapter.
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
She travelled to many places. Her stops included : Caye Caulker (Belize), Morocco, Vietnam (Bangkok), Chile, Argentina (including Buenos Aires), Patagonia, Antarctica, Uruguay, Spain, France, Portugal, India, Grenada, Belfast, Ireland, England, and Italy. She sailed from St. Thomas to Grenada — we made leisurely stops at islands like St. Martin, Saba, Eustatia, and Nevis, exploring each one.
Three Travel Tips the book Let’s Not Play Small taught me.
And to the people I met on my journeys, thank you for sharing a slice of your lives for a moment in time.
1. Full-time travel on a shoestring is doable. Dawn stretched her budget with homestays, hostels, beach huts, cabins, B&Bs, cargo ships, and Airbnbs. She still treated herself to hotels sometimes, booked last-minute, and often travelled off-season — though some hostels weren’t always welcoming to older guests.
2. Messy plans can turn into magic. Leaving your comfort zone rewarded her: last-minute changes, language mix-ups, wrong buses, ATM failures, dodgy tour operators, taxi scams, solo-check-in bias — even travelling through a pandemic — led to unexpected discoveries, a new language, and even romance.
3. Ways to meet other solo travellers. WhatsApp was a lifesaver for meetups; Airbnb hosts introduced her to people; she met travellers in hotels and on cargo ships; and Workaway placements let her dive into local life and make friends.
“When we have the courage to trust ourselves in unfamiliar terrain, transformation happens.“
Many will recognize the absurd societal pressures placed on women in midlife. The book offers practical guidance for healing after divorce and rebuilding resilience by applying the lessons she learned while traveling. Each chapter focuses on a country she visited, complete with inspiring quotes, budget friendly ideas, and useful travel tips. The book motivates new travelers to take the plunge, plan their first trip, and pursue long-held dreams—plus it includes cost-cutting hacks for budget-minded explorers. She also shares essential advice for embracing a nomadic lifestyle, keeping family ties strong, and safeguarding your possessions while you’re away.
As an experienced traveler, I appreciated how she shared in-depth recommendations for countries, places to stay, and transport she enjoyed. Her tips include honest highlights and cautions about challenges nomadic women might face.
