Solo, Not Alone: What It's Really Like to Travel Independently with The Good Life Abroad

Solo travel can sound like a contradiction: you want the freedom to set your own pace, but you don't want to feel isolated in a foreign city. In this webinar, founder Andrew Motiwalla welcomed four The Good Life Abroad alumni—Julie Sorenson, Sherri Bradley, Carole Sykes, and Barry Parks—to talk candidly about what it's actually like to travel alone with a The Good Life Abroad Month-Long Signature Program or Two-Week Short Stay, and why so many solo travelers come back for more.

The Good Life Abroad, at a Glance

Andrew opened with a quick overview of how the programs work. Every Month-Long Signature Program and Two-Week Short Stay includes a vetted apartment suited for adults 55+ (think walk-in showers and elevators), travel medical and evacuation insurance, a local on-site Community Manager who plans activities and offers day-to-day support, and a built-in cohort of fellow travelers living nearby. On average, about 30% of any given group are solo travelers—though as Barry's story showed, that number can look different from session to session.

Why Solo Travelers Choose a TGLA Program Instead of Going It Alone

Each panelist came to The Good Life Abroad from a different starting point. Carole, a recent widow, was drawn to the idea of immersing herself in a new place long enough to imagine actually living there—with a safety net underneath her independence. Julie had always wanted to spend real time in Paris and liked knowing someone on the ground could handle logistics and language if she ever needed it. Barry, despite having visited Florence before, found that having local Community Managers unlocked experiences—a leatherworking class, a look at medieval painting restoration—he couldn't have arranged solo. Sherri simply wanted to go deep in one place rather than rush through it.

The common thread: none of them wanted a tour bus experience. They wanted to live somewhere, not just see it.

The Community Factor Nobody Expects

Andrew noted a pattern he hears constantly: people join for the month-long format and the safety net, then leave saying the community was the real surprise. Before arrival, each cohort meets on a video call with their local Community Manager. Once in-country, the group coordinates through WhatsApp—an announcements channel for logistics, plus member-created groups for everything from running buddies to book clubs to spontaneous weekend trips. Scheduled programming stays light (roughly three activities a week, including the Tuesday Lunch Club and welcome and farewell parties), leaving plenty of room for the community to fill in the rest.

For Barry, who arrived as the only solo traveler in a group of 15 shortly after losing his wife, that community turned out to matter more than he expected. Within a day of arriving in Florence, he says he was simply absorbed into the group.

Solo Traveler Sessions and Program Pairings

Because averages don't guarantee outcomes—Barry's group had zero other solo travelers, well below the typical 30%—The Good Life Abroad also runs dedicated Solo Traveler Sessions, where every participant is traveling alone. For travelers who want to combine trips, Program Pairings link consecutive programs in the same region, including a Solo Traveler Grand Tour: three back-to-back Two-Week Short Stay programs across Europe, all solo-traveler sessions.

Practical Advice from the Panel

Asked what advice they'd give a solo traveler considering the program, the panelists were direct:

• Be willing to engage. The community only works if you show up for it.

• Get comfortable with WhatsApp and Google Maps before you go—the programs rely on both.

• Bring a loose plan. You won't be led around; make your own list of what you want to see.

• Speak up if something's wrong—apartment issues can often be fixed if you say something early.

• Expect real life, not a hotel. Programs use real, locally managed apartments, which means occasional maintenance quirks alongside the charm.

On safety, all three women on the panel said they routinely went out—and came home—alone at night without hesitation, crediting the intentional, walkable, non-touristy neighborhoods The Good Life Abroad selects for its apartments.

Ready to Travel Solo, Not Alone?

Whether you're weighing your first Month-Long Signature Program, a Two-Week Short Stay, or a dedicated Solo Traveler Session, this webinar is a candid look at what solo travel with The Good Life Abroad actually feels like—from the first nervous night to the friendships that outlast the trip.

Explore Solo Traveler Sessions to start planning your own trip.