Dh15,000 for a solo trip: More UAE residents are traveling alone
A growing number of UAE residents are choosing to travel alone to popular tourist sites for purposes of self-exploration and for the ability to go around at their own time while also learning how to be more self-reliant and versatile.
These types of travelers go to colorful places that are far away from home if they are in search of adventure, relaxation or even cultural experiences
For Dubai IT executive Adnan, traveling alone comes with a unique advantage of freedom. “I like to come up with my own plans without having to reschedule things for anybody else which is nice because I’m free to change my mind and do things as I feel like,” he said in his own words.
Adnan has a travel history of seven nations that include Romania, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam and Thailand where he has in particular gone to several places repeatedly especially Kazakhstan and Georgia since he finds them impressive superior sights including natural features and sites as well as remarkable architecture of various buildings that are indigenous to the nations and regions of those nations he has visited including structures built centuries ago that still remain standing today and many others.
Due to their location and short flight durations Adnan’s two most visited countries Georgia and Azerbaijan have become his most favorite travel countries even as he has plans to visit more countries from Europe in the future including countries north of the Mediterranean Sea.
Adnan was able to make plans only once, and each time he planned a vacation to a foreign country managed to take a roughly 10 days vacation where he traveled all over the countries he went for about a week. Adnan usually does such trips on an annual eye fest or during public events to go through countries around the world.
Trips, nevertheless, may be prolonged if he is able to locate options for the cuisines that he enjoys. He likes to sample various halal dishes from Asia and Europe, as well as take great pictures while he is filming video shots.
As for the costs of such an experience, he said that when traveling alone there are different flight costs depending on how well planning was done or how long a traveler intends to be away. The essential costs include meals, transport and shopping. Adnan liked the presence of budget airlines in the UAE which makes traveling less costly.
He finds Georgia and Azerbaijan as the cheapest for about Dh3,000 cost wise for his travels, while Vietnam and Thailand are more expensive costing about Dh6,000 to Dh8,000 for a week visit. He further mentioned that some travels to European countries can cost about Dh15,000.
Discovering hidden gems
Thabo, a 25-year-old from South Africa who lives in Dubai, claims “I travel alone, therefore, I have the liberty to go wherever and however slow or fast I want. I take pleasure in experiencing new ways of life and in the pursuit of off the beaten path places. I especially enjoy the thrill of packing my bags on a whim and going to Thailand, Morocco, Portugal and other places."
For those watching their budget, Thabo emphasized that the expenses relating to solo travel can be quite different or very expensive, "In my case, cheap travels became possible when I went to Morocco at a cost of approximately Dh3,500; however, my week in Thailand was about Dh8,000. I like to make my getaway on my trips around public holidays because I don’t have to work and I can come back without taking many days off from work."
Opportunities for self-discovery
He also took time to explore Sinil Raj, a marketing executive based in Dubai who Eric knows well, sharing the experience of solo traveling with its endless possibilities and aspects it has, including self exploration and freedom that are offered.
“Having to do everything by myself allows me to control how fast or how slow I want the day to progress. If I wanted to stay a bit longer in a museum, I could. If I wanted to go hunting local places, I could. How cool is that?” he said.
Enjoying tranquil moments
At the same time, Abdulla Aboobakuru, General Manager of Nova Maldives talked about: Why do solo travelers appreciate the Maldives? “They come to the Maldives for such soulful all-encompassing island pleasures that will be as joyous, help them connect and also give a sense of community,” stated he.
Most of the tourists are oriented towards relaxation and calmness, enjoying the fascinating views of the Indian Ocean, whereas others came to find themselves and use wellness procedures that help in both physical and mental.
As for the preferences regarding the activities, UAE and other GCC solo travelers primarily focus on lavish spa escapes and gourmet cuisine. A large number of them also participate in stimulating water sports while scuba diving and jet ski voyages are among the most favored. Besides those escapades, they practice their imagination through sound painting and local cuisines in Dhivehi cooking classes.
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