Hi, I’m Gary, a solo traveller from Lancashire, England.
I am slowly exploring the World, one adventure at a time.
I’m at the start of my fifties now, but middle age is no barrier these days. I am finding that what I want to get out of my holidays is changing as I get older however.
Even with over 20 years of travels behind me I still have so much of our wonderful World left to see, pictures to take and now I can tell the stories!
It turns out that having a travel blog, and also travel vlog over on YouTube, are adding a new dimension to my holiday adventures.
GARY’S TRAVELS
I’ve visited 50 countries so far, but have the entire United Nations on my list. And I have been on more than a few cruises – you are going to hear a lot about cruises!
Most of my holidays have been solo trips, so I can share lots of experience. I have also travelled with family and groups of friends too and even the odd group of strangers who became friends.
MY FIRST SOLO ADVENTURES
In 2002 I found myself ready for a holiday, but with no one to go with. So rather than wait, potentially for ever, for someone to be free, I set off on my own… to sunny Bournemouth on the South Coast of England. I was as nervous as anything, but it was only for a few days, and if I really hated it on my own I knew I could get in the car and drive home. I know I didn’t hate it because I still remember the disappointment on the last day, when I tried to stay for a few more days and the hotel was fully booked.
But I had become a solo traveller and had also discovered the UK mini break!!
A year later I decided to risk solo foreign travel. No early departure safety net this time. I flew to Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, the site of my first ever foreign “lads” holiday. That gave me a bit of security knowing what to expect. Yes, it was Magaluf, beach life by day, bar life by night. I loved it!
Four return visits in quick succession later I remember lying on the beach thinking “I’ve done this now, I can travel on my own”. So my next solo trip was to the next island along, Ibiza, then Las Vegas, Mediterranean cruises, Dubai….The World!
I can quite honestly say I have never looked back from plucking up the courage to go on that first trip by myself.
MY FIRST SOLO CRUISE
I was in Rhodes Town one night in 1997, on another of those lads holidays, when I saw the cruise ships all lit up and sailing away at the end of the day. I thought then that I was going to do that one day.
Ten years later I went on my first cruise aboard the Island Escape. It looked like a converted ferry. Relaxed, no frills cruising. I was hooked. Fast forward another 15 years and in June 2022 I completed my 25th cruise aboard Celebrity Beyond, at the time the newest ship in the Celebritu Cruises fleet. My cruising tastes have changed over the years, but I’m just as hooked as ever.
Oh, and on this cruise we sailed out of Rhodes Town, at night, on a ship all lit up!!
MIDLIFE GAP YEAR ADVENTURES
In 2019 a plan for a year off was an unexpected opportunity I had to take. And so I began a midlife career break, that is still ongoing four years later!
My adventures were cut short after 10 months unfortunately, but not before I had visited 5 continents and 14 countries.
I had an Alaskan cruise, visited Machu Picchu in Peru, lay on a sun bed in Cyprus, had 12 days in Bali and was half way through an epic adventure Down Under in March 2020 when I pressed pause.
But post pandemic the cruises and foreign holidays began again, and with them are more stories to tell.
New adventures await….
SOCIALS
I have to remind myself to look with my eyes, as well as my camera, but I always take loads of pictures.
If I’m off on holiday, or back at home reliving past adventures, there are plenty of photos on my Instagram account. Check out my posts @gary_t.ravels and its the same name for Threads.
There’s also Pinterest and X @gary_travels.
And in 2023 I began my own YouTube channel, with videos to add to the written stories in the blog.
You’ll find links in the stories where there is a crossover. Or head on over to @gary_travels or search for Gary Travels to check out more travel content on my YouTube Channel.
Just like the blog you can subscribe and enjoy all of my travel content for free.
SO WHAT’S THIS BLOG ABOUT?
Well blogging is no longer quite so new to me, but I’m still making it up as I go along.
I have stories to tell of the places I’ve visited both at home and abroad, the cruise lines I’ve sailed with and the ships I’ve sailed on. Plus hints and tips that I’ve picked up on my travels to share with you.
And of course there are lots of new adventures to be had, which I’ll be sharing too.
These are my own thoughts, experiences and opinions, not necessarily the best options for everyone, so take from them what you will.
Hopefully you will enjoy reading what I have to say, and maybe find a bit of holiday inspiration and a few travel tips along the way.
