In this week's solo episode of Clover Club, host Erika Audrey breaks down the practical side of solo travel based on her recent trip to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. No frills, just real talk about the challenges, unexpected twists, and valuable insights she gained along the way. Tune in for a no-nonsense discussion on solo travel tips, navigating hiccups, and why taking that solo trip might be more doable and rewarding than you think. Get ready for a straightforward and practical solo travel story time.

*Musings of an entitled millennial are for entertainment purposes only*

Hello, and welcome to Clover

club, a podcast about curious

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conversations and stories and

tended to make you laugh and learn.

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I am your host, Erica.

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And today I've got a solo episode for

you and that's appropriate because

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today's episode is all about solo travel.

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So I've referenced in previous

episodes that I'm no stranger to

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solo travel and I really enjoy,

um, I really enjoy traveling alone.

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I genuinely like it, and

there's a lot of trips that I.

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It's not because nobody will go with me

it's because I didn't invite anybody.

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Like I intentionally love

traveling alone and I know that

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it's not for everybody, but.

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I do kind of get a regular, uh, line

of questioning from people like, oh my

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gosh, I would love to do that, but it

seems really intimidating to plan it.

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You know, don't you get

nervous, don't you get scared.

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Is it safe?

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Do you feel embarrassed

having dinner alone?

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And so I just got back from a little solo

trip and I thought, let me use this as a

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podcast episode and we can, just kind of.

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Together, walk through the process

of planning and executing this trip.

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And of course things went awry

and there's some crazy stories

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that came from it because there's

never a boring solo vacation.

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, but yeah, today we're going

to talk about solo travel.

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So because of my work schedule, I'm very

rarely able to take a spontaneous trip.

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However, , this February, I just

like the weather and just life

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was getting to me and I just had

the blues and I was like, I need.

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Warmth.

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I needed sun on my skin and I just like,

I just need to get away for a second.

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And so I had a day in my

schedule that kind of fell

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apart, which very rarely happens.

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No one on my waitlist could come in.

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And so I was like, okay, this is a sign.

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I'm going to book a trip.

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In my earlier episode, traveling

with Brian, the clown, I referenced

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that the first step to planning

any trip is prioritizing what

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your biggest parameters are.

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So whether it's, you're on a strict

budget or I only have X number of

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days, or there's a specific event or

a combination of all of those things.

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So for me, My strictest parameter was

I can take a Sunday through Wednesday.

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So I knew that I wanted to stay

in the same time zone or within

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an hour of the same time zone.

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Um, uh, budget wise, I was not

super flushed cause I just had

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to buy a new washer and dryer.

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, so I was like, okay, I want something

that I can like throw some points at.

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And so from there I got on Delta

vacations, which I've used many

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times in the past and really enjoy.

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, and I was like, I'm going

to do an all inclusive now.

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I've been to one all inclusive in my life.

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It was 10 years ago with

one of my guy, best friends.

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It was.

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Peasant mode, like we found

this like travels, do you deal?

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That was like $800 for five

nights at a Riviera Maya

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all-inclusive including airfare.

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And it was super fun.

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We had a great time, I have no regrets.

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, but that was my only, that was my

only experience with an all-inclusive.

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So I was like, let me try

like a different type.

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, and so I also, you know, I'm always trying

to add a new country to the list, so.

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As zeroed in on the Dominican

Republic because it's a three and

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a half hour flight from Atlanta.

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, and it just seemed like

it would be really easy.

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So I was at work one day.

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And I had the Delta vacations tab

pulled up and I had narrowed it down

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to a couple of resorts and my client

got there and I'm chatting with her and

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her and her wife had just gotten back

from a trip to the Dominican Republic.

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And I was like, oh my God, I actively

have this pulled up on my computer.

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, where did you go?

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Did you like it?

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Tell me everything.

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And they had a great time

she's raving about this resort.

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And, , she showed me pictures of

the lobby and how beautiful it is.

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And she's like, you get there, they

give you this coconut welcome drink.

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That's just the most amazing

thing I've ever had in my life.

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It's so magical.

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And just bookmark that coconut drink.

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Cause I was craving it and super

excited for this coconut drink.

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and it turns out the resort they

had gone to was one of the top

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ones that I was considering.

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And it's a Marriott property

and it's adults only.

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And that was really, really

important to me because y'all

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know I don't fuck with kids.

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, so after she left, I booked my trip.

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And it was like, uh, not

even two weeks in advance.

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So for me, that's like how spontaneous.

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So I know myself.

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I don't like dealing with

other people's bullshit.

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Which has probably sent this way

to people since like any episodes.

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, But I knew like, okay, I want to

maximize this short amount of time.

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So my flight got in around noon

and my departing flight , was

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leaving around like five 30.

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And so I called the hotel

and I was like, Hey.

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, if possible, I'd like to request

early check-in and late check-out

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and they were very helpful on the

phone, told me it was no problem.

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And that was that.

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So, , the day before the trip comes

around, I'm packing for the trip.

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And that's one thing we'll start with

is when you're packing for a solo trip.

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There are certain things you're

going to want to keep in mind

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that don't necessarily apply.

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If you're traveling with people.

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So when you're traveling alone,

obviously there's nobody there

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to help you with your bags.

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So I like to travel really

lean, You know, not, not like.

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Uh, backpack only or anything weird, but

like I'm very mindful of not overpacking

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because I know that there's nobody to

be like, Hey, can you watch my bag?

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So I can go to the bathroom?

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Hey, you know, whatever, like, you

don't have help you're on your own.

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So just be mindful.

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So knowing it was a short trip, I

was like, I don't want to check a

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bag cause I don't want to deal with

any bullshit of, uh, waiting on my

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luggage, potential luggage being lost.

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And, , So I'm like, all right,

I'm not bringing sunscreen.

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I'm going to pay for expensive sunscreen

at the airport when I get there.

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And I'm going to be prepared

to just, , do carry on only.

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So I bought a very small carry-on

sized suitcase and a backpack.

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, and then the next morning came

and my flight was super early.

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It was like , eight ish am.

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And I knew that Hartsfield had just

opened up the new century and lounge.

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I'm like, all right.

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Let me get there early.

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I want to hang out in

this lounge, check it out.

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So me and my little suitcase and backpack,

we head to the airport and I was in

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the car and it's still dark out and

we're driving down the highway and the

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moon had been full the night before.

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And so it was just

like, Gorgeous big moon.

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And I just got this like inspiration

of like, you should make a

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podcast episode out of this.

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So that's what kind of

stemmed all of this.

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, and I also had a thought and I'm curious,

this is a total sidebar, but when you

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refer to an exit off of the highway,

do you use the number or the name?

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Because what I realized is I have lived

off of the same exit for 16 years,

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and I don't know what the number is.

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Like.

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I only ever just reference

it by the name of it.

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And I was like, huh, I wonder

if that's like a right brain

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left brain type of thing.

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I wonder what percentage of people

use the number versus the name?

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So I may do a little poll on our

Instagram, please let me know.

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Cause I'm curious if that's weird

or not that I don't know the number.

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Um, anyways.

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I get to the airport.

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It's early as fuck.

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So there's like no one there.

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Security is smooth and I go straight

to the new century and lounge and, I

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walk in and it is absolutely beautiful.

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I've been seeing people's pictures

online, but it's always nice

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to get in there for yourself.

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. So the lounge was great.

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I crack open a new book called

the measure and just relax.

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And I watched the sunrise up over the

terminal and I was like, all right,

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this is going to be a lovely trip.

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, So I boarded my flight and as I scan

my, boarding pass, I get an upgrade,

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which doesn't happen a ton because

I'm not diamond or even platinum.

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, so it's, it's been a while since I've

got an upgrade and I also got rid of

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my Delta Amex, , Uh, it's probably

been two or three years ago now.

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So I only play the platinum Amex

game I'm done with the Delta loyalty.

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So I know people are like up in arms

with the changes that they made to

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their program, but I've been off that

bus for a while and I think y'all

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should join me in platinum club.

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Cause it's so much better because you get

so like the points are great and the perks

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of that card totally pay for themselves.

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If you travel and use it properly,

, But anyways, it was like an

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absolute treat to be like, oh, yay.

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And upgrade.

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So I sit down and I'm like upgraded

seats and immediately the lady next

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to me, oh, is wearing so much perfume

that I feel like I can't breathe.

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, so just PSA, like do not doubt yourself.

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And a fragrance before you're about to

sit in a tin can and the sky, , It's

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just really, really, really crazy.

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Like my throat was closing up.

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Okay.

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So the flight is super easy.

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I, you know, sleep for most of it.

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Cause I ate an edible.

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And I wake up, we land and, , off

I go, so I had also requested.

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, a private transfer from

the airport to the resort.

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Because I didn't want to

wait around for strangers.

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Cause again, like this was a really short

timeframe and I just knew like that shit

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pisses me off and I'm willing to spend an

extra 50 bucks or whatever to just like.

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Not deal with it.

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And so I, I tried to do that.

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, but I checked in and they walked

me up to this like archaic old,

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suburban with like chipped paint

and no Springs left in the seat.

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And the guy gets me all set up and

closes me in there and then peaks

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his head into the driver's door.

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And he's like, all right, we're

just waiting for, , Another couple

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and then we'll be on our way.

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And I was like, oh.

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And I was like, I thought I

had like my own situation here.

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And he was like, no, we

need to bring one more.

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And I was like, Okay.

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And so I'm sitting there

for like 30 minutes in this

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shitty old car, like sweating.

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Cause it's not cold there.

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, and so I'm getting annoyed because

, I, as much as I travel, I don't

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like the travel part of traveling.

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I like being at my destination,

but being in an airport and just

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schlepping, like, I don't like that shit.

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I want to get where I'm going.

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, so I was like a little annoyed.

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, and then like 30 minutes later,

this couple comes and they get in.

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They're like, oh, are you

going to Margaritaville too?

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And I was just like, no, like.

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No, I'm not going to Margaritaville.

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I'm so sorry.

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And then they like spend this.

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It's not a long car ride.

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I mean, I think my resort, we're

like 15 minutes in the airport.

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Um, but this lady is either coughing up

along behind me, or they're bickering

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about something that happened earlier

in their day, but they were being vague.

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So I was just like, what

are they arguing about?

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Like, if you're going to fight in front

of a stranger, at least spill some tea.

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You're never going to see me again.

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, so they were just obnoxious.

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Yeah.

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The driver was blasting her horrible

music and it was just annoying, but.

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We pull up to my resort.

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And it truly, I mean, this is a beautiful

property, so it was like, all right.

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This is, this is good.

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We can work with this.

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I go to the check-in desk and, , you know,

like, Hey, my name's Erica checking-in.

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And they're like, okay, great.

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Check-ins not until three.

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And it is probably.

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It was probably around one.

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A little after one when I got there.

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And I was like, oh, I actually called

earlier and requested an early check-in.

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And they were like, we don't

have any record of that.

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And I was like, oh, okay.

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, so there's not a single

room available right now.

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And she was like, no.

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And I was like, okay.

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And she was like, here's the

wifi, , feel free to hang out.

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You can go grab lunch.

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, and then come back at three.

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And I was like, all right.

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, and they checked my bag.

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And so this is what's annoying.

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I just have my backpack, but it's

like, I travel with a vape pen.

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I'm like.

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I want to hit the pendulum in

and I want to go have lunch.

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And I can't, because you've got all my

goodies in your little baggage claim.

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, so whatever I go have lunch, it's good.

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Everybody's very friendly.

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, There's a very entertaining sugar,

daddy, sugar baby situation happening

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that I'm immediately amused by.

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So at three o'clock I go back and

I'm like, Hey, like here again.

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Uh, trying to check in and

they're like, oh, it's probably

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going to be another hour.

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And I was like, wait, okay.

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There's a difference between not having

a note that I want an early check-in.

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And then having me checked in like

an hour after general check-in.

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, uh, and so I'm like, oh my God.

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Okay.

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And so I just . Set up my

computer and just start working.

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, and that's okay.

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I mean, I brought my

computer I'm on purpose.

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I it's not like I had nothing to do, but.

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As you've picked up, I'm a planner.

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And that was just not part of

my plan and it was annoying.

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I'm sitting there on my computer and I'm S

I see these people get this coconut drink.

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And I was like, wait, the

fucking coconut drink.

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I was never offered a coconut drink.

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Like, where is my welcome coconut drink?

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And it's like, there's a coconut drink

person that just like, , Exits some

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dark room and then that just disappears.

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And so there's like, I could,

didn't want to ask anybody.

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And quite frankly, I didn't want

to have to be like, hi, excuse me.

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Um, could I please have the coconut drink?

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Like everybody else gets like, I

don't want to fucking have to ask,

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like, that's your thing either.

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You give everybody a cook and a drink

or you give nobody a coconut drink.

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, you know we talked a couple of episodes

ago about equality versus equity.

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Like I want fucking equality

at my resort situation.

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Thank you.

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, I was so mad and, uh, I know that sounds

annoying, but it just is what it is.

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, so finally at four o'clock, my

room is ready and they put me

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on a little golf cart and take

me to this section of the hotel.

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I check into my room and I will

say it was absolutely beautiful.

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It was huge.

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I go out to my balcony, great ocean view.

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, and there's a bathtub on the balcony

and I'm like, fuck, I have accidentally

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booked these sexiest solo vacation.

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Ever.

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This is so great.

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, but that turned my mood

upside down, , in a good way.

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And put on my swimsuit.

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I went out to one of the pools and.

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I had swam and read a book and then I

like listened to some music and this

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little cabana thing they had, like,

what I liked about this hotel was there.

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Like five different pools.

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So there's like a party

pool and a quiet pool.

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And kind of each pool had its own

vibe, but all of them had not just

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lounge chairs, but lots of , just really

cool, fun, little seating, vignettes.

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, and I'm a sucker for, I'm

a sucker for a hammock.

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I'm a sucker for a swing.

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I'm a sucker for.

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Really anything that looks fun to relax.

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And so I found this cute little thing

and I was just like vibing and having

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a good time and, and people watching.

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So, you know, When people ask,

what do you do on a solo trip?

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Like, whatever the fuck you want.

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You know, I want her to read my

book with my little toes in the

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water and just kind of chill.

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And so that's exactly what I did.

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And I did it up until the point

that I was sick of doing it.

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And then I stopped.

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At that point, the sun was starting

to set the water was getting Chile.

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And so I went back to my room and took

a shower and got dressed for dinner.

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So this resort has, I think

it's five different restaurants.

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, don't quote me on that, but it has

a handful of restaurants and all

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of the restaurants, except for one

were included in the all-inclusive.

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And, , that also included room

service, which I really like.

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, so I decided to go to the steak

house and , I sit down and now

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here is a con of traveling solo.

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Sometimes you'll go to restaurants

that have really delicious dishes.

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, that are for two people or more so, I

had lunch at their seafood restaurant.

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And they had a Paya, which my client

had mentioned to me being very good,

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but it was for two people and I was

just like, oh, This is annoying.

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, but that's all right.

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And same thing with the stick house.

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I don't even remember what it was,

but there was something where I

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was like, Ooh, this just looks just

like smorgasbord of delicious shit.

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, but for two people, so anyways, I

ordered dinner and the staff was amazing.

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I mean, super, super friendly,

very nice and attentive.

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a handful of them took, uh, A real

liking to me if you know what I mean,

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and I let them, , I let them charm me.

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It was a delightful, , but I ordered

this Cesar salad to start with,

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and it was a half of a head of

romaine grilled with really good.

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You know, Caesar dressing and

juvies shaped harms drunk.

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Like it was, oh, one of the best

Caesar salads I've ever had.

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, And then the rest of the

meal was great to you.

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Another thing to be mindful of when you're

traveling alone, especially as a woman

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is I never have more than a drink or

two because I can't ever get too fucked

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up if I'm the only person who knows.

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If I got back to my

hotel room safely or not.

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, or to my Airbnb or to whatever.

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, so I'm always pretty mellow with a knee

abbreviation when I'm traveling alone.

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However, I'm in Fort Knox, this

sanctuary, and I'm like, you know what?

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, I feel safe, like having some drinks here.

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So I have like, Three glasses of wine.

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And then, , with dessert, they

were like, oh, do you want

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to try this special liqour?

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And I was like, yeah, I do.

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Um, and he was like just a

little splash and I was like,

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I don't have to drive anywhere.

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Like give me a big splash.

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, so I ended up doing two, like pretty

solid sized pores of this really

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delicious local, , liquorice.

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I don't remember what it was called.

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It doesn't matter.

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It was good.

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, so.

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First day, total success.

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All things considered.

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I'm checked in.

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I've got my safe space in my little room.

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I've had a good meal.

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, I go back and I go to sleep

and get a good night's rest.

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So I wake up the next morning to

the sun rising over the ocean and

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it's just absolutely beautiful.

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And, , you know, I've got two big dogs

and so I never get to sleep at night.

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Like at home, I'm on a schedule with

them and it's little stuff like that.

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It was just so nice.

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And I'm sure parents are like, oh,

you didn't have to walk your dog.

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So.

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Must be nice.

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, but that's my choice, but it's nice to

, not be on anyone's timeline, but your own.

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, so I know alarm was sad.

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I just woke up with a son.

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And then I decided to walk down

to their main kind of food area,

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which was like the main like buffet.

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And so I get a seat and I kind of do

a lap and see what we're working with.

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, and I go up and I'm getting some food

and I'm standing at, they have like this

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like salad kind of fruit deli bar area.

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And the way it works is it's got

kind of like a, um, What do you call

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that like a, like a divider, like a

partition between you and that stuff.

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And so you basically hand your

plate through this window and

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you tell them like, oh, I'd like

some of this and some of that.

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And then they put it on their

plate and give it back to you.

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So they had a ton of fresh passion

fruit, and I fucking love passion fruit.

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And I was like, yes.

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So I go up to the lady I'm like Hola.

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, can I have some passionfruit please?

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And so she's putting it on my plate.

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And then over my shoulder,

I hear what is it?

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I'm like the fuck.

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So I turn around and there's this

wrinkled old leather woman in a visor.

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And she's like way too fucking close for

my comfort way too early in the morning.

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And I was like, it's passionfruit.

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And she goes, Ugh.

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And walks away and I

was like, what the fuck?

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And so.

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It's just like.

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Okay.

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, and she was sitting like, There

was this arch in the dining area

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and she was sitting on the other

side of it, but you could like

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look through and see each other.

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And , I kept getting this feeling and

I would look up every time I fucking

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looked up this lady staring at me.

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I don't know if it's because I was alone.

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I don't know if it's

because I have tattoos.

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I don't know what the fucking deal

is, but this lady was such a crab

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and she was eating a salad for

breakfast at like 9:00 AM on vacation.

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I literally texted my girls group

chat and let's just like, Bro.

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If y'all ever catch me eating a salad

for breakfast on vacation, please

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just put me out of my fucking misery.

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Like what.

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So I have breakfast.

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It's fine.

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It's better than fine.

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Good meal.

411

, and then I, , Stake my claim at a

lounge chair by the, quiet pool.

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I, , get all set up and I'm chilling

and again, this is supposed to be the

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quiet pool and I'm like reading my book.

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There's a guy who should be bringing

me up pina colada at any moment.

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And I hear this loud talking and I

look over and there's this guy pacing

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around the perimeter of the pool

on a cellphone, working on a deal.

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And he's so fucking loud.

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And I think maybe people don't

realize that sound travels on

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water and it was just obnoxious.

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Like, bro, like, I don't care

if you close this deal or not.

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I'm trying to chill here.

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, so that was annoying.

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And really like, this is the thing

when you travel with somebody.

424

You're kind of like in this

little world with them.

425

And , there's so many

things you don't notice.

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When I travel alone, I'm in a

little world with myself, which

427

is my favorite little world.

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, but also there's so much more time

to just be silent and observe.

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And people watching when I'm out of town

is just one of my favorite things ever.

430

And throughout the duration of this

trip, I certainly confirmed that I'm

431

not a resort person, which I suspected

going into this, but figured, you know,

432

I'll try anything twice, as I say, , but

it's just, it's just super fascinating

433

kind of paying attention to people.

434

, And so many couples.

435

Arguing and bickering and just

like being mean to each other.

436

, and so I w I think back to the times where

people are like, You know, aren't you

437

embarrassed having a meal alone and it's

like, no, I'd be far more embarrassed to

438

be having a meal with this dusty bitch

who can't even, you know, I don't like.

439

'cause people being so mean to

their husbands and wives, and

440

it's like, I would much rather be.

441

, like happy, calm, relaxed, human

being, reading a book, or just

442

hanging out and enjoying a meal,

then tents and riled up and just

443

hanging out with somebody who sucks.

444

Like that's way worse to me.

445

And also no one cares about you.

446

Like nobody everyone's

concerned about themselves.

447

, people don't care like, oh my God, there's

a, there's a single person eating lunch.

448

Like nobody gives a shit.

449

, so I think a lot of that's like in

your head and if that's something that

450

makes you uncomfortable, the thought.

451

Like having a meal alone or going

to a movie alone or a museum

452

alone or whatever, just do it.

453

It's like, that's weird.

454

It shouldn't.

455

Like it's okay.

456

If you, you should enjoy your own

company because if you don't, how do

457

you expect somebody else to write?

458

Okay.

459

So one thing I like to do when I

travel is go to a spa and this resort,

460

of course, how does POS, so I in

advanced book, a massage for this day,

461

So it was, I think at two o'clock.

462

And they have this whole hydrotherapy

circuit that you do before you get there.

463

So I got to the spot, like an hour before

my appointment and I, , ate an edible.

464

Very important detail of

getting a massage on vacation.

465

, so I get there and they're

getting me all checked into my

466

little robe and stuff like that.

467

And so they have you wear a swimsuit

and then put your robe over it.

468

And the way the hydrotherapy

works is it's like a hot, cold,

469

hot, cold, hot, cold situation.

470

So.

471

You start in a sauna 10 minutes.

472

You do a cold plunge one minute.

473

Then you go to a steam room.

474

Five minutes.

475

Then you go to this shower,

which she gestured to too.

476

But I didn't see behind the shower door.

477

She's like, then you'll do this, this cold

shower and then you get into a hot tub

478

and then you go outside to this pool and

479

then you hang out there

for as long as you want.

480

Until your therapist comes to get you.

481

So I get into the sauna and,

she brought him something on the

482

wall, like, that's your timer?

483

And I was like, okay.

484

And so I'm in there for like a

while and I'm fucking sweating

485

my edible starting to kick in.

486

And I realized that what I thought

was , the timer was just a thermometer

487

and the timer was this hour glass

thing that I was supposed to flip

488

upside down when I got in there.

489

So I have no clue how long it's been

at this point, but I know it's working.

490

So I'm like, well,

491

I'm not on any sort of time crunch.

492

So I flipped the little timer thing and

I gave myself another five minutes.

493

, so I'm nice and fucking toasty from that.

494

I step out and I go into the cold

plunge and I know this is like super

495

trendy and there's this Wim Hoff stuff.

496

And people are talking

about how great it is.

497

, I've done it before.

498

I fucking hate a cold plunge.

499

I hate it.

500

And so I forced myself to do it.

501

And then I had PTSD from the first

time I ever did a cold plunge,

502

which was when my best friend

and I went to the Grove park Inn.

503

, first spa day and Asheville.

504

And they have this cold plunge and it's

like, enough space for one person to kind

505

of dip in and dip out type of situation.

506

And I was being a total pussy and

my best friend blocked me from

507

exiting until I got all the way in.

508

And it was terrible.

509

Um, and so I had this like moment

of like picturing my best friend.

510

They're not letting me out.

511

So I do the cold plunge and

then I go to the steam room.

512

I sit in there for, there was no timer,

so I don't know, five ish minutes.

513

And then I see.

514

What she was referencing to you with

the cold shower that comes next.

515

So it's like,

516

It's like a regular looking shower stall,

but there's a wooden bucket with a rope.

517

And you pull the rope, like you're on

family, double dare, and you get flooded

518

with freezing cold water, like top down.

519

And I was like, oh man, like,

I don't want to do this.

520

, but also , I'm a rule follower.

521

I'm a Virgo.

522

So I'm like, I have to do it.

523

This is part of the circuit.

524

I cannot skip a step.

525

So I'm standing on there.

526

And again, I can't reiterate enough.

527

My edible has kicked in, so

I'm just like, whoa, whoa.

528

Like pull the rope.

529

I can't pull the rope, pull the

rope, I can't pull the rope.

530

And then I just count to three

and fucking boom, pull the rope.

531

And I'm like, oh, I mean, I like

the whole spa must have heard me.

532

It was full gold.

533

Oh my God.

534

It fucking hated it.

535

And so then I immediately was like,

uh, like raced to get into the hot tub.

536

, Oh, what a, what a saga.

537

, so I do the hot tub for a little while.

538

Then I go outside to the pool and there's

this couple out there from New York.

539

Who are being so fucking loud and

annoying, and they're not talking

540

about anything fucking interesting.

541

This is the thing.

542

If you're going to be loud and

annoying and public and inflict your

543

conversation on other people make it good.

544

Like it was so benign, but just loud and

obnoxious enough that I could not relax.

545

And again, sound travels

differently on water.

546

And so it's like they were inside

of my ears and I just, like,

547

there was not a lounge chair

that could get me away from them.

548

Based on the way this was like laid

out, , And so, I don't know, like maybe

549

I take for granted that I've had lots of

nice box periods and I just like, know

550

how to be polite, but when you're in a

facility that has a fucking placard that

551

says quiet, please, to me, that indicates

that you're supposed to be quiet.

552

I don't know.

553

I don't know.

554

Maybe I'm just being particular.

555

So my massage therapist comes

and she takes me back for my 80

556

minute hot stone massage, which

on an edible is fucking great.

557

So I get my massage and then

she's like, okay, I'll let you

558

like put your stuff back on.

559

And I'll meet you out here.

560

So, this is where their little plan fails.

561

My swimsuit is raising cold at this point.

562

It's ice cold.

563

And so I'm like all warm and relaxed and

I'm going to put on this like ice bikini

564

and I'm just like, no, like I, the sucks.

565

But my robe, the like lining

of my rope was also wet.

566

So even if I had just put my robe on.

567

I couldn't do that.

568

So I, oh, it was like a fucking

challenge to get my swim suit back on.

569

I know this is first of all

problems, but nevertheless, it was,

570

you know, that's just like a very

abrupt sensation after you have

571

been so thoroughly relaxed, right?

572

So anyways, , I bite the bullet.

573

I put on my subsea, put on my

little robe, meet her out there.

574

, and then I, Go back to the locker room.

575

To change.

576

And, uh, I was like so

cold because my swim suit.

577

So I got in the shower, naked.

578

With hot water I'm in

there doing my thing.

579

And, then a fucking man doing

laundry just comes through the women's

580

locker room and I'm like, Fuck like.

581

I wasn't planning on

giving a free show today.

582

, so another, just kind of strange, like

little thing with my spot experience,

583

but, uh, Whatever it was fine.

584

So at this point, it's starting to be like

dinner time or like, you know, the day is

585

starting to wrap up and turn to evening.

586

And so I go back to my room and I, , redo

my hair and I get dressed for dinner.

587

And I really wanted

that Caesar salad again.

588

So I was like, you know what, I'm

going to go to the steak house.

589

That was a great meal.

590

The staff there was awesome.

591

, so, , I'm going to do it again.

592

So I go to the steak house and

they're like, Erica, and I'm

593

like, oh, nice, like, nice touch.

594

Thanks for remembering my name.

595

And they get me a seat and

I ordered a gin and tonic.

596

, And I ordered literally like the

same meal, almost exactly from the

597

night before my Caesar salad comes.

598

And it's just a Caesar salad.

599

It was not a grilled.

600

Head of romaine.

601

There was no, you know, it was just

a Caesar salad and I love a Caesar

602

salad, so it's not like it was

even bad, but I was like, oh, like,

603

consistency is so important to me.

604

And this goes back to the coconut drinker.

605

No coconut drink.

606

It's like.

607

People expect.

608

That type of stuff to be consistent

at a luxury Marriott property.

609

, so that was annoying, but

my server was so awesome.

610

And all of these different guys were

coming up and like checking in on me.

611

I mean, I had a fan club and I was not

mad at it, , at all, but one of the guys

612

was like, what type of gin do you like?

613

And I was like, I.

614

I know that you don't have

my favorite type of gin.

615

And he was like, well, we've

got this and this and this.

616

And I was like, what's your favorite?

617

And I was like, just bring me another,

he just kept bringing me gin and tonics.

618

He's like, this is this gin.

619

This is this gin.

620

This is just gin.

621

And again, I don't normally

drink that much when I travel.

622

However, since I knew, I just had

to kind of stumble to my, my room.

623

I was like, fuck it.

624

So I drank a ton of gin and tonics and

then same thing with that good luck Corps.

625

They were like, You want this?

626

And I was like, use.

627

So I get fucking lit.

628

Uh, and then one of the guys is like,

Where are you having dinner tomorrow?

629

And I was like, I don't know.

630

I haven't gotten to tomorrow yet.

631

I'm not sure.

632

And he's like, I'm working

at the restaurant.

633

Like, come see me there.

634

And I was like, I'll think about it.

635

, and then I go home.

636

So I get back to my room and I

decided, oh, I didn't mention this.

637

When I checked in for my spot

appointment, the lady asked me, , do

638

you have any discount codes?

639

And I was like, no.

640

And I was like, I saw one on your

website that I tried to use when

641

I booked, but it didn't work.

642

And she was like, okay, let me see

if there's any we can offer you.

643

And she was like, oh,

you use Delta vacations.

644

You actually get 25% off.

645

And I was like, oh, word, like 25%

off of 200 bucks is not nothing.

646

So I decided I would book

another massage for the next day.

647

, and so I did.

648

So the next day comes, I go down

to breakfast at the same spot.

649

And this time I decide to try the

omelet bar and the way the omelet

650

bar works is you go up to the guide.

651

You say, hi.

652

I would like an omelet, please put in

onions, ham mushrooms, and she is, or

653

whatever the fuck you want in your omelet.

654

And then he makes you the omelet

and then he hands it to you.

655

And then you say, thank you.

656

, so I'm standing there.

657

I'm waiting on him to make my omelet.

658

I've watched this process happen.

659

So it's very easy to put together

the context clues and figure out

660

how to acquire these almonds.

661

Okay.

662

So my visor friend comes back.

663

And she's like, how does it work?

664

And I'm like, good morning.

665

, and I'm like, you just tell

them what type of omelet you

666

want and they make it for you.

667

And she was like, okay.

668

And so she goes up to the little window

and she was like egg white omelet, green

669

peppers, onions, very, very little cheese.

670

And I'm thinking ma'am.

671

Being louder does not

impact a language barrier.

672

Like . He can hear you.

673

He's not deaf.

674

And he speaks English.

675

Like what the fuck?

676

So.

677

, he gets a bowl and he cracks

an egg into it with the yolk.

678

And then he cracks in

another egg with the yolk.

679

And she was like, no, no.

680

I mean, you would think somebody was

trying to steal her fucking child.

681

Like she freaks out now having

already observed how this happened.

682

I know that they crack the eggs

into the bowl and they take a

683

spoon and they take the yolks out.

684

So I wasn't going to let this, I

just wanted to watch this right out.

685

I was like, I'm not saying shit, but

this other woman had kind of tapped on

686

the shoulder and she was like, uh, he's

going to take the yolk out, calm down.

687

And she was like, Oh, and she

didn't apologize or anything.

688

Like she was just so fucking rude.

689

Like every interaction I observed,

this woman having she's sucked.

690

, and so.

691

I get my wallet.

692

I get my omelet and just kind of give

her a little wink and go do anything..

693

So this morning I'm sitting down

and I'm eating my breakfast,

694

eating my omelet and my passion

fruit again, and reading my book.

695

And there's this other couple sitting

next to me and they're probably

696

in their like fifties or sixties.

697

Clearly Americans.

698

And the guy says, you know, once

you've been to one city, you

699

really been to all of them, but

this, and he gestures broadly.

700

This is traveling.

701

And I was like, oh, really?

702

Curt.

703

So are you telling me that Copenhagen

and Montgomery are the same fucking

704

thing because they were both cities.

705

I just like, could not wrap my

head around that logic, like this

706

sterilized resort that could be

fucking anywhere in the world.

707

This right here.

708

This is L I V I N.

709

, and I just laughed myself and I was

like, I'm never coming back here to.

710

These are not my fucking people.

711

I think the only thing worse than this is

like, would be being on a cruise for me.

712

, so then I go enjoy my day.

713

I have another spot experience.

714

, it was good.

715

So because of the debacle with check-in

knowing I was checking out the next day

716

I went to the front desk and I was like,

Hey, I just wanted to confirm what time

717

my airport transfer was going to be here.

718

And also confirmed that you've got a note

for my, my request for late checkout.

719

And the guy that I spoke with was

like, uh, I don't know, you'll

720

have to talk to the concierge.

721

And I was like, okay, but you

have a note for late checkout.

722

And he was like, no, we

don't check out the 12th.

723

And I was like, Oh, look,

my flight's at five.

724

I don't want to check out at 12.

725

That's stupid.

726

, and so I was just like, okay, I'm a

little confused, like I did call ahead.

727

And like, there was an issue with check-in

and now it seems to be, there's no note

728

with checkout and , is there, like,

can you please let me check out late?

729

And he was like, as a courtesy, I

can extend it by one hour to one

730

o'clock and I was like, how courteous?

731

Thank you so much.

732

So I'm like, oh fuck.

733

I'm ticket.

734

, and then I go and I enjoy my day.

735

, so, uh, the next morning I have

it all planned out because I want

736

to maximize my last morning there.

737

So I, again, go to breakfast.

738

I don't see my advisor friend.

739

, and I go straight to the pool

and , I drink two pina coladas.

740

I read my book I'm in this extra

cool little cabana bungalow thing.

741

, just.

742

L I V I N just kidding.

743

Um, I'm having a good time.

744

So I'm like, okay.

745

I had, I had done like a preliminary

packing the night before.

746

And I knew I just had to go back

to my room and kind of just like

747

do the final packing and then go.

748

So I was like, all right.

749

I'm going to leave the pool at 1215.

750

So that way I can go

check out at one o'clock.

751

So I get back to my room at like 12.

752

20.

753

And my fucking key card has

been disabled and I was like,

754

you have got to be kidding me.

755

So, this is one thing that really

does suck about solo travel.

756

So in this dynamic, like there's

nobody to put sunscreen on your back.

757

So you just have to like wildly spray

yourself and hope that you got everything.

758

Spoiler.

759

I didn't.

760

, but then also when there's

stuff like this, you can't be

761

like, can you go talk to them?

762

Like, there's.

763

You have nobody to rely on, but

yourself, you know what I mean?

764

So I'm just like, oh, and like nobody to

commiserate with you when things go wrong,

765

because things are going to go wrong.

766

I mean, that's just fucking life, right.

767

, so.

768

I, , , Cop , one of the housekeeping

staff and I was like, Hey, my key

769

card doesn't work for some reason.

770

, can you please let me in?

771

And she was like, sure.

772

So she let me in.

773

Luckily.

774

So I was like, all right.

775

So I finished backing.

776

I go to the front desk.

777

Tell them what happened?

778

They don't give a fuck and I check out,

, and then I had like two hours to hang out

779

before my airport transfer gets there.

780

, so I did more work and

whatever, whatever it was fine.

781

And then I go back to the airport.

782

Now.

783

The Dominican public.

784

I can't comment on because I saw airport.

785

Hotel airport.

786

Um, but I felt the whole time, like,

you know, so it's like you fly in.

787

Your airport transfer drives you

through some clearly low income

788

areas and then drops you off

at the slick stunning resort.

789

And you just feel fucking guilty because,

you know, you're like part of the problem.

790

Right.

791

, and so it just, I don't know, I had

this kind of like icky vibe, but the

792

whole time that I was like, Participant.

793

I know it's stimulate their economy

to have like travel and all these

794

resorts and stuff, but I don't know.

795

It's like there, there was something just

off about it to like go to a poor country,

796

to like enjoy myself and leave, you know?

797

, So I get back to the airport and I mean,

We are not in Hartsfield, obviously.

798

There is no clear.

799

There is no pre-check.

800

There is one line and boy, howdy.

801

Is the people watching

and got 10 out of 10.

802

I mean, Margaritaville exploded.

803

This line set up.

804

And so I'm just like, again, I don't

like the travel part of travel.

805

I don't like lines.

806

I don't like waiting.

807

I'm super like in-patient and

self-indulgent, and I don't like it.

808

, , I finally get up to security.

809

My backs go through, and of course

my backpack has to be checked.

810

The guy is just being so like,

Handsy with all of my things.

811

And I was like, whoa, like, can

I just like, I'll put it back.

812

Thank you.

813

, so.

814

I referenced earlier that I had quit

the, uh, Delta platinum card game in

815

lieu of the Amex platinum card game.

816

And one of the many perks of that

is that you get a priority lounge.

817

, pass for like the whole world

every year you get priority pass.

818

, so basically these, this is a lounge

network where, when you're at smaller

819

airports, , or places that maybe don't

have a Delta lounge or a Centurion lounge,

820

you have access to this lounge network.

821

, so I go to the lounge and

it's absolutely beautiful.

822

It has like, doesn't look like

it belongs in this airport.

823

, but there's this guy with a child.

824

, and it's like, it's a

big room tile floors.

825

So I go to the opposite side of the room.

826

This kid is so.

827

Believably loud.

828

And I mean, one of the themes

of the trip is like a sound

829

carries on different surfaces.

830

And it's like, this kid was screaming

in my ear and I just, I literally

831

took a video of like the floor.

832

And sent it to a friend.

833

It was like volume up.

834

Like this kid is probably like

half a mile away from me on the

835

other side of a very large room.

836

And this is how loud they are.

837

I mean, it was so annoying.

838

, and so that was just like, okay, I'm,

I'm now just annoyed and in a bad mood.

839

And I know that that probably sounds

unreasonable after having a little, you

840

know, beach vacay, but I was annoyed.

841

So our flight was delayed.

842

They also changed the gate.

843

There's no notification of any of this.

844

It is the wild wild west of this airport.

845

So I'm waiting with, you know,

the gen pop to get on this flight.

846

Um, I mean, I am the gen

pop I'm flying coach.

847

, \, I get on the flight and I'm

sitting, I I'm team I'll seat.

848

I'm sitting next to people who still

have their hard rock cafe wristbands on.

849

And I'm like, oh my God.

850

So I, , Start reading my book

and I'm just kind of relaxing

851

and just like ready to get home.

852

And, I hear this like thud and I look up.

853

And I see somebody stand up and I hear.

854

Cries for a doctor.

855

And I'm like, oh my God.

856

So there's a medical emergency

happening, three rows in front of me.

857

This man is having a seizure.

858

And immediately when they call for

doctors, , this nurse pops up . She

859

like, I mean, no hesitation.

860

This lady was a bad bitch.

861

She gets up and races up.

862

Uh, Matt starts helping

another nurse comes up and

863

then they get on the Intercom.

864

And they're like, if we have

any doctors on the plane and

865

reduction in bleeding, we've got

a medical emergency on this road.

866

Duh.

867

And then like, Real lethargic.

868

Only after these several female nurses

have like risen to the occasion, this

869

male doctor kind of saunters up like,

well, it seems to be the problem.

870

And I'm like, bro.

871

, so it was really, really, really scary.

872

, and the whole plane, of course,

like they turn on the interior

873

lights, the whole plane is staring.

874

It's gone.

875

Totally quiet.

876

It's I've never, I've never been on

a flight where this happened before.

877

I'm like, is this guy going to die?

878

Are we going to have to divert?

879

Am I going to be inconvenient?

880

I'm just going to have to give me.

881

Um, um, but like, oh my God.

882

So they, they get his seizures

under control, but I mean, it

883

was really kind of wild to watch.

884

All of this kind of unfold.

885

, so they're calling like, you know,

does anybody have any Gabapentin?

886

Does anybody have any of this?

887

, we need water, we need

a pillow, we need this.

888

And like everybody was working together

as a team to like, get this guy.

889

Right.

890

And I guess his girlfriend was sitting

several rows back and she ran up and

891

they were asking her questions like,

Does he have a history of seizures?

892

, has he been drinking?

893

Has he taken any drugs?

894

Like what has he been doing recently?

895

, tell us everything we could possibly know,

and then you can hear the questions being

896

asked, but you don't hear her answering.

897

And then I hear that one nurse say, how

long has the diarrhea been going on?

898

And I'm like, oh God, like

now this guy just is going to

899

die of fucking embarrassment.

900

So the whole plane knows.

901

He's had a diarrhea issue.

902

, and so this goes on for about 10 minutes.

903

They seem to have things under control.

904

People are starting to

kind of relax again.

905

And I'm like, at what point is it okay

to like go back to watching my movie?

906

Is it not disrespectful anymore?

907

Um, so they get things that are

controlled, but when we landed,

908

of course, they were like, sit

the fuck down, stay in your seats.

909

Like we need, , EMS to get on

and take this passenger out

910

before anybody can deep plane.

911

, obviously that's fine.

912

. He was okay.

913

Everybody clapped for the medical,

, professionals who helped him.

914

And, uh, That was just

kind of a wild experience.

915

, So I, it was interesting and I'll

kind of end on this food for thought

916

is the book that I was reading.

917

If you haven't read it,

it's called the measure.

918

And the concept is that.

919

One night overnight.

920

Every adult aged 22 or older.

921

Receives a box on their doorstep.

922

And inside this box, there's a

string and the string indicates

923

the length of their life.

924

And it really delves into the

personal and political and

925

social implications of knowing.

926

That you have maybe not much time

or a ton of time or whatever.

927

And it's just, I mean, I think

everybody should read it.

928

It's so well-written, it's so

thought provoking and interesting

929

and just really unique and good.

930

, but I'm curious.

931

If you got that box on your doorstep.

932

Would you open it?

933

So this whole trip, I've been reading

this book about, about life length

934

and quality of life and the purpose of

our life and the value of our life and

935

how we quantify all of those things.

936

And for that trip to end with a man.

937

Having a seizure on the

plane in front of me.

938

It really, it all just felt very.

939

Maybe kismet is too much of a

word, but it all felt like it.

940

Like, yeah, I don't know.

941

It was just, it was just a fascinating

kind of period on the end of that.

942

, so that is my story of my

recent little solo trip.

943

So if you're ever nervous to go on

a trip, just know that it's okay

944

and you don't have to be, and you

should all just book solo trips.

945

I think everybody should go on a

solo trip, even if it's like one

946

night away on a little road trip,

like whatever, start at whatever

947

scale feels a little scary to you.

948

And then you can always

turn up the heat from there.

949

, but I, you know, I enjoyed

the majority of this trip.

950

I won't return to that resort because

they pissed me off with my check-in

951

and check-out and my coconut drink.

952

, And I did let them know and they offered

me no additional Marriott points.

953

And that's why I'm naming names.

954

, but either way, thank you so much

for listening to this episode.

955

If you have any questions about solo

travel, please hit me up on Instagram at

956

Clover club pod, and as always clever club

listeners get 10% off@hawkinsandclover.com

957

with promo code Clover club, all caps.

958

And I will hear you next week.

959

I'm doing a really fun

episode about Mahjong.

960

Bye.