A Botanica Guest's Solo Story
Botanica guest and avid solo traveller, Robyn Parker discusses the joys of travelling with Botanica.
Not long after losing my amazing husband, I found myself at a garden expo. It was here that I came across a Botanica stand and where I first met the founder of Botanica, Judy Vanrenen. We got talking and I mentioned that I no longer travelled. She replied, “My dear, have you not heard about the Solo Traveller Club?” After discovering more, I told my family about it. They were very encouraging: “Go for it, Ma,” they said.
My first trip with Botanica was to the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. We also visited private gardens and other prominent sites around Melbourne – it was just wonderful. The people were fabulous, and our Botanical Guide was so welcoming and knowledgeable – I loved every minute of it. I thought to myself, well, if I can do that, then let’s just keep going. My next trip was three weeks in North America. Wow, it was just amazing. I was loving travelling with Botanica.
"You are never alone when you’re on a Botanica tour. There is just this delightful and welcoming camaraderie."
The guides have been wonderful on every trip. And I have made lovely friendships, which I carry on to this day. The social aspect has become just as much a part of the tours as the sightseeing. Last year, I came down to breakfast at The Mayfair Hotel in London at the beginning of a two-week tour of the UK. And there were four beautiful ladies, all from different trips that I had been on previously. We all travelled across Scotland together with the amazing Colin Crosbie. I’ve maintained good friendships with these people and many others.
Because you are never alone when you’re on a Botanica tour. There is just this delightful and welcoming camaraderie. When people say to me now, “Who are you going on holidays with?” I reply, “Myself”. But that isn’t really true, because the whole way along, I’m having experiences with other people – couples, singles, people with similar interests – everyone is there together. To anyone who might be undecided about whether to take the plunge, I would say, forget your inhibitions and just jump straight in.
There’s also peace of mind knowing I’m in good hands every step of the way. From being met at the airport and taken to the hotel, to being welcomed by the guides; they are the type of people who love what they do and are so welcoming. And the Welcome Dinners at the start of each tour make you feel at home right away.
I’m always looking forward to my next adventure with Botanica. I have friends going on the Canary Islands cruise this year. I rang them and asked if I could join them. And they said, “Yes, yes, yes.” I keep having these ‘pinch me’ moments when I realise I’m also going to Africa and Japan. There’s always another amazing new itinerary to discover. And I know everything will be wonderful with Botanica – it always is.