The Troubles of a Solo Traveler in Islamorada: A Fiasco at Sunset- 2021
Speak up for yourself because, when you do, you never know what your words and actions will do for the next solo traveler.
In August of 2021, I went to Florida for the first time, taking advantage of my last opportunity to work remotely. Originally I was thinking of going to Georgia, but I decided on Homestead, Florida, since there were two National Parks within 30 minutes there. In the last few years, I have been on a kick to go to as many National Parks as I can. So this was a perfect trip to do that. Also, Homestead, Florida, is only 25 minutes from Key largo, which is the start of the Florida Keys.
As a side note, everyone I spoke with before my trip told me I was crazy to go to Florida in August because of the heat. I live in the DC metro area and am used to heat and humidity.
Well, they were all right; it's an altogether different beast down there.
After a fun day of snorkeling, I decided to return to a restaurant I'd visited my first night in the Florida Keys. When I arrived, I asked the hostess if I could linger over my dinner for about two hours and enjoy the beautiful sunset. The staff assured me that my table was mine for the evening. I enjoyed sitting at my table watching the water glisten, even though the sun pointed right at me for almost an hour. By the time my meal arrived, I was the one glistening rather than the water. I didn't want to leave because I was chasing sunsets all over the keys for the whole week.
The server repeatedly asked if I wanted anything else to eat or drink, and I declined several times, but he persisted. Despite my protests, I eventually ordered a key lime pie and another glass of wine, even though I wasn't ready for dessert yet. Before even half of my pie was gone, the server asked if I was finished, mentioning that he wanted to seat more people that evening. I looked around the restaurant and noted that all around me, there were other tables in this waiter's section dining casually that he hadn't encouraged to leave. I, however, was dining alone. Mind you; there was also a good number of tables still empty.
I'm always mindful of the service industry. I was once a waitress, so I know the incentive is to flip tables to increase tips. But this treatment was unacceptable. I went to the table next to me, asking if this server was pushing them to leave, and the girl said no. She asked. At this point, I went from cloud nine to highly pissed; I was singled out for being the only person dining alone at a table. Defiantly, I took my time. Again, he returned and tried to grab the check to process, but I said I didn't put my card on it. He left, and I kept sitting there, hoping to see a beautiful sunset since this whole experience was shit. I finally put my card into the check holder to pay my bill since the sunset was alright compared to the others I had seen that week. He came back and barely spoke to me, but I knew he was eager for me to leave since he looked at me and the unfinished glass of wine. I finished my wine, said goodbye to the table next to me, and thanked them for confirming my feelings about the waiter.
As I was walking out, I started to question myself. Maybe I was wrong to stay for the sunset; maybe I should have been more mindful of the time. But I stopped myself because I knew I wasn’t wrong. I was a very mindful solo diner even before I sat down. I asked from the beginning if I could stay for the sunset and they said yes. I knew there were plenty of open tables all around. I had just as much of a right to dine leisurely as the tables with more occupants did.
I debated saying something to the manager as I walked out of the restaurant, as I hated feeling I was "high maintenance." And finally, I summoned the courage to speak to the manager. After my conversation, I went from feeling annoyed to being empowered. It felt good to stand up for myself. And it felt even better to know that I had articulated my value to that server in some small way.
My worth as a person wasn't reliant upon being with someone else.
The moral of the story?
When traveling solo and someone is rushing you out of your table, stay! Enjoy that glass of wine and a beautiful sunset. You have the same damn rights as a two-person table!
Or
If you see someone being targeted because they are alone, step in. You are part of the travel community. It’s important to stand up and help because you just don’t know what will happen next, and maybe just maybe, you will make a change or make a friend in the process.