I don't know what to do. I took an early retirement so I could have plenty of free time to travel. But since my husband, friends and family are all still working, I am having a hard time coming up with traveling companions. I've been to Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok within the past year or so, and I'm really fascinated with Asia. I'd love to see more, but I don't know if I should try to travel alone, or would it be better to join a tour group? Are there any places that are particularly appropriate or inappropriate for solo travel? I'm fairly brave but I wonder about the loneliness factor...

I'd say go where you want to...absolutely. It's quite easy to meet other travellers. Although we travel as a family now, we still make lots of friends travelling. The only thing I've noticed is that smaller hotels are easier to meet people in...the bigger places just don't seem to have the right atmosphere or something. We've met the most people in places with 20 rooms or fewer.

Tour group...depends. You could be very lonely in a tour group if the other people were not to your liking. A group is no guarantee of friends...know what I mean? If you find a company that seems to offer tours with groups that seem like-minded, then I'd consider it, but I wouldn't count on the group for companionship.

Travelling alone has it's definite positive aspects as well. You aren't tied into anyone else's wants or needs...you can be as selfish as you like You are free to meet up with others, or not...as you like. You can wander to your heart's content. You can pack your days full with sightseeing...or not. I think it's really nice travelling alone.

Traveling alone has many positives, you can do what you want, eat where you want, not worry about what others want to do. I spent 4 weeks in Australia by myself once and had a great time. The only thing I didn't like was eating dinner alone. I felt like people were looking at me and feeling sorry for me but it may have been my imagination.

Have you looked into Elderhostel trips? I'm not sure how old you are, but they can be very interesting. They tend to get very intersting lecturers and guides.

If not, Japan is very safe, as well as Thailand. Since you've been in Asia, it will only be the solo part that will be different. I like travelling alone!

Since my son who is now 19 stopped traveling with me two years ago, I have gone on four trips by myself. I am 58, retired three years ago, and consider myself in good physical shape. I enjoy tours which allow you to meet people, but usually also offer free time to go off by yourself. Within the last year I have taken a Caravan trip to Guatemala, a Uniworld (land, not cruise) trip to Vienna and Prague, a Trafalgar trip to England and Scotland and am about to leave on a SmarTours trip to Japan. Lorraine

If you pick a tour do your research and pick tour agencies that specialize in where you are going. Don't take one of the tours by the well known expensive agencies like A & K. You'll save money and meet many more interesting people.

I wouldn't hesitate to travel alone in Asia. Indeed, I have at various times. It's easy travel and there are always people to meeet. Indeed, when I travel alone, I meet more people than when traveling with someone.

Thanks for your thoughts on solo travel. It won't hurt to give it a try! However, I will probably stick to large cities when traveling on my own (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, etc.), but I think I would be more comfortable with a small tour group when traveling around a country, such as India. I'm off to New York City this week, and as soon as I return to California, I'll start planning my next Asian adventure for this fall. This board is a fabulous resource! Thanks!

I'm female and have been traveling overseas alone since I was 17...which was back in the 70s.I don't do organized tours. Sometimes, I might hop on a day tour once I've gotten someplace, but that's it. I've been on all of the continents except Antartica and have absolutely NO regrets traveling alone. Just about 3 hours ago, I got an e-mail from a married couple that I happened to meet at the weekend market in Bangkok a few years ago. They just happened to be from my same city and we've been in touch ever since we first met. The day that I met them I wasn't actually alone...a Thai friend, from Bangkok, came along for the day...but I was the one who was in the conversation with the two people since they were also American...I meet so many great people when I'm traveling alone because I'm not distracted by a traveling companion...and all the drama that that can bring...although some traveling companions are great...like the ones who travel like I do and want to have some space and go out on there own and then we occasionally meet up later in the day. Plus, I'm more observant and in tune with my surroundings when I travel alone and when I get home I'm totally relaxed and really feel like I have been on a vacation...as in MY vacation...not someone else's of,"Where should we eat breakfast/lunch/dinner...and what time and what's our planned schedule for tomorrow and what time will we be getting up and having breakfast together and how many museums and sites shall we hit...etc...etc...etc...SCREAM!!! And I'm never lonely when I travel alone...just happy to have my thoughts to myself. Happy Travels!