Interesting! It does seem men travel together if there is a specific activity beyond general sightseeing. I know men who would probably join other men in seeking out great food itineraries in another country, or a film festival.

PS Sea Urchin, don't apologize for knowing men who are interesting if it comes to that!

Interesting. My all guy trips have been for Fantasy Football drafts, watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Vegas, football road trips, basketball road trips, Cooperstown Baseball Hall Of Fame weekend and golf trips. All sports related!!!! Kim and I did actually go to the Accademia in Venice without Mary and Tracy one morning. Does that count?

On our golf weekend each year, we usually do all go wine tasting together, so I guess we do have one non-related sports activity (although since it's just wine to drink when we get back to the house while watching baseball and football on television, I guess it could be determined to be sports related, too).

((H))

Maitai, you are such a great writer!

Z., for years, those male trips involved renting the same condo for a few weeks in Villefrance because they all loved the area. Two bedrooms and four men (and four beds). They would get into minor spats about snoring and too much card playing, cigar smoking, etc. but they all grouped together to try out new and favorite restaurants at night. By mid trip, one would end up sleeping on the porch to get away from snoring or clothes on the floor and they would go their separate ways sightseeing or pool or beach lounging. I never thought anything of it, I never thought men don't travel together, I guess they will if they have common interests and bonds, like Maitai and his sports, like you say. Now that I think back, they never traveled together in the USA, except visiting the one of their group who lived in Hawaii and maybe Vegas for another one.

Interesting topic and yes they were interesting!

Yelling at the GPS is perfectly o.k., only if you start arguing with it like a woman it's getting dangerous. You can keep her from arguing with it, if you chose a male voice (either Clint Eastwood (tough guy) or Robert Redford (the other guy) ). In both cases, she will be quiet.

Don't make the mistake of chosing a female voice! A male voice saves a lot of pain.

I could explain, one was the cigar smoker and this was before the days when you asked before you smoked, two were card players, one took the time to relax and mine was the most avid sightseer. They would settle their differences over wine and excellent food though and just end up calling each other pain in the arses before they planned their next trip. All such characters.

Seaurchin,

I never thought about men not traveling together until I start reading the fodor's message board!

maitai,

Yes, you and Kim count!

For 17 years a group of us (guys) would go to Reno or South Shore to gamble, drink and golf. Most have died but I still travel solo to Great Britain each year. My great wife stays home as I go during the winter and see mostly military museums, rail museums and the like. I drink tons of beer, piss a lot and eat fish and chips. What fun.

"maitai, Yes, you and Kim count!"

I will have to tell him that we are Renaissance men after all!

((H))

Do James May and Oz Clarke count?

My husband and a buddy go birding, but I guess that's kind of a sport. I'd think it was great if he went off to Europe with friends. He'd like to tour there with his band, but I can't see them getting along in any extended close proximity; all those egos.

My husband and a buddy go birding,>>>

You are aware what this means in English?

I encourage all his hobbies.

Does anyone personally know any men over 50 who have decided to go off for a European adventure without women in tow?

If this is refreshingly NOT about only straight men then the answer is yes i do know one..ME

Do YOU know any men straight or gay who get on message boards and ask "what should I wear?"

I encourage all his hobbies.>>>

Well it saves you a job.

Dukey, I don't know any women who would do that.

Cholms,

?

(Sometimes I wish I were a native English speaker.)

"Birding" is the persuit of birds. Then, instead of them laying eggs you lay them. The birds that is, not the eggs.

I have spent many happy trips with all male groups birding.

Both meanings involve Great Tits.

CW - open minded. But a bit suprised.

ps In Britain "birding" (ie bird watching) is called "twitching" which doesn't really make things any clearer.

I don't imagine the world is interested in the stokebailey sex life or lack thereof, so I won't comment.

Interesting topic! My husband has never traveled with any of his male companions but if he did I highly doubt he would venture to Fodors asking for advice. It's just become habit that I do a lot of the trip planning and then we go over my findings together. So while he appreciates the advice we get from fodorites, he just isn't the type to log onto a message board asking for advice. And my assumption would be that if he did take a trip with the guys, they would end up going to places that he had already been, since most of his friends have yet to leave the US and would rely on him to get them around. I do know that any trip like that would not be based around sports, even though he does like sports. Matt is mostly into history and nature - and maybe some beer thrown in for good measure!

Tracy