"if you are traveling by yourself, you don't get a chance to share your experience with someone else"

Which can be good or bad....

However, I find the implication here that those of us traveling alone aren't having fun wrong. I often look at the familes having a fight and think "I am glad I am not them" LOL!

<<...I often look at the familes having a fight and think "I am glad I am not them" LOL!"

So true, CarolA. While traveling solo in Europe I had dinner one evening with two women who have traveled together for several years. I thought how nice it was to have someone to "share" the experience.

I sat with them at breakfast the next morning and when one left the table the other put her head in her heads and began a litany of complaints -- she's driving me crazy -- she doesn't like this, she doesn't want to go there -- it went on and on.

My son met me at the airport. When I told him about the two he laughed and said "It sounds like being married."

Paris is probably the best city to go to solo. I go every winter by myself when it is cold and less touristy. Easy to get into restaurants and museums. And of course, cheaper. My wife calls Paris my "mistress". You don't have to answer to anyone, wake up when you want to, eat when you want to, you are the boss. When making restaurant reservations, I always make them for two. You get a better table. When the waiter asks you why you are alone, tell him the other person got sick and canceled. I like to go to restaurants where you sit elbow to elbow with the locals, sharing wine and learning about the culture. Believe me, you will have a great time.
Marc from Los Angeles

"when one left the table the other put her head in her heads and began a litany of complaints"

That could have been me except I know it wasn't because my last companion to Paris NEVER. EVER. FOR ONE SECOND. left my side during our 17 day trip to France.

I knew she'd traveled to Europe before so her fear of doing anything at all alone came as a surprise until I learned that every other trip was with an organized tour company. I'll go alone or only with one of my two best friend's that I travel well with on future trips.
Ann Marie

I agree with all the above. Best trip I ever had. Solo to Paris for 1 week. I can't wait to do it again...I didn't get to do all that I had wanted. (Gotta get to that Tower someday.)

I don't know if anyone said this, but it helped both my limited budget and my desire to eat "posh". I ate terrific lunches. Ate quietly at night close to my apartment or brought something in to cook. (One of my problems is that I typically wake up at about 5-6 AM and can't stay up so late! LOL)

But if others enjoy a late night stroll, I enjoy the really early strolls.

I'm sitting here right now solo, and was reflecting today on how nice it was to be able to go wherever I wanted and do whatever I wanted to do today. Since it was raining, I read a book in a cafe overlooking Pont Royal and drank a glass of rose. Then I got lost for a little bit, and went grocery shopping on the way back to my apartment. Not that you wanted my play-by-play, but the point being, I reflected on how enjoyable the day was for me, yet could have been drastically different with other people in tow.

Don't skip Paris just because you friends can't come. This city is filled with people...you'll make some news ones

Well, I just have to reply to this one. Greg above posted a link to one of my trip reports. I traveled with a group of "friends" to Rome and Sorrento. It was the ultimate trip from hell. Since that trip I now travel solo. I have met up with friends for a day or two during a trip, but ALWAYS have my own room or apt. I usually try to set up a GT with Fodorites, or with people I have met on previous trips. Of all the places I have visited, I think Paris is probably the best place to be solo. It's so easy there, so comfortable, so special. As many others have said, you have such freedom when you are by yourself and you do not have to compromise with someone else's travel style. You don't have to bite your tongue when your travel partner says or does something that drives you nuts. You are much more approachable when you are alone. Some days I may feel like meeting people and that's never a probem, other days, it just feels so good to be with myself. If I feel the need for a group experience, I join a walking tour, or a day tour.

Eating alone is never an issue with me. I don't go to swanky 4* restaurants, like others have said, I prefer a cozy bistro or at an outside cafe table. I rarely ever eat in my hotel or apt. Sometimes I write in my journal, but most of the time I enjoy soaking up the atmosphere and, I admit it, evesdropping a little. I usually have no problem with service and if anything, maybe a tad more attention from waiters, wink wink.

I am going back to Paris in Oct., but this time with my DGD. I am a little apprehensive because she is a teenager!! but I am sure it will be just fine.

So, by all means, go, have a blast and write a report when you get back!

Barb,

I remember that trip....... It was the trip from hell!

I travel solo on business a lot so I long ago got over the eating thing. Right now for example I live in Atlanta and work for a company based on Southern California which means I am there two weeks a month. I am not eating on the hotel "bed" for all those meals. And of course my co-workers, while very nice, have families to go home to so....

Go alone!!!! I've traveled solo to Paris the last five Thanksgivings and always have a fabulous time. Not at all weird eating alone - I always have a book or journal while eating. The city is so beautiful, walkable, and safe. I would encourage anyone to do a solo trip, even if friends were able to go along. I very much look forward to my solo trip to my favorite city.

"I traveled with a group of "friends" to Rome and Sorrento. It was the ultimate trip from hell."

LOL. It was so bad I still remember the report and I think it was a few years ago. But, am I imagining it, or did you happen to meet at least one charming man on that trip?

I WISH I had traveled solo my first time to Paris!!! I'm with the majority on this board. It is my preferred method of travel. I've had no problem dining alone whether in Paris or Dubrovnik. If you are the type of person that likes talking to others, there will be plenty of opportunities. A waiter in Rome sat me next to a fellow solo traveler from my home state so we not only spent dinner together, we also went to a musuem that was open late that night because I mentioned I was going there and he had no idea it was open. I spent almost all day with a nice couple from Australia during a bus ride from Florence to Siena. We had a 3 hour dinner back in Florence and watched a midnight procession as we left the restaurant. Oh yes, and the overnight train from Naples to Venice with the five Italian ladies. I could go on and on but go and make your own memories.

I could not agree more with the positive comments here. I've had *wonderful* travels solo including in Paris (and yes there's a DH at home who can't get away from work responsibilities much and can't easily adapt to time changes for short trips).

I stayed in the Left Bank area at a small hotel with small rooms, not a problem for a solo!

Meals were fine -- cafes, museum cafes, a 3* restaurant, and the like; the hotel folks took good care of me and meals were fine. Mostly, I was *free* to walk, go where I wanted, hop the Metro, stop at museums, stop at shop windows, etc. without boring or holding up anyone (or being held up by others).

It was wonderful! Do it!!

I haven't been to Paris yet but when I do go, I'm going alone. All of my most memorable vacations were taken solo. You have the freedom to see and do exactly what you want and you also have a lot of time to think and learn about yourself. I'm sure your solo trip will be wonderful!

kyliebaby, I hope you post a report and some photos when you return. Have a great trip!

malelion55- You seem to think that we go alone because we have no choice. Do you really think that we have no options? Like we're losers that can't get a date to Paris? Maybe you're just trying to "stir the pot" but I'll respond again.

You are still not likely to "get it" but we don't need you. We don't want you. We have plenty of fun without you. We are not man haters. We are not wall flowers. We have friends. We just like Paris ON. OUR. OWN.

I've been to Paris five times in the past decade and without a doubt the best time I've spent there was alone. I CHOSE to go alone after a number of trips with others. I will CHOOSE to go alone in the future.

One time I went to Paris with a group of people. No one else could make up their minds about what to do, they'd done no research on what they wanted to see, they just wanted to follow me around but if I made a misstep there were some that were quick to point that out. If I asked them to make transportation decisions they stared at me like idiots. No one liked "real" French food and were afraid of eating something that didn't involve meat and potatoes. None bothered to learn to say even basic phrases in French. They embarrassed me by using cell phones in museums and had to be told to turn them off more than once. Some wanted to sit around and sip coffee on the apartment couch all morning which is not my style. I tried to ditch out as often as I could as I was ready to SCREAM at times. I will never go with a group again.

Another time I went to Paris with my 14 yr old son. While we had fun, he lost interest really quickly with art museums and got bored with just walking around which I can do all day in Paris. Every day, about mid afternoon, he hopped the metro back to our apartment and was content to watch French TV and play on his GameBoy which seemed like a waste of money and time to me. I'm glad I took him and I'd do it again but it wasn't the most fun trip I've ever had in Paris.

Once I went to Paris with DH of 23 years. He loves hiking, biking, skiing and beaches and he went with me to France to ride bikes for two weeks during the Tour de France. The whole time we were in Paris he was tired and grumpy from jetlag and his back hurt from the long plane ride. He could live his whole life without going to a museum, looking at old buildings or eating French food. NOT a fun trip and I'll never try to get him to Paris ever again.

Another trip I went to Paris with a single coworker who I liked and admired. She ended up being afraid to do anything alone and it became apparent on the plane trip that she suffers from OCD. She functions well at her job but on our trip she was a mess I won't even go into here. I have other friends that would happily go to Paris with me and although I travel with them to many locations stateside I just don't feel like being a tourguide in Paris.

I am a lucky gal who travels about every six weeks for fun. I travel with DH, with a variety of my gay boyfriends, with college friends, with a neighbor friend, with my family and sometimes all by myself. Paris is a "by myself" place.
Ann Marie

Anne Marie, my late husband didn't like Paris so I have been there alone but he loved France and its food and everything about it. I wish my gay friends with ask me to travel with them.

Does anyone else think that poor malelion's partner probably wishes he/she could travel alone. Anyone who is that judgemental, demeaning and flat out rude can't be a good traveling companion, can they?

Traveling with someone that judgemental would be another great "Trip from hell" report, but I am not volunterring for that torture.

Sad, sad, man! Let's just feel sorry for his partner and move on!

Amwosu, You definitely summed it up! and very eloquently. We solo travelers are not pathetic, we are not lonely. We do this by choice, maybe after disasterous trips with friends or family, or maybe because we are just so comfortable being on our own. Paris is the PERFECT city to venture out on your own. Please don't wake up one morning and wished you had gone--- go, have the time of your life and, again, we want a report when you get back.

Your French is terrible, malelion...another reason we wouldn't want to travel with you, or anyone else.

Leely2: I'm traveling for three months this time, so I'm afraid the trip report is going to be very delayed. However, I'm keeping a blog as I travel, so please follow along there in its place
...www.culinaryhopscotch.blogspot.com.

It will explain what I'm doing, and there are already a few pictures up!