Annie

I started traveling alone almost 40 years ago. On my first trip to Europe, I hitchhiked everywhere and the trip lasted for 4 years. I've gotten more upscale since then, but still find it the best way to meet locals and get to do the things you want to do. By meeting locals, you also get to do and see things you'd otherwise never even know about. I've traveled with husbands and friends (both male and female), and even though those can be enjoyable, I need my time alone. <BR><BR>One evening in Rome about 10 years ago, I went to the ballet and ended up sitting in a very luxurious section with about 10 Japanese women who only spoke Japanese, which I do not speak, but we had a great evening. Traveling alone gives your experiences you'd never have otherwise, but you need the personality for it. It's not for everyone.

David

For Single:<BR><BR>I do not rent a car when I travel alone in Europe (mostly France.) I enjoy the French wine and want no concerns with an automobile: parking, navigating etc.<BR><BR>I use the trains. With the French rail site www.sncf.com I pick a rail line and sorta "follow" it to make for easy and faster connections. I don't want to spend my entire vacation sitting in a train.<BR><BR>The end of April I took the rail in the direction of Troyes (pop. about 65k) where I spent 3 nights with a day trip to Bar-sur-Aube(6k). Went further out the line to Chaumont(20k) for 1 night. Then I trained back to Paris for about 3 hours to spend 4 nights before leaving. I find I like the mix of sizes in towns. <BR><BR>With the internet I'm able to plan ahead my rail trips. I didn't know if Toyes was big enough to entertain me for 3 nights. My plane landed early on Saturday and I got to Troyes 4 hours earlier than I expected on a Saturday. Because of that I was able to see what I'd discovered on the web and then some in my days there. I'd already picked out Bar-sur-Aube as an optional day trip that I used Monday afternoon. It was on the same rail line as the other towns.<BR><BR>This kind of travel isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I like it. The best meal of my trip was in Chaumont: seared foie gras on grilled apples slices with a buttery sauce, scallops wrapped in bacon with multiple piles of different vegetables, pistachio creme brulee for dessert and a half-bottle of wine for about 40USD. (And it's a rainy day here and I'm eating a grilled chicken sandwich from the cafeteria. Sigh...)

karen

Karen - I traveled to Paris last September. My first trip, I don't speak the language except for a few words. Got stranded there due to 9/11 and I was alone.<BR><BR>This October I am going to Rome, Florence, Venice and back to Paris. Once again I will be by myself.<BR><BR>The positives about traveling solo far outweigh the negatives. I met so many wonderful people while I was in Paris. I met a wonderful french man all of these experiences wouldn't have taken place had I been with someone.

Buzz

I’ve been to Europe several times with friends and family. (By the by, I’m a middle aged male.) In April and May I went to England and France alone, but spent most of the time with friends. Finally the day came toward the end of the trip when my itinerary was spent and I found myself getting off the train at the Liverpool Street Station alone. Weird and wild! On the one hand a nearly bitter-sweat feeling of loneliness. On the other, the adrenaline was pumping at finding myself in my favorite city, alone, foot loose and fancy free for 5 days. I really enjoyed it a great deal. It would have been too easy for me to sit around all day, every day, eating fish and chips and drinking beer, so I basically forced myself out. I took day trips to places I’d never been including Windsor, Hampton Court, and Bath. By the end of each day I was far too exhausted to worry about a “nightlife,” (as an ex musician and DJ I’ve had enough of that already). Instead I went to the local pubs and chatted with the folks there. <BR><BR>I do agree that it’s a shame not having someone with you when you see something that knocks your socks off, but take plenty of photos and keep a journal and share it with your friends when you get back home. Besides, they will be SO impressed with how independent you are to tackle international travel alone!<BR>

Dallas

Karen, I've traveled solo to Europe for the past 20 years (I'm a 64 year old female), and wouldn't go any other way! Here in the states, I travel with friends and family, but I don't want to share my trips over seas. They are too special!<BR><BR>I agree about the small, single rooms, but these days I always get a double for single occupancy. I've found they don't charge much more for these than they do for single, if you ask.<BR><BR>Not since the first trip have I rented a car. Like David, I go by train. I obtain a train map that shows only train routes -- no roadways and only the cities and towns on the train routes are shown. This makes it very easy to plan your trip. You can base in one place and make day trips in any direction where the trains go.

Karen

Wow, these reponses are great. I am going to Rome and then to Sorrento and maybe some of the islands. As I said, I've done my research, read lots of books on the subject of solo travel, loved Without Reservation, except the part about Rome!! I'm sure after this trip I will be going every year by myself. By the way, I will be in Rome 9/26 30th if anyone wants to GTG.

Kirby

Once upon a time my then wife and took a trip with another couple. We spent the whole time playing. " I don't know, what do you want to do," and ended up miserable.<BR><BR>SInce my divorce, I travel alone. No hassles, no constant checking with someone else, you come and go when you wnat and you don't have to pretend to like some crappy overcrowded place.<BR><BR>On the other hand, you are alone, but that has never been a problem for me. I always seems to meet people when i travel. <BR><BR>The only other hassle is that as a single male, I get targetted by every whore and pimp within a thousand miles. Never fails.