Monica

Kudos to all the solo travelers!I am in my mid-thirties and have traveled solo on a yearly basis for at least the past 10 years, although there were some trips with friends. It's all about attitude-I don't consider myself entirely extroverted nor introverted and have NEVER experienced a bad trip, period. (And most Americans do not ignore everyone, contrary to the last post)!

Santa Chiara

Monica, please reread my last post. My problem was not with being ignored, but with unwanted attention. My whole point is that for the past 20 years I have traveled all over the world, particularly in the last two years, mostly by myself. Out of all of this time, I have had three bad experiences, so I don't think my attitude needs adjusting. Furthermore, I am an American, too. I just try not to be a loud or insensitive one.

Alan

x----Poor, poor cuckold. Cuckold! Cuckold! Cuckold!

stacey

Diane... <BR> <BR>Your Michael Collins trip... you would have had a hard time stopping me from joining you.... That must have been fantastic. I don't suppose you live anywhere near Boston, do you? I'd love to hear more about that. What a great idea for a trip. <BR> <BR>I travel alone for business quite a bit. I get to rent a car... figure out where I'm going, etc - and I do it in Germany and in April, Italy. It's interesting to say the least..... I don't speak or read a word of either language, beyond what I call 'bar basics' - please, thank you, one beer please, one white wine please, may I have the bill?... But, it's amazing how quickly you pick up on things like German for: One Way Street... you only have to be wrong once.... Then you get to learn the swearwords - from people yelling them out the window at you. (this is in no way a negative comment on Germans - I'd be yelling too!) <BR> <BR>I agree with you 100% about being more comfortable in a small town situation than in bigger cities, it's much easier to settle in, get a feel for your surroundings and explore. <BR> <BR>You're right on about dinner, too (are you sure your not me) I stick to cafe's and bars for dinner - sit up at the bar and bring a book in case I can't strike up a conversation with anyone (which only happened twice, both in England). I've learned however, how to venture into nicer places and eat on my own, but even if the food is great, I find I don't enjoy as much. <BR> <BR>Happy travels to everyone. Alone or not.

Diane

Stacey -- Rats, no, I'm not near Boston; I'm in Washington, D.C. Really nice to hear somebody else shares my strange idea of a great vacation! <BR> <BR>My interest in early-20th-century Irish history in general came out of background reading I was doing when I was deciding what I wanted to see in Ireland, a place I'd always wanted to visit for the scenery. The more I read about the period and the people involved, the more fascinated I got, and since I was traveling alone there was no reason I shouldn't go wandering around Connemara looking for Padraig Pearse's holiday cottage, and suchlike. <BR> <BR>Maybe I'll start a new thread on this board on history-themed trips that people have taken or want to take. I've got others I covet, & I'd like to hear everybody else's ideas!

cecelia

lonewolf thanks for starting this tread. i have been wanting to go solo, but as an older woman have been leary of doing so. i am going to ireland with a tour but can go on my own. they are going to dublin on the train which i would enjoy but once in dublin plan on doing my own thing . kind of a compramize(sp.) alone but not alone LOL.thanks again love the thread cecelia

David N Cook

Travelling alone is not as much fun and poss more expensive (everything is set up for pairs) but the wrong companion can be Hell!!

Stephanie

I am not very outgoing and good at meeting people, so I would find travelling alone very boring. <BR> <BR>Now, if I wanted to spend some time alone, it might be ok, but not for long. <BR> <BR>Have travelled all over the world and would only go with someone else.

xxx

Top.

Betty Boop

Monica, Beth, Elvira, Linda, Christina, Jen, and all you other brave women - you go girls!

jj

what about those (much like myself)<BR>who are lonely yet can barely stand the company of others.<BR>sometimes it's easier to do things on your own and not include others<BR>that's just a fact. not always but sometimes is good

sandy

I find the evenings are sometimes difficult, so now I try to plan things OTHER THAN just dinner. For example, I will go to the theatre in London; in other cities I buy opera or concert tickets, go on an evening tour, plan to shop at night if possible, etc. If I have activities planned in the evening, I don't feel bad that I'm alone!

Diane

You can travel with someone and still be alone. Actually, I've been fortunate with my travel partners. There was this one, however.....but that's another story.<BR><BR>Of the four times I've been to Greece, the best trip was the one I took alone.<BR>

carol

I've seen this topic crop up numerous times, and it occurs to me that for those who are married or involved in/yearning for a relationship, traveling along requires an adjustment which can be difficult at times. As for those who are blissfully single like myself--since doing things alone is our lifestyle, traveling is just another one of the things we do for recreation and adventure.

Patsy

I go home every night from work to be alone with my pets and I love it. I should think traveling alone would be fun too. I usually travel with friends, but I go to movies and restaurants in my home town alone, if no one else wants to go, and I have a good time. I go to the beach alone to comtemplate and read and love it to. I say go for it!

Dallas

Hey, Lonewolf, why would we admit to something that is just not so. I have always traveled solo, and have never had a rotten time. I will admit, the first time I went I was very unsure of myself; but not anymore! For me, traveling solo is the only way to go. I'm going to Wales on September 6th, and I can't wait!

self sufficient

Don't mean to sound like a pity-case, but I happen to be a single, never-married female. If I waited for a friend or lover to be available for each travel date, that would have cut out about half my trips! Now THAT would be sad.<BR><BR>I live solo so I often travel alone. And to answer honestly I have never experienced "a not so hot go of it"...

Nicole

I agree with many of the previous posters. I have traveled alone and with my spouse, and there are pros and cons to each situation. Traveling alone, I set my schedule to please only myself. I eat where and when I want to eat, I spend as much time as I like at museums and various attractions, and, I must admit, I take more and better pictures.<BR><BR>But, I do find myself wishing I could share moments with those that I care about, share meals with someone, and generally talk with someone about all the things I'm seeing and doing.<BR><BR>Traveling with my spouse, I've found that I can't be as indpendent about my schedule because I have to make some compromises. But isn't kissing on the Pont del Alma much better than just staring into the water alone? As well, when I travel with someone, I have someone to discuss art, music, architecture, and food with. And I don't feel as "on guard" walking at night as I do when I'm alone.

Suzanne

Yes, it is nice to have a nice companion to kiss and talk to, but if one isnt available you have to go on with life and if that includes travel, you just have to go anyway.<BR>For one thing, life is too short and your time span isn't something that is known so I don't think anyone should put off doing something or going somewhere until they meet the right companion.<BR>And another thing, you can easily meet people on your trip to share things with, I was alone on a trip to France and met a nice woman who was also traveling alone and we had dinner together a few nights and went to a few places such as Giverny together and we still keep in touch. I count her as my "France Trip Friend".

Sandi

I didn't take the time yet to read all the responses but here's mine. Just this year I tried the solo travel route. It was kind of a drastic decision after having several different plans fall through with a friend for a trip over last Christmas break. September 11th tragedy had quite a bit to do with it on my friend's part. Her parents practically had a fit when we were going to take a cruise, saying they didn't want her to go out of the country. So then we talked about going to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe over New Years, and that wasn't kosher either. <BR><BR>Anyway, after spending lots of time and effort to plan something we could do together and nothing working out, decided that I myself could not settle for no trip at all. Booked a flight to Rome and planned the rest from there. I went to Rome for a week this past March with a day trip to the Amalfi coast and Paestum. It was a strange feeling to be on that long flight alone and knowing that I would be alone for the next seven days. But exciting at the same time. I had been trying to convince myself for a couple years after reading this forum that solo travel might be just the thing for me. I get such a high while on vacation, and almost go into hyper mode. Up super early and on the go from sunup to sundown. Most of my previous traveling companions just don't work that way. <BR><BR>So while in Rome my first four days, this was how I approached it, out the door by 6:30 and not back until 10:30-11:00. Covered a lot of ground and really got to see and do most of the things on my itinerary. But those last 2-3 days got to be a little rough. Was missing having a friend along at that point. I was wishing I had planned to fly out of a different city, like Venice, instead of staying in Rome the whole 7 days. I realized I need constant on-the-go action to keep from missing the companionship of a friend. So I wouldn't trade my trip to Rome for anything, but would do it differently by not staying in one place for so long. Didn't realize how much ground I could truly cover by myself without having to consider another person's wants or needs. <BR><BR>So about six weeks after my first solo trip to Rome, I decided to take a weekend trip to Montreal to take in my favorite baseball team (Go Cards!) in a town where I knew very few people attend games so I knew I could get really good seats at Canadian dollar prices. This was one of the best times I've had on a trip, ever, and it never occurred to me that I was missing having anybody with me. So for me, it's all about having activities planned and lots to occupy your time.