Alone or alone in a group
 

Just wanted others input. I used to travel with my daughter always independently but now she has her own life. Since I have been all over the globe I find friends cannot afford or want to go to the new places I want to go. I have found that solo travel with a private guide is far better than being solo in a group of couples. I refuse to travel with groups that cater to seniors as I am quite fit so that is out. I tried group travel with a British company and a very expensive US company. Although the service was great I felt a bit of a third wheel when couples met for drinks or dinner. My last trip was totally solo with a 2different private guides and I felt a part of our "group" at all times, not isolated or lonely at all. I did have alone time but read or napped after very active days. They were always with me at meals. And is not as expensive as you might think, about the same as that pesky single surcharge. Ideas? Agree or disagree?

I haven't done it, but it sounds like a good solution when you don't want to travel solo, but don't want to be part of a "group" either.

I don't agree or disagree, but I wouldn't want to travel with a group OR a guide. I just go alone. But then I'm not typically going anywhere I can't handle the planning myself.

I travel solo most of the time, almost always without a guide. I do occasional group travel when I expect public transport to be unusually difficult. I have hired a car and driver a few times, mostly in India. I have had a volunteer guide in a few cities, and I've used city walking tours. I have used an actual professional guide very rarely and usually for a very specific tour - Art Nouveau in Budapest, for instance. Otherwise I find a guidebook is fine.

The tours I have taken have had, except in one instance, other singles. I don't pay a single supplement. I use companies that waive the supplement if you are willing to share.

I like being alone. I like eating alone, because I like to read when I eat. I've given up on shared dorm rooms in hostels because I hated sharing a bedroom with others.

I travel solo to countries where I can speak the language. Sometimes I do daytrips with a group, usually to places I can't easily reach with public transport. But I don't really care if no one wants to talk with me. No, honestly, I prefer when no one talks with me.

I've travelled with organized group tours to places where I can't speak the language. It was ok, but I really prefer going alone.

Recently I've decided to try solo travel to countries where I can't speak the language. Barcelona, for a few days, was perfectly fine. Now I'm going to Amsterdam (never been there before) and Paris (been there once as a child and once with a group tour). Hopefully, it will be ok.

I would never hire a private tour guide for myself. Partly because of the cost, but mostly because it would feel really uncomfortable.

I found both Paris and Amsterdam just fine as a solo female traveler who didn't speak the local language. No problems.

You may not speak Dutch or French, but rest assured people in Amsterdam and Paris will be able to speak <i>your</i> language.

Kim_How do you find private guides? Which countries were you able to enjoy with their help?

29FEB: Actually, I'm quite certain they don't. At least not my primary language, which is Swedish. I do think I will be able to communicate in English most of the time, though. The fact that I look Asian complicates things even more, of course.

When I was in Paris in 2010, with a tour group, I went out for lunch or dinner a few times on my own and had no problems. I did greet people in French, but then quickly asked if they could speak English. No problems at all. But I was in touristy areas, most of the people I talked to were young and I wasn't having any longer conversations.

kimw - are you codependent on traveling with others?

Sounds like traveling with someone is a requiremtn.

Anyegr, I so admire those who are fluent in a number of languages.
Between your native Swedish, French and English, it would seem you're good to go
just about anywhere with no language barriers.

And I agree about liking one's own company - I crave solitude like an extrovert craves company.

I really don't have a dog in this race b/c I have a great travel companion.

That said, for me it would be better to go alone than to go with a group. We went on a tour once and it was fun with the other people but unsatisfying for a trip. There was an interesting solo woman on the trip whom I got on well with, but it was plain to see she felt a bit like a 3rd wheel and was happy in her solitude. We'd hang out when my husband did something else.

If it were me, I'd choose hotels with lots of single rooms, so I might find a buddy.

It would be better to go on my own to a museum than to go with someone who didn't enjoy them that much. Then I wouldn't want to feel obligated to hang out too long with someone at some site that had little interest for me, unless they were excellent company and we had lots in common.

I really don't have a dog in this race b/c I have a great travel companion.

That said, for me it would be better to go alone than to go with a group. We went on a tour once and it was fun with the other people but unsatisfying for a trip. There was an interesting solo woman on the trip whom I got on well with, but it was plain to see she felt a bit like a 3rd wheel and was happy in her solitude. We'd hang out when my husband did something else.

If it were me, I'd choose hotels with lots of single rooms, so I might find a buddy.

It would be better to go on my own to a museum than to go with someone who didn't enjoy them that much. Then I wouldn't want to feel obligated to hang out too long with someone at some site that had little interest for me, unless they were excellent company and we had lots in common.

It's possible to vary the "alone" and "group" experiences somewhat while you're traveling on your own, if you occasionally sign up for walking tours, pub crawls, etc., along the way. Often (not always) will find smaller groups, often having other members who are also on their own.

"a hotel with lots of single rooms"

If you want to meet people you are better off staying in hostels, B&Bs and pensions. Hotel guests tend to be stand-offish.

I've never heard of a "hotel with lots of single rooms".

I've done a little of all kinds of mixes:

One of a large group of students - multiple
Alone in a group - UK, Egypt, Antarctica
With a private guide - Kenya and Tanzania (my parents did go on this with me but it was originally just going to be me).
Alone - London, China, Greece and Turkey
With someone - Italy (within a tour), Ireland (family)


All styles have their benefits and drawbacks. So far my preference really depends on the location of the trip.

- China was easy to do solo, a guide or group would have irritated me. A private driver to the Great Wall was fantastic.
- Kenya and Tanzania was best with a guide, I would not have been even remotely comfortable without a guide. A group would have been annoying (if we wanted to sit and watch a sleeping lion for 20 minutes, we could).
- Antarctica... well, there just is no solo option unless you're some kind of millionaire. Join a cruise and go! The people on the cruise were mostly couples but there were also quite a few young singles and everyone was VERY welcoming to those of us who were on our own.
- UK - I got to meet many very nice people in a group tour and got to cover more distance than I would have on my own.


There simply is no one right way. It really depends on your personality and where you choose to go. I think that a private guide could be fantastic if you clicked well but could completely ruin a trip if your personalities didn't mesh well.