suze

I think you mean "bravery" not "brevity"?

SeaUrchin

Ha, yes, I was rushing out the door and this new forum setup is giving me a headache. I can't look at the screen for very long, too white. Alas, I don't like this site as much as I did, too bad.

suze

I thought it was a funny typo... "brevity" is often a very good thing -lol.

Yes I hate this new format too. I'm trying not to make any rash statements I will regret, but I am already spending less time here and more over at Trip Advisor (where before it was the opposite).

gertie3751

Thanks for the tip on Trip Advisor Suze. I have just discovered it. It looks very good for basic travel information (transport, hotels, restaurants) without the chitchat and laughs you get on Fodors. Sigh.

Re the Solo Travel thing, I travel solo when I can't find anyone who wants to go where I want to go. I don't have time left to hang around waiting for other people's plans.
Sometimes I travel with my husband but he is often too busy with work. And travelling with him is a whole different story: he likes lots of luxury which I can take or leave.
On the scariness front, I suppose I've been lucky and not had any major problems. Being 60 something might be a factor there. Though I do sometimes wonder what would happen if I had an unexpected health drama while I was on my own somewhere far away. Insurance is all very well but you have to deal with the immediate situation first.
But life is full of risk and you can't stay wrapped up in cotton wool. You only get one shot at it! Some of my friends think I'm brave, some think I'm mad, but I think I'm making the most of my time on this earth to see as much of it as I can.

gertie3751

ttt

suze

gertie~ The chit-chat and friendship over on Trip Advisor develops from the particular forums you particiate in. There's every bit as much camraderie there, it's just broken up more into groups by your destination. Plus the private mail function between posters allows 1-1 relationships to develop further. My point is I'm not pals with *everyone* on TA like I may be here on Fodor's, rather just with the Cabo San Lucas folks (last vacation), and the Puerto Vallarta forum (frequent destination).

When I go into TA, I go to my own profile and read from there. Often I have a private mail from someone new asking for more details about a place, hotel, or restaurant that I have mentioned. Or about traveling solo (comes up often too).

suze

I agree one of the scariest possibilities (at least in my own experiences) when you are traveling alone is getting sick or getting hurt.

Last trip to PV, right before I was to check out of my hotel, I reached up and put my hand right into the spinning overhead ceiling fan!!!! Blood was gushing everywhere. I was able to first-aid myself but for just a moment there I thought I was going to pass out & not sure what would have happened then.

Nywoman

what does ttt mean? I see it frequently but don't have a clue.

thursdaysd

I believe ttt = take it to the top - topping a thread that's sinking into oblivion

suze

Nywoman- "ttt" is just like you just did. Anytime you post anything new, it bring the thread back to the #1 position on the forum.

Nywoman

Thanks,

Anyway I am off on another 2 months adventure in SEA on my own. Again the comments on my bravery. I have now learnt to answer, that I am too dumb to be scared, and if you are not scared, then there is nothing brave in what you do.

I look forward to my adventures and next time I'll know what ttt means.

You can read all about it on the Asia Forum

ChristaVisp

It's amazing how this thread can still be alive after nearly 9 months! Must be because the topic is very relevant. I admire solo travelers both for their "bravery" and "foolhardiness". You have to have a great combination of courage and adventurous attitude to travel safely and enjoy the experience at the same time. There is a certain amount of risk involved in solo travels, but it can be fun as well. Good luck!

http://online-tourist.blogspot.com

suze

It depends on your chosen destination.

I have never found going solo to places like Puerto Vallarta or Cabo in Mexico, or Waikiki on Oahu and laying around on the beach... or heading to Paris, Venice, or Amsterdam for a week alone... to require "bravery" or "foolhardiness" either one!

thursdaysd

Great answer, nywoman! And I agree with suze that neither bravery nor foolhardiness are required for most destinations. Now, if you're thinking of Afghanistan or Iraq or Sudan, perhaps. (I'm currently thinking of Georgia and Iran...)

toedtoes

I agree also with one exception. It depends on the person traveling. If you are an 80 year old woman who has never done anything alone, then a trip anywhere may require "bravery" whereas that same trip would mean nothing to someone else. It's all relative.

suze

True true. I also think it may take more courage, or be more "different", for a married woman who is used to doing everything with her husband or family. Because I'm single anyways, traveling solo, to regular vacation destinations is truly no big deal.

toedtoes

Exactly. That's why I don't take offense when someone tells me how "brave" I am for traveling along - it may not actually require bravery on my part, but for that person it would.

jinla

Traveling solo does take a bit of bravery in the sense that you must take care of yourself...you need to keep your eyes and ears open to ensure your safety, make sure logistics operate smoothly and tune in to the best of what's around you. But these are also the very best parts of traveling solo. I feel most alive when I travel on my own, and I'll never forget that moment when I first realized "I can do it!" It also opens you up in a way that traveling with others never can. When you're open, you're not alone; you attract and form bonds with other like-minded folks who end up becoming your friends or family, even if only for the duration of the trip. They can serve as companions, tour guides or even protectors, and restore your faith in the human race. It's a great reminder of what life is all about.

BobbyPam

Hi NYWoman -

I just returned from a solo trip to London and Paris, and I had a fab time. Everyone was telling me how brave I was too, which I thought was so funny. I'm an only child, so I've always had to make my own fun.

Towseesq

It is fascinating to read what people think about solo travel. I too get the remark about how "brave" I am. I love traveling by myself. I almost always travel by myself. And I do get a sense of "empowerment." When I get back from driving around Tuscany visiting hilltowns following the trail of artist Piero della Francesca, or wandering around Istanbul and visiting the Grand Bazaar and the Turkish Baths, I do feel a sense of accomplishment.
I have a fairly stressful life with a lot of responsibility for others. I try to take a longer vacation once a year, 3-4 weeks, and I take this time to reflect upon my life. To be away from my normal routine and to be on my own allows me to do this. As I wander through Istanbul, or Nice, or Venice I am able to simply think, undistracted by conversation. As I sit contemplating a beautiful painting, a lovely mosque, or the boat traffic on the Grand Canal, I think about changes I want to implement to make my life better.
I remember one morning in Italy, I drove to a small church where the Sunday service included Gregorian chants by the monks. It was a fairly long drive, I missed the first service, spent a couple of hours waiting in a local cafe watching the village activity, and then sat in this beautiful church entranced by the chants. I realized after, that if I had been with a companion I might not have gone because it was a lot of effort and time. But it was one of the highlights of my trip.
So to all of those who have hesitated to travel alone - it is wonderful and it may change your life.