For me, the best part of solo traveling is doing just what I want. And the worst part is having to do all the nitty-gritty details, without a break. Since my Fodor's book on solo travel came out two years ago, I've heard hundreds of other "bests and worsts." Curious to hear yours. (Please visit me on www.sololady.com and continue the dialogue.)

I would... except it looks like only women are invited. Oh well.

There aren't too many things that make solo travel rough but while in Prague there was a pub I didn't hang at because the bar was empty. The place was packed,all were at tables and I felt a little awkward sitting at this huge bar alone and it took awhile before anyone would help me. Actually, I had two waiters standing a foot from me and I tapped one of them on the shoulder (I thought maybe I was performing some faux pas by sitting there) and asked if it was okay to sit here he said yes and I ordered a beer. It still took longer than it should have when the beer is like right in front of me.

Wouldn't it make more sense to continue the dialogue here?

JBHapgood,

Come on in and make it a co-ed thread.

The only bad thing is the single supplements.

The worst thing is not having anyone to watch your stuff while you go to the bathroom or stand in a ticket line at the train station.

Actually, those are really the only bad things I've found.

Okay, if it’s a co-ed thread

The best about traveling solo: Photography is my hobby and I’ve found that, like reading a book, it’s best accomplished alone. No “hurry up” or “are you taking another one?”

The worst is seeing something so spectacular, such as the stars above Bryce Canyon, and then enjoying it with no one

atravelynn: please don't tell me Fodors now charges a single supplement for using the forums!

CubFanAlways: I'll agree that photography can be easier without worrying about whether a (non-photographer) travel companion is bored. But that advantage to solo travel ends when the sun goes down, when you're stuck in traffic or airport queues, or when you're carrying stuff and need to go to the loo.

I also seem to find that I get better pictures when I'm traveling with someone, perhaps because I'm in a better frame of mind. That doesn't make any sense, but there it is.

The best thing about solo traveling is that it's better than staying home for lack of a travel companion!

To me, the best thing is that it's MY trip. It's whatever I want to do at any time and any place.

As for the worst, I agree with Grassshopper. I just don't see a lot of downsides to traveling alone.

CubFanAlways - I love being able to spend an entire day photographing flowers in a garden without someone tapping their feet at me.

JP, a single supplement to use the forums Right you are about it better than staying home for lack of a travel companion. Sometimes I wonder if, after all of the times I’ve traveled alone, if I could adjust to a companion, being a little set in my ways.

Toadtoes, I know <b>exactly</b> what you mean! &gt;&lt;

I wonder about that a lot to CubFanAlways - can I adjust to the give and take of traveling with someone as easily as I want to believe I can.

I do absolutely know that I need to be able to &quot;walk away&quot; from a companion at times. The joined at the hip thing won't work for me at all.

As Grasshopper has already touched upon, the only downside of traveling solo is no one to watch your luggage in airports and train stations when you need to dash to the restroom. You have to haul it along into the stall with you.

I also would rather continue the dialogue here on Fodor's.

Solo travel isn't &quot;all or nothing.&quot; Some of my best trips have been with friends, where we rented a two-bedroom condo or had separate hotel rooms, possibly spent much of the day doing separate things, and then meeting up for dinner and the rest of the evening. The best of both worlds.

JB - those are the types of &quot;multiple person traveling&quot; I like. Before I learned to be assertive, I usually found that the ONE thing I wanted to do was usually the ONE thing getting dropped from the trip activities.

Once, when a friend picked me up to go to an event, she said she needed to stop at her sister's first. We ended up spending the day sitting around her sister's house and never made it to the event (which was only for that day) that I really wanted to see.

So, now I'm really careful about who I do certain things with (like travel). If it's something that I really care about, I make sure I have control, or at least a way to not be completely at the mercy of someone else. I'm also very careful to make it known when something is really important to me.

That is a reason I usually or really almost always insist on taking my own car, separately. Unless I am sure the other person is actually going to follow through with the plans, I want control over what happens concerning me.

toedtoes, I somewhat agree on the control thing. I think it's less about being in control than being controlled.
I often travel for business in group situations. But I'll be damned if they'll make me get on a dinner cruise when I don't feel like socializing all night. I'd prefer to walk the piers alone than smile and chat ad nauseum just for the sake of being seen.

That's how I am now SeaUrchin. I just don't take chances when it's important to me.

You can avoid (but certainly not eliminate) &quot;control&quot; problems by choosing a compatible travel companion and agreeing in advance what you'll do together and separately. If I do have those problems with someone, I won't travel with that person again.

One of the best things I like about travelling solo is flying solo. If there is a problem with the flight I don't have to worry about the other person and since I manage to handle flight problems quite well I find it so much easier to be on my own and not have to fuss whether the other person(s) is/are worried, comfortable, hungry, annoyed, fearful etc.

And often I find that when I am by myself I enjoy a beautiful site or sight more than when I am with others as I can really just concentrate on what I am enjoying.

Having said that there is nothing more wonderful than sharing a drink, a meal, a walk, a conversation etc., with a good companion. That is priceless!!

JRP - I think you're right about it being more about the Being controlled.

LoveItaly - I don't get stressed with airline delays, etc. either. I'm pretty good about not worrying over what I can't control - but if I have control over it, then I'm pretty thorough on making it go smoothly.