What is the longest trip you've taken solo?
May 31st, 2007, 10:19 AM
#21
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Just wanted to pop in and say hello---I'm really glad to see that this forum is so full of great tips and stories. Kudos to everyone for making this forum so rich!
By the way, my longest solo trip was 12 days--Budapest-Vienna-Ljubljana-Zagred-- all by train. Unforgettable!
By the way, my longest solo trip was 12 days--Budapest-Vienna-Ljubljana-Zagred-- all by train. Unforgettable!
May 31st, 2007, 10:55 AM
#23
hi Katie_H, Mostly you can thank toedtoes. she kept it alive & positive at the beginning when i didn't think there was hope for this forum. it's come a long way recently. so i want to say THANKS, gracias, merci beaucoup... to everyone who's joined us here.
Jun 3rd, 2007, 05:50 AM
#28
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I don't often pop into this particular forum because I guess I usually think of "solo" travelers as being single people! That's my own fault...
I'm very often a solo traveler, but am very happily married for 42 years. It's just that sometimes my DH goes east and I go west!! lol
Longest trip solo was for 5 weeks to Australia waaaaayyyy back in 1988. That was my first "real" solo journey. It was such an empowering experience, to know that I could do it! And there have been many since that first attempt.
It's nice to post on such a polite forum. Some other forums get a little bit too political and snippy for me.
Carol
I'm very often a solo traveler, but am very happily married for 42 years. It's just that sometimes my DH goes east and I go west!! lol
Longest trip solo was for 5 weeks to Australia waaaaayyyy back in 1988. That was my first "real" solo journey. It was such an empowering experience, to know that I could do it! And there have been many since that first attempt.
It's nice to post on such a polite forum. Some other forums get a little bit too political and snippy for me.
Carol
Jun 3rd, 2007, 07:46 AM
#29
Carol, Welcome. Yup we are a real nice bunch here. Good manners too!
One thing I've learned reading these posts, whether people are single or married, whatever the home circumstances, male or female... once we get on the road alone, there's much we have in common.
One thing I've learned reading these posts, whether people are single or married, whatever the home circumstances, male or female... once we get on the road alone, there's much we have in common.
Jun 3rd, 2007, 09:44 AM
#30
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I've gone on two European trips solo - I turned 50 in 2005 and decided that it was long overdue. I have the summer months off, basically the only time I can travel of an extended period of time, longer than one week.
I have another solo trip to France for three weeks this summer planned to Paris and Provence. I will be arriving in Paris, be there for two days before I meet the Rick Steves tour, travel to Provence with the tour, then I'll stay in Nice for a few days following the tour.
I went for three weeks to France and England in July 05, met up with Rick Steves tour group for 12 days in France, then travelled to London on my own. The only time I was particularly concerned was during the attempted Tube bombing that occurred while I was there, but I figured being in a city of six million, the odds were greatly in my favour!
Last August, I visited Italy for two weeks, including Venice, Florence and Rome, again meeting Rick Steves tour group for 10 days. I visited Pompeii on my own from Rome and loved it.
I usually arrive a day or two before I meet with the tour group, mainly to get over the jet lag, then I get to travel with new friends along the way. After the tour, I get some more time on my own to do what I want before I fly back home to Canada.
This past March, for one week, my husband and I visited Paris with a Rick Steves tour, and although I loved being there with him, at times, we went our separate ways to enjoy what we wanted to see. We've been married over 33 years and of course we have different interests. I just love the freedom of being able to do what I feel like when I feel like doing it, even if sometimes, that means just sitting and people-watching.
Cheers and happy solo travels
I have another solo trip to France for three weeks this summer planned to Paris and Provence. I will be arriving in Paris, be there for two days before I meet the Rick Steves tour, travel to Provence with the tour, then I'll stay in Nice for a few days following the tour.
I went for three weeks to France and England in July 05, met up with Rick Steves tour group for 12 days in France, then travelled to London on my own. The only time I was particularly concerned was during the attempted Tube bombing that occurred while I was there, but I figured being in a city of six million, the odds were greatly in my favour!
Last August, I visited Italy for two weeks, including Venice, Florence and Rome, again meeting Rick Steves tour group for 10 days. I visited Pompeii on my own from Rome and loved it.
I usually arrive a day or two before I meet with the tour group, mainly to get over the jet lag, then I get to travel with new friends along the way. After the tour, I get some more time on my own to do what I want before I fly back home to Canada.
This past March, for one week, my husband and I visited Paris with a Rick Steves tour, and although I loved being there with him, at times, we went our separate ways to enjoy what we wanted to see. We've been married over 33 years and of course we have different interests. I just love the freedom of being able to do what I feel like when I feel like doing it, even if sometimes, that means just sitting and people-watching.
Cheers and happy solo travels
Jun 3rd, 2007, 11:32 AM
#31
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Welcom Carol and Timsmom!
As Suze says, solo travelers of any stripe have lots in common.
Timsmom - the way you catch a few days before and some days after a group tour is a great way to get accustomed to traveling alone, rather than trying to do a 3 week solo trip right off the bat.
My first trip was similar in that I was going to a 4-day folk festival and spent 8 days there in total. I arrived Wednesday night and the festival started on Thursday night, so the first morning, I just got my bearings. Then I spent the 4 days at the festival. Afterwards, I was feeling much more at home there and visiting the local sights didn't seem so daunting. It was a great way to ease myself into solo traveling.
As Suze says, solo travelers of any stripe have lots in common.
Timsmom - the way you catch a few days before and some days after a group tour is a great way to get accustomed to traveling alone, rather than trying to do a 3 week solo trip right off the bat.
My first trip was similar in that I was going to a 4-day folk festival and spent 8 days there in total. I arrived Wednesday night and the festival started on Thursday night, so the first morning, I just got my bearings. Then I spent the 4 days at the festival. Afterwards, I was feeling much more at home there and visiting the local sights didn't seem so daunting. It was a great way to ease myself into solo traveling.
Jun 3rd, 2007, 03:03 PM
#32
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Thanks toedtoes, I find that the RS tours also give me time to go off by myself as well. Half of the tour is spent with a guide and 24-28 tour members - sometimes I can connect with some of them, other times I just go off on my own.
Jun 5th, 2007, 11:19 AM
#33
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Thanks all for sharing your responses! I wish I'd also asked whether you are female or male.(I can tell on some of your posts obviously ! )I'm especially curious about the travelers who've spent long periods of solo time abroad. It shouldn't make a difference, but I guess sometimes it does anyway.
Lori
)I'm especially curious about the travelers who've spent long periods of solo time abroad. It shouldn't make a difference, but I guess sometimes it does anyway.Lori
Jun 5th, 2007, 01:09 PM
#34
Plumeria - since you sort of ask... I'm female - thursdaysd stands for Thursday's daughter, as in "Thursday's child has far to go". I took "early" retirement in late 2000, and have done several trips since then - you can read my trip reports at www.wilhelmswords.com. The ten-month trip was the longest, and I may not do one that long again, at least not one with so much moving around, as I was pretty tired by the end.
I'm not currently married, and live alone, so traveling alone is not such a big deal from me - plus I'm an introvert. I find that when I travel with someone else I tend to pay too much attention to them, instead of to what's going on around me.
I haven't traveled so much recently, thanks to a broken wrist, then pneumonia, and now a broken ankle, but am planning a likely two-month trip for the fall (Sicily, S. Italy, Morocco), and maybe (finally!) Central Asia to China or India for next year.
I'm not currently married, and live alone, so traveling alone is not such a big deal from me - plus I'm an introvert. I find that when I travel with someone else I tend to pay too much attention to them, instead of to what's going on around me.
I haven't traveled so much recently, thanks to a broken wrist, then pneumonia, and now a broken ankle, but am planning a likely two-month trip for the fall (Sicily, S. Italy, Morocco), and maybe (finally!) Central Asia to China or India for next year.
Jun 7th, 2007, 07:05 AM
#36
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The longest...11 weeks to Europe for many summers over a 2-decade-plus period and up to about 3 weeks through Southeast Asia. I've been traveling, solo(95% of the time) and almost annually, since I was a teen (early/mid 70s) and have been on all continents except Antartica. I travel solo on shorter trips,too. I prefer traveling solo and I'm female. Happy Travels!
Jun 27th, 2007, 06:16 AM
#37
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Hi everyone,
My first solo trip was to Washington DC from the UK in Feb 2003 - I got stuck in a huge snowstorm on the way to the hotel. The area ended up in a state of emergency due to the blizzards and I wasn't allowed to leave my hotel! Spent my birthday in hotel bar drinking champagne with the bartender!
I only had 7 days so I sneaked out and hailed a cab to take me downtown. Spent several lovely days traipsing around the Smithsonian, looking at the galleries/museums and visiting the touristy spots. Everyone seemed to be so pleased to see a tourist and got fabulous service everywhere I went. Would love to go back in the summer!
My first solo trip was to Washington DC from the UK in Feb 2003 - I got stuck in a huge snowstorm on the way to the hotel. The area ended up in a state of emergency due to the blizzards and I wasn't allowed to leave my hotel! Spent my birthday in hotel bar drinking champagne with the bartender!
I only had 7 days so I sneaked out and hailed a cab to take me downtown. Spent several lovely days traipsing around the Smithsonian, looking at the galleries/museums and visiting the touristy spots. Everyone seemed to be so pleased to see a tourist and got fabulous service everywhere I went. Would love to go back in the summer!
Jul 1st, 2007, 06:20 PM
#38
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I've done a fair amount of solo travel (one as long as two months) -- New Zealand, Borneo, Central America, Fiji, Caribbean, etc. Some of these trips were part of scuba diving adventures so while I traveled solo - I spent most of my days on scuba diving boats with 8-12 fellow divers which was great. Met lots of interesting people that I've stayed in touch with for years. Dving is a great activity for singles -- the freedom of traveling solo -- with the camaraderie of being with other active travels -- and, of course the amazing beauty of the deep blue sea.
Jul 2nd, 2007, 12:13 PM
#39
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I journeyed solo to Portugal and joined up with Habitatat for Humanity for a 2-week build in the charming city of Braga. It was a worthwhile and satisfying way to experience the country and it's people while enjoying the contrast between work and leisure.
