trippinkpj

I'm married, though have travelled alone (only short trips so far) or with female friends/ relatives without DH.

dmc555

I travel alone frequently. Perhaps because I've always traveled alot for business (which is usually by myself)I'm totally comfortable doing it for pleasure. I'm not often asked why I'm traveling alone, but when I am, my answer is the truth. My friends either (i) didn't want to go where I wanted to go; (ii) couldn't afford to travel the way I wanted to travel; or (iii) couldn't take as much vacation time as I could. Why not go where I want, when I want, with someone I like to be with (me)? Yes, I think the appropriate response is "Why Not?"

The single supplements are the only thing that really irk me when traveling abroad by myself. A 30 day African safari probably cost me close to 50% more(I don't remember exactly) because I stayed in small permanent tented camps and lodges and the single supplements were stiff.

brushfire

Very interesting post! I enjoy traveling solo (male btw) because you meet more people that way. When I took the train from Seattle to Los Angeles (a 2 day ordeal) by myself, I met several fascinating people- one that I still keep in touch with, and is now my traveling buddy (he stayed with me in LA, he showed me around Seattle and we are planning a East Coast trip. I find that if you're traveling with another person, you tend to only focus on that person and you ignore everyone else around you. By traveling solo, you notice everyone and although that first conversation can be difficult, the worst they can do is tell you to go away. I stay at hostels and guesthouses and I find that's also an excellent way to meet other solo travelers, possibly for sightseeing together, splitting a cab, etc. I've never gotten any strange reactions at my traveling alone, except a lady on a train from Albuquerque asked me if I preferred traveling alone, but I thought that was more from her curiosity than her judgmental-ness.

squirrelgardens

None of your businees unless you are footing the bill.

jbtan

Hello... I'm back...! Thanks for all the wonderful responses to this thread which I started way back when. Sorry to disappear like that... I was away for business trips most of the time.

Just confirmed my vacation in Turin and Valle d'Aosta following a business trip to London/Rome. Traveling solo, of course. I'm looking forward to quiet strolls/hikes and some downtime. And to contemplate life in general (and not just my navel... which is in the right side of cute ;-)...)

Toedtoes: I too need time away from the crowds. For that reason, I don't do well in amusement parks or packed museums/castles with noisy tourists.

JBHapgood: Yes, I think you got it. 'Why not' indeed... I don't think twice about haring off somewhere by myself. If friends want to tag along, fine. If not, fine too. In the case of Turin/Aosta, I have been warned of gregarious Italian men by many people. But does that worry me? Nah...! I'm a big girl... Hey, I will talk to the guys (and anyone who will stop to chat with me) as long as they are well-mannered and don't look like they're escaped convicts (just a figure of speech here, mind you). After all, this trip is about brushing up my Italian.

Over to you...

MissZiegfeld

Because I want to go where I want to go, when I want to go. I don't really have the time nor the patience to sit around trying to plan something for a group. I can tweak my travel plans all I want, without having to check with anybody else.

I can basically be selfish.

pippy4tao

I like solo traveling since I can travel in my own time frame and do what I want. It costs so much to travel these days, so I don't understand why anyone would travel with someone else and spend half their time seeing what the other person wants to see. It's really the best way to travel, by yourself. Do what you want, be responsible for yourself and have fun

Theresa

www.nomadwannabe.com

brushfire

I agree with you pippy. I just got back from visiting New England with a friend whose plane was delayed, then cancelled, then his baggage was lost, it was just a nightmare. Of course, I had to spend my vacation standing around the airport waiting for him, then had to accomodate my schedule for his plans, it was just a headache.

ninasdream

jbtan- People tell me I am so brave when they hear of my travel plans, but they say the same thing if they hear I am going into the city (NY) to see a museum exhibit or a play alone!

Today at work, I was finishing up a project when our cleaning service came in. A man I hadn't met before and I were chatting amiably in Spanish, and he asked if I had ever been to his country Peru, and I said I wanted to see/drive the countryside there, but not alone. And he said, what about your husband? I just said I had no husband. He suddenly switched to English and said, "What happened?"

I couldn't believe it.
I usually just say I can sit home, I can wait to find someone to go with, or I can just go, so I go.

I once shocked a guy at work by saying well, if I wait for the flavour of teh month to decide what he wants to do, I'll never go anywhere. (It's funnier if you know I am not a serial dater, which he did not know)

Suze I love that sad tale idea. Shame 'em for asking!

toedtoes

I've found that how I answer the "what about your husband" changes how people respond.

"I have no husband" infers something happened.

"Husband? Oh God no! I'm single" (said with a lilt in the voice) infers that you're glad you're single.

jbtan

ninasdream -- I'd go to the museum by myself any time. It beats having someone whispering to my ears whenever I'm checking out the exhibits. Gee... if I wanted all that bzzzzz or pssssst, I might as well bring along several mosquitoes...

toedtoes -- I second your singleton answer! I always say that... especially when the question comes from a persistent guy who doesn't know when to leave it well alone ;-)

toedtoes

Exactly, Jbtan! I think it scares the men a bit because it presents you as a confident woman who doesn't "need a man" rather than the usual stereotype that is desperate to find a man, any man.

With older women, I think they see your confidence as a good thing - I remember my Grandmother always being very proud when we girls stepped up and took control of our lives. Older men usually are able to quickly adjust to your confidence enjoy ribbing you about it. I think the younger men get confused and don't know how to react to it.

suze

ninasdream~~ i had to come and reread this thread to remember what tragic romance i had told you all about (since i never really had one -lol!)...

JRP

I have a very understanding wife that allows me to excercise my wanderlust as often as I feel necessary. My preference is to excercise it solo.
My answer to "why" is that I enjoy the silence of invisibility. My daily business life requires constant conversation, dialogue and presence. I often feel the need to have absolutely no contact nor conversation at all. When I "unwind" I truly enjoy blending into the scenery and becoming camouflaged- invisible. Why? Simply because I need to get away.