Single Travel

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2005
Single Travel
9
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 11:55am

Since there have been a lot of discussions lately around doing things as a single person and single finances, etc., etc. I thought I'd start one on traveling. Obviously I know people who are in relationships travel alone but I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about when (or if) you decide you just want to go somewhere and you book the plane ticket and hotel and just go. I do this often and sometimes I have someone to visit at my destination and sometimes I don't. I guess I just wonder if other people do this or feel comfortable doing it. So far, I've only stayed in the U.S. but I'm contemplating other places to go on my own. I like girls trips and stuff like that but that doesn't always work and sometimes I just see some place and think I'd like to visit or go do that and so I do.

It seems to me there are lots of benefits to traveling like this but my favorite is the anonymity you get in a new city. You can dine alone, see shows alone and walk around alone and never once stop to think about it. Maybe some of you don't have a problem doing this at home but I always seem to run into someone I know and I'm just not as comfortable with it. When I travel alone, it's just me. It's a good experience and it's nice to know that I don't have to have anyone there witnessing it with me for it to mean something.

So, I guess I'm just wondering how many other single people do this? If so, where have you gone? What have you done?

Avatar for northwestwanderer
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: lesleylou
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 12:46pm

I travel alone frequently...my most recent big solo trip was to Vietnam this past April. I've also gone to Europe (a bunch of times) and Thailand by myself, and I travel throughout my part of the country by myself all the time.

I do enjoy traveling with a friend or a SO when I have one, but I also enjoy solo travel...no worries about deciding what to do, accommodating someone else's schedule and interests, etc. It's nice. I also find I meet people more easily when I'm traveling on my own.

Sheri

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
In reply to: lesleylou
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 7:41pm
I dunno.... I question the safety of traveling alone. Yeah, I know, you have to make safe decisions. But what if something happened to you? Nobody would know......
Avatar for northwestwanderer
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: lesleylou
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 7:48pm

Well, I always give my mom or one of my sisters my itinerary if I'm going to be away for a while.

I've really never had any safety issues. Common sense goes a long way. Besides, having someone with you won't necessarily help...my mom and stepfather got mugged on St Maarten, together.

Sheri

Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: lesleylou
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 9:41pm

I've never gone on a trip alone.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
In reply to: lesleylou
Tue, 11-15-2005 - 10:34pm
I am still skeptical.... Yes, anything can happen when you're with another person. But you're also more likely to be targeted because you're a tourist and alone. This is just how I feel. I am glad it has worked out for you...:)
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2005
In reply to: lesleylou
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 9:00am

I often travel alone. My most exciting trip was to Africa, alone. As for the safety issue, I always register with the US Embassy in the country I'm visiting. I love our embassies. They will record all of my information, flights, itinerary, etc. If I do not register somewhere when I am supposed to be there, they have a place to start looking. Of course I leave my information with my family before travel too.

I do a lot of back country type hiking too, (I hiked the Inca Trail in Peru all the way to Manchu Picchu). Again, I left information of when I would enter the trail and leave the trail. If I wasn't off the trail when expected, someone would come looking for me.

I am now in the process of planning 'my most fabulous trip ever'. I have no idea what that will be but I want it to be something I would not have done this year if my ex-b/f hadn't broken up with me. I'm again trying to focus on the good things in single life.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2005
In reply to: lesleylou
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 9:05am
If you have the opportunity, I'd definitely take it. I had a really hard time with that at first... not being able to share the experience with someone else. But there's something really nice about seeing something for the first time and just feeling like it's only yours. Traveling in general gives you a great perspective on the world and doing it alone is sometimes a good way for me to remind myself that there actually is a "grand scheme" and I'm part of it.
Sounds a little mushy, I know but that's one of the reasons it's so great!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2005
In reply to: lesleylou
Thu, 12-01-2005 - 6:36pm

I'm from LA, and I just went to London on my own for five days over the Thanksgiving weekend. This was actually my first time traveling alone and to a place where I don't know anyone. Quite frankly, I was having doubts before the trip as to whether I would be able to have a good time since I'll be alone the entire time I am there. To my surprise, I enjoyed my trip very much. I got to check out all of the landmarks and touristy places. All I have was my Fodor guide to London, which is very informative. I got to visit all of the places I want to visit, and I was in control of the pace of my journey. Of course I would love to take that trip with that special someone, but I wasn't going to put my life and my travel plans on hold just b/c I haven't found that special someone yet. One downside to traveling alone is that you don't really talk/speak much during your trip. So I don't think I would want to travel alone for more than a few days.

Traveling alone to a foreign country could be very intimidating and stressful. So I would recommend that if you are traveling alone to a foreign country in which you do not know anyone, you should go to those countries that speak your language (e.g., Canada, England, etc.). You don't need additional stress due to the language barrier on top of the fact that you're traveling by yourself.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2004
In reply to: lesleylou
Thu, 12-01-2005 - 9:22pm
I have travelled alone a lot, all over the world. I always have a great time and meet some very interesting people along the way.