Travel?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Travel?
19
Sat, 12-08-2007 - 12:45pm

I'm interested in hearing about your single travel experiences.


Where have you gone?


What did you do?


Did you bring a friend? Go solo?


Did you go as part of a tour? Would you recommend it? (Please share any websites/info)


Likes/Dislikes??


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Avatar for northwestwanderer
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: michelle76nj
Sat, 12-08-2007 - 12:52pm

I've traveled by myself in France, Italy (Venice), Thailand and Vietnam, as well as numerous trips in the US by myself (too many to count).

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2006
In reply to: michelle76nj
Sat, 12-08-2007 - 5:33pm

I have gone to dozens of places by myself.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
In reply to: michelle76nj
Sat, 12-08-2007 - 5:43pm
Traveling alone is great if you are solely focused on sightseeing and visiting places. I have done a lot of it (Australia, Japan, Europe, Hawaii, Alaska...you name it (used to be in the airline business and no I did not push carts))-- most of it solo and some of it with an ex. If I had waited for a companion to accompany me everywhere I went (including my ex) I wouldn't have been to a third of the places I did. The important thing is to not allow yourself to get distracted by co travelers/tourists who are traveling as couples. If you do, it will certainly kill the mood. :)


Edited 12/8/2007 11:30 pm ET by hillaryh8er
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
In reply to: michelle76nj
Sat, 12-08-2007 - 8:28pm

Where have you gone?


I drove to Vermont for a week after I graduated from college. Yes - I was a nervous wreck when I left, but I had my maps and cell phone and the trip was wonderful.


What did you do?


I stayed at a bed & breakfast (Willow Pond Farm) and just read, toured around and got in touch with ME.


Did you bring a friend? Go solo?


My friend was supposed to go with me, but she couldn't get the time off work. So I went solo.


Did you go as part of a tour? Would you recommend it? (Please share any websites/info)


I've never done a tour...


Likes/Dislikes??


I like being by myself, with my camera. I actually prefer it, because I can go where I want

summer 2010 sig by Tara

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
In reply to: michelle76nj
Sat, 12-08-2007 - 11:38pm

Hi Michelle,

Travel is one my great passions. I wish I had more time and money to do it.

Where have you gone?

I was born in Europe and admit I'm a bit eurocentric. I have visited the UK many times alone as well as Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Vienna, Rome and southern Spain (although that was with family). When I was 9, my father drove us from Seattle to Rochester, NY which was an amazing experience! I have seen some parts of the US but would love to see more.

What did you do?
I'm a something of a culture and history buff so I usually head for the historical sites, museums and interesting, quirky places. I enjoy shopping and sampling local cuisine too but sightseeing is my favorite activity by far.

Did you bring a friend? Go solo?
I traveled to Rome with a couple of friends and it may have just been the best trip of my life. Rome is a MUST see, believe me! I have been to the UK solo and have never felt lonely, but also have enjoyed the time I went there with friends.

Did you go as part of a tour? Would you recommend it? (Please share any websites/info) No, I haven't but would like to for more exotic destinations such as Asia and Africa. My dream is to take a trip around the world but preferably not alone. There are many tour companies out there: Tauck (very high end), Cosmos (more budget-oriented), Globus, Perillo, etc. General travel web sites I would recommend are fodors.com (very useful - especially its very lively travel forum which I visit all the time and has often been a great source of advice), Tripadvisor.com, Expedia, lonelyplanet.com, travelocity.com. These are just a few.

Likes/Dislikes?? The one big drawback of traveling along is the expense w.r.t. accommodations and this seems also to be true for organized group tours which often tack on horrendous single supplements unless you are willing to share a room with a stranger ( which I wouldn't). Solo travel does give you more freedom to see what you want and
go at your own pace. Some solo travelers may miss the opportunity of sharing their experiences with someone else, but I usually relive aspects of my trips whenever I share photos and tales with friends and family, so that's not an issue for me.

My last piece of advice is to just do it. You'll love it!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2006
In reply to: michelle76nj
Mon, 12-10-2007 - 10:51am

>>I stayed at a bed & breakfast (Willow Pond Farm) and just read, toured around and got in touch with ME.


That sounds great.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2001
In reply to: michelle76nj
Mon, 12-10-2007 - 12:01pm

I so admire all of you who travel with JOY single.


I have traveled by myself with varying degrees of success however not always joyfully.

Soliel
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-13-2007
In reply to: michelle76nj
Thu, 12-13-2007 - 10:02am

Hi there,


I've traveled quite a bit, alone, with family, friends,e tc... I can honestly tell you that my best trip was solo.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2007
In reply to: michelle76nj
Thu, 12-13-2007 - 10:09am

Hi!


I've travelled alone a lot of times--and have had great fun, and met lots of new people. I've tavelled by myself to Costa Rica and Honduras, London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin. Sometimes I would meet up with some friends living in those cities, but for the most part, I would go sight-seeing alone, go to museums, etc.


I have

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-13-2007
In reply to: michelle76nj
Thu, 12-13-2007 - 10:14am

This last summer I backpacked through Europe for 7 weeks by myself. I had originally wanted a friend to go but she was unable to join me so I decided to go it alone. I'm glad I did. Being able to see what I wanted when I wanted and how I wanted was so freeing. I didn't need to check in with anyone or compromise my goals for the trip by asking someone else what they wanted. I wouldn't change it for anything.


There are down sides. 7 weeks alone is quite a long time and it can be lonely. I was fortunate enough to meet some people along the way but that may not happen. One way I was able to do this was by using the website www.couchsurfing.com

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