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I travel alone all the time, and always have a blast. Not only that, when you travel solo, you have alot more opportunities to meet new people, because as a single youre alot more approachable.
Concur. I have met wonderful people I would never have met if I were traveling as part of a couple or group. You'll have a wonderful time. The friendliest city if I had to pick one is Belfast. I found it impossible to eat a dinner out without having my chair pulled over to join a group. Have a great trip!
Traveling alone is great, I traveled all aorund the world alone for many years, now do so with my wife which is even better.
You will run into many good people, or sometimes you can go for a while and not have a casual conversation with anyone. Assuming you are a female, you will have to have a little heightened sense of awareness (more than normal) as there are more than a few shady charcters out there just probing for an opportunity to commit an ill deed.
Go for is Katykat! I have traveled extensively alone and with others. Most of the time my solo trips were more enjoyable, you are on your own schedule, see what You want to see, eat where you want to eat. No waiting for the other person to get up and out of the room in the mornings. I am a little bit of an introvert and traveling alone kind of forces you to interact with others. I am still in contact with a number of fellow travelers from all over the US and the world I met along the way.
I am also a budget traveler and have stayed in plenty of hostels( I am 54), you will find many hostels offer private rooms and shared quad rooms. Travelers of all ages use hostels. I did end up in a couple places that were not ideal but that is part of the adventure. I found another suitable place the next day. My hostel experience has been great and would not let "age" be a factor.
Traveling alone rocks!! do what where and when you want to!! sometimes its gotta be done solo if you really want to see something or go somewhere. I hit the Florida keys every two months or so and 90% if the time i am traveling solo to get there but buddy up for the scuba dooba dive!
I've traveled to many countries solo as well as with organized groups. Each one has its pros and cons. I liked the group travel in Europe for a couple trips since all the hotels, travel between small towns and sightseeing was pre-planned and I didn't have to spend time figuring out where to stay and where to go. On the other hand, it didn't allow free time to wander on my own and meet locals. Safety is less of an issue if you travel with a group. Some group trips might include more free time, so there might be options for structured travel with some freedom.
When I went to China, I took an escorted tour, and it made sense in the 1990's. Traveling around a huge country like China on your own would be much more daunting, compared to Europe, for example, because of language and cultural issues, and the size of the country, but it's probably still doable.
I've also traveled solo to Europe and loved it. I stayed in London on one trip, saw the sights, took mass transit everywhere and did a few side trips from London. I also did the same thing in Paris.
These trips were about 5 years ago, so I did not experience any of the increase in pick-pocketing scams that are on the increase in both London and Paris and most European capital cities, due to poorer immigrants from other EU countries invading some cities just for the purpose of ripping off tourists.
If you travel alone to major tourist sights in European capital cities, I would highly recommend reading some of the blogs and posts on Frommer's travel site. They describe the pick pocketing scams in detail, and offer suggestions on how to avoid them. I would not let this stop me from going to any European capital city on my own, but being aware of how to handle the scams would be useful.
If you want to go to cities that are easier to navigate and still experience some European flavor without leaving the continent, visit Toronto, Montreal or Quebec City. All wonderful cities, easy to visit and full of charm and culture.
I cannot travel alone. I get bored every time whenever I travel alone. I did not have a pretty experience while traveling alone but I enjoy each time in my friends company
I've traveled to many countries solo as well as with organized groups. Each one has its pros and cons. I liked the group travel in Europe for a couple trips since all the hotels, travel between small towns and sightseeing was pre-planned and I didn't have to spend time figuring out where to stay and where to go. On the other hand, it didn't allow free time to wander on my own and meet locals. Safety is less of an issue if you travel with a group. Some group trips might include more free time, so there might be options for structured travel with some freedom.
When I went to China, I took an escorted tour, and it made sense in the 1990's. Traveling around a huge country like China on your own would be much more daunting, compared to Europe, for example, because of language and cultural issues, and the size of the country, but it's probably still doable.
I've also traveled solo to Europe and loved it. I stayed in London on one trip, saw the sights, took mass transit everywhere and did a few side trips from London. I also did the same thing in Paris.
If you travel alone to major tourist sights in European capital cities, I would highly recommend reading some of the blogs and posts on Frommer's travel site. They describe the pick pocketing scams in detail, and offer suggestions on how to avoid them. I would not let this stop me from going to any European capital city on my own, but being aware of how to handle the scams would be useful.
If you want to go to cities that are easier to navigate and still experience some European flavor without leaving the continent, visit Toronto, Montreal or Quebec City. All wonderful cities, easy to visit and full of charm and culture.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katykat01
At first, I was kind of scared of traveling alone because I won't have anyone to share the memories with or take pictures or any of that fun travel stuff. But even when I travel with friends, I often wind up doing things alone because we don't always want to do the same things. I've flown alone overseas and within the US numerous times, so that's not a worry. Mostly, I just don't want to feel bad because I'm alone. Also, I'm planning on going somewhere I haven't been, so there's a slight safety concern but not a big one.
Do any of you travel alone? Do you recommend it?
I flown alone within the USA and internationally. Most of the time I have gone to places where I have stayed with family or friends, but while they are busy with their every day lives, I have toured the areas on my own which is not a problem if you do your research in advance of what is available and how to get there.
I did some group trips many years ago and that can be fun but one also needs to be lucky to find some companions within the group that one can hang out with during the trip.
I have also gone overseas on extended work assignments. During these trips sometimes I have done sightseeing alone and sometimes I have been lucky to find a colleague to do things with. One simply needs to go with the flow and learn to travel on one's own and hope to find some compatible companions along the way, but if not one can still enjoy the trip on one's own.
There is a bias against single travelers wherever you go. I avoid that whenever possible by using the "Lamprey Technique". Find your host(s) and stick close to them, maybe slightly to the side and behind a bit. You can react to their conversation by mouthing silently occasionally at lulls in their conversation. When they start conversing again people nearby will think they are commenting on something witty you must have said.
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