Could you travel on vacation by yourself?

[eliza61]

Just wondering.
A small group of friends are planning a trip to France next May.
We have the normal array of personalities and I know a few will drop out by the time to buy airfare rolls around.
One of my girlfriends said she is going no matter what, she is a breast cancer survivor (hit her 5th year last summer) and has always wanted to go to Paris.

I was amazed by the chorus of people who said don't go by yourself.

So, could you travel by yourself?

We are all a group of late 40'sh-50 year olds. We are in various stages of "kid-dom". No one has toddlers or small kids. In fact, I'm the one with the youngest (my youngest kid is a 10th grader). No spouses this trip. girls only

 

[EthansMom]

I would LOVE to go on vacation myself! But then I'm the kind of person who enjoys going out to eat by myself too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I guess I don't understand. You are going with a group of friends. How is that going by yourself?

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I would! Actually I am in the planning stages of taking a trip alone! I can't wait, I can do what I want, when I want.

 

[suejai]

I guess I don't understand. You are going with a group of friends. How is that going by yourself?

My thoughts exactly.


But to answer the question: I would absolutely go with a group of friends, but at the moment I don't think I would ever go alone. But you never know, things change.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I would say as long as she is safe about it, it shouldn't matter. I wouldn't go on vacation alone, not out of fear but just because it doesn't appeal to me, but I would not be scared to do it.

 

[luv2sew]

Having a husband that doesn't want to do anything except sit in front of the Tv, and having both kids off to college and basically on their own. My friends still have kids to, have very different schedules at work than I, or have no money so I have resigned myself to the fact that if I want to do anything I have to do it by myself.

So to answer your question. I do alot of things by myself lately and if I want to go away on vacation and I cannot get someone to go...then so be it I will go alone. I have already told my husband that I plan to go on a cruise to Alaska in 2 years (kids will be out of college then) and I am prepared to go alone.

 

[luvmy3]

I assume those who don't think you should go *alone* mean without a man. Yeah thats right, women are so helpless without a man by their side


I would go with a group of my girlfriends in a heartbeat.

 

[NMAmy]

You know, while I actually prefer to go to the movies alone and to shop alone, and I don't mind eating alone or travelling alone, I don't think I'd enjoy going on vacation by myself. I would do it if my only choices were going alone or not going at all but I'd just prefer to have someone with me.

I did spend some time on my own at WDW last March. DH was quite ill and my dd and her friend were taking forever to get ready. I walked to Epcot for fish & chips and had a lovely chat with an older couple. So, I don't doubt that I make friends easily, but I'd still miss having DH or DD there.

 

[Evil Genius]

I travel by myself frequently. It's really very nice.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I assume those who don't think you should go *alone* mean without a man. Yeah thats right, women are so helpless without a man by their side

Oh...I bet you are right. That doesn't even cross my mind.

 

[luvmy3]

Oh...I bet you are right. That doesn't even cross my mind.

I figured since the OP isn't really going alone if she's with a group of women what else could they mean?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I've been considering taking a weekend vacation by myself next year. At first I thought about WDW but I'm not very outgoing (as far as striking up conversations with people) and I think I would just miss the people I've gone to WDW with in the past too much. I think I would enjoy going to like Myrtle Beach for a long weekend. Sleeping in, reading a good book sitting on the beach while listening to the waves, walking for miles down the beach, wandering around the many shops there, or taking long bubble baths in a nice hotel jetted tub sounds wonderful and a great time just to think about life and come back a refreshed person.

I wouldn't think twice about travelling anywhere with a group of friends. I don't consider that travelling "alone".

 

[ckay87]

Not only would I vacation by myself, I regularly prefer to vacation by myself. I find it less cumbersome to do things on my own and not have the extra burden of taking into consideration other people's needs and preferences (including DH's) But yea, that's a real "personality flaw" of mine, according to some

The only type of travel that might cause me to pause in deciding to do it solo would be international. But I would just up my research and do it anyway...cheerfully.

You have fun girl!!!

 

[Darcy03231]

Yes, I would without hesitation.

 

[SNylund]

I THINK she meant that she would travel by herself and then later meet up with her friends when she gets there. Yes wouldn't worry about traveling by yourself, but no, I wouldn't go on actual vacation by myself. Did that once or twice when I was single, even single and going to bars to meet people, for me it wasn't fun at all. I got a big feeling of loneliness and boredom. Without someone to share it with it wasn't that much fun. Made me realize how important friends and family are. And I'm a man by the way not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Missy1961]

I've gone to WDW solo a few times. No problems. I would think twice about international travel but if it was something I really wanted to do, I'd research it & do it.

 

[eliza61]

I guess I don't understand. You are going with a group of friends. How is that going by yourself?

Sorry, As usual I'm clear as mud.

The discussion rolled around too, how we always start out with a group of 6 but by the time serious planning (deposits) is upon us, one by one people start dropping off like flies.

My girlfriend said "not this time", she was just recovering from a serious illness and she was going even if it meant going by herself. I thought that was smashing but was amazed by how many choruses of "don't do it" came up.
Every thing from it being "unsafe for a women to travel by herself" to "you won't have any fun without some one else"


This happen to me a few years ago, I planned a quick getaway to wdw and my husband was called in to work and my kids were spending time with my parents. So I went by myself and had a fantastic time. It was for 4 days.
That's what prompted my question.

 

[KristinBelle]

By myself? Not a chance, I would be bored out of my mind.

 

[bookgirl]

I wouldn't have any problem traveling by myself. In the US or Canada, I'd probably just wing it, and go wherever I felt like going.

That being said if I was going out of the country (I've only been to Mexico and the Carribean, never overseas), I might go in conjunction with a travel group or tour the first time, just to get my feet wet.

I have no problem being alone, I can always find things to amuse myself and I don't need company to have a good time, but if I didn't speak the language or have at least some feel for where I was going, I'd want plenty of preperation and at least a tour guide.