Could you travel on vacation by yourself?

[AndreaDM]

I went to Europe alone in Dec. of 1998 to Jan. 1999 for about 2 weeks, it was incredible! I stayed in a hostel although I was in my late 20's and had 2 children at home (they stayed with my parents). I had always wanted to go and all my friends had one excuse after another, so I found cheap airfare and went! Staying in a hostel was great because I met people from all over and made friends I never would have made if I had been travelling with people I knew. As Americans, we tend to play it safe and just stick with those we're with, but I forced myself to walk into a pub, sit at the bar and order a drink. Hours later I was still there, but with new friends! Now, I'm not naive nor stupid, I did take precautions when walking alone or when I was out after dark, but I never felt unsafe. Europeans are so much more laid back and helpful that most people I've encountered in the states while travelling. I did the tours and things that *I* wanted to do, non of this "what do you want to do, where do you want to eat, I don't care, etc." and then no one ends up happy.

Edited to add that I was in London for most of the trip, so language was not an issue. I did take a day trip to Paris on the chunnel train too.

 

[KAMKIM]

I could do it, I would do it, and I would LOVE it.

 

[Laura]

I've done it a couple of times (once to London and once to Paris) and it was pretty boring. But better to go alone than not at all!

 

[SC Minnie]

I would and have done it. It is actually very nice to be able to do exactly what you want to. I've been to WDW alone for a weekend several times. I did meet up with some Disers for a bit but we didn't hang around together the whole time.

The only part I don't like about traveling alone is eating. It's awkward for me to sit in a restaurant alone. But I have to do that when I travel on business by myself so its not really any different.

 

[kerstfan1]

i always go bye myself

been all over the world thatway

 

[stella27]

I wouldn't really enjoy it. I am pretty social and I prefer traveling with friends to striking up convos with strangers. My husband, on the other hand, prefers being alone, and he would probably enjoy it.

 

[SNylund]

Its weird, I very much enjoy my alone time at home, but on vacation, I don't like being alone, had a lot more fun with family or friends along. I think it just depends on the person.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't know that I would personally leave my DH behind to go on a trip since he is my favorite person to hang around with. But, I do not think there is anything wrong with what you are looking to do either. If your DH is ok with it, your kids are ok without you, you want to go and you have good friends to hang around with why not?

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm traveling alone right this minute. I'm sitting in a 1BR villa at the Wilderness Lodge!! I had a "free" week because DD15 had some plans with her dad and stepmom.

I'm not going to be forced to never travel just because my circumstances are such that I am single and have friends with limits on time and resources due to their family obligations. Why should I miss a fun trip just because I can't find a friend to go with me??

I'd travel anywhere in the US by myself in a heartbeat. Like a previous poster, I'd probably go with a tour the first time on an international trip. I'm looking at some Adventures by Disney trips for the future.

But I like to travel alone - my schedule,my rules, my choices. Love it!!

 

[surfgirl]

I went to Paris for a long weekend by myself once... the kids behind - the hardest thing was walking onto the plane knowing I was flying to France.

I had a great weekend... I shot about 15 rolls of film. I was specifically there to take a lot of photos and I definitely did that. (I know I'm pre-dating myself by shooting film... this was before my SLR was available as a digital SLR).

Eating was odd. Lunches are okay b/c the bistros were fun to sit and people watch. I've traveled with my dh since then where he's had meetings (and dinners) all day and I've had time to myself - which is also fun.

I know many people tho that aren't comfortable doing it. I traveled a lot in college and some of that was alone, so I can manage it. I also did business travel alone... For others, they get very lonely.

 

[BillSears]

I happily travel alone. I did a 6 week cross country trip this spring all by myself and it was fantastic! I go to WDW on my own sometimes. Personally I think traveling alone can be even more fun the traveling with others.

 

[laurie31]

I have traveled alone to Europe and loved about 90% of it. There were those times when I wished someone was there to talk to, or to take a picture of something with me in it, but overall, it was an amazing experience. It was before I was married, though.

This past year, I went with a group of girlfriends to see the cherry blossoms in Washington DC. I traveled to DC alone and we all met up there. I had an amazing time. I love family trips, but this made me feel 20 again - lol.

Next year we are going to Europe, and DH's vacation time will run out long before mine, so we have decided that the girls and I will stay and he will come back alone. We are doing all the stuff he wants to do before he leaves, then we will do the things only I or the girls wanted to do after he's gone. I know I will miss him being with us, but he won't ask for time off without pay and so he has to go back. We made this decision together. I am a little nervous about coming home on a 9 hour flight with the girls by myself, but not because we won't have a man with us.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I would, and have. i have done a few (albeit short) trips totally by myself and several trips of all lengths with just me and hte kids (even when they were preschoolers) which is probably less safe than totally alone (kids are very distracting). I stuck to "safe" areas and took standard precautions and had wonderful times.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I've gone to England before by myself. Three times, actually, and all before I turned 20.

I would travel alone, with friends, and with and without my husband.

I just want to go and do!

 

[FireDancer]

I love traveling solo. I take a lot of active vacations but only one of my friends is into traveling to Italy to bike or to California for a marathon. If he can't go I go by myself. I can do what I want when I want and don't have to try and get 20 people with different agendas to agree on a compromise no one really wants to do.

Heck, France is now the second country on my list of places I want to go most (bike Provance and the French alps is just behind bike and kayak the Norwegian fjords) so if you really don't want to travel alone take me .

 

[bumbershoot]

I got what you said..."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"...you're not asking about this trip for you, but in general.


And yes, I could and I have. I drove, the LONG way, from VA to WA one December. It was so amazing. Stopped to see friends in SC, turned right at Florida (now I realize I should have gone to Orlando, but I was a cynical 25 year old most definitely NOT into Disney), spent 3 days in New Orleans all alone, visited brother in San Antonio, turned right at 5 off of 10, and on up. Amazing, amazing trip. I've been to New Orleans by myself once more, though for only 20 hours.

I should have traveled Ireland by myself, but a friend wanted to go, and honestly, driving on the other side of the car and road, shifting with my left hand...it was best that I had a navigator (though since her idea of navigating meant that sucked in breath sound as I started to make a mistake, instead of letting me know ahead of time, wasn't the best way to navigate).

I've gone to DLR by myself as well, though only for quick trips.


Right now my husband is on a long business trip in a land far far away, all alone. As a late teen he actually moved to Singapore for a year to work! He did work for and live with some old family friends, but he wasn't connected to the family 24/7 and it was very much a solo time otherwise. So we bonded over our love of travel, both solo and shared.


Even if people don't back out of the trip, it's good to know that people are already planning on going it alone at least for parts of the trip. It's no fun to not have a good time but be afraid to leave and be on your own if only for a day or an afternoon. I did a "girl's" trip last year to see Madonna, and the togetherness was just too much, and their personalities just weren't a good match. The other college friend and I kept leaving the group, and at one point the other college friend left entirely...once I realized she had gone, I left too (I thought she was coming back). And the day after Madonna, instead of hanging out with them for the last day, I'd had enough, called a cab, left a note, and went from San Diego to Anaheim for a day at Disneyland. They all knew I had planned it, but I think they thought I would cancel it b/c no one had said they'd go with me...wrong! My flight actually left from that area instead of SD, and I heard later that they were amazed I had actually gone. They all feel the need to travel in a pack, and I don't.


For restaurants, I always bring my journal or a book (usually both), while walking I take pictures, I go where I want, do what I want...I have a good sense of if there's trouble around, and turn myself around as soon as I feel that.

I love traveling alone. I hope your trip goes well!!!!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I wanted to add that I've done many things (like I said previously I hope to vacation solo at some point) where a bunch of people are all about going and I end up doing it alone. OP, I see where your friend is coming from! It is frustrating when you feel tied to whether other people are going but so freeing when you realize you don't care whether they are or not! A few years ago I had a big group of friends that all wanted to go skydiving. I was the only one there jumping out of the plane .

 

[ChrizJen]

I would do it in a heartbeat. As another poster said, I may consider joining a tour group, but only because I don't know the lay of the land. Not because I'm afraid to travel alone. I actually enjoy alone time, and without a travel companion, I could come and go as I please, eat wherever I want, and not have to worry about what eveyone else wants.

 

[binny]

I sure would!

 

[daannzzz]

I have taken a few vacations alone (mostly to Disney) and I have enjoyed it very much. I would do it again no matter what location I chose.