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Can ayone please give share experiences on vacationing alone? I never vacation but in the coming months I have an opportunity to do so. It seems I have no one to vacation with. Friends or family either don't have the money (I'm not rich; I am s imple hourly wage but it about time I vacation for once) or are working.
Do you find yourself not having as much or any fun vacationing alone?
I would just love to read some experience on this. Thank You!
Do you find yourself not having as much or any fun vacationing alone?
I would just love to read some experience on this.
I spent last week in Reno/Carson City alone. My wife had to work and I was on furlough for a week. In many respects, I prefer to travel alone as it allows me to sit down and plan to do what I want to do each day. I do a lot of different things that bring me into contact with other people.
One of my friends is really into tours. He heads to Europe every year with the alumni association of the college that he attended. They do everything as a group of about thirty people. That is NOT my kind of travel but he always has a blast and really enjoys it.
I did a solo trip to Ireland for 2 weeks back in 1998. Rented a car. I had a fantastic time! No compromising - just going where I wanted. The only time I wished I had a companion was when I'd have a meal at a nicer restaurant and that was only so I wouldn't have to endure the looks of sympathy from other diners.
I haven't done any other long trips solo, but many short ones.
It really depends on you. Are you comfortable in your own company? Do you find it easy to meet people and make friends?
I did a solo ski vacation at Club Med one year and had a great time. Met lots of people, skied hard and partied hard. And no-one to complain if I got back to the room late
I absolutely LOVE vacationing alone. Don't get me wrong I have a great time when I vacation with my sister or my boyfriend (rarely, he's not much into travel). But I despise group tours and I love to explore places by myself or with one other person. Hardly anyone I know likes to do this independent oriented travel. So, I go by myself. And I love it! Sometimes to keep in touch I snap a picture on my phone and upload it or email it.
It really depends on you. Are you comfortable in your own company? Do you find it easy to meet people and make friends?
I did a solo ski vacation at Club Med one year and had a great time. Met lots of people, skied hard and partied hard. And no-one to complain if I got back to the room late
Depends on where and what you're planning on doing. My holiday wasn't people-oriented. I had brief conversations with locals but otherwise it was scenery, culture-oriented. I covered many miles.
I LOVE traveling alone. You meet more people than a couple does. The ONE disadvantage as Yank pointed out is that dinner in an upscale restaurant can be awkward but I don't let it bother me. When you remember the dinner later , you don't remember the awkwardness, only the meal. There are some places where they don't LET you eat alone. In Belfast, in particular, three nights in a row I started out my dinner in a neighborhood restaurant and had my chair pulled over to another table,made new friends ,got invitations. This won't happen if you look like you're on your honeymoon.
Even when I'm traveling with with someone, we split up during the day, meet for dinner. Better all around. (Obviously, I'm not a good candidate for organized group tours!)
I really enjoy NOT being the 'tour director' and not worrying about making travel partner 'happy', or appearing to be 'bossy' by being decisive. I really have a blast by myself, but meet tons of people and strike up conversations with locals. I also stay in private guest homes (travel directories) Very safe, comfortable, (cheap... $10 / night), and interesting.
The disadvantage is on road trips and not having an extra driver to help make tracks. For flying vacations, I almost PREFER solo. , big cities, foreign countries, trekking, backpacking, motorcycling, 'working travel' (when you pull off the road for a few weeks and get a job). All is easier solo. Adventure (Whitewater and wilderness climbing) may be the exception. I know a group of 70 yr old guys got airdropped into Alaska wilderness and they lost their rafts a few days into the trip, that would not have been fun alone. They made it, just a tad late for the flight out...
I travel either with my husband, or alone. Will not travel with other family or friends.
LOVE to travel by myself because I'm content with my own company and don't have to compromise my time with someone else. It can be quite addicting.
In '08 I spent 10 days in Manhattan alone, and would do it again.
However, I do only domestic travel.
You didn't state what kind of vacation you have in mind (big metroplitan city, hiking, road trip. . .) but make sure you're well-equipped with maps and information, and have reading material with you for quiet times.
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, big cities, foreign countries, trekking, backpacking, motorcycling, 'working travel' (when you pull off the road for a few weeks and get a job). All is easier solo. Adventure (Whitewater and wilderness climbing) may be the exception. I know a group of 70 yr old guys got airdropped into Alaska wilderness and they lost their rafts a few days into the trip, that would not have been fun alone. They made it, just a tad late for the flight out...
