<p>I traveled alone quite a bit when I was young–a month solo in Europe, a month solo in Latin America. Frankly, I found that I met far more people when I was traveling alone than I did years later traveling as a couple or a family. Plus, I could choose how to allocate my time. I now travel solo domestically for work, and look forward to resuming international solo travel as soon as the nest empties.</p>
<p>In my 20s I traveled solo though a number of Asian countries, meeting folks along the way at the hostels where we’d stay. We’d buddy up for a while, go on to the next port, meet someone new. It was an amazing time, and one of the joys was the bonding I did with folks from other counties as we traveled together. I do wonder if that is still possible, to bond with folks as closely as we did in those days, as it is less unique than in the 70s. </p>
<p>These days, I travel to where I have family. Living essentially alone, I don’t want to travel alone as well. I think. But a few years back when I met my D for a few weeks in France, I had a night alone in Paris before returning home. That night is one of the more memorable of the trip, as I was discovering Paris on my own terms, not through another filter. The colors, the sights, the beauty were more intense alone, and I was reminded of those early days, and how empowered I felt figuring things out for myself. So am contemplating solo travel, if I ever have the time again. </p>
<p>mathmom, love the idea of the group tables, and a chance to socialize while alone.</p>
<p>I travel extensively alone–both for pleasure and business. I enjoy time traveling with family members and friends, but really enjoy the get-aways by myself. (Dubai, Greece, Turkey, Peru–you name it.) So easy to get best seats at the theatre for just 1. Restaurants, sit at the bar and chat up the bartender. I make friends easily wherever I go and often end up meeting up with new acquaintances for a meal or a walk-about. MomLive, go get 'em.</p>
<p>I am glad to read of so many women traveling for pleasure alone. When I drove cross country alone some of my friends thought I was doing something either brave or foolhardy. I thought nothing of it.</p>
<p>I have traveled alone in northern Italy (Milan, Verona, Padua) and enjoyed it enormously. I love walking and exploring small cities (well, Milan isn’t small, but the central area is). Being alone meant I could eat when I wanted, visit what I wanted, etc. A keen pleasure was the municipal swimming pools, where I was the only non-Italian but people were friendly and smiling (bathing caps are required–try communicating that without speaking the language!).</p>
<p>I have traveled fairly often on business by myself and even though we’ve flown with H, it often seemed alone when we traveled for his business (he would be off for the entire day at conferences). I have not traveled for leisure alone, but think it could definitely be fun as well, though I do enjoy going around with H when our schedules permit.</p>
<p>When I am on business, I prefer to be alone mostly anyway, as otherwise I don’t feel as free to mingle and network as much, checking to see what H is up to.</p>
<p>I like to travel by myself, something I have not done that much of- my first flight by myself was four years ago to Santa Barbara to see a couple music performances.
Then last year I visited Detroit, although I mostly visited with friends.</p>
<p>I hate the flying, but I like meeting the locals & only having myself to depend on instead of expecting someone else to perhaps share the duties of finding where we are.</p>
<p>I don’t really like sleeping by myself…unless it is a really big bed, then I like to spread out with books and my ipad incase I find the need to watch 30rock in the middle of the night.</p>
<p>Wow. I am amazed at the number of women here who have traveled alone. I don’t think I know many women IRL who would do that. A few that do it for business, so they would probably be fine doing it for recreation as well but, really, most of my friends won’t even go to NYC alone. To me, it sounds like a few days of heaven. I’m always so impressed by the people here at CC! You guys have empowered me.</p>
<p>One of my good friends traveled around the world alone. She loved it! A young woman my D knows traveled around the world alone recently, between her junior & senior years in college. They are the extreme … but I have traveled alone to see my parents & D, and my D travels alone on occasion. None of us feels uncomfortable traveling or eating alone. It’s kind of nice to be on your own once in awhile. Relax and enjoy the time for yourself.</p>
<p>Our kids travel much more than we do. Both traveled a lot with their k-12 schools,youngest going as far as Ghana via The Netherlands as a senior, then traveled to India returning home via England the next year.</p>
<p>I haven’t had to see how well I do with a foreign language, its tricky enough in Vancouver BC with the currency.</p>
<p>So encouraging to read this. I was going to start a topic on this very subject soon. I have resources to do some traveling now but my mother is very worried about the thought. It is funny because I live alone hundreds of miles from her now, so what does it matter ?!?!?!! I don’t have any one to travel with and last time paid for her to come with me. However, I like doing things alone and we have different interests. For now I would just like to visit different areas in the US and Canada and maybe venture further out one day.</p>
<p>^ with cell phones, it’s so much easier to stay in touch with family, when on a distance trip. Not dependent on mail that took a week or figuring out some country’s phone system. Just make sure you have the right cell set-up for intl travel.</p>