Going on Vacation alone

[MrTurk]

Do any of you go on vacation alone? There are a lot of places I'd like to visit. But I dont know if I could go by myself. Not sure if I would still enjoy it with the thoughts of experiencing everything alone, unable to share it with anyone.

 

And no I really wouldnt want to go with any of the guys I know. They just arent in to the things I'm in, and I wouldnt want to spend days with one of them, with no break.

[Nik1]

Sounds boring to me.

[pcplod]

I could do it, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy it, so I don't. That can be somewhat embarrassing or awkward if one of those typical social conversations topics "What do you do or where do you go on holidays"? crops up.

 

Frankly, I don't give much of a $h1t what I do or where I go on holiday. It means nothing if the experience isn't shared at the time. Therefore, I have an unused passport, which is undoubtedly difficult to explain as people are always dubious, sceptical. But then, on the other hand, I am not going to waste the money just to have something inane to talk about. Hmm.

[LuckyLady13]

I went on vacation by myself when I was single...and it was AWESOME!!!!!

 

I was so nervous before I left. I thought it would be lonely. Instead, I spent the entire time wide-eyed and happy and in turn, became a total magnet for men. I couldn't go anywhere at all without guys approaching me like crazy and I stayed in the wildest, biggest, most luxurious hotel rooms I've ever seen. It was such an incredibly great experience that I'll always look back on it fondly.

 

I think the biggest surprise was how every single place I went, I had plenty of people to talk to and actually looked forward to getting back to my hotel room at night to crash out and get some rest.

 

If I ever find myself single again, first thing I'm going to do is go on a vacation!

[LOSTnMT]

I go on vacation by myself all the time, what is the big deal?

 

Live a little

[CarrieT]

I have gone on a lot of solo vacations - from weekend trips in my car to full, European jaunts, to solo Yosemite hikes.

 

A lot has to do with the type of person you are and what you like to do. I love cultural events (museums, theater, and fine dining) and don't mind dining solo with a book. I would be bored in a tropical place with only a beach - not my style.

[Roadkill007]

Do any of you go on vacation alone? There are a lot of places I'd like to visit. But I dont know if I could go by myself. Not sure if I would still enjoy it with the thoughts of experiencing everything alone, unable to share it with anyone.

 

And no I really wouldnt want to go with any of the guys I know. They just arent in to the things I'm in, and I wouldnt want to spend days with one of them, with no break.

 

 

I did travel awhile on my own awhile. It was pretty great. Although I got lost a lot, it was pretty amazing. You can also sometimes get into groups with other travelers if you stay at places like hostels. Make some friends and acquaintances on the road You should definitely try it unless you're the type that gets constantly pressured by the presence of other couples and things like that that might make one feel lonely.

[Mrlonelyone]

It depends on where you go. Some places are explicitly family oriented and will have mostly couples and families. Being a single male in that setting can be depressing or even dangerous. It is a fact that single men are seen as a threat in a way that single women are not. It goes back to the days on the Savannah where a single lone male showing up meant a possible deadly threat to the band/tribe.

 

There are some places, natural wonders being one of those, where going alone to take the whole thing in is totally acceptable.

 

There are places, like Disneyland, where you only go if you are married with children. Going to a well known honeymoon spot would also be depressing alone.

 

Just my two cents.

[Eternal Sunshine]

I am going on a trip around the world for few months next year, alone. I can't wait. This is my first solo trip - I always somehow had others tag along and NOT do half of the things I wanted to do. So I really prefer alone. I am sure I will meet people along the way.

[writergal]

I backpacked around Europe the summer after my father died when I was 21 and had an amazing time. After spending 3 weeks with family abroad, I decided to continue my travels solo, and went to countries and cities where I didn't know anyone. Bonus: when you stay in hostels, you meet other travelers and can form friendships quickly. It's a great way to sight-see with others who are staying at the same hostel and the friendships can last a lifetime too, as a side benefit.

 

I highly recommend solo traveling. If you're itching to travel but have some anxiety, start small with a weekend road trip to a nearby city in your state, or out of state but close by. Pick out specific sight-seeing activities that you want to do. Also, be creative and create your own itinerary because that will give you some structure to your day, as well as a budget for your meals. It can be done. And it can be fun too!

[MrTurk]

I am going on a trip around the world for few months next year, alone.

 

 

How do you see the whole word in only a few months??

[MissBee]

I've never actually been on vacation alone, but I'm not opposed to it. In the last couple of years I have really learned to enjoy my own company. I moved to a new city for graduate school and while I do have friends, initially, the social environment wasn't as ready-made as it was in college and people were at different stages in their lives, with more obligations, so it was hard to find a circle of steady people to hang out with. That caused me to branch out on my own more and I surprisingly loved it and even started preferring it sometimes.This was something I'd NEVER imagine, as I was more of the type who needed companionship all the time. I always wondered how could anyone go to the movies alone and worse, how could anyone eat at a restaurant alone??? LOL...however, now, I take myself out to eat, to the movies, museums, coffee shops, all kinds of places alone. The only thing I haven't done alone is go to a bar/club and mostly it's because of safety. Drinking, night time, living in the city...it is much wiser for a woman to do this with friends/a friend than alone.

 

So while I have not as yet done this, I travel alone often for professional purposes, so can see it as a possibility that I could go on a weekend getaway solo. In fact...why not! There have been times when I need to get away from school and stress and I've rented a hotel room for the night and just got away to room service, massages and tv, so it wouldn't be all that different to hop on a plane to somewhere else for a few days. But doing this with a partner or girlfriends seems more appealing, for obvious reasons.

[carhill]

Do any of you go on vacation alone? There are a lot of places I'd like to visit. But I dont know if I could go by myself. Not sure if I would still enjoy it with the thoughts of experiencing everything alone, unable to share it with anyone.

 

Except while married, I've been vacationing alone pretty much my whole adult life. When young, 'vacations' were following the race circuit during the season, adjunct to a full-time job or my own business. Later, world travel started and I wandered off to other continents and cultures to experience the world. This year, I'll probably take two or three such 'trips', some partially spent with friends around the country/world and some completely alone. I've already completed one, to a music festival.

 

In fact, I'm quite looking forward to spending some quality alone time at a cabin in Oregon while sussing out a retirement property to rehab or build on. The cool thing is, and this is what I've learned from traveling alone, one never knows who they'll meet in this huge world of people. All one has to do is be open to the experience. Good luck.

[Socks At Play]

Sounds boring to me.

 

It can be if you don't plan it out properly first.

 

I've been taking solo trips for around eight years now and overall I like it. I do find if I don't properly create a detailed itinerary before I go to fill up the days with activities, I always spend a significant amount of time doing nothing but driving or walking around aimlessly. Quite often there is an underlying reason for my travel beyond just wanting to see a place, like a concert I want to attend.

 

They're usually shorter trips, perhaps four days or so. I've yet to find a city where after four days I wished I had more time to explore. It's definitely different than when I travel with somebody because there are no competing interests in what should be seen-- I just go see what I want to see and ignore the rest.

 

When I travel I do wish I'd spend more effort in going to decent places to eat. Eating out alone is still one of those things I'm still not totally comfortable with. I always end up at fast food joints and food courts. (It's the same story close to home, even though within a four mile radius of me there are dozens of excellent, real restaurants. It's something I want to work on.)

 

I won't deny that travel is one of those activities that is better enjoyed with a partner. I have no idea when she is going to enter my life, so I can't deprive myself of these experiences in the meantime. I've found that if I don't get the hell out of Dodge when I'm taking vacation time then I might as well not take the time off at all.

[El Brujo]

Why is it that women seem to have the travel bug, but a lot of men don't?

 

Kind of sucks for a guy like me who prefers Home Sweet Home to hopping on a plane just to go and stare at a bunch of old monuments in someone else's country.

[jphcbpa]

I am heading on a solo vaca in August. Granted, a buddy of mine and his family will be there because his mother in law resides in that city. I am staying and traveling by myself however. I look forward to the alone time and yet it will be nice having friends close by to have dinner with or go sight seeing.

 

My g/f son is starting school that week along with him having a sporting event she wants to attend. I really wanted her to come, but that should not stop me from being able to go. She fully supports it as well. We have other trips planned out for the year that we will go on together.

 

Last week, I went with my son out of town for a few days and she went with her son and her sons friend out of the country.

 

I love having a healthy mix of together and alone time and having the trust and respect to be able to enjoy life.

[MrTurk]

I love having a healthy mix of together and alone time and having the trust and respect to be able to enjoy life.

 

Well thats just great that your situation has nothing to do with my post or my situation. You never have alone time....so you are using a part of your vacation as alone time.

 

How does that have anything to do with me being single and alone 24/7....and then going on vacation totally alone??

[USMCHokie]

I've been on a couple cruises by myself. I almost prefer that over going with other people...

[Moe'sTavern]

I've been on short 3-day weekend long mini vacas by myself. Generally, I don't mind going on vacations on my own since I'm used to solitary activities.

[MrTurk]

I'm going to take a drive to the Steven F Udvar Center next week. Doesnt sound very exciting by the name . . but its a huge national air and space museum. It has the Space Shuttle Discovery on display, a Concord, and a SR-71 Blackbird, along with 100's of other aircraft and exhibits. It'll only be a 2 day trip at most...but it gets me out of the house.

 

I think in the future I may take a flight out to Death Valley. I love the terrain and landscape of that area. Lots of hiking and sightseeing to do out there. And I dont mind the heat at all.

[Socks At Play]

I'm going to take a drive to the Steven F Udvar Center next week. Doesnt sound very exciting by the name . . but its a huge national air and space museum. It has the Space Shuttle Discovery on display, a Concord, and a SR-71 Blackbird, along with 100's of other aircraft and exhibits. It'll only be a 2 day trip at most...but it gets me out of the house.

 

It's a great place and be sure to bring an excellent camera!

[MrTurk]

So I did end up going to the museum alone and felt it was pretty amazing everything that I saw that day. I'm glad I went because I was contemplating not going at all.

 

One of the weird things though about the situation is when I came back to work after my vacation was over and people asked me if I did any thing.

 

 

I told them I went to the air and space museum…and the first thing out of each persons mouth.…"you went by yourself?". Nobody cared to hear about the museum, all the interest was focused on the fact that I went alone. Even friends or family said the same thing. "You don't have anyone to go with you?"

 

 

Has anyone else experienced anything like that? There was literally no interest in the museum once people found out I went alone. It was like everyone felt bad for me.

[jphcbpa]

Well thats just great that your situation has nothing to do with my post or my situation. You never have alone time....so you are using a part of your vacation as alone time.

 

How does that have anything to do with me being single and alone 24/7....and then going on vacation totally alone??

 

I have plenty of alone time. I do not live with my g/f or son.

[clia]

So I did end up going to the museum alone and felt it was pretty amazing everything that I saw that day. I'm glad I went because I was contemplating not going at all.

 

One of the weird things though about the situation is when I came back to work after my vacation was over and people asked me if I did any thing.

 

I told them I went to the air and space museum…and the first thing out of each persons mouth.…"you went by yourself?". Nobody cared to hear about the museum, all the interest was focused on the fact that I went alone. Even friends or family said the same thing. "You don't have anyone to go with you?"

 

Has anyone else experienced anything like that? There was literally no interest in the museum once people found out I went alone. It was like everyone felt bad for me.

 

I go a lot of places by myself, and I've never had that reaction from anyone. A museum is a great place to go by yourself. If the options are to go alone or not go at all...I always choose go alone.

[MrTurk]

I go a lot of places by myself, and I've never had that reaction from anyone. A museum is a great place to go by yourself. If the options are to go alone or not go at all...I always choose go alone.

 

Anytime that anyone has ever told me about where they went on vacation, or just any random story about some place they visited....I have never asked WHO they went with...or did they go alone. I dont get it??

 

The only thing I can think of...is that everyone knows I'm single...and maybe they were more interested in being nosy, wondering if I went with a woman. I just thought it was very odd the way people reacted.