Anyone here enjoy traveling solo?

[MrHT]

I'm a single guy so I've never had a significant other to travel with. So, I've always traveled with my parents. While I like my parents and enjoy traveling with them, I always found going away with them to be a bit boring and a bit tedious sometimes. Recently, I decided to try going away solo. I've been hesitant for so many years because I always thought traveling alone with sad and pathetic. But I did it for the first time last year when I spent two days in Philadelphia. And last week, I went to Washington DC for three days. Both trips were AMAZING! In fact, they were so amazing that my trip went by extremely quickly and I ended up so sad that it ended so fast. I just can't believe how great my solo trips were.

Anyone else enjoy traveling alone? The reason I ask is because I don't think many people do it, so I'm curious to know if anyone here does it and feels the same way as me.

[Mike16]

I'd love to travel solo as I could easily stop whenever/wherever I wanted but haven't done so yet.

[Al_The_Strange]

Photography and video are a couple of my hobbies, so to find interesting places and great shots I do travel on my own sometimes. It's especially liberating to do what you want without having to conform to somebody else's schedule and wants.

When I lived in Utah I was surrounded by picturesque sights, so I would commonly roam around local towns, walking paths, and mountain roads. Also took it upon myself to see some national parks (Bryce, Zion), the Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde. Haven't really done a solo trip since moving, but I will have one coming up in July for work, and chances are I might try and see Washington DC when it happens.

[Cinema84]

I enjoy traveling solo for the same reasons I enjoy going to the movies by myself: I like to "savor" my surroundings without having that enjoyment interrupted by someone else's issues or drama, whomever that may be (girlfriend, dad, buddy, whatever). I've taken two solo trips and enjoyed them both. Plus, I frequently fly solo whenever I visit relatives in the Caribbean and I enjoy those as well. Airports and flying in general can be major hassles so adding a person always adds extra frustration. I've ended up dragging someone else's bags around as well as my own stuff every time I fly with a relative. I'm glad airlines are now charging for bags because every time we flew in a group people would always bring half their belongings with them and someone else always ended up carrying them (namely me).

My two trips solo were cross-country journeys from New York City to Los Angeles, CA by land. Both trips took 2 1/2 days by rail and bus, respectively, and while the trip was long and exhausting I ended up enjoying them very much. You always meet people on these trips so it's never boring but I actually like to be by myself. It's the best way IMO to "contemplate" your surroundings

[Batman1980]

I'm not against it, also not for it. Don't like plane trips in general due to the logistics and how annoying people get on planes.

[fatediesel]

I like going on solo trips to Las Vegas. I've been there 10 times and 6 of those trips have been solo. I just enjoy being able to do whatever I want and walking around the strip to the different casinos and shops. I have fun going there with my friends but I probably enjoy it as much or more when I'm solo.

[sk33tr]

ya know....i think i'm on a roll, man....it's time to go solo...

[InuYashaCrusade]

I prefer it. I like the feeling of being in another state where no one knows me. It's kind of a rush when you've lived in one town for a majority of your life.

[Monterey Jack]

Have never had the privilege.

[JamesKurtovich]

I'm fine with it, but I prefer a companion. Especially when I eat out or go on a hike.

[traths]

If I'm going to a city destination I prefer to go solo but if I go somewhere like a National Park I prefer to go with someone because it's never a good idea to go hiking alone.

[civiclx]

Both of my European trips (Ireland 2013 and Germany/Austria 2015) have been solo and I had a great time on both. Of course I wish I had a friend that I could have shared the experience with but I had a great time on my own.

[rkolinski]

Just came back from Samburu National Reserve, Mount Kenya National Park, Lake Elmenteita, Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai Mara Game Reserve (all in Kenya) and Serengeti and Ngorongoro Game Reserves in Tanzania. This is my second SOLO vacation in Africa; the only way to visit the African continent in my opinion. My last solo vacation in Africa was in 2015 when I went to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

[alex441]

There is no fun in traveling alone. I think traveling together as a group is fun and leaves a lot to be remembered.

[unberechenbar]

When I visited Japan for a short exchange program I traveled alone for a week after the program and had a lot of fun. I planned everything beforehand so there weren't really any surprises. I met up with some of the other international students in the middle and we were able to attend a big local festival. Stayed in hostels the whole time so it was pretty cheap and met a cool guy who was half South African/half Japanese. Knowing the local language definitely helped.

[kosvines]

Sure. Pre-covid, I used to travel somewhere on the other side of the world (usually Australia, NZ and around) for 4-5 weeks, all by myself. Always had a great time.

[Hintermann]

When I was younger, I used to visit various American Mational Parks (I linve in the UK) specifically for well known hiking trails. On such trips, I definitely preferred to be alone since it is easier to appreciate nature that way and I could stop and start as I liked. I have done hikes in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, Sequoia, Great Smoky Mts, Guadalupe Mountains, Congaree and Everglades National Parks over the years. Also in Lincoln National Forest (NM), along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grand Canyon etc. Still on my bucket list (but my arthritic left knee may limit this) is the Olympic National Park in Washington state.

[edmonddantes]

Its tough because on many situations, most of them in fact, traveling solo is not just more fun, but you also make the most of your time being alone and don't have to stop your inner thoughts to "entertain" the other part. If you have a rich inner life, traveling alone is the way to grow and mature quickest that I know, but then, theres the night, in all its possibilities, and in certain cities being alone at night could be torture, not just because they're romantic cities, but because there are many forms of fun that are planned for 2 people (and im not just talking about the ones you're thinking).

So, I think there are certain trips and certain places that definitely are best suited for solo flying, but there are others that aren't, and you have to plan your trip and expectations accordingly, but I'll tell you something. Given the nature of our world, and the social trends developing, I can promise you that traveling solo is something thats going to become more and more popular, and less and less "embarrassing" to do.

If you think back at literature and movies and art, you'll see that a lot of self discoveries, epiphanies and evolutions have been obtained through the main character embarking on a journey alone. Imagine conrad's heart of darkness with a guy and his GF, or a guy and his parents with the family dog and his bro. Seriously, ultimately you have to face the man in the mirror, and you've got to do it knowing who you are, which is difficult when you're all the time surrounded by people.

So basically, dont travel alone to venice or paris or buenos aires, but you can explore some weird rural area in russia with only yourself as a company and be richer for it. Go to the far east, or to stay with bedouins in the sahara alone. Do your spiritual travel alone, and your more mundane travel with a girl (or a guy or something in between if you're so inclined)

thats my recommendation, though we're all our own universes and what works for one doesnt for the other

[Dylanm10]

I am a big fan of traveling solo and spending time with myself. I believe that in this fast-paced world we should take out time for ourselves and spend some time alone to know ourselves better.

It helps you to put thoughts into perspective, gives you time to analyze what is going on in your life, and might help you overcome any blockages or issues that you are dealing with in life through clarity and self-reflection.

I have traveled solo twice in my life and both the experiences were amazing, there was no one to bother me I was completely on my own and I was able to figure out and reflect on all that was currently going on in my life!

However, I believe that living alone might get depressing at some point humans are meant to stay together with others we are social creatures, and the absence of friends and family for a long time can have detrimental effects.