filed in Excursions
Where To Go Next?
I’m not an easy traveller. In part, it’s the nester in me. I’m also a lousy sleeper, something even harder to do on the road. On a recent trip to Florida, within minutes of being inside the hotel room, I unpacked the suitcase, and put my book on the table beside the bed, replicating its place at home. On the plus side of being single is getting to decide on excursions without compromise. But do you travel alone, and if not, who goes with you? I’d love to hear about your next journey?
Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
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Wendy, this is one of my few complaints about being single. I like to travel but haven’t done it alone. At best I’ve gone and stayed with a friend out of town and entertained myself during the day. But a full on trip alone? Every excursion, dinner, etc alone? Haven’t tried it. I think it would also be expensive. I was supposed to go somewhere with a single girlfriend first week of April for her 40th but she has hemmed and hawed about where for about 6 months. I doubt at this point it will happen.
I recently met someone at a bar. We started chatting and he asked me out. We’ve gone out twice. It’s been fun but I have no expectations what it may lead to if anything. Makes me think maybe I should try weekend trips to new cities and go out alone for fun since apparently I can still get picked up!
Cool story, Claire. Keep us posted. When I travel for business, I sometimes go to the hotel’s bar after dinner. And as an out-of-towner, I’m so relaxed. I’ll start up a conversation with anyone. I feel much more on guard in my own city.
I’m not a big fan of traveling alone, but I know there are FPS readers who really enjoy it. Check back for their comments.
I don’t travel much (maybe once or twice a year), but I adore traveling solo. I usually have a short list of places to visit and play the rest by ear. It’s so much fun to explore even mundane things like grocery stores (you can tell a lot about a neighborhood by what the stores carry) and riding public transportation to random places. It also forces me to step out of my introvert comfort zone and talk to strangers, which reminds me that people are usually very kind.
Do you make dinner plans in advance or wing it once you’re on the road?
I’m a vegan and a foodie, so I always find places to eat first and plan the rest of my trip around that. It’s a great way to visit neighborhoods I wouldn’t have otherwise gone to. On a trip to Tacoma, my restaurant visit led me to a 1-mile nature trail that took me to the ocean!
I love that food is an organizing principle of your travels.
I frequently travel alone and I love it. Most recently during a trip to Italy, a friend joined me for part of the time, but then I was on my own after she returned home after a few days. It was the best of both worlds. When I’m solo, I tend to strike up interesting conversations with store keepers, waitresses, etc.
Where are you going on your next trip?
I’m hoping to do a quick trip to London (visit friends) and Ireland (solo) this spring. I live in Lithuania, so I’m trying to take advantage of travel opportunities in Europe while I can.
It’s so nice to be able to make quick trips around Europe from your home. (Such a long haul from California.)
I’m a longtime advocate of traveling alone! I travel white a bit for work, and have taken several personal trips.
I find that I’m so much more in the moment when traveling solo. It’s great to have a friend to chat with, but when you’re alone it’s like every sense is hyper-aware, and I find I’m able to take in so much more of my environment. And like a few folks said above, there is a certain sense of freedom and abandon that comes from socializing solo when traveling (in stark contrast to my own city, where I am notably more guarded).
I’ve been dating someone for a few months, and we’re planning a two week trip this summer. I’m actually concerned that I’ll miss the perks of solo travel… I may consider an afternoon (or whole day) apart for solo adventuring, then regrouping to share stories.
Sigh… please ignore typos. Switched from an iPhone to an Android recently, and I feel like a toddler learning to write…
Do you like your new Android phone?
It’s definitely an adjustment getting used to the new UI (so much of it is muscle memory, I’m realizing), but it’s only been a week.
The benefits are great battery life and unlimited storage- that sold me!
Last week in Florida for a conference, I was using an HP laptop (unlike my MACs at home). My fingers didn’t know where to go.
Where are you going on your 2-week trip this summer?
We’re going to Europe. He is Irish (born and raised in Galway), so visiting his family there. Next stop is Paris, and then potentially somewhere in Spain (still deciding on the last stop). I haven’t been to Europe in over a decade, so really looking forward to it.
What a cool trip. How great to be visiting people who live there.
In 2004 at age 46 I took my first ever solo trip and I loved it!
However sometimes I feel guilty not taking anyone. But as guilty as I feel I think they are good for me they help me feel independent and strong.
Does traveling with a dog count as solo? Now that I am retired my dog Tula and I are planning some road trips to pet friendly historical hotels and inns. The first 2 in the planning stages are the William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa and The Barksdale House in Charleston SC.
Gigi I love this! I have a daydream one day if I lose my job, get fired, quit in a huff I will liquidate and take me and my dog on a great American road trip visiting national parks.
I’ve actually had two miserable jobs where I gave myself a deadline by which I would quit and do this, but each time a better opportunity came along before my self-imposed secret deadline.
Claire it’s something to look forward to! And your dog will be very happy too!
Your daydream/plan sounds awesome too, I hope you get there sooner than you ever imagined.
Here’s to traveling with pets!
Here’s to pets, period.
As a Career Coach I’m wondering, how did those better opportunities come along? What did you do to make them happen?
What’s the first national park on your wish list?
I’d say that traveling with a dog still counts as solo. But I love that you’re taking Tula along.
I love travelling alone!
I always hoped to travel with a partner (that’s my idea of bliss) but then it didn’t happen and I realised I was holding myself back from travel because of it.
In 5 weeks I head off to NYC (I’m from Australia) alone. I’m nervous about moments of loneliness but I have joined some meet up groups so hopefully that helps and allows me to go out at night etc.
Otherwise, I’m super excited! It’s the trip I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go on since I was 21 (I’m 39). No compromises!
I’m originally from NYC. And it’s such a great city. What are some of your plan there?
Oh, wonderful, Wendy!
It’s so indulgent, I feel embarrassed talking about it – isn’t that funny? I’m having 3 weeks just in NYC. I figure I always book in so many cities each trip but this time I want to take my time and behave as though I live there. Long walks, maybe visit the gym, galleries obviously. Vintage clothes shopping.
I have an Air BnB in Bed-Sty in Brooklyn .
Where in NYC are you from?
ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!! Born in Manhattan. Raised in Queens. Now, I’m strictly a California girl. You’ll have such fun.