Would you be happy to travel alone?
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31046)
United Kingdom
July 24, 2011 9:46am CST
My first trip alone was when I was 18 years old. I had worked as a children's nanny in Finland. Then I traveled around Europe on an Inter Rail Pass. I stayed in youth hostels and met friendly international backpackers. My second trip alone was to Tunisia and I have always found men hard to handle in Islamic countries. I stayed in a hotel and had a sea view. I traveled around the world on my own when I was 20 to 21 years old. I had a working holiday visa for Australia. My trip lasted for just over one year. In my mid twenties I traveled alone to Israel and Jordan. I spent months away on my trip to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands alone. My best trip was when I was in my mid thirties and I traveled on my own to Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. I climbed Mayan ruins, went on a cave adventure, spent a couple of nights in a tree house and a couple of nights in a thatched beach hut. My last trip alone was to Romania and Bulgaria. Since then I have traveled with my children.
Would you be happy to travel alone?
Why or why not?
Have you ever had a trip on your own?
If so how did it go?
2 people like this
26 responses
@watergirl (567)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
Back in college, my university was miles away from home. It was inevitable for me to travel alone on vacation. I tried going by bus, boat, and airplane on my own. Traveling alone is OK. You don't have to mind a travel buddy. You just think of yourself and your luggage. You can stop for sightseeing or picture taking whenever you want. But having company also has its own benefits. It's always good to have someone to talk to or even someone who can take a picture of you! 
Ever since I had a family of my own, I've always traveled with them.
Ever since I had a family of my own, I've always traveled with them.@watergirl (567)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
sorry for the double post. Having problems with my browse and connection.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
19 Aug 11
I can do thing alone like eating in a cafe, watching a movie but
not traveling alone in a foreign country. I do not feel 'safe'.
If I have to travel alone, I would join a local excursion with
guides or something like that. I normally travel with colleagues,
friends and always with my family. Spending time eating together,
taking photos and admiring the beautiful scenery, watching
the sunrise and sunset together will be delighting if we can
share the beautiful moments with our love ones. I really admire
you, you are definitely a versatile traveler, great job!
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
2 Aug 11
I would be happy to travel alone but, I love having my husband with me to share things. I think I would prefer travelling on my own if it was for a particular reason such as to take pictures and then I would not need to worry about asking hubby to be up early for sunrise pictures, that kind of thing but, the idea of tarevl on my own doesn't bother me although I know I love to share the experience with somebody too.
@princess8881 (1630)
• South Korea
2 Aug 11
Gosh..I envy you..:) I hope I could travel to soon.. but alone?I dont think so.. its just that I think it would be better if I am with my special someone, Im sure it will be more memorable, and honestly I dont really like the idea of travelling alone to the countries I dont really know yet..(maybe this is because of watching too much horror movies lol)
Anyway glad you have a nice experience Im sure money cant buy those good experience you had... CHEERS for that :)
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
27 Jul 11
I traveled many times in my life and I went to far away places from my country. Most of the times alone and some together. If you travel alone could be bored, because you have nobody to share the experience, although you can meet people during the trip and then will be better. Also you can travel alone to a country, where you have people that you know, and visit them. Most important thing is that you enjoy your trip, alone or with company.
@brew2x (3094)
• Philippines
25 Jul 11
I haven't traveled alone yet. I actually planned before to do this when I was still single thinking that it would be such an adventure. Now that I have my own family, I don't want to travel alone. I want to be with them as much as I could. I want them to see what I would see and experience (good) what I would experience.
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
26 Jul 11
I would be too frightened to travel by myself so I guess I couldn't do it. Weren't you afraid at all? I would never let my 28 year old daughter travel by herself either.
I would be too afraid of something happening to her. It's different if she had a destination to go to for a job, like you did for the nanny job, but to just travel around like you did after. I couldn't let her do that, seriously.
I think for a girl to travel alone is reckless, to be honest. I think you were very lucky that nothing bad happened to you, thank goodness. I think you are too brave.
@judelen (428)
• Philippines
25 Jul 11
Hello! Better for you, you traveled a lot. For me I only traveled within my country. I enjoy travel alone because I can do whatever I want without hesitation. I can go wherever I want to go. But frankly I'm a loner type of person so being alone is not bad for me. Sometimes, when I have my travel especially an official business, I really go out not with my companion because I want to go shopping alone.
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
25 Jul 11
Hi maxi,
I don't want to travel alone. I feel bore when I travel alone. Joy or sorrow should should be shared with somebody. It is just my thinking.
Again I'm requesting you to write a book on travel. You are one of the most fortunate persons who visited so many countries. It will fulfill our thirst of traveling.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
25 Jul 11
Wow, you have been to so many different places! Really sounds like an amazing experience 
I have only traveled alone once, and I really enjoyed it. There was a country I wanted to go to, and nobody with holidays at the same time as me, so I thought "why not?" and went by myself.
I really felt the freedom of not having to be with people who might want to go to a different place, or go back to the hotel too soon, or complain, etc 
Now I think that I can enjoy to travel with company and alone
I have only traveled alone once, and I really enjoyed it. There was a country I wanted to go to, and nobody with holidays at the same time as me, so I thought "why not?" and went by myself.
I really felt the freedom of not having to be with people who might want to go to a different place, or go back to the hotel too soon, or complain, etc
Now I think that I can enjoy to travel with company and alone @watergirl (567)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
Back in college, my university was miles away from home. It was inevitable for me to travel alone on vacation. I tried going by bus, boat, and airplane on my own. Traveling alone is OK. You don't have to mind a travel buddy. You just think of yourself and your luggage. You can stop for sightseeing or picture taking whenever you want. But having company also has its own benefits. It's always good to have someone to talk to or even someone who can take a picture of you!
Ever since I had a family of my own, I've always traveled with them.
Ever since I had a family of my own, I've always traveled with them. @Shankerj (241)
• India
27 Jul 11
I had some trips long back, but I didn't enjoy them as much as I enjoy when I travel with my family and friends.
When you are travelling with your friends and family it gives you a feeling of some additional security as well, which enhances the enjoyment of the trip.
@I_LUV_U (2519)
• India
25 Jul 11
Oh yes, I would love to travel alone. All the time, unless I am on a honeymoon or traveling to a country where language will be a handicap. I like to explore and unravel things entirely on my own - so if there is a companion sticking by me, they become a constant source of hindrance to my experiencing a place in its totality. Of course, there are trips you must make with company, such as treks and other expeditions, but if we are talking about intellectually enriching ventures, I think I'd rather voyage all by myself.
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
25 Jul 11
I'm so jealous You're only in your 30's and you've already traveled the world That's my dream! I don't like traveling alone though. It scares me. But it's more of like wanting to share the experience with another person. Good thing that my husband also likes to travel. We used to travel a lot before but only within the country coz we couldn't afford worldwide. But we were able to travel to Thailand during our honeymoon. We seldom travel now because of our baby but we're looking to travel to Disney Land & Palawan when she turns 5 and 10 respectively
You're only in your 30's and you've already traveled the world That's my dream! I don't like traveling alone though. It scares me. But it's more of like wanting to share the experience with another person. Good thing that my husband also likes to travel. We used to travel a lot before but only within the country coz we couldn't afford worldwide. But we were able to travel to Thailand during our honeymoon. We seldom travel now because of our baby but we're looking to travel to Disney Land & Palawan when she turns 5 and 10 respectively @ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
25 Jul 11
For me not because I only one who know the place Ive known and it is selfish way but in this time needed to have accompany so that the bad person can't easily do the thing's they wanted in you.
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
25 Jul 11
I've had just as many trips away on my own as I've had with my wife. I'm just as happy in my own company as I am in someone else's. The advantage of having someone with you is that you can share the experiences & do some of the "sillier" things that you wouldn't see any point to doing on your own. You seem to fit in better at shows & festivals when you are with someone, for example. Some of the disadvantages are that you must take into account the other persons wishes & can't just change your mind or do what you want to do when you want to do it, nor deal with situations arising as you think is best. If I had people I was responsible for, I wouldn't feel good about traveling without them, unless it were for a specific purpose which would also benefit them & I had their blessing to do so. I can't really compare each trip - they were each perfectly fine in their own right.
@jammyd (7)
• Philippines
25 Jul 11
I seriously would like to experience to travel on my own. The farthest that I've gone was to a certain province (well, let's say it was just a sub urb) which was just an hour away from our place here in the city. I want to try going to a province (and hopefully to another country) with just me, myself and I. So far, all of my trvels are either with a colleague or a friend. In short, I am always with someone.
I think travelling alone is a good experience. It helps you become independent, even if it's for just a short period of time. Another is, I think it does help if you just really want to be alone. Kind of like a personal thing, wherein it would give you time to think about things, plus you'd get to enjoy yourself. Well, that's how I see it. :))
