Travelling alone is a whole different travelling experience. When most people think of vacations, they think of families travelling together, couples going on romantic excursions, or college students trekking to the yearly spring break hedonist rites. Travelling solo has some stigmas attached to it: surveys show that people believe travelling alone is “odd.” The stigmas run deeper with solo female travelers; while many Americans view men travelling solo as “odd”, many more view a woman travelling solo as “odd.” The most uncomfortable aspect about travelling alone seems to be eating dinner unaccompanied.
If none of these “stigmas” sounds like a deal-breaker to you and you are not worried about being perceived as “odd,” especially if you are a solo female traveler, than you are cut-out for travelling alone. Travelling alone has become more popular in recent years as people have realized that journeying unaccompanied has many advantages including following your own schedule, making no compromises in the sight-seeing catalog, and no outside stresses brought upon you from travelling companions. This might sound a little antisocial but we are talking about the advantages of vacationing alone, aren’t we? Travelling together can be a very stressful experience, especially with children. If your goal is a stress-free vacation: go it alone.
That said, where would you go as a solo traveler? What destinations have a reputation as solo-traveler-friendly? The answers to these questions depend on what you want from your solo trek. Basically it boils down to whether you want to meet other people – there are many “singles” themed destinations, cruises, etc. geared towards that goal; or do you want to do some solo-sightseeing and meeting others is not a priority?
If you are on the hunt for another single then there are many sources available for you to seek out your ideal destination. The world is full of singles wanting to meet others and accomplishing this while travelling seems to be a popular option. After all, while on vacation you’re basically stress-free and don’t have to worry about your everyday problems so you can concentrate on meeting someone interesting. Popular singles destinations include the Hedonism resorts in Jamaica, cruises in the Caribbean, South Beach in Florida, Ibiza in Spain, and Rhodes Island in Greece.
The other type of travelling alone involves solo-sightseeing and cultural observances. Perhaps you just want to get away from it all to relieve some stress or want to immerse yourself in a foreign culture all on your own. You are the adventurous type and stigmas don’t bother you in the least. To get away from it all I would suggest solo backpacking adventures in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Trails in Rocky Mountain National Park run for hundreds of miles and the solo adventurer can really get away from it all here. If this is your kind of option, play it safe and follow these safety tips:
• Tell someone where you’ll be and when you should be expected to return home.
• Bring a cell phone. Turn it off unless you need it – it could save your life under dire circumstances.
• Double-check that you have the essential survival tools – 1st aid kit, matches, etc.
If you wish to immerse yourself in a foreign culture a simple option for an American is London, England. Cities are always solo-friendly and you won’t get the odd looks for dining alone that you would at the suburban restaurant chain. The language barrier is (almost) non-existent, and there is a lot of culture to take in during your stay. Check out the pubs, the historical sites and take day trips to see Oxford, the Cotswolds, and Cambridge if you have the time.
The solo traveler can get what they want out of travelling alone provided they have little or no concern about the social stigmas attached to this activity. With the growing popularity of solo travel, these stigmas may become nonexistent in the near future.
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October 9th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I always travel alone, as my first priority in travelling is photography. Sometimes I wait for hours just to get a few shots, and sometimes I have to return to the same sight at different time to catch the good and golden light. For this one single reason, non-photography-enthusiast just can’t follow my schedule without any complain.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I’ve traveled alone, mainly for business. But I find it is a great time to reflect on life, do some writing, and to just refuel.
September 20th, 2008 at 2:16 am
If you are a man, you should also know that chivalrous behavior such as holding doors open for women you don’t know very well, buying them food and/or drinks, and escorting them to vehicles and buildings can be constituted as sexual harassment. Don’t stalk, abuse, and/or rape women, especially when they turn you down, nor insult them. You could end up being beaten and/or killed by their male family members, relatives, close friends, spouses, and/or boyfriends.
Also, you should know the laws about child molestation. You should never approach children and talk to them. They might report you to other adults and you could end up in prison and/or be executed. Don’t expose any part of your body, either.If you’re taller, huskier, and/or muscular than the local people, including the men, you could be seen as a threat. So avoid shirts that show your biceps and pectorals. (Wear loose and/or long-sleeved shirts.) Shorts and cologne should also be avoided as well.
If you are a student, please be careful not to dare local males in your age group to commit reckless behavior such as drinking, racing vehicles illegally, cliff diving, harassing females, vandalism, theft, etc. You could get them into trouble with their family members and you could also get into trouble with them as well.
Take a female companion you know and trust well with you, especially if you are traveling alone or with other men so that way local people don’t look at you with fear, including the women and children. Eye contact and smiling at them should. Above all, you should respect the culture and society when you travel. You don’t want to be seen as disrespectful.