d3vi0uz

I can relate. That also happens when I'm with people even when I'm not traveling.

Grinds my gears when they don't listen.

stormlover

Traveling solo means one blissful word to me: Freedom!

RustyC

Excellent testimonial. ^

Am an ISTP myself. Many introverts aren't heavily into verbal communication, and that can actually be an ASSET when up against a language barrier, because you're already used to miming or signaling things or finding out information in ways besides asking people (as in the old "Why won't he ask for directions?" thing with males that drives females crazy).

Being able to indulge curiosities is a great privilege. One of the great things about the old Lonely Planet books that many people don't get today is how you could use downtime (e.g. a night in a guesthouse in a place with no nightlife) to read ahead about other places that weren't yet on the radar screen.

I put together what turned out to be the best trip I'd ever taken doing that...from Jakarta I read ahead in the Indonesia tome and got on the Internet (when it was expensive to do that) for a marathon 5-hour session to try to bang out an itin using command lines on the old easySABRE.

It was a real kludge but got me to Ambon by air for a few days (via Bali and Ujung Padang) and then on the Dobonsolo for 3 more to Jayapura (via Manokwari and Biak), where I'd get on cargo planes to/from the Baliem Valley (experience of a lifetime). Then another cargo plane back and more puddle jumpers back to Ambon, a boat to Banda Neira (the old nutmeg cluster) and more days around there, and then a plane to Bali and a few R&R days. The Maluku and Irian Jaya destinations would become too dangerous not long after, and I swear if I had access to as much info then as now I would have likely talked myself out of half the trips I took around that time period. But I'm glad I went.

RustyC

I sometimes have that tendency, too, and it can be easy to forget how it could drive companions nuts.

Explorer789

If you are extrovert, decent looking, and sociable, solo traveling might be quite fun because you have no problem meeting new people and making new friends. In fact, you may even crave it.

But as an introvert, traveling solo just feels lonely without a travel companion. Of course, the key is finding someone who is willing to do most of the same stuff as you. Could be a friend or even a sibling.

Badenoch

Air travel can bring out the worst in people and those of us with more experience are accustomed to the minor irritants that set less frequent travelers off.

Solo travel has its pluses and minuses. Some of my best trips were on my own while others were with compatible travel companions. It depends where you are going and why.

Choose your travel companions with care. My worst solo trip was not nearly as bad as the trip my wife and I took to the UK with her sister and husband. Never again.

pinniped

I take about half of my business trips solo. I actually like these trips.

I can work out whenever I want. On a recent trip, I planned to go out for a 1-hour run from the hotel after work. I was having a really good run, so I turned it into a 2-hour run. I kind of got lost on a trail network and didn't really care. At some point I thought "I guess I should sort of turn in the general direction of the hotel", but there was no stress about it.

I eat lots of sushi. Sushi bars always welcome solo diners. Sushi chefs, and other diners at sushi bars, and usually fun to talk to. And the food is a lot more interesting than the other common home for solo diners, the sportsbar.

I can work really weird hours...if I need to. I don't want to do this *all* the time, but when I do it's actually a stress reliever to get stuff done at 6AM or whatever.

Nobody I regularly travel with is as efficient at the actual *travel* part as I am. So it's nice to do that part at my pace without worrying about anyone else. Don't have to hang around security waiting for non-Precheck people. Don't have to wait after deplaning for people at the very back of the plane. Don't have to walk at the pace of the slowest person. Don't have to deal with someone else renting the car without an expedited process. All that stuff...

Proudelitist

You forgot to add the part where the person they ask about their connecting gate and interline baggage is the closest janitor.

BadgerBoi

I see that you've traveled with my mother. Her specialty is picking someone to
ask wno is garanteed not to share a language that any of us might speak.

Proudelitist

Janitors, retail workers..just about anyone in a uniform of any kind in an airport must CERTAINLY know about your itinerary and how to handle all airline issues!

dodgeflyer

Agree. I thought I was going insane reading this.

I just spent a month travelling of which I was one week with my partner, and the other three pretty much on my own. I can be an extrovert if I want to but I would rather have drinks with my partner and talk about whatever we talk about. Travelling with him is one of the great pleasures in life. Seeing things is much better seen with someone else.

blueferrari

because you and only you control everything. budget, directions, destinations, pace, style, whatever it is.

but sometimes I get lonely and it's uncomfortable when there's nobody to talk to (and I Identify myself as introvert to begin with)

Calliopeflyer

I like a kind of mix -- doing things on my own, but meeting with someone periodically to share experiences and dine together (I get enough of eating solo at home). My siblings and I do a vacation "together" every year -- we go together, eat dinner together, but may or may not spend our days together. That's a perfect mix for me.

The great stuff is being able to set your own time, and change your mind at the last minute -- like this? spend more time. don't like this? leave early. get a whim to stop here? just do it.

Maybe it depends on how often you're alone in the rest of your life? I've lived alone for 30+ years, so I am used to doing stuff alone, but also am tired of doing EVERYTHING alone.

lamphs

I agree with all of the above. I traveled solo for many trips including 3 RTWs. On the other hand, I enjoy traveling with my 'vacation girlfriend', as we are very compatible when traveling. But her vacation flexibility is much less than mine.

kalderlake

I visit cities, and I do make rough itineraries--some attractions\events require scheduling or advance purchases.

But much of my time is spent wandering, starred google map in hand, choosing where to go next on not much more than a whim.

I can't imagine a travel partner putting up with that for more than an afternoon.