Americans fear solo travel
Sep 14, 2017, 8:06 am
#61
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This. And I don't think it's just the USA.
There's a lot of social stigma associated with doing things alone. I've wasted so much time and lost so many potential experiences because I didn't have anyone to go with. I since learned how to be alone, and now doing things solo is perfectly natural to me. I've had many more positive experiences because of it. I've had friends really want to see movies in the cinema but never actually went in the three months it was showing because 'they had nobody to go with' and it baffles me now.
I do find there's an underlying assumption that if I'm alone in a tourist hotspot, I must be waiting for someone. I regularly had an 'Are you waiting for your friends?' inside Las Vegas shows from those people wanting to take pictures of you. No, I'm on a business trip here, and I'm seeing these shows in the evening because I can.
As a solo female traveller, South Africa was pretty bad. Every restaurant I went to usually involved the server thinking something was wrong with me that I was on my own, with many questions fired at me about whether I actually have friends. At one point I was very nearly refused a table because of it. I found women were generally worse than men. But that's cultural variation.
There's a lot of social stigma associated with doing things alone. I've wasted so much time and lost so many potential experiences because I didn't have anyone to go with. I since learned how to be alone, and now doing things solo is perfectly natural to me. I've had many more positive experiences because of it. I've had friends really want to see movies in the cinema but never actually went in the three months it was showing because 'they had nobody to go with' and it baffles me now.
I do find there's an underlying assumption that if I'm alone in a tourist hotspot, I must be waiting for someone. I regularly had an 'Are you waiting for your friends?' inside Las Vegas shows from those people wanting to take pictures of you. No, I'm on a business trip here, and I'm seeing these shows in the evening because I can.
As a solo female traveller, South Africa was pretty bad. Every restaurant I went to usually involved the server thinking something was wrong with me that I was on my own, with many questions fired at me about whether I actually have friends. At one point I was very nearly refused a table because of it. I found women were generally worse than men. But that's cultural variation.
Sep 14, 2017, 8:29 am
#62
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
This has been a fascinating thread to read.
Personally, I enjoy solo travel and do it regularly. And when I do it I'm not on the lookout for other solo travelers to hang out with. The rare times when I do interact with other solo travelers are generally at meals around street food or counters. I enjoy those quick chats, and then going on our separate ways. Otherwise, dining alone has never really been an issue for me, except in Latin America. That's where I always feel a little uncomfortable because it seems like I'm a novelty and a point of attention.
I'm ambiguously ethnic, but I figure the baseball cap with a somewhat recognizable but not ubiquitous team logo on it clearly labels me as an American overseas.
Personally, I enjoy solo travel and do it regularly. And when I do it I'm not on the lookout for other solo travelers to hang out with. The rare times when I do interact with other solo travelers are generally at meals around street food or counters. I enjoy those quick chats, and then going on our separate ways. Otherwise, dining alone has never really been an issue for me, except in Latin America. That's where I always feel a little uncomfortable because it seems like I'm a novelty and a point of attention.
I'm ambiguously ethnic, but I figure the baseball cap with a somewhat recognizable but not ubiquitous team logo on it clearly labels me as an American overseas.
Sep 14, 2017, 8:31 am
#63
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Sep 14, 2017, 8:32 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2011
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This is based on my own personal sample size...that is how statistics work, they don't poll every single person. My sample size is now large enough that I can come to some conclusions, probably sampling around at least a 1000 people and 99% of them avoided solo travel, expressed a terrible aversion to it, expressed shock that I travel alone or have arrived to a place alone.
Sep 14, 2017, 8:58 am
#65
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I'm American and have traveled extensively solo. I spent the summers during high school wandering around Asia by myself (parents worked for an airline). As an adult, I spent solo time in the Middle East and Caucasus, but now mostly travel with my wife. We still go weird places. Our last big trips were Cuba and Somaliland.
Sep 14, 2017, 9:33 am
#66
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Exact same here. I don't like vacationing alone but "fear" has nothing to do with it. I just am not someone who likes to strike up conversation with random strangers so I prefer bringing company with me rather than hoping to find it where I'm going. But business travel is orders of magnitude better when you're alone, no matter where you are going.
Sep 14, 2017, 9:47 am
#67
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Keep in mind that many solo travelers aren't looking to find company where they're going. They're going to see new things, try new food, etc. - not necessarily to have meaningful conversations with strangers (although some people like that sort of thing). I can have a perfectly enjoyable trip without speaking to anyone other than hotel staff and waiters.
Sep 14, 2017, 10:15 am
#70
Join Date: Jul 2017
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I am american and travel on my own a fair bit. By plane, by car, by train.
My englishh BFF however, wont come visit me in the USA when I am home- cuz she wont fly alone lol
Sep 14, 2017, 10:36 am
#71
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I'm so used to traveling alone for work (sometimes 140 flights/year) that I'm a fish out of water when I travel with others, including my own wife and kids.
I once got my typical tunnel vision while going through security at DEN. Put my stuff down, walked through the metal detector. TSA agent gave me a funny face and I asked what? He asked if that was my wife struggling to fold the stroller with baby in hand, also trying to manage our other child, diaper bag, etc. He said, "if you value your marriage, you might want to go back and help her." Thankfully my wife found the humor in this event, as did the TSA agent.
I once got my typical tunnel vision while going through security at DEN. Put my stuff down, walked through the metal detector. TSA agent gave me a funny face and I asked what? He asked if that was my wife struggling to fold the stroller with baby in hand, also trying to manage our other child, diaper bag, etc. He said, "if you value your marriage, you might want to go back and help her." Thankfully my wife found the humor in this event, as did the TSA agent.
Sep 14, 2017, 10:37 am
#72
Join Date: Jun 2012
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I'm American and have traveled extensively solo. I spent the summers during high school wandering around Asia by myself (parents worked for an airline). As an adult, I spent solo time in the Middle East and Caucasus, but now mostly travel with my wife. We still go weird places. Our last big trips were Cuba and Somaliland.
I certainly don't mind traveling solo anymore but I do like having someone to reminisce with about a great trip.
Sep 14, 2017, 11:06 am
#73
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"Gripped with fear" is a bit hyperbolic.
Americans are culturally not the most ardent travellers largely due to an isolationist world view, a U.S.-centric education system and varying degrees of international resentment toward their nation's global behavior.
They also have a skewed view on safety and security. They are horrified about the thought of visiting Johannesburg but think nothing about going to Detroit or St. Louis.
Americans are culturally not the most ardent travellers largely due to an isolationist world view, a U.S.-centric education system and varying degrees of international resentment toward their nation's global behavior.
They also have a skewed view on safety and security. They are horrified about the thought of visiting Johannesburg but think nothing about going to Detroit or St. Louis.
Sep 14, 2017, 11:22 am
#74
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I'm American and have traveled extensively solo. I spent the summers during high school wandering around Asia by myself (parents worked for an airline). As an adult, I spent solo time in the Middle East and Caucasus, but now mostly travel with my wife. We still go weird places. Our last big trips were Cuba and Somaliland.
Sep 14, 2017, 11:28 am
#75
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
After I went to Johannesburg, the only thing my friends and family were horrified about was how much time I spent en route. "You were on airplanes for how long???"