Traveling Solo

[DNoMac]

I love traveling, but find it difficult to find others to go with. Most of my buddies are either locked up (relationship/marriage), or don't have the means to go. I've been considering going on a vacation by myself. I would LOVE to go to Europe, but am hesitant to make a trip like that by myself. I'd like someone to go with both to share costs (lodging) and of course to have someone to share the experience with. Conversely, I love to explore and wouldn't mind doing things on my own without having to get a group consensus (i.e. visit a museum). Additionally, I think doing something like this on your own allows you to learn a lot about yourself and can be a profound self-actualizing experience.

Does/has anybody else traveled alone? What are the pros/cons? What advice do you have on locations, keeping costs reasonable, etc? I really need to start feeding my soul through experiences.

[lovbyts]

I am typically very shy and almost an intranet but several years ago I forced myself to go on vacation to Mexico by myself and lived it. Meet a lot of great people forcing myself to be out there. I have made most of my Thailand and Philippines trips solo also and find it much better than with someone most of the time.

[MickeyKnox]

Traveling solo is the best experience you can have. You are so free its amazing.

I have backpacked Mexico 14 times - 10 were solo. And the solos were my best times. If you are an introvert, i do not recommend it. But if you are socially experienced and gregarious by nature, then i highly recommend you begin planning your next adventure alone. Once you experience the freedom and detachment you have when traveling by yourself, you will never look back.

One day you wake up planning to go to the beach, and the next thing you know youre headed up the coast to some other destination (Tulum) with a group of crazy tourists who just want to party and have fun! And then that evening while youre having a cold beer at some obscure open air bar off the main drag reminiscing about your fabulous day and minding your business, some beautiful girl pops out of nowhere and strikes up a conversation with you. The next thing you know shes your g/f for the next three days.

This has happened to me so many times i lost count. My first trip to Mexico i found myself on 5th Ave Play Del Carmen at 9pm with no place to stay. I purchased a return flight and that's it - never having been there before in my life. It was the beginning of the most exciting trip of my life.

Do your homework on the internet first, and then just book a flight and go. I recommend Mexico for your first trip. And go to Playa Del Carmen. It use to be a sleepy fishing village but now its quickly turning into a mini Cancun. But you can still find cheap accommodations just off the "strip".

Or book one of the All Inclusive resorts that are 5 mins away for PDC. Choose one of the RIU resorts and you will not be disappointed. You pay and stay at one, but get to party at 4 others too.

Good luck. If you have any questions about Mex and PDC ask away - I know lots of expats and other business people down there.

[DNoMac]

Awesome, thanks for the replies. One of my buddies taught himself Spanish and decided to book a trip to Costa Rica using a broker. They set him up to stay with a family for a week so that he could refine his Spanish skills (kind of like an exchange student, but through no affiliation of any school). He has done that several times and said he absolutely loved it. The thing I like about that is that he was among the locals rather than the tourists. That allowed him to truly experience the culture by eating with the locals and striking up conversations with them.

[Rusty11]

Yep...my sister (not married) got so fed up traveling with friends who only wanted to go to the malls that she took matters into her own hands by planning a solo trip to nyc ( we're in ca). That was 10 yrs ago and she's never looked back. The past three summers have been spent in Europe-several differant destinations each trip). She absolutely loves it. Like Mickey stated, do a lot of research on the internet. She always finds inexpensive, clean, cozy places to stay. Sometimes, she has an agenda, sometimes not. One night, she found herself in an Irish pub, singing and making new friends. I'm a bit jealous, actually.

[MickeyKnox]

3rd solo vacation met a group of folks and had a fantastic time. This is me and few of the guys wives chilling one eve on the beach listening to a live band. This was unplanned. I had been out for a walk and bumped into these folks and they invited me to sit with them. I met a different girl that evening. I may put the photo up for a laugh..its embarrassing but funny..lol



Edit: I wasn't working out then..obviously..lol

[MickeyKnox]

This is from my second solo vacation. Bumped into her at small bar on 5th Ave PDC. Great girl.



Below is that evening.....i dont drink or smoke anymore..thank gawd..lol

[MickeyKnox]

This is my very first solo trip to Mexico. Met this beautiful girl at a small little bar off the beaten path where she was working a waitress. I asked her to come out with me and the rest is history. I think i was 39 there and she was 19 or 20. Lovebyts will appreciate that.

[Zodiac82]

This is from my second solo vacation. Bumped into her at small bar on 5th Ave PDC. Great girl.

<img src="http://forums.steroid.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=137586"/>

Below is that evening.....i dont drink or smoke anymore..thank gawd..lol

<img src="http://forums.steroid.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=137587"/>

lmao....lools like somebody took somethin good that evening

[MickeyKnox]

We hung out twice on two separate solo vacations. Then we went to Cuba together and the bottom of the world fell out...long story. We should have stayed solo companions..lol

[frank13]

This is from my second solo vacation. Bumped into her at small bar on 5th Ave PDC. Great girl.



Below is that evening.....i dont drink or smoke anymore..thank gawd..lol

u look like a backstreet boy hahahaahah

[MickeyKnox]

u look like a backstreet boy hahahaahah

Hahaha fuk you! lol!

[DNoMac]

Yep...my sister (not married) got so fed up traveling with friends who only wanted to go to the malls that she took matters into her own hands by planning a solo trip to nyc ( we're in ca). That was 10 yrs ago and she's never looked back. The past three summers have been spent in Europe-several differant destinations each trip). She absolutely loves it. Like Mickey stated, do a lot of research on the internet. She always finds inexpensive, clean, cozy places to stay. Sometimes, she has an agenda, sometimes not. One night, she found herself in an Irish pub, singing and making new friends. I'm a bit jealous, actually.

I was actually thinking about doing NYC as my first solo.

[DNoMac]

This is from my second solo vacation. Bumped into her at small bar on 5th Ave PDC. Great girl.



Below is that evening.....i dont drink or smoke anymore..thank gawd..lol

I see traveling alone did not prevent you from having a good time! Awesome

[MickeyKnox]

I met this skinny little blond in the bikini beside me, but she began telling me what to do what not to do..on MY vacation. I turned my head and ignored while she was berating me. I traded her in for the Mexican girl.

[MickeyKnox]

I was actually thinking about doing NYC as my first solo.

I did NYC and it was great! Stayed in Jersey, it was cheaper.

I wasn't alone per se, but i may as well have been. I made my own moves while i was there. This was shortly after 911 - very sobering experience.

[MickeyKnox]

I see traveling alone did not prevent you from having a good time! Awesome

Dude i had moves like Jagger back then. It was nuts!

There's a photo i have but cannot seem to upload, but anyway its of this guys wife who was hot and had 10k boobs and she showed up at my hotel room in her American flag bikini and a see through wrap. My flight was the next day.

[lovbyts]

I see traveling alone did not prevent you from having a good time! Awesome

Best trips I have had were solo. I love getting off the beaten path, walking for hours away from the tourist areas also in Mexico, Thailand and Philippines. I spent most of one day in the Philippines with a taxi driver roaming around and having lunch with his family; good people.

I think what convinced me to travel alone and forget the typical tourist destinations is when I was on a cruise with a buddy and we missed the ship departure in Cozumel Mexico and after being told it was impossible to try to reach the ship in Belize we took some local buses and got to see a lot of the back streets until we reached the boarder of Belize and was $3 short of having enough money to cross the boarder. lol Yes they let us cross because we did not try to talk them into it, we did not make a big deal about it or act like we were better than anyone else. We just LOL and told them what had happened and asked if they had any advice for us. They looked amazed that we were not being arrogant or demanding and stamped our passports and sent us on our way.

We made it to Belize 1hr after the ship had docked and when we boarded the captain meet us as we were entering our rooms to welcome us back on-board and also said no one else had ever made it. That was the beginning of the adventures.

[MickeyKnox]

^^ Those are the best times bro. Spontaneous action! I love it!

[Perseverance1]

I went to Thailand solo...best decision of my life...literally.

[MickeyKnox]

I went to Thailand solo...best decision of my life...literally.

That's my next trip.

[Fllifter]

You guys really got me thinking about taking a solo trip. It sounds awesome

[MickeyKnox]

You guys really got me thinking about taking a solo trip. It sounds awesome

Do it, you wont regret it, i promise you that.

After you do this once, you'll be telling your friends to hit the road when it comes time to travel, especially if your adventures are anything like mine..or LB's..lol