How are you at going it alone?

[emilycat]

Diana's response to Jen's thread inspired me to post this one.
I've always admired people who have enough confidence and gumption to travel and dine by themselves.
I've always been very creative and imaginitive (thinking back to "teaching" my school of stuffed animals here :) ), so I can usually entertain myself quite well, but particularly when traveling, I feel as if I need someone to share my enthusiasm with. I get so psyched up about things, and sometimes I think that without someone's shirt to tug on and say, "Oh, look how gorgeous that is," or "Wow, this soup is amazing!" it wouldn't be nearly as fun.
But more and more I've been thinking that with only myself to deal with, I could plan my own itinerary (I'm kinda bossy, so I tend to always do that anyway :o ), never worry if my plans are stilting someone else's, and design my own custom-made trips to my heart's content. If no one wants sushi, I could just go savor it in my own company.

Anyway, I guess I'm wondering how many of you take the single route frequently, or rather, how many of you prefer to? What are your thoughts?

[Angela]

I'll be interested in hearing the responses!
I never thought I'd travel alone, but I did this past February. A friend of mine had a business trip to San Fran and asked that I join her. Though hesitant at first to fly alone (she was going to be there already and in meetings most days) and wonder through a big city I'd never been to I really needed a vacation and said, "Angela, you can do this!"
Am I ever glad I did!! The flight was fine and wondering the streets of San Fran by myself was actually very entertaining for me. I did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. Not only was the trip a great time spent with myself and with my best friend, but it also proved to me that I can have fun by myself and that I could do it (most of it) on my own!! I felt and feel very proud of ME!

I'm not sure I would prefer traveling alone, but think it's something everyone should try at least once. How many of us get to spend good quality time with ourselves?!

Emily--I'm one of those who tug on the sleeves of the people I'm with. I ended up talking to myself quit a bit on that trip :)

[Jodi]

Emily,
I LOVE, love, love to travel alone. Don't get me wrong -- I love my hubby's company and traveling with friends as well.

In my case, I think I'm just used to it. When I was a kid, we moved a lot, so there were times when I wanted to see a movie but was brand new and hadn't made friends yet, so I'd go by myself. Right after college (literally, one week later) I moved to New York to work in book publishing, and I lived alone, so at the beginning it was either go out myself or stay in.

I do some travel and food writing, so I go on press trips that normally don't include a guest's accommodations, which means I'm by myself (with other journalists, of course). I like the freedom of choosing the type of food, the attractions, etc. that I'M interested in seeing, having, doing, whatever that solo travling gives me. Now that I'm married, though, my trips tend to be solo when work-related and non-solo when they're actual vacations.

How about everyone else?
Jodi

[KValley]

Emily,

If I can't travel with DH, I'd rather do so alone. I've lived in France and Japan on my own, and have travelled throughout Europe and Australia alone and had an amazing time. My job demands a lot of domestic travel, which of course I do without DH. This doesn't have nearly the romantic adventure value as vacation travel, but the confidence I have gained fending for myself in L.A. freeway traffic or driving myself through Arizona has been immense.

Yes, there are many moments, places, sights, sounds, meals that I wish I could share with someone, but I turn to my journal for that. Eating alone has led to some interesting situations- particularly abroad, where it's not common for women to eat alone-but I bring a good book and a scowl. :) I always ask for a window seat (if possible), so I am not shoved in a corner somewhere and I can people watch.

Traveling alone opens you up to so many possibilities. It is so easy to meet people, because you haven't closed yourself off
by being available only to the person/people with whom you are travelling.

I think personality plays a great role in this. I am a very independent person and need a lot of alone, quiet time. DH and I have similar rhythms and are used to each other's moods. We also like to be very active- we're not lay-on-the-beach vacation types- we like to be on the go- early to bed, early to rise. I wouldn't want to change that to suit someone else's travel rhythms or expectations. When I have traveled with others, (backpacking trips in Europe) I've taken over and made all of the plans, found the housing, determined our itinerary. I don't know if this was appreciated, but no one else made the effort. I can't stand indecision!

I am thinking about going to Mexico sometime next year. I mentioned this to a dear friend who is bi-lingual in Spanish and who has traveled extensively throughout Central America. She got very excited about the thought of us going together. I just felt my chest constrict! Because she speaks Spanish and is familiar with the culture, I can see that I would not have an independent experience- I would have one filtered through her. So I will go alone, with my Spanish dictionary!

Having said all of this, I am very interested in doing a women's only adventure travel trip- sea kayaking in Baja, a trip to Turkey, biking in China. I'd love to meet other women this way and to have a trip where I didn't have to plan anything- just pay and go!

There are some wonderful books written by and for women travellers- I know you've got a Barnes and Noble near you!

Cheers, Julie

[Gina O]

Well, as most of you are aware, I travel quite a bit. Some alone, some with coworkers and some with my SO, most of it for work. My first alone trip was for work about 7 years ago. It scared me to death.... I figured I would eat room service for every meal. It was a small conference and I quickly "latched on" to some other attendees and everything turned out fine.

Since then I have traveled extensively.... and even when I am with coworkers, I often prefer to be without them. I have dined by myself at great restaurants, gone sight seeing in Vegas, and whale watching in Alaska with just me. What I have found most of the time is that I meet people hang out with them. On the whale watching trip, there were two other ladies traveling alone... the three of us spent the day talking and sharing dramamine.

While I do enjoy the sharing of experience with someone close, the adventure of knowing that what happens is purely up to me is often times quite thrilling. I also relish meeting new people, and that is always part of my alone travel time.

I am considering an active vacation for my SO and I next year and recently received a publication from Backroads (http://www.backroads.com) . It has lots of trips for solo travelers. I think it would be a terrific way to experience solo vacation travel for the first time. Now, if I can just decide between Bali, Costa Rica or Nepal..... or Provence!!!

Gina

Oh yeah... the one rule to dining alone is that you are required to bring along something to read!!!! Of course, not being one who follows rules all that well, sometimes I do read and sometimes I don't.

[Natasha]

If I get the yen to travel (and time and means allow), I will do it whether or not my SO or another good friend or close family member can join me. In fact, there is a lot to be said about travelling solo. You can do exactly what you like, when you like, and because you're not with someone, it kind of forces you to get out and really immerse yourself in the local culture and language, and to meet locals if possible.

Among my solo travels were a jaunt to Berlin (truly eye-opening - I MUST go back) and a 3-4 day trip overseas to Amsterdam. On a whim I decided that I needed to "get away from it all" and tripped off to Amsterdam. People thought I was nuts to go over for so short a time, but it was incredibly liberating and fun and therapeutic. :) AND it helped me pick up a fair bit of Dutch. Bonus!

So...there you have it. I wouldn't like to only travel solo, but it's one great way to travel, IMHO.

Natasha

[aggie94]

There are some things that I would be hesitant to do alone, like mountain biking, hiking, camping, etc. If DH doesn't want to go out for a long ride with me on the weekend, I don't go. Same goes for the other activities. Trails and routes can be very low-traffic in some areas, so if something happens to you and you're alone, you could be stuck for awhile. And there are too many crazies out there for me to be comfortable with that. A friend of mine used to go camping alone, and I was appalled that her BF never objected.

When DH was in Guam recently, I considered going to a movie alone but never did. I've had to dine alone on occasion, though, and I'm OK with it, as long as I have something to read. :D A couple of years ago, when I was in law school, I had to fly down to San Francisco for an interview -- I had never been to the city before, had to figure out how to get from SFO to where the interview was, blow several hours downtown before heading back, etc. It's about as adventurous as I get.

[KathrynY]

I usually travel solo a couple of times a year, to visit friends and/or family without DH. I just got back from 10 days with friends in Sweden and Netherlands and had a blast! DH would have been so bored listening to me catch up with my old girl friends, and it was fun to be "single" for a few days. Although, travelling alone to meet friends is not quite the same as spending the whole trip solo - I haven't done that yet.

I rarely dine alone, as it doesn't hold much appeal. If DH is away and I don't feel like cooking, I'll usually do take-out. Last time I ate alone at a restaurant, I had to ask the hostess to send over a waiter - seems he thought I was waiting for a dining companion, despite the fact that I was reading a book! :rolleyes:

[Beth]

When I got out of law school and took the bar exam, the big thing was to take a trip to Europe. I was going to work for a judge (i.e., be broke for another year) and my grandmother had just been diagnosed with a massive brain tumor. I wasn't leaving the country when a number of my friends did, but a year later, I got a signing bonus from the law firm I was going to work for and had the opportunity to take a trip. Trouble was, it pretty much had to be solo since all my friends were working like crazy and no one could take off the time.

I decided to go it alone. Traveling as a single female put some limits on my choices (English-speaking for one), and I chose New Zealand and Australia as being as far and exotic as I felt safe going alone. I had a plane ticket, a duffel, my camera and a travel guide. No other reservations. My only hard time was getting to Sydney and finding that the place I had planned on staying was not what I expected.

Being on my own, I met others along the way, was invited to join them, even offered a ride or a place to stay. I took a couple of people up on their offers and made friends everywhere. Once I convinced myself I could do it alone, I did look up some of my sister's in-laws. I had been hesitant to call on someone I'd never met, but they were delightful. We were almost instant best friends. I never would have had those experiences traveling with someone else or a group.

Since then, I ave travelled alone for business mostly, but I always use some of my down time, if any, to explore a bit.

[Gail]

Go for it!

I used to travel quite a bit by myself, for business and for pleasure. Had a great traveling partner, but for some reason I got the itch to go it alone every so often and loved it. Traveling with another person tends to keep one tucked into a safe little cocoon of familiarity and tends to keep one from interacting with the environment and people. You've always got your companion to rely upon for conversation and there's a natural tendency to fall back on that person far more than you would if you travel by yourself.

Alone, you're forced to interact with strangers, which makes for some pretty interesting interchanges, I've found. For example, I shared my 35th birthday cake with a three employees of the Sheraton Singapore-- people who'd never been outside their country and were as eager to learn about me as I was to learn about them. Or there was the Indian gentleman I spoke with in the Hong Kong airport. Or the young woman I chatted with in a Bangkok lapidary. Had I been traveling with a friend, chances are that I would have missed these opportunities. Being solo forced me to reach out to others.

In the beginning, I was uncomfortable over the prospect of eating my myself. I'd bring something to read or glance out a window-- then it occurred to me how really strange it must've looked with my back to everyone. So I turned around, faced the world and people-watched. It was great! (Of course, I will say there are times and places where closing oneself off is probably prudent.)

Traveling alone left me time to soak up the sights at my own pace-- to set up my camera and tripod at strange times and places and not feel pressured by the constraints of other people's schedules (and to get weird questions from people wondering why I was setting up equipment on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or the Rodin Museum in the dark of night in well below freezing temperatures!) It was a great experience I would wholeheartedly recommend.

[Natasha]

Gail,

I was hoping you'd weigh in on this. When I saw this question, I remembered the conversation Jennipher, you and I had on this very topic. Hey Jennipher...where are you these days? Actually, maybe she's in Calgary or thereabouts as we write!

Natasha

[JHolcomb]

Before I was married, I travelled alone a lot. Day trips to the mountains, festivals, and throughout Ireland and Western Europe. I loved it. Loved the freedom of being able to pick up and go somewhere whenever I wanted, to go see the sights that I wanted to see and most of all to not have to worry about whether another person was having a good time. Its the only thing that I miss about being single. The only thing. I love my husband and do like to travel with him, but he isn't spontaneous at all, so no day trips-and he can be a pouter, like when we're somewhere and I want to do a little shopping. But it is nice to have someone to share the sights with and to do things with, and there's just something about hotel room beds...(sorry to leave y'all with that image) ;).

The only time while I was in Europe that I hated that I was alone was when I went in castles. All I could think about was how cool my sister would think they were.

What Gail said about how travelling with someone cocoons you is totally true, too. Even around town, I feel so much more confident talking to shopkeepers and fishmongers etc when I'm alone than I do when someone else is with me.

[jazzyjas]

Julie --
I'm still up for your woman's adventure trip if you decide to do that.

Julie posted this summer about kayaking in the San Juan Islands which I thought was a great idea and then life conspired against us and she had to go to Atlanta for the week so I spent almost two weeks traveling in Washington by myself. I LOVED it. Thanks, Julie -- although I would have loved to have hooked up.

But then traveling alone is not new to me -- I grew up the daughter of an airline pilot and would often fly alone to meet relatives or friends in other parts of the country. When I was 14 I decided my parents were never going to take me anywhere fun so I found a camp in Belgium that was for youth associated with the world rowing championships (my obsession at the time) and signed up. I went the following year when they were held in England as well. When I was 21 I went to Costa Rica for 5 months without knowing anyone previously but it was part of a group volunteer project. Just before my 25th birthday I went to Puerto Rico alone for a week since I figured I deserved a vacation and some friends who had talked up a sailing trip in Tortolla seemed to have changed their minds.
I think that I have become used to solo travel and often don't even notice it (and may not know the other options).


Jas

[Gail]

Originally posted by Natasha
Gail,

I was hoping you'd weigh in on this. When I saw this question, I remembered the conversation Jennipher, you and I had on this very topic. Hey Jennipher...where are you these days? Actually, maybe she's in Calgary or thereabouts as we write!

Natasha

Great minds think alike. (yeah, I know...really trite) Bearing the same in mind, I dropped an e-mail to Jennipher before posting that first message. :)

[KValley]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
Even around town, I feel so much more confident talking to shopkeepers and fishmongers etc when I'm alone than I do when someone else is with me.

I am the same way! I don't know if it's an issue of confidence, or that I am simply more interested and perhaps more interesting when I am alone! I am more focused on my surroundings, less distracted, willing to try something new because I can stop whenever I want, go on longer- I have only myself to think of/compete with.

One of the greatest triumphs for me in travelling alone has been literally finding my way. Growing up with three older brothers, I just followed along, went where I was told to go, not given the time to figure things out on my own. It was an absolute epiphany for me, when travelling alone for the first time as a college student (in Europe), to realize that I had a great sense of direction, that I could manage any public transportation system, and find my way in places where I did not speak the language.

An even more recent triumph has been to drive in big city traffic and long distance- it was the one thing that gave me the greatest anxiety with my current job. Now I know I can do it, find my way through strange cities without getting lost or being late- for a country-girl who didn't get her license until 19, this has been a major accomplishment for me!

One of my favorite memories of solo travel was an afternoon in Kyoto. I had arrived in a certain neighborhood over an hour early for a English tutoring job (I always built in "getting lost" time when traveling to new areas in the city). I wandered around the neighborhood and found a little shop where a woman sold crafts made out of silkworm cocoons. It was a sweltering day- she invited me inside her house, served me iced coffee and cookies and we chatted for an hour- she didn't speak English, I didn't speak Japanese, but with my dictionary we managed just fine. She gave me one of her works, which is sitting on my desk. Not that monumental of an experience, but it happened at a time when I was particularly lonely and longing for home and frustrated with a place so vastly different and complicated. A small gesture which deepened my feelings for Japan and strengthened my own desire to treat travelers to the US with the same compassion, generosity, warmth.

One of my best friends in France is a cop in Paris- we met when I stopped him for directions- I was alone, tired, and finally willing to admit I was lost. We ended up dating for a time, but since then we've both married and he has twin daughters. DH and I visited a few years ago on our way through to the coast!

Of course there have been less-than-wise solo travel experiences (the overnight train from Naples to Sicily, wearing a sleeveless blouse in a public market in the Muslim quarter in N'Djamena, being too nice to an Italian restaurant proprietor in Amsterdam and letting him join me for dinner- the waiter finally had to drag his drunken a*! from my table), but the the incredible experiences and opportunties far outweigh the negative (which were largely due to my own ignorance or arrogance!)

Jasmine- I've definitely got adventure on the brain! Keep after me about another trip!! :) Julie

[Jennett]

Hmmm, I guess I'm kind of mixed on this. I do enjoy traveling alone, because of all the other reasons people mentioned. I don't have to worry about what someone else wants to do (and I will make myself crazy doing that!), and I don't feel weird about doing what I want to do. I.e., if I want to spend an hour sitting on a park bench, I can do that without having to defend it. I'm very comfortable being by myself, as I'm pretty quiet/shy by nature, and an only child who grew up entertaining herself. Being happy with my own company is something I'm proud of.

But I have big issues about eating alone in public. Which galls me, because it makes me feel like I haven't grown past being the new kid in the junior high cafeteria. Sure, I can eat alone in a coffee shop or cafe, but I always have to have a book or newspaper. I cannot get comfortable without having those to divert my attention from feeling like everyone's looking at me. If I were in the same setting, by myself, but not in public, I'd be fine. I've tried to challenge myself to people watch, or look out the window, but I get really anxious. Perhaps I'll grow out of this.

[JHolcomb]

Yay, KValley! Your post about finding your own way was right on! The best thing about moving to or travelling in a new city is finding your way around. I know it sounds nuts, but I even love getting lost. Finding my way back to where I need to be is like this terrific puzzle that I'm dying to solve. And once I've been somewhere once, I never forget how to get back. It's been 3 years since I left Ireland, but I know I could find everything in Cork again like I was on autopilot. I didn't even know I had any sense of direction until I left home. When we would go anywhere with my dad his favorite phrase was "Oh, I've never been down this road-let's see where it goes." I hated that soooo much, but it seems like I inherited dad's sense of direction and need to seek out the unknown and relate it to the known. Or something like that. Basically, I just like finding new ways of getting old places. Sorry to ramble, it just excites me when another human being gets excited about having to find his/her way around. Yay for a sense of adventure!

[Don]

I have done a significant amount of solo traveling, and I am really of two minds on the issue. On the one hand, traveling alone can be a blessing, because I have total control over my activities. I am obsessive about Asian art, and I am one of those weirdos who actually reads every placard in the art museum. (And gets the audio tour if it's available.) Most of my friends are bored to tears, or they go somewhere else for coffee, rather than wait the hours it takes for me to complete a museum tour.

Food, on the other hand, is a problem. I just can't fully enjoy a meal alone. There is no one to compare notes with. As a compromise, I will usually call the restaurants that I would like to visit and ask if they will put together a take-out meal. I haven't found a restaurant yet that refused. That way I can get the meal that I want and enjoy it in the hotel room without feeling uncomfortable. Hopefully I will become more comfortable with dining alone in the future, but I usually opt for fast food when I have to dine out by myself.

[daner94]

I haven' t traveled anywhere far away alone, but I have been to some interesting places where I got to spend sometime away from my travel companions... 3 experiences come to mind immediately.

In New Orleans I spent an afternoon wandering through the Garden District, it was a picture perfect day and I was enjoying the architecture and foliage, going at my own pace. I was on a 6 week cross country trip, an had had difficulty getting away from my travel companion, who hated to be alone.

In Seoul, South Korea I had 3 hours away from the group, and I wandered around a 10 story department store, (of course the most time was spent in the food section!) and a street market, not speaking to a soul, but did not feel alienated at all. I just felt very comfortable. Of course I stuck out like a sore thumb being the only tall caucasian around....

My last day in Europe (Amsterdam) this spring I was alone because my friend had flown home, and I went to the movies, shopping, had a great lunch, and wandered through the streets all alone. It was lonely, sure, but when would I have the opportunity to do that again?

I do go to the movies alot by myself, because I love the movies, and don't always have someone to go with. As long as it is a matinee I'm okay!

And lastly, I went to a concert by myself last week at a small venue. I had to see my favorite artist, Jonatha Brooke, and noone could go with me. So I went, and had the absolute best time ever.

There are too many things I want to do, and not always someone to accompany me, so I have learned to go it alone, and that is fine by me!!

[emilycat]

I'm so enjoying reading about all your experiences; they sound so amazing. I'm getting so inspired reading them. I've been wanting to start traveling by myself for the past few years now (just haven't gotten it together :rolleyes: ), so maybe now's the time to go for it. :)

[beejayw1]

I've been following this thread with some interest, though I haven't participated till now. (It seems to be mostly directed at those with DH/DW or SO who don't have to travel alone.)

One of the best trips I ever took was to Paris, the summer my job went away (company relocated, offered me a re-lo package, but I had to be a caregiver for elderly family members and couldn't accept it). I'd scheduled the trip a couple months before I found out about my impending unemployment, and I agonized over cancelling. I concluded that I needed the trip, so I went alone to Paris.

I speak French pretty well, but I gather it's with un accent formidable. The people were delightful, with two exceptions that I handled. It was the best thing I could have done. Food was good, too.

One thing I noticed a lot of in this thread is the following (quoted from Jennett):

But I have big issues about eating alone in public. Which galls me, because it makes me feel like I haven't grown past being the new kid in the junior high cafeteria. Sure, I can eat alone in a coffee shop or cafe, but I always have to have a book or newspaper. I cannot get comfortable without having those to divert my attention from feeling like everyone's looking at me. If I were in the same setting, by myself, but not in public, I'd be fine. I've tried to challenge myself to people watch, or look out the window, but I get really anxious. Perhaps I'll grow out of this.

I know more people who are really uneasy about the notion of eating alone. I know a fellow who, if traveling without his wife, will eat a sandwich in his room. As I said in another thread, I have no choice in the matter, if I'm traveling alone, I have to eat alone.

Actually, I'm a confirmed people-watcher, and as a writer I usually have a notebook handy. (Note: the presence of a book, especially an absorbing one, tends to increase the likelihood of fast service. Interesting. I'm also old enough now to stare back, with a lift of my eyebrows, at people who are staring at me. (Imagine how much fun it would be, BTW, to go to one of those places filled with starey people and imagine yourself wearing a fright mask!)

There's a poem by Piet Hein that I've taken to heart:

Some people cower
And wince and shrink
Owing to fear of what people may think.

There is an answer
To worries like these:
People may think what the devil they please!

[flourgirl]

Emily,

I agree with most others on this thread that if you have the opportunity to travel alone, do it!

One of the best experiences in my life was a solo trip I took to Europe. I had been wanting so badly to go for years, but the timing was never right for my friends to make the trip with me.....no money, no vacation time, etc, etc.. One day, I guess I just got fed up with everyone else's excuses and said to myself, "screw it, if I wait until somebody can go with me, I'll never go!".

For me, travel is a passion and planning a trip, a religious experience. I think I must have been a travel agent in another life because above all else, I LOVE to plan trips! So I got it in my head that I was going to go to Europe come hell or high water. I researched some possible locations and before you know it, I was the proud owner of a roundtrip ticket to Vienna, Austria!

I guess I've never really had an issue with doing things by myself.....dining, going to the movies, traveling.......although by the reactions of many friends, you'd think I had grown a third head when I tell them about my solo escapades! "How sad" they say, "I would've gone with you if you would've called". Don't they understand? I didn't WANT them to come with me.......sometimes, I just need to spend quality time with myself. As I see it, if you don't like spending time with yourself, imagine how others feel about spending time with you!

Anyway, my trip turned out to be GREAT! In addition to Vienna, I also took a train to Prague and Cesky Krumlov (Czech Rep.). I saw some of the most beautiful sights in the world and met people on that trip that I will never forget......not to mention the opportunity to experience true ethnic cuisine (Viennese pastries anyone?). Don't let language barriers deter you........I had never spoken a word of German or Czech.......I muttled through it and came out stonger and more confident because of it. That's all part of the experience!

I don't know where you're interested in traveling, but I can tell you that fares to Europe go down in late fall.......there are even some great fares now if you look. (See, the travel agent in me just POPS right out!) Wherever you go, you will have a great time if you keep an open mind and more important, a sense of humor!

Happy travels,
Michele

[specialk]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I love to travel and there are lots of places I'd like to go, but can never seem to find someone else who has the time/money to go...now I can quit using that as an excuse! It's also good to know that I'm not the only one who feels uncomfortable dining alone in restaraunts...I'll have to remeber beejayw1's poem:)

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's interesting travel stories!!

[MaryH]

Flourgirl,

I'm so glad you wrote that because it was exactly what I was trying to compose (so you saved me all that typing :)

Not only have friends and people like my husband looked at me like I too had grown a third head but I have actually overheard conversations about the fact that I was dining by myself, when I was eating. (In all fairness it wasn't directed at me specifically but was a group discussing dining alone - and I was sitting pretty close and was the only single eater there.)

Hey, life is too short. Eat, drink & be merry.

For anyone interested, I highly recommend Susan Spano's column in the LA Times Travel section every Sunday. (Can also be found at www.latimes.com) She was from Manhattan and moved to LA a few years ago. Her columns deal with women traveling - usually alone - but also other general topics related to women and traveling.

[BeckyM]

Emily,

I just have to repeat everyone else's encouragement for you to take the opportunity to travel alone.

One of the best (and most growthful) experiences of my life was when I went to Germany on a foreign exchange program in college. I had taken German for quite a while, so the language wasn't my biggest worry, but I hadn't actually ever had to USE German to communicate with anyone. I also had NEVER travelled alone before any further than the two-hour drive from my hometown to college. I just decided it was important enough to me to do it on my own, and I did it. After studying for a semester, I had been planning to travel around Europe for a month with other people I would have met while studying, but it turned out that none of those people were able to join me, so I had to either travel all by myself or not go. By then I had gained some confidence in myself, just because my German had gotten so much better and I had gotten used to life in a foreign country, but it was still a big step for me to decide to travel alone.

My experiences travelling alone were similar to what others have said in their posts. I took trains everywhere, so I was constantly looking for people who looked like they were travelling alone too and who might be interested in meeting someone new. I met SO MANY interesting people that way. I would usually meet someone on the train on the way to my next destination, then we would go together to try to find a youth hostel. But sometimes I didn't meet anyone, and I learned how to find youth hostels on my own. I loved wandering around new places, spending as much (or as little) time as I wanted in museums, in parks, hiking, etc. By the end of the trip I had gotten sick of museums and art galleries (I'm sure some people would gasp at that, but I'm more of an "outdoorsy" person), so I just quit going to them and did things I would enjoy more.

My time travelling by myself really made me realize that I can take care of myself, and I don't NEED anyone else in order to have a good time. I learned to figure out subway systems (which was a big deal for a girl who grew up in Montana), ate by myself, and had great adventures, all because I didn't let being alone stop me. I still remember calling my parents telling them how proud I was when I had called a cab to come pick me up to take me to the train station, and I had given the driver instructions IN GERMAN. I was a girl who used to be scared to call and make my own hair cut appointments growing up, so this was a HUGE deal for me! I also had never called for a cab before in ANY language!

One thing I learned while travelling by train was to always take an early morning train to my next destination, so I had plenty of time in the new city to find a place to stay that night. I met people who told me they had arrived in new places in the evening, only to find that all the youth hostel rooms had already been booked. That hint may also be useful if you're just driving between destinations and not taking the train.

Anyway, I have great memories of travel by myself, and that experience has made me much more comfortable doing the business travel I have to now (usually by myself). It also made me feel more confident moving to Baltimore after college -- I figured if I had lived in a foreign country by myself, I could certainly live in a new city in the U.S. by myself. I haven't always been known for my self-confidence, so having the chance to prove to myself that I can do things on my own was a huge confidence-builder.

Have fun in your travels!