Holidaying on your own, a bit tragic?
Discussion
Basically, I feel the need to get away from everything and everyone for a while and have some thinking space. I don't have a girlfriend at the moment and I don't really fancy the R&R of a pissup/banter with mates. I'm talking more pack a tent in the car and drive a few hours to somewhere in the country to a nice campsite. Maybe go for a few jogs, update the CV on the tablet, prop up a bar in a random pub, take the car for a blast etc. (maybe no in that order!).
Keep coming back to the thought its maybe a bit tragic though to be holidaying on my own even though it would only be a long weekend. Anyone done this before? Was it a disaster? Did it work? Would you do it again?
Keep coming back to the thought its maybe a bit tragic though to be holidaying on my own even though it would only be a long weekend. Anyone done this before? Was it a disaster? Did it work? Would you do it again?
I have a girlfriend, and we always are going on summer holidays together, but as it is the experience after a one and a half week we usually have enough of eachother (it's only a weekend relationship since years), so for the rest of the second or the third week of the summer holidays we usually go our seperate ways.
While she travels the citys, I'm more of a just-drive-and-sleep-in-the-car my-personal-roadmovie guy. I usually drive around in the south of france, hooning over the swiss and french alpine passes. I just love to do this. Takes me about two days to forget what day and date currently is. When this happens I have truly arrived in what I call holidays.
With the GF it's mostly all planned, visiting tourist spots and doing this and that what has been planned the day before. - Underway alone nothing is planned.
Traveling alone is in no way tragic. It's awesome.
While she travels the citys, I'm more of a just-drive-and-sleep-in-the-car my-personal-roadmovie guy. I usually drive around in the south of france, hooning over the swiss and french alpine passes. I just love to do this. Takes me about two days to forget what day and date currently is. When this happens I have truly arrived in what I call holidays.
With the GF it's mostly all planned, visiting tourist spots and doing this and that what has been planned the day before. - Underway alone nothing is planned.
Traveling alone is in no way tragic. It's awesome.
If you like your own company why not, get away from all the things and people that add to the daily headaches and stress.
Unplug from everything, good book and scenery, eat where you want to without concerns of is everyone else happy?
Be selfish do what you want, get up when you want, drink eat and see what you want.
isn't that what holidays are supposed to be a break from everything else?
Other option go with someone your not really friends with as company and worry they are enjoying themselves and decide with a committee where, and what your going to do.
just my 2p :-)
Unplug from everything, good book and scenery, eat where you want to without concerns of is everyone else happy?
Be selfish do what you want, get up when you want, drink eat and see what you want.
isn't that what holidays are supposed to be a break from everything else?
Other option go with someone your not really friends with as company and worry they are enjoying themselves and decide with a committee where, and what your going to do.
just my 2p :-)
I do a lot of things on my own. A few years back I went on a 'round the world' trip to 3 different countries. It was brilliant and I was able to do anything I wanted to do. I also met a lot of people travelling on their own.
I appreciate its a little different to what you are suggesting and TBH I found enough stuff to keep me occupied most days. Yes I did feel lonely at times but don't regret it at all.
I appreciate its a little different to what you are suggesting and TBH I found enough stuff to keep me occupied most days. Yes I did feel lonely at times but don't regret it at all.
I went to Gran Canaria for a week in January as my wife and kids were always waltzing off to Center Parcs with her sister and kids (not my thing) and, as foreign jaunts are usually expensive, I thought what the hell and so booked a week with some nice off-peak cheap flights and some decent self-catering accommodation.
On arrival, I initially felt like the loneliest person in the world, mainly becuse I am not a socialite in any way, shape or form. It was quite depressing the first day, having to explore alone and missing my kids. However, this didn't last long (helped by the fact I got food poisoning the first day sio was very ill) and I spent most days roaming the island in the hire car (a Fiat panda which took some effort to use up the tank on)or walking round the dunes and generally doing quite healthy stuff.
I took a Google pad as there was internet access and had one evening meal in a restaurant and just generally chilled for a week. So while initially daunting, I now look back and think I'll be doing that again next year (Don't fret, I take the wife and kids on foreign holidays at other times of the year).
I would have liked some company, I will confess, but I am insular by nature so it's not an issue and I don't think I saw many or any English, most were Germans. I did look into some bars but they were so dead, I would have looked like a nob and highlighted the fact I was Johnny No-Mates.
On arrival, I initially felt like the loneliest person in the world, mainly becuse I am not a socialite in any way, shape or form. It was quite depressing the first day, having to explore alone and missing my kids. However, this didn't last long (helped by the fact I got food poisoning the first day sio was very ill) and I spent most days roaming the island in the hire car (a Fiat panda which took some effort to use up the tank on)or walking round the dunes and generally doing quite healthy stuff.
I took a Google pad as there was internet access and had one evening meal in a restaurant and just generally chilled for a week. So while initially daunting, I now look back and think I'll be doing that again next year (Don't fret, I take the wife and kids on foreign holidays at other times of the year).
I would have liked some company, I will confess, but I am insular by nature so it's not an issue and I don't think I saw many or any English, most were Germans. I did look into some bars but they were so dead, I would have looked like a nob and highlighted the fact I was Johnny No-Mates.
Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 13th May 11:38
I'm hoping to spend a few days in New York City on my own in the next few months. I love travelling with the wife, but as a keen photographer the idea of doing exactly what I want, when I want appeals to me hugely. Getting up at 5am to photograph the sunset isn't something I would even consider, but I could just do it on my own. Also the wife is a teacher so we're heavily restricted in terms of holiday time, so I could do it in term time and save a few quid.
I'm ridiculously shy but I think if anything it would help in that respect, it also helps that I'm fairly comfortable with NYC and feel safe there. I attend motorsport events all the time on my own, love it. The few times I've gone with friends I've not enjoyed it nearly as much, oddly enough.
I'm ridiculously shy but I think if anything it would help in that respect, it also helps that I'm fairly comfortable with NYC and feel safe there. I attend motorsport events all the time on my own, love it. The few times I've gone with friends I've not enjoyed it nearly as much, oddly enough.
I have travelled many times on my own. My trips are all about photography, and that very often means meeting many people doing exactly the same thing!
In the last few years i've done: NYC, Boston, Australia (Melbourne and Sydney, NZ South Island, Iceland (ring road), and a US roadtrip (4000 miles and lots of national parks). I'm about to (next week!) go on a 3.5 week, 6000 mile coast to coast US roadtrip.
It's easy, it's fun, you meet many more people than you think, and you can do whatever you want. I can imagine it not being so easy if you dont have something to do whilst there though. I have photography and that takes all my time up!
In the last few years i've done: NYC, Boston, Australia (Melbourne and Sydney, NZ South Island, Iceland (ring road), and a US roadtrip (4000 miles and lots of national parks). I'm about to (next week!) go on a 3.5 week, 6000 mile coast to coast US roadtrip.
It's easy, it's fun, you meet many more people than you think, and you can do whatever you want. I can imagine it not being so easy if you dont have something to do whilst there though. I have photography and that takes all my time up!
Far from it.
What could be better than travelling alone, meeting people, going where you want, for as long as you want?
I went to Sharm El Sheikh to learn to dive on my own, I went to Orkney last year, to dive on the German Fleet in Scapa Flow and longer ago I spent a few days in Italy (around Lake Garda) in the late summer and a couple of weekends skiing (when I lived in Europe).
Even if you're not very gregarious, you can relax and enjoy the scenery or whatever you're doing alone without someone wanting to go somewhere else or do something else.
Sure, it's great to go places with others and have shared experiences and memories, but sometimes it's good to just spend some time not worrying about others and it's certainly better to experience somewhere or something alone than not at all!
M.
What could be better than travelling alone, meeting people, going where you want, for as long as you want?
I went to Sharm El Sheikh to learn to dive on my own, I went to Orkney last year, to dive on the German Fleet in Scapa Flow and longer ago I spent a few days in Italy (around Lake Garda) in the late summer and a couple of weekends skiing (when I lived in Europe).
Even if you're not very gregarious, you can relax and enjoy the scenery or whatever you're doing alone without someone wanting to go somewhere else or do something else.
Sure, it's great to go places with others and have shared experiences and memories, but sometimes it's good to just spend some time not worrying about others and it's certainly better to experience somewhere or something alone than not at all!
M.
Went on a stag do to NYC a couple of years back. Having never been there before I decided to stay on for an extra 3 days and just be a tourist. It was lonely yet great.
I just made sure that each day I had a full itinerary thus had a reason to leave the hotel. I didn't meet anyone to go out with but did speak to a lot of interesting people who were either working where I ate or driving me around etc
I quite fancy the camping solo idea meself
Go do it.
I just made sure that each day I had a full itinerary thus had a reason to leave the hotel. I didn't meet anyone to go out with but did speak to a lot of interesting people who were either working where I ate or driving me around etc
I quite fancy the camping solo idea meself
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