Monday Mood: Thoughts on Traveling Alone

I have done a lot of solo travel over the past 30 years. The two of us had work related travel, and conferences that the other often couldn't or would have no reason to want to go along on. I have also done a fair amount of solo leisure travel.  Doc Spo and Someone have plans for a week in Palm Springs, but dear elder dog Harper is too frail to board, so it looks like Spo will be traveling to Palm Springs solo, with Someone staying home with the dog.  Over drinks Friday evening Spo asked about traveling alone. 

For work related travel, traveling solo was often the only way to go. Many of my trips were business only, in and out without much time to think or see anything. 

There were also longer solo trips that were not work. As long as my parents were alive I went to Florida two or more times per year, at least half of those trips were solo.  Several times when Sweet Bear went to a conference at Oxford, I went elsewhere. I have very fond memories of a week in Normandy while he was at Oxford. The week I turned 60, Sweet Bear had classes to teach, I booked a week in the Detroit area visiting family and seeing sights I had never seen. A year after my parents died, I went to Florida alone for a few days to see theme parks and family. 

With no one else to set the agenda, when you travel alone you need to set the agenda. Have things you want to see or do, and a way to get there and do it, or you will end up sitting in a hotel room wondering why hotel cable TV is so terrible.  Plan ahead for getting around, do you need a car, is there good public transit, are things within walking distance? I always check ahead to see if there are bloggers in the area. I have made some wonderful friends by reaching out and offering to meet for a couple of hours. 

Traveling alone is different. There is no one else to solve your problems, no one will need your help.  No one else will keep you on schedule, you don't have anyone else to keep on schedule (and things like airline flights don't wait for anyone.) You have to decide where to eat, you can eat wherever you want.  

Not everyone enjoys solo travel. Plan it and try it. If you enjoy it, keep doing it. Not having someone to travel with, is no reason to stay home. 

There is usually a point in a solo trip, when I wish I was not alone, when I am ready to head for home. As you read this on Monday, I am homeward bound.