Would you go travelling on your own?

I travelled all over the world in my twenties, where pretty much on every occasion I journeyed alone. At times I met friends of mine in the destination countries but that was rare enough.

Obviously some clear advantages, you decide your own schedule, your budget, you will never have any added stress about falling out with people which can ruin holidays. I found that it was very difficult to organise long exotic trips away with friends, especially after the age of 21 or so, when many become far more conservative/busy/inflexible/would rather go with their partner and so on.

However, unless you're particularly gregarious or out-going (which I am not), travelling on your own can sometimes get a bit lonely. A lot of it is down to luck with who you meet when you arrive in your hostel and so on. Many people are quite welcoming to strangers in these environments, but there are also those who are not, which can make it hard, if you get stuck in a dorm with a closed group. The worst thing is when you actually start counting the hours until you can go to bed for instance, which doesn't happen often, but can occur in certain circumstances.

In addition, if something goes wrong, you have no one to share the anxiety with. Say you lost your passport, the simple fact of having a personal friend with you for support would be infinitely more reassuring than having to go through the whole process of getting it back in a strange country alone. Same with arriving at a dodgy train station late at night, if you are with one or two others, the whole experience can seem far less intimidating that it would be for a solo traveller.

So now I always try to go with people to places, even though these are usually to much closer destinations and for considerably shorter periods.

I have done both in my early years, Traveled with groups and traveled alone. I prefer to travel alone. It rare for me to travel with someone unless we are going to a wedding or an event out foreign together, but even still I like to disappear by myself to see the sights and see nature/cities town and locations without someone yapping in my ear..

Most of my holidays are full traveling holidays. When I head out of the country I do travel. Other people think I walk and drive too much. While I like to window shop and brows the goods. I am always moving to see the next thing. So much so I rarely eat in restaurants as they waste too much of my time. I eat on the go. I do not stay too long on one spot in one shop or cluster of shops unlike most women I previously travel with. Most men I previous travel with want to head to the nearest pub/bar.

So I prefer to go alone and to see the sites and do activities unless I am in a group that share the same interest.

I get bored and at times agitated when stuck in one spot when I know there is more to see. I love the freedom of moving around when traveling abroad.
I see far more and meet more local people and get their views and information than I would if I am in a group. There is always one member who spoils the trip for others which is why I prefer to travel alone. I can set or adjust my own timetable and change it without hearing the whining and complaints when plans or expectation are not been met.
I can relax and take in the atmosphere and be happy when traveling alone.

Once some mates went to south India and I travelled down to see them after a couple weeks to continue travelling together.
Flew in to Mumbai via Karachi and took the train down to Kerala and found them on a beach. Whole trip took about 4 days, alone, but meeting so many interesting people along the way.
Would do it again, an adventure it was!

I went to NZ this summer on my own, and it was my first solo trip and I was 19. The only thing i'd say to llook out for is getting searched for drugs and explosives. Brisbane was for explosives and Sydney was for both and they made everyone on their own go through those full body scanners.

Other than that the travel time is a pain. The smaller flights are fine but I think that the 14+ ones are a killer.

But once you do it, it will feel like a great accomplishment. I only know one other person who did a long journey and that was to Adelaide.

Good luck!

Yes. Ive gone travelling alone and would go again. I know a lot of people who do.

Have done and will do again. No point in waiting for other people to come with you to see the places you want to see, life is short.

it tests friendships travelling in groups.. I'm just back from 15 months of travel and I split ways from the people I went with.. Much easier on your own..

Like the poster above, I have been to Thailand for a week on my own. The freedom is great since you do whatever you please without having to accommodate the needs and aspiration of other people. I enjoyed walking around for hours in the shops, markets and temples. However i must say that I did not have half the fun i would have had with mates. there is also the security that mates provide, ye can go out on the piss as a group safely enough but on your own its un-nerving and boring at times. You pten hear people advising you to travel and "find yourself". There is no better way of doing it. You have to be social and interact with people otherwise it will be incredibly boring!

Yup, will be again soon, love it, nobody making you late, nobody else to babysit or argue with about what to do, brilliant way to experience other countries.