Traveling Alone - is it for You?

It dawned on me that no one in the world knew where I was. Suddenly I felt more alone than ever before. The fact that it was Christmas only enhanced that feeling. I had told everyone I was traveling to Paris with a friend, but at the last minute my plans got changed. I ended up traveling alone to Berlin - a place I had wanted to see before I left Europe.

Traveling alone taught me many things, perhaps the most important being self-reliance. Really, I had no choice. I was the only one on whom I could rely. The choices I made were totally my own, so if I made a bad choice I had no one to blame but myself.

Traveling alone can be fun - you go when and where you want and do what you want. The freedom of traveling alone can't be beat. When traveling alone, you also tend to meet more people. I know; most of my travel has been solo. It's not because I've necessarily chosen to go it alone, but because I usually can't find someone who is as flexible as I am and who likes to travel as much as I do. The bottom line is that I would rather travel solo than stay at home and wish I would have.

Traveling alone does have its drawbacks, though. There is no one with whom to share the experience as it is happening, you have to be more aware of your safety, and often there is a surcharge on hotel rooms if it will be just you occupying the room. Those are simply things to be aware of if you prefer going somewhere over sitting at home.

There is, of course, another choice - traveling with a companion. As is the case in most things, there are positive and negative aspects of both traveling alone and traveling with someone else. To decide which option is best for you, weigh all the points carefully well in advance of your trip date.

Use the following ten guidelines to determine if your potential traveling companion will be a good choice for an upcoming trip - or if you would be better off traveling alone.

Top Ten Guidelines for Traveling Alone vs. Traveling with a Companion

1. What is your relationship with your possible traveling companion - are you close, just barely acquainted, or somewhere in between? How comfortable would you be traveling with him/her vs. traveling alone?
2. Is your potential traveling companion interested in the same kinds of things you are: adventure, museums, nature, art, bicycling, seeing all the "touristy" highlights (for example, the Eiffel Tower in Paris), and so on? If his/her ideas about what to do aren't compatible with yours, you would be better off traveling alone.
3. Is he/she over 18? Over 21? (that is, if you are also over 21 and plan on drinking) If he/she is under 18 and not your own child or close relative, do not go with that person, period - unless their parent accompanies you both. You are far better off traveling alone as opposed to traveling with a minor.
4. Would he/she be calm and know what to do in times of crisis or danger? Would they even recognize a potentially dangerous situation? Occasionally there are situations when traveling that are potentially dangerous, ranging from personal medical emergencies to major dangers like tsunamis or terrorist attacks. Be prepared for situations like these - at least mentally - before you go.
5. Does he/she have a negative personality: violent, moody, short-tempered, abrasive, confronting, lacks common sense, poor in social situations? If your potential traveling companion has a negative personality in any way, consider traveling alone.
6. Does he/she tend to be late to appointments, meetings, or other time-sensitive occasions? Traveling consists of meeting a lot of time deadlines such as being on time in the airport or train station, checking into hotels, and being on time for reserved activities. If he/she has a history of being late, traveling alone might be the better option.
7. Could there be an unwanted sexual dynamic with your potential traveling companion? If your potential traveling companion is of the opposite sex (or same sex if GLBTQ), is there a chance that he/she would make unwanted advances toward you? Or would they be more protective of you? If there is even a slight chance of them making unwanted advances toward you, start planning to travel alone or look for another traveling companion. One such incident can ruin an entire trip.
8. Do they have habits you find unpleasant or annoying - talk too much, talk too little, snore, body odor, no table manners, have a 'tic' like bouncing their leg non-stop, etc.? Might they embarrass you in public?
9. Would your potential traveling companion add to the trip or detract from it? Would he/she make the trip a more pleasant experience or bring you down? If he or she is not going to add to your experience on the trip, consider traveling alone.
10. What is their traveling "style"? Do they adjust easily to new and possibly uncomfortable experiences? Are they a complainer? Are they an impulsive traveler or do they like to plan out where to go? Does their traveling style complement your own?

Overall, the rule of thumb when it comes to traveling alone or traveling with someone else is this: If the negative of traveling with your potential companion outweighs the positive, don't go. Instead, start planning an exciting solo trip. Don't let it scare you. I have done tons of traveling alone and had tons of fun doing so. Just be a little more careful than you would when traveling with a companion, and I guarantee you will have a great time traveling solo.