#MicroblogMondays 48: Solo Vacation

by Mel

31 comments

1 No Baby Ruth { 07.27.15 at 5:39 am }

I haven’t taken a vacation by myself, but I do think that I would enjoy it. At this point, though, I’d probably choose a small apartment somewhere with a beautiful view and a fully stocked library, so I could be a hermit for a few days.

I have been meaning to write about how much I enjoy being alone these days. That isn’t to say that I don’t also enjoy being with other people, but rather that the times I am alone are much more enjoyable. For example, I eat lunch by myself (typically because of my part-time work schedule). I used to hate doing that because I worried I looked like someone without friends, but now I revel in it. 20 minutes to myself when I don’t have to (and by Spanish standards should not) do anything else are a gift.

2 fifi { 07.27.15 at 6:05 am }

In between breaking up with my ex-boyfriend and meeting my husband, I went backpacking solo in Europe. Had an amazing time. It’s actually easier to meet other people when you’re travelling alone.

3 Middle Girl { 07.27.15 at 7:51 am }

I live with my two adult children. I sing for alone time at home. And given my introverted nature and that I’ve been single for more (cumulative) years than I was partnered, activies like going out to films, plays, meals, and the like, are often solo.

4 andy { 07.27.15 at 7:58 am }

I’ve never vacationed by myself, but I can see the appeal and think I would enjoy it. My problem is that since my vacation time is so limited, I prefer to spend that time with my family.

5 Mali { 07.27.15 at 8:08 am }

I used to travel a lot (internationally) for business, often for two weeks at a time, so both had time to myself on weekends and evenings. I often looked forward to that. But then I enjoyed the chance to travel with my husband on holiday (vacation). Since I stopped doing that, I’ve had a few vacations on my own. I’ve either travelled over alone (I prefer flying alone to be honest) or stayed on in Europe after a trip with my husband. I’ve stayed with friends and family there – which isn’t really a vacation on your own – and only spent a few days truly by myself. I like it, mostly. I once had a couple of days in Paris, when I just walked and walked, visiting favourite spots and exploring some new ones. It was gorgeous. But by the end of the time there, I did feel a bit lonely. It would be different at a beach though – no sightseeing, and just the freedom to do nothing, to walk, to swim, to sleep, to read, so it sounds kinda blissful. But whilst a couple of days at a beach on my own might be nice, I don’t think I’d want more than that.

6 anks { 07.27.15 at 8:13 am }

Here after ages… I fell out of the Microblog Mondays habit… 🙁

I am a bit like you when it comes to me time. I have traveled a lot on work and have been mostly alone while exploring new cities. It used to be daunting but is fun now 🙂

7 Lindsay | Solo Mama { 07.27.15 at 8:46 am }

I went to Sedona by myself a few years ago and LOVED IT. It was so restorative. I would totally do it again!

8 A. { 07.27.15 at 9:38 am }

Every time my cousin breaks up with a guy, she goes on some exotic adventure by herself. I remember she did 6 days in Greece years ago, when I was in my twenties and far too insecure to even fathom, and I felt sheer admiration. At the time I as dying to go…anywhere…and I had a bunch of flaky friends who would commit and cancel as soon as it came time to get serious and book something. Should have just gone! I’ve been away alone since then (yoga retreats) and it’s empowering.

9 Mahathi Ramya { 07.27.15 at 9:48 am }

Never took a vacation alone, but , yes, i would love to do. Travelling and exploring places at my own pace, relaxing and blogging.. wow! kind of a dream 🙂

10 Mom, Eventually? { 07.27.15 at 10:58 am }

I spent a month in Mexico after quitting grad school and having no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. It was an amazing, challenging, sometimes scary experience, especially with not speaking much Spanish. But I learned a lot about myself and had an amazing time. Would totally recommend it!

11 nonsequiturchica { 07.27.15 at 12:17 pm }

I haven’t taken a vacation by myself and I don’t think that I would like it. I don’t like to eat alone in restaurants when I am on a work trip so I wouldn’t like to do it on vacation. There something about sharing a new experience with someone else that I love too much to give up.

12 Misha { 07.27.15 at 12:29 pm }

I think travelling alone might be quite a liberating experience. I get lonely very quickly (after about a day), but I think it’s important to invest time in yourself. This also make’s me think about Eat, Pray, Love and how Liz Gilbert forced herself to travel alone for a year and how her life was completely transformed by the time she was done!

13 deathstar { 07.27.15 at 12:35 pm }

Years ago, I would save up money and then go away for a few days to a B&B. Loved it! I found it very restorative and even more so since I got married. I remember once my husband and MIL were quite concerned that I was going away for a few days (because they would never do that willingly) but I enjoyed getting up and going to bed on my schedule without having to answer to anyone. There’s a certain sense of freedom in it. I’ve never done it for more than a few days though.

14 Isabelle { 07.27.15 at 12:39 pm }

When I was younger, I often flew internationally to see family. I don’t know if that counted as traveling solo, but I found it nice to be able to move around and do whatever without answering to anybody. I haven’t gone on vacation by myself. I would always go somewhere to see friends/family. Like this trip that I took with my husband to Chicago. I had done it before to see my friends by myself, and I would go sightseeing or to see other tourist locations by myself. I have to say that I discovered that it was so much more fun to share these experiences with Bob. I do occasionally enjoy going to a coffee place or a restaurant by myself though.

15 torthuil { 07.27.15 at 1:06 pm }

I traveled solo at age 26, after finally finishing both university degrees. It wasn’t entirely a vacation as I did work, and I wasn’t entirely on my own because I saw a close friend several times in the UK and lived with my aunt in Athens. But I definitely was wading into deeper waters on my own than I had done before, and I wasn’t traveling with anyone. And there was a lot of time on my own. It was a very valuable experience. My main reason to go was to know that I had the nerve to do something like that, and I learned I did. I learned a lot about success and failure and resiliency and how my own emotions and thoughts worked. I doubt I could have had a similar experience if I had not chosen to travel alone. I’m less likely to travel on my own now because of marriage and family. But I did do a small trip (3 days) some years ago. It’s something I’d do again when the time is right.

16 Dora { 07.27.15 at 1:48 pm }

Yes! Loved it! The best was my trip to the Netherlands just before starting treatment. I pushed myself to eat alone in fancy restaurants. Did everything at exactly my own pace. Wonderful! Would desperately love 2 nights in a hotel by myself right now, but the vacation budget is too tight, and we need a family vacation. 4 weeks, 6 days to go!

17 Lori Lavender Luz { 07.27.15 at 2:34 pm }

I’ve been pretty brave (not really because I enjoy it) doing other things by myself, but I’ve never tried a vacation. I can’t now, because of responsibilities, but even so I’m not sure I will later on. It feels like sharing it with a person is a big part of what makes it special for me, making shared memories.

That said, I did not go to my high school reunion alone this past weekend. I walked in with 2 friend. Walking in alone would have been Brave, capital B.

18 Traci York { 07.27.15 at 4:27 pm }

Funny – I love spending time by myself, but it occurs to me that not only have I never vacationed (or gone to the movies) solo, but technically, I’ve never lived alone in my soon-to-be fifty years on this planet. The idea of it is almost equally terrifying and exciting.

19 Lacey Bean { 07.27.15 at 5:04 pm }

I’ve gone away for work by myself and toured the sights/went out to eat… so I guess that counts? But never just for leisure. 🙂

20 Amber { 07.27.15 at 6:01 pm }

I love having alone time. I enjoy sitting down to eat somewhere by myself, or even going to the movies by myself. I have to admit though, that I do get embarrassed when I’m seen by myself in the movie theater from someone I know. I don’t want them to think that I’m such a loner. But… why do I care really???? Not that this even happens very often, but it is nice to get out and have that ME time every once in awhile.

21 Sharon { 07.27.15 at 6:06 pm }

During my last semester of law school (age 33), I took a trip to Ireland alone to visit relatives. But I flew to London first and spent two days there on my own, then traveled by train from London to Wales and by boat to Dublin, where I spent another day on my own before taking a train to Cork, where my relatives live. I enjoyed it!

I also travel a fair amount for work, which is always solo travel, and I don’t mind it (though I rarely get much chance to explore the cities I visit, I do eat out alone a lot on those occasions).

22 Sharon { 07.27.15 at 7:47 pm }

P.S. I forgot to say, I would LOVE to go somewhere by myself for a little relaxing getaway now, even for just a day or two. But I don’t see that happening any time soon. . . .

23 Mrs. Gamgee { 07.27.15 at 8:52 pm }

I’ve never taken a vacation by myself (unless you count trips home to visit my parents in my early 20s), but I did move from southern Alberta to Orlando, FL on my own. Me, in my little Ford hatchback, pulling a Uhaul trailer, driving across the continent. It was definitely an adventure.

I think I might like a short vacation by myself, but after a few days I would end up missing my Beloved… he’s a great travel partner.

24 Bronwyn { 07.27.15 at 9:27 pm }

Apparently there are three questions which are predictive of your success with someone you meet through online dating. The first is, “Do you like horror films?” The second is, “Would you chuck it all in to go live on a sail boat?” and the third is, “Have you ever travelled around a foreign country by yourself?”

Apparently these constitute some sort of personality test which can predict compatibility between two people better than stated preferences.

Anyway – for the record, I love travelling or doing things alone sometimes. WE CAN BE BEST FRIENDS!

25 Rachel { 07.28.15 at 12:28 am }

I must admit, I really don’t like doing anything alone. Let alone a vacation! The only time I crave alone time is when I’m with the kids and just need a break. 🙂

26 Mary Francis { 07.28.15 at 2:10 am }

I am a closet introvert, and a Type 2 on the Enneagram. The first means I get my energy from being alone, the second, that in order to make sense of who I am ( a Two lives to help others, for entirely the wrong reasons) I need to get away from people. So I regularly take off. One of my favourite breaks is to take a tent into a friend’s field for a few days, see no-one and do nothing but read and think.

27 Shilpa { 07.28.15 at 4:44 am }

It’s an interesting idea of spending time all by ourselves.. It’s actually a sort of mini break to us the mommies from daily routine

28 Persnickety { 07.29.15 at 2:40 am }

Oh absolutely! I do find solo trips are different to ones with people though. I agree with Mali- I prefer to fly solo (the ability to pick seats, the lack of whining about no sleep, the lack of whining about terrible food). I like the ability to pick where I am going when by myself, and to change my plans. And I have found people do interact differently with a solo traveller. But sometimes travel companions push me to places or activities I would have avoided that I enjoy

29 md { 07.29.15 at 11:09 pm }

i like being alone alot.. i used to do a lot of stuff alone when i was in hk, but here in mumbai, being alone is seen as weird.. and i am not yet brave enough to just be weird 😛
i don’t know about vacation though.. i think it would totally depend on the place, the circumstances, etc. anyways, with toddler twins, alone time is hard to come by at present, forget about a solo vacation 😉

30 Justine { 08.04.15 at 8:08 am }

I traveled a lot by myself before I met my husband, and to be honest, I miss it. I love the freedom of traveling alone and keeping my own schedule, responding to my own demand. But I also would feel bad about leaving my family behind now… I tend to take them pretty much everywhere.

31 loribeth { 08.08.15 at 2:34 pm }

I’ve never taken a vacation by myself, although I have travelled by myself, to see family & on business trips (which is kind of like a vacation in some ways 😉 ). I don’t mind being alone (much); in fact, I don’t get much alone time these days, with both dh & I essentially retired, so I enjoy it whenever I get a few hours by myself. 😉