Well, if she’s the sort who can’t eat in a restaurant by herself, I can certainly see how a a guy who likes to travel solo would be 100% the wrong fit. Not crazy, surely, nor “never call again”, but if she’s actively seeking a mate, spending time on you is simply inefficient. 
I don’t think it’s odd, but I do think it requires a particular mindset that some people just don’t have. I like shared experiences, and wouldn’t enjoy sightseeing or hiking or whatever by myself nearly as much as if I had a companion.
I have a friend who strikes out on his own all the time and I envy him a little bit. I don’t even like going to the movie theater by myself, and that’s barely even a social experience!
I had an extra day at the end of a conference in Anaheim, so I went to Disneyland solo! I heard all kinds of advice about it, and it was great. You could walk and move about by yourself much more quickly than dragging a family around (those whiners!). You can also sneak a spot for a parade or fireworks viewing more easily if it’s just one more person. Never felt strange taking an entire seat of a ride just for myself, and I got to go on my favorite rides over and over again.
It was really fun, except at the end of the night, when I couldn’t remember where I parked the rental car.
JohnGalt, that is good you did that. A lot of people would have just hung out in their accomodations. A colleague recently went to downtown L.A. for a business meeting. He said he did not leave the hotel except for a business dinner a couple blocks away. That was downtown L.A. tho.
I mentioned a bike trip upthread. The nice thing about that trip was the solitude of riding alone and at my own pace most of the day, and then seeing all the same people at camp each evening. We all used the same guide book which recommended camps. We shared meals and booze and played cards each night. Next day we did not see each other until the evening. Sorta like room-mates.
I would do it if I knew there were going to be people there at my destination that I could converse with while not treating me like a social pariah for being alone.
Not weird at all. I’ve been all around the world travelling solo, and it’s GREAT. Travelling with a friend or friends, travelling with a partner… I’ve done those things as well, and they’re great too, but in a different way.
Not weird at all.
My daughter, age 25, leaves next month on a 6-month road trip throughout the USA. Alone. She’s saved her pennies, bought a good car, and is as yet unencumbered by any husband or kids. She’s foot-loose and fancy-free. Now is the time to do something like this!
Her rough plan: from San Francisco, north, to Alaska, up the Al-Can. Then back to WA, and eastward. She’ll stop at one of those working ranches to stay and learn and work a bit, then continue eastward to her older brothers living in NYC. Then after some time in New England, southward to DC, south some more to FL, then west to TX and onward back to home. It’ll be an adventure!
Rolex Three-Day Event?
Not at all. A couple years ago, my SO went home for Christmas but I wasn’t able to get the week off. I figured I could sit home alone feeling sorry for myself or I could do something. So I took the three day weekend, booked a hotel and went to Palm Springs. I had a fantastic time and would do it again anytime.
Not weird at all-I like to vacation in boring places…so my likes are a bit unusual.
As a single, non-partnered person, I’ve done it many times and unless I got married, wouldn’t do it any other way. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want it!
And ever since I moved back to the city I consider my real home 13 months ago, I have slept in my own bed every night, except for the first one and that’s because it was on a moving truck somewhere. 
I don’t need to get away because there’s nothing I want to get away from! 
He hates the beach. I adore the beach. I go alone, it’s necessary!!
It has long been a widespread “received idea” that anyone who travels or holidays solo, must be inadequate: a “Billy-No-Mates”, which is seen as a despicable and pitiable condition. In my opinion nowadays, this is a most stupid prejudice; which I regret having bought into, for far too much of my life. Doing so, caused me to lumber myself with a number of travelling / holidaying companions with whom I was a poor fit, resulting in misery; and to pass up opportunities for potentially good stuff. I’ve had many interesting travel experiences, since becoming able to shed the deluded “togetherness is compulsory” notion; if only I’d managed to shed it a lot earlier.
It’s weird, but who cares? It’s your vacation, so enjoy it however you want. Is the illusion of conformity really something you want to invest in?
I think I’m fista take me one.
I don’t think I’ve ever left town with the intent of spending time by myself for recreational purposes, but I don’t think it’s a strange idea. I have, on multiple occasions, been out of town on business and taken advantage of the fact that I was in a new location to take side trips (day trip to St. Louis while staying in Kansas City, an overnight trip to Baltimore for a baseball game while doing business in DC, doing touristy stuff in Chicago alone while on a lengthy business trip, etc.). I wouldn’t hesitate to do so again in the future.
And, in keeping with the theme, I’ve never had an issue with going to sit in a restaurant by myself (with a book or a newspaper, generally), and I have on a rare occasion gone to the movies alone. I would generally prefer to have a companion, but it is by no means a necessity.
Were you inspired by this thread?
Where do you want to go?
It’s something that I’ve thought about for a long time, several years. I’ve just never seriously entertained the notion, for reasons that aren’t completely clear to me. I think this thread made me realize that there really was nothing stopping me from doing it.
As far as where I would go, I’m not sure. NYC maybe. I’ve never been and it seems like a good place for a short extended weekend vacation or something similar. But I’m far from decided and there are many places that I want to visit.
Yeah, a little.
With that said, to anyone on the fence - do it. I had a blast. I met a local couple at the bar who invited me over and showed me around the area, and I also crashed some chick’s 40th birthday party. I don’t even remember how that happened. I was just minding my own business and then four scotches later I’m sitting at their table. So there’s a 40th birthday album somewhere out there with a bunch of photos of ten women plus one drunk, yet ruggedly handsome stranger. 
Just don’t tell anyone you went alone.
The idea that you would feel the need to conceal the fact that you engaged in a perfectly reasonable innocuous activity like vacationing alone from your social group intrigues me. What if all of you are living secret lives of individuality dictated by your own preferences, but all hide in the same sheep suits when you meet? What consequence of non-conformity are you trying to avoid? Will the flock shun you if they find out who you really are and what you like to do with your spare time?