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The Dilemma of the Solo Traveller
Yay! The first working week of 2010 is over. We've gone back to work and back to reality. This is the time of year where the only thing motivating is dreaming of travel plans. Cue trawling travel websites when we should be working, "ahem!"
Decisions decisions decisions!
My first dilemma is deciding where to go. Should I experience new sights and thrills and be adventurous? Or revisit past loves, where I'd be guaranteed a fabulous time? Or is it city or beach? Adventure packed or chilled out relaxation? Or, if, like me you are single, perhaps the most important question is who do I go with or do I go alone?
Daring to go alone
I like to travel more than my friends do. Either they don't want to spend the money or they have kids, hubbies, partners whilst I'm the one who is footloose and fancy free. My solution - Canada.
Toronto is a bit of a cop-out for me as that's where my dad, brother, sister and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins live. I've spent heaps of time there over the past 20 years including six months from 1998-1999, and I now have a solid group of friends there too. Therefore, when traveling alone to Canada, I travel safe in the knowledge that once I arrive, I'll be surrounded by loved ones.
Lighting display at the CN Tower. Copyright: http://uscw.canada.travel
However, the past few years I've gotten more adventurous, I've looked past Toronto and tried out new places - Montreal, Marrakech, Cuba, Alicante, Barcelona, Barbados and most recently Amsterdam. I've done the solo travel thing to Montreal and Amsterdam, went away with family to Alicante and even taken chances by hooking up with 'acquaintances' to go away with. N.B: 'friends' are people I know extremely well vs. 'acquaintances' who are people I've met a few times but don't know well enough to call a 'friend'. Boy, have I had a few nightmares!
Nightmare holiday partners
One particular acquaintance, who I went away with, hardly ever had an appetite, not a big deal you say? Well, I'm someone who loves food; in fact, I would go as far as to say that I'm extremely passionate about food - even more so when I'm on holiday. It got to the point where I was the only one eating dessert, I felt like such a lard ass. Also, when you spend your birthday in Cuba, having dinner at a table for one because your holiday partner 'isn't hungry', tends to make things a little 'tense'.
Me on holiday, eating as always.
Another holiday partner became a raging aggressive lunatic whenever she drunk alcohol. She argued with other tourists, created enemies out of the lovely ladies selling fish and jerk chicken near our favourite hot spot, and she slapped and pushed her 'holiday fling' when she saw him smile at one of the 'jerk chicken ladies'. Oh dear.
On second thoughts, maybe I am better off traveling alone?
Share your new year travel plans, nightmare 'travelling with others' stories' and / or tips on 'how to get along' when travelling with others. Click here to read tales of solo travel on Diverse Traveller.
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