I’ve travelled alone, with one or two friends and with groups of 25+. I’m just not that picky. There’s no way I’m going to let not having a travel partner (or having too many) stop me from taking a trip. Still I do have preferences when it come who and how many I like to travel with.

Big group travel – Rio de Janeiro with the Capoeira Brasil – Los Angeles posse

My general rule is if the trip is less than 4 days, traveling solo is perfect. I have no one to answer to but myself for a brief period of time. I can eat breakfast and brunch, take a nap instead of joining a guided tour or stroll around a city with no purpose in mind without having to wonder what anyone thinks of my itinerary. One day I may want to strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you at the bar, and the next bury my nose in a good book. Whatever makes me happy is what’s on the agenda.

A few solo days in Holland

After 3 or 4 days though, I like to have someone around to share the experience with. I can be reasonably intriguing to friends and strangers alike, but honestly, I have heard all my own stories and jokes a million times. After a few days essentially alone, I can bore myself silly. I remember my weeks in Kenya and Tanzania traveling alone. I joined safari groups of other backpackers who provided plenty of company, but those days in between the safaris, especially when it was raining, I often found myself sitting alone playing solitaire and listening to my cd player (yep – the days before the iPod). For the first hour or two, it was fairly relaxing, but by day two relaxing turned into mind numbing. I was relieved when another bored traveller came up to my breakfast table and asked “Do you want to hang out today”? Good Lord, Yes!

But most of all I like to be flexible. If I travel alone I often go visit friends in a foreign country, so I’m not truly alone once I arrive. And my regular travel buddies know me well and are not offended if I like to go off for an afternoon (or a few days if it’s a long trip) just so I can get some alone time. In these instances I get the best of both worlds: independence and companionship. So, click on the comments link below and tell me how you like to travel.

With two of my regular travel buddies – Pam and Rupa