It was January 2003 and I was vacationing with two friends in a very warm Puerto Rico. I was still trying to get over a difficult relationship and I wasn’t feeling that great about myself.   I was down in the dumps, I had no confidence, and I just did not know where to go from that point.   Then, while waiting at the airport to travel to New York, my “travel angel” appeared and changed my life for good.   She was a beautiful blonde, with a lilting British accident.   When she approached me, I thought  someone was playing some type of joke on me by having such a beautiful woman just walk up to me in an airport and start talking with me.    But, she had a message. She told me that she had recovered from cancer and had gone through a difficult breakup too. It made her realize that life is too short to waste any time. She wasn’t going to make any excuses not to enjoy life, so she decided to travel by herself.    She had been to Israel, Buenos Aires, South Africa, and even to the Great Wall of China – with no companion.    

She went to Hawaii, Thailand, and India. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams and desires.   I never saw her again, but it was she who inspired me to book that ticket to Paris as soon as I got home.    That February, I can remember arriving at CDG airport, standing there, not knowing a word of French. But I took my first steps in Paris all by myself. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I like to travel alone. It gives a level of freedom and anonymity that is probably impossible to find anywhere else.   I liked the opportunity to see exactly what I wanted to see, stay for as long as I wanted, and go back and see it again if I wished.   It was a pleasure to wake up when I wanted to wake up, and walk around Paris at all hours if I chose to.

One thing I don’t like about traveling solo is dining alone.   That problem was rather easily solved. You see, there are a lot of other people like you out there. You just need to find them.   I would post messages on Craigslist, TripAdvisor, and VirtualTourist looking for dining partners while in Paris.   I made it crystal clear I was looking for just a dining companion – nothing more.   I got more than my share of responses. If I made contact with another solo traveler, I took great care to make sure we met in a public place and I did not give away too much information about myself until I felt comfortable with them.    People traveling in groups were happy to have me join them too. I remember eating with about 20 people at Le Train Bleu.   From that group, I found 2 or 3 others to remain in contact with.  

I even met a wonderful Parisian who taught me more about Paris than any guide book or blog could ever teach me about Paris.

There is also the famous Jim Haynes dinner party every Sunday night in Paris. Jim is an ex-pat who has anywhere from 40-100 people at his house. About half of them are travelers just like you. Take a look at http://www.jim-haynes.com for more information.

If traveling solo, I suggest you get a well-located hotel, probably a three-star.   Stick with a boutique hotel as opposed to a large chain hotel.  You can often get a great deal by asking for a single room.   They aren’t an easy sell for the hotel and they are quick to offer them at a discounted rate, especially if you are booking at the last minute. 

After making several solo trips to Paris, I decided to rent an apartment with a small living room area. On my first night in Paris, I threw a party, inviting all of those who I knew would be in Paris the same time as I was.   Of course, each of them brought at least one friend.    We had a great time. I made lots of new friendships, and I had more than enough dining companions for the remainder of the trip.

One negative thing about traveling alone is that I always thought that I might be an easy target for someone trying to rob me or do me harm. With that in mind, I did my best to dress like a local and blend in. Also, I made great pains to never go in lightly traveled streets, metros, or trains.    If I was going back to my hotel or apartment late at night, I took a taxi cab instead of walking or taking the metro.     Even when going into a public restroom, I looked for one that was heavily trafficked.  I was very aware of my surroundings. I never mentioned to strangers that I was traveling alone.

But all in all, traveling solo gives one a sense of accomplishment and is a real confidence builder.     There is a sense of “I really did that” when returning home. People admire those who travel on their own. They want to talk to these solo travelers and hear their stories.    Personally, I can point to traveling solo as a turning point in my life in terms of gaining a sense of personal accomplishment, confidence, and self-assuredness.