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How to set out solo, but not travel alone: Trips, tips and ideas for the active traveler.

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What’s so great about having a travel companion again?

In my early 30’s, my boyfriend and I spent some time in Bruges, Belgium, during a European trip. He did something to annoy me. I don’t remember what now. I just remember him walking away from me, and me being angry. To this day, you say Bruges and a darkness descends. I really should go back and make amends with the city. 

The lesson here? I felt safe and secure and excited about traveling with him. Isn’t a travel companion supposed to help make everything alright? For the most part, it worked out. But there were issues throughout the trip.

If I’d traveled alone through Bruges, I might have memories of the quaint buildings or the Belgian cuisine or some discovery I’d made walking down a side street. Instead of his back after he turned it on me.

So ask yourself: What’s so important about having a travel companion? And remember, when you get nervous about the idea of setting out solo: There are trade-offs either way.

 

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2 responses to “What’s so great about having a travel companion again?”

  1. Scribetrotter Avatar
    Scribetrotter

    I agree, it’s often the safety or familiarity of what we know.
    I remember my first few solo forays – I was so convinced terrible things would happen to me and I wouldn’t be able to cope. I smile at that now, years later.
    Of course I learned to cope. And to like my own company, and make friends along the way. Solo travel became second nature, and although I do on occasion travel with a friend, my greatest joy comes when walking off that plane on my own, in a new place, knowing the next few months are going to be, selfishly, all mine.

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  2. kim Avatar
    kim

    Years ago I went on my first trip with my then-boyfriend to Barcelona. On day two we nearly broke up, decided to stay together but it didn’t last for more than a month. So on returning to Barcelona a couple years later I was at first afraid that the bad memories would cast a shadow on my trip, but luckily this wasn’t the case – the city is beautiful enough to capture my full attention, not much time for memories!

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