In all my travel to 100-plus countries, I had never traveled alone (except for a few business trips) until my recent trip to Egypt, Turkey, Northern Ireland, England and Ireland.

Niece Kelly and I spent a fabulous week together in Egypt and then she had to return to work (poor thing). I couldn’t waste a trip to Europe without an extended stay, so I decided to try going solo.

Here’s what I learned.

THE PROS:

• It’s really fun to be in total control of your schedule. You get to do exactly what YOU want. I shopped all day in Istanbul and dashed around the Grand Bazaar making all kinds of deals to buy jewelry for friends, family and myself. I was free, unfettered by an schedule and was able to eat, drink and rest when I wanted.
• You don’t have to worry about finding someone to go with you. You know how it is when you ask friends to come with you on a trip. They don’t have the money, or the time off or they have to take care of the kids or grandkids. There are all kinds of excuses and you really don’t care. You just want a travel companion. When you go solo, you don’t have to navigate someone else’s logistics. You simply make your reservations and head out.
• You don’t have to worry if your companion is having a good time. It can be a daunting task to try to keep someone else happy. They have expectations and you want them to enjoy themselves. But when you’re alone, there’s no stress about a good time. You control your destiny and you can do whatever you like.
• If you get lonely, book a tour with a group. I’m not much of a tour group person, but half-day and day tours are a good way to see a lot in a short amount of time. You also meet interesting people on a tour bus and get to bond over the experience. I took a Game of Thrones tour in Northern Ireland and LOVED it. Met other Game of Throne junkies and we had a great time seeing the locations for many of the scenes in the show.

THE CONS:

• There’s no one to share your adventures. Sure, you can chat up some stranger on the street, in the hotel or sitting next to you in the restaurant. But, that may be a bit too familiar for some of us. The way to get around this is to use FaceTime to chat with family back home.
• It’s a bit more expensive to travel solo. Hotel rooms aren’t split with two people. Meals and taxis can’t be shared. You get the idea.
• Some people may not feel safe traveling alone. I have to admit, I’ve never felt scared to be alone. I am very careful not to overdress, wear any jewelry or carry expensive luggage. I try to blend in and stay under the radar. Ask your hotel front desk if you are concerned about walking at night. They can tell you if it is safe and where are the best places to stay away from.

So what is my conclusion? As an extrovert, I’d always prefer to travel with a friend or family member. I do enjoy the companionship of another person. But if no one is available, I’m not staying home!

Grab your suitcase and hit the road – alone or with a friend!!