Doing it alone or with others-which is better? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



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View Poll Results: Do you perfer to travel...
With a friend/s 7 28.00%
By yourself 18 72.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 11-18-2005, 12:53 PM   #1
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A friend and I are planing on embarking on a round the world trip-we have traveled before but I have also traveled alone. I am just looking for other people's opinions.
Also what tips do you have for 2 friends traveling?
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Old 11-18-2005, 02:24 PM   #2
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My last trip was my first all alone and also my longest. There were tons of times that I wish I had had a buddy with me. Lots of people say that you'll meet more people by yourself, but I think you can meet just as many if you travel with someone who's open to meeting new people. Plus, in those cases where you're at a crappy hostel/discount hotel, or where you don't meet anybody it's always good to have a friend watching your back. When I got lost in Barcelona (at least once a day, and often in some pretty seedy areas) I would have loved to have a friend there with me. Just make sure it's someone you're not likely to get sick of if you spend all day every day together. I know a whole bunch of people that I know would be perfect to have with me backpacking around anywhere.
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Old 11-18-2005, 03:12 PM   #3
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I've done both and had great experiences both ways. My last trip was with a buddy to baja and it was cool cause both of us were just along for the ride. So whatever came our way was cool with us. That's the way it should be!
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Old 11-18-2005, 04:04 PM   #4
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My last trip (also the Baja) was solo. I could never have had the time that I did if I went with others. There was too much crazyness and unexpectedness of well... everything on the trip.

However if I went with a friend I would have had a good time too but it would have been a whole different trip. Not neccesarily bad but just different.

One hting is, can you travel with this person? Everyone has things they like and dont like to do while traveling. Whether it be sightseeing, outdoorsy stuff like hiking, fishing, whatever... Is this a person that might be into the same things and if they are not, they won't care if you do your own thing?

I know some friends of mine I couldn't travel long term with cause they would want to be together almost always and kind of clingy. Everyone has their own "What works for me" deal.

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Old 11-18-2005, 09:32 PM   #5
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Both rock... for me, it's a question of how and what kind of travelling I'm doing..

if it's backcountry or camping (where getting there is the adventure) it's definitely better with a friend...

If you're exploring a city? There it could go either way. You know you'll run into people, so picking up new freinds along the way could actually be the best thing...

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Old 11-19-2005, 05:22 AM   #6
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There are pros and cons to both methods of course but I prefer going it alone. When you're alone you tend to meet more people, have more freedom and generally cay do whatever the hell you want. On the flipside you tend to have your lows accentuated without a friend as a support. The best thing about travelling with a friend is that you can reminisce together long after the trip has finished.

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Old 11-19-2005, 02:53 PM   #7
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I prefer traveling solo, just because I don't like having to worry about another person. There's only one person I've meet (not including Travelpunks) that I could travel with long-term and she usually isn't available when I go off on adventures.

I went to Bonnaroo solo this summer and had a great time. I meet a lot of people that I wouldn't of - had I'd gone with a group. Since at big festivals most of the people are in groups of 5+ from a similiar area most never go out of their group to talk. So I got adopted by many groups because I was the little lone wolf and everyone thought I felt left out :P ...little did they know I was meeting more people than they were
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Old 11-20-2005, 12:54 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by urOZm8@Nov 19 2005, 11:22 PM
There are pros and cons to both methods of course but I prefer going it alone.* When you're alone you tend to meet more people, have more freedom and generally cay do whatever the hell you want.* On the flipside you tend to have your lows accentuated without a friend as a support.* The best thing about travelling with a friend is that you can reminisce together long after the trip has finished.

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^ i second that
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Old 11-20-2005, 10:34 AM   #9
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I, too, have done both and I like traveling along more. I meet more people, get into more mischief, and spend less money. I never have to consult my mate about doing this or that I just do it. It has its lonely moments but I just occupy my mind in some other way to take care of that. I am about to embark on 4 months alone on the road so it should be interesting.

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Old 11-20-2005, 07:10 PM   #10
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well my trip will be solo due to the fact that all my mates don't think like i do, they are happy in their own worlds and all think i'm crazy for wanting more than the norm, so that said i will be alone and think it will be such an adventure, yes a bit scary but an adventure all the same

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Old 11-22-2005, 05:46 PM   #11
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Solo is better. Unless your the type who feels self concious or uneasy while alone, you will have a much more fulfilling experience going solo. There is nothing better than being able to do what you want, when you want without having to consult with anyone. And in the course of doing your thing, there are always people to hook up with for short periods of time. Often the only time you are truely alone is in transit from one place to another. Or its common to meet others and travel with them for a short period of time. That can be a good time, and the best part is that you can leave that person or people at any time when you tire of them. You never have to talk to or see them ever again if you dont want, unlike someone you might bring from home. One day you may not say a word all day long and then the next day you may meet a group of bi-sexual Norwegian nursing students that demand your company. You just never know when youre by yourself.
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Old 11-23-2005, 04:20 AM   #12
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Quote:
One day you may not say a word all day long and then the next day you may meet a group of bi-sexual Norwegian nursing students that demand your company. You just never know when youre by yourself.
Come on dude, you can't just say such shit and not elaborate!

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Old 11-26-2005, 11:14 PM   #13
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Its probably one of the best ways to find out if you and the other person are really meant for each other. Ive met so many people travelling with thier SO that hated it.

Quote:
Originally posted by urOZm8@Nov 23 2005, 04:20 AM
Come on dude, you can't just say such shit and not elaborate!

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Well, Ive met bi-sexuals, Norweigians, and nursing students, so in this wonderful land of the internet, that translates into bisexual, Norwegian nursing students. In a group.
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Old 11-23-2005, 10:22 AM   #14
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Alone is my preferred method of travel also. It forces you to be more outgoing, even if you are already pretty outgoing. One day comes to mind...I walked around Barcelona all day one day last winter with a group of 6 gorgeous girls from four different countries. Now THAT would not have been nearly as cool if I had been with a buddy, though i would have somebody to back up my story. And then there was the time with the porn star on the sidewalk...most of my crazy stories are from Barcelona. Strange....well maybe not

Note: yes eleborate. Most bisexual norwegian nurses I've met have been traveling alone...
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Old 11-23-2005, 09:04 PM   #15
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While initially I would always say that of course, solo is much better, besides what everyone else has listed I think a lot of it depends on the other person/s involved. There are many things that I cherish about my last trip that simply would not have been the same if I'd been alone. It was nice to be with a good friend on my birthday in Paris when EVERYONE at home forgot about it... and by "forgot", I mean that three weeks later AFTER I returned home, they still hadn't remembered. Thanks, mom!! Ah well.

So while it may seem like you're giving something up to travel with another person, you are probably going to gain many wonderful experiences in return. It's all about tradeoffs.


[Author's Note: This really, really depends upon your individual relationship with the other party.]
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Old 11-26-2005, 04:55 PM   #16
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I think there needs to be an other option...I have done most my traveling alone, but traveling with someone you love (like in a reltionship) rocks!
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