Enjoying solo travel and solo dining doesn't make me odd does it?

[candyisdandybutliquorisquicker]

Had a conversation with colleagues today that left me wondering if I'm odd 😂

We were talking about vacation plans and the subject got round to general attitudes to travel. I have three kids and my husband and I prioritize trips/holidays over many things. I love the fact that my kids have seen a bit of the world. That said, we also appreciate opportunities for solo travel. I'm an expat and recently came back alone to the UK for a week, and my husband is going to Italy soon for an event. Kids are old enough that one parent can handle them just fine. To add perspective, in addition to these two solo trips, the kids will have had 3 family holidays/short breaks this year too.

When I mentioned this, every colleague bar one not only said that there was nothing about solo travel that appealed to them, but said that they wouldn't even dine out solo in a "sit-down" restaurant. I've done solo dining too many times to even count, in various circumstances, and was pretty shocked that I was such an outlier! These are all middle/upper-middle class so finances aren't playing a role here, I don't think.

What say you, MN hive? Is solo travel the domain of the weird, friendless and/or misanthropic? Or do my colleagues have a limited outlook on the wonder of solo adventures?

YANBU - Solo travel/dining is one of the great pleasures
YABU - It's odd and you're odd 😉

I love solo trips too (& I am married). We have holidays together, but also other holidays apart, specifically related to our own interests. I adore a solo trip - really gives me space to explore.

I've been solo travelling since time immemorial.

Not lying on my death bed saying All those countries I wanted to see but had no-one to come with me!

Or wish I'd kept a cleaner house

Life is for living! Never know when it's over.

It's on the bucket list and I cannot wait!

Small steps. Book a weekend away in your own country and launch from there in your life....

No way! Its such an amazing strength to enjoy your own company and so freeing.

I love spending time alone, even as a teenager I would prefer shopping on my own! My child is 9 and I like to go away with them and family but when they are older/with their dad in the future and work schedules would allow I can't think of anything nicer than solo travelling! Go for it! Sounds heavenly to me!

I bloody loved all my years of solo travel. I think everyone should do it. I hope yo continue on e this on is born. But, everyone is different, I have friends who hate the idea of it.

I agree with you @JamSandle

Gives you time to think too what is important for oneself in life.

And clear the cobwebs in your mind

I'm still in contact with people I've met travelling, who've become friends.

I've gone out for dinner by myself and it's been blissful. Haven't done it for many years now, unfortunately, just the odd breakfast or lunch here and there.

I went on holiday with a really shit friend who dumped me half way through for her boyfriend and left me on my own but I still went out every night for dinner and drinks for the remainder of the holiday and had a rather pleasant time. However, this is certainly the reason i no longer holiday with friends though.

Travelling solo, that should say.

If you're odd, then I am too

I've mostly been single and childless- I've travelled half the world alone. Eaten out alone endless times. There are annoying aspects (having to take all your luggage into the loos, for example,) but you can do just as you wish, no one complaining.

One of my former colleagues was absolutely amazed by this, that I'd go on holiday alone. He thought it meant I was absolutely awesome (rather than stuck with a choice of going alone or not going at all.) It is merely one of many reasons thst made me realise we were not at all similar.

It’s totally, totally normal to travel alone, eat in restaurants alone, go to the cinema on your own, theatre, concerts, anything.

I usually take a book or my kindle when eating out on my own, and I’ve never tried it in a fancy upmarket place but I don’t usually frequent those anyway. It’s bliss.

Just come back from New York. Lots of solo women sitting at the counter in medium/trendy restaurants. Styling it out and it was great to see. Bravo to them.

I enjoy going solo to places that I am interested in that everyone else rolls their eyes at! When I did my first solo run I found it a bit awkward on the first day, but once I got my bearings and figured out how to use public transport it was great. The more you do it the more you enjoy it.

I will confess to not liking going out to eat at night alone to any kind of "decent" restaurant. Just me, but it's the one thing that I feel a little uncomfortable doing. I have no problem with quick places like pizza or bistros and best of all an outside seat, but not in a restaurant where the very fact of opening the door has all eyes upon you. I know, I know I shouldn't care but look, no point in doing something to prove something either. I much prefer a long lunch, as I find lunches a lot less formal, well to me they are. I suppose we are all different and have our comfort zones!

Solo travel to places of interest to YOU are the best thing ever. No bored sighs from companions etc. However a fly and flop resort for a few days is nice with someone, since there's usually little else to do except rest and eat, and having someone to talk to is good then.

I'm a widow. Am I supposed to never go anywhere? I dine alone if away from home. At home if I'm out for the day I'll happily have lunch on my own. When I was having building work done I was out almost daily to get away from them!
Your colleagues are odd to think a huge slice of the population are odd for travelling and eating out alone.

Lots of people just can't conceive of travelling alone. Some will even look for travelling companions on the internet. To me, going on holiday with a complete stranger is a lot odder than travelling solo.

Hi OP, I've done both and it's liberating and wonderful. Good on you!

haven't voted because I can't agree with either. Am more than happy to travel alone, in some ways I prefer it to travelling with others, in other ways it's worse. So definitely can't vote YABU.

But I'm not a foodie so don't really enjoy eating out solo and would never describe it as a "great pleasure", rather a last resort option f there was no other way of getting something to eat. I'm perfectly capable of doing it but for me the main benefit of going to a restaurant is for the social element -sharing a meal with friends/family. I find eating out alone boring, so would much rather just grab something on the go/get a takeaway and save time/money.

Thanks for your responses. I was really quite taken aback by the chorus from my colleagues - and I'm sure part of my surprise was due to the hint of "I love my spouse so much why would I ever want to travel without them?" My husband and I are not one of those couples who are joined at the hip, and it felt a little like a judgment.

I'm on holiday on my own right now. I love it. I do wtf I want and no compromises. I went to bed mega early last night as I was shattered. It's 430am where I am and I'm just about to read my book and will head down to the beach when it gets light.

I like holidaying with DH as we have such good chats and conversations spending time together but I get more leave than him so I always go away alone too.

I'm an other odd bod.

I was shocked that someone at work was shocked that I was flying by myself. I mean what's tough about Stansted to Stockholm for someone who manages big projects? I think they'd have needed hospital treatment if I'd been staying there alone instead of visiting family.

Absolutely love it, don’t think it’s weird at all. Just feels liberating to me.

I solo travel (internationally) several times a year for work. Love it, and love eating alone in restaurants.