Backpack Europe Homepage

What's New
Travel Tips
Packing
Hostels, Hotesl, etc.
Transportation
Travel Links
Other Stuff
Site Index

Questions?

Last updated February 07, 2016. 

Travel Solo or with a Companion

Whether you should travel alone or with a group primarily depends upon your personality.  I will briefly describe each option,  listing the pros and cons, to help you decide which travel style is the best for you.

 

Traveling Solo Traveling with a companion(s) Finding a Companion

 

Traveling Solo

Pros:

  • Meet and interact with more people
  • Going where you want to go, when you want to go, with whomever you want to go with
  • Allows you to find your own travel techniques (as opposed to going with a tour group)
  • Forces you to assert your independence

Cons:

  • Traveling alone can be intimidating
  • Must overcome any shyness you may have in order to meet other people
  • Deciding where you want to go and what to do once you are there requires more effort on your part than letting someone else make all or most of the decisions
  • Forces you to assert your independence (this can be either a pro or a con depending on whether or not you think being independent is  (1) important and (2) possible for your level of emotional growth)

FYI:  I traveled solo during my three month trip to Europe and I had an excellent time.  I wouldn't want to travel any other way.   Keep in mind that this advice is coming from someone who is relatively shy and had never traveled anywhere alone before going to Europe.

[Top]

Traveling with a companion or companions

Pros:

  • You always have someone to talk to/consult with
  • You can share food, clothing, toiletries, accommodations, etc. (saving room in your pack and sometimes money)
  • You will have someone to share your memories with (and take your picture in front of the Eiffel Tower)
  • You may forge a life long friendship/friendships with your travel companion(s)

Cons:

  • Being with the same person/people 24/7 can be very annoying (you could lose your friendship over this)
  • Depending on someone else can be risky--people can flake out on you (take all your money,  abandon you, etc.)
  • Memories of your trip may turn out to be nightmares (constant fighting over where to go and what to see, etc.)
  • Traveling as group may make it more difficult to meet other people because groups tend to be prone to exclusivity and can be intimidating to other travelers

[Top]

Finding a Companion

If you haven't been able to persuade any of your friends to join you on your adventure, but you don't think you want to travel solo, then there are several places on the net where you can find travel companions.

Backpack Europe Bulletin Board Find yourself a traveling companion on my new improved bulletin board. A comprehensive forum is dedicated to helping people find travel mates.

Connecting: Solo Travel Network Travel companion ads may be posted free.

Eurotrip  their bulletin board is the perfect way to find a companion for your upcoming adventure

SoloTraveller Free service to find a travel companion worldwide with similar interests. Post your personal profile and trip plans.

Stowaways Travel Mates  Find travel companions who share your interests and travel plans. Search for mates and post your detailed trip plans, personal profile and photo for free.

Travel Companion Find a Travel Companion for your trips by searching through the hundreds of Travel Companion Wanted advertisements, or by placing an advertisement yourself.

TravelMates for people interested in bicycle touring.

[Top]

 

 

[What's New] [Travel Tips] [Packing] [Hostels, etc.] [Transportation] [Travel Links] [Other Stuff] [Site Index]

[Austria] [Belgium] [Czech Republic] [England & Wales] [Ireland] [France] [Germany]
 [Italy] [Luxembourg] [Netherlands] [Portugal] [Scotland] [
Spain
] [Switzerland]

[About Me]  [Coupons and Sales] [Student Stuff

Want to meet and learn from other travelers? Visit the Backpack Europe Bulletin Board.