Mastering solo travel

This is in response to Audrey Curtis, who wanted readers to submit articles on traveling alone (May ’05, pg. 122).

I’m a 66-year-old widow, but because my husband and I had different interests (he trekked in Nepal, I dug in Pompeii), while he was still alive we both frequently traveled sepatrately. I was lucky not to be forced, cold turkey, into solo traveling when he died.

For me, it’s more fun to travel with a group. I don’t want to spend every minute of every day with other people, but I enjoy having travel arrangements made for me plus someone to share experiences with at the end of the day. Sometimes I pay a single supplement; other times I take a chance on a roommate (and have had no problems so far).

Elderhostel (Boston, MA; 877/426-8056 or www.elderhostel.org) and Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/221-2610 or www.gct.com) are the groups I prefer to travel with. Both tend to spend longer stretches of time in one place. (Packing up and moving every day does not appeal to me!) Both companies offer lectures and learning experiences and arrange meetings with natives of the host country.

I find that people who travel with these groups are generally well educated and interesting. There are usually other solo travelers along, but even the couples in these groups are friendly and welcoming toward the single travelers.

Recently I’ve discovered that although I prefer to travel with a group, I enjoy the challenge of planning some time alone. For example, I spent three nights by myself in Athens before joining a cruise of the Greek Islands. I arranged my own lodging and meals, chose the sights I wanted to see and got to them by myself — there’s something about mastering the public transportation system in a foreign city that is very satisfying to me!

In fall ’05 I’m taking a Grand Circle trip to Italy, and I’m doing research into places to go and things to do by myself on the free days.

As far as I’m concerned, alone is a perfectly fine way to travel! I’d be happy to correspond with anyone who has comments or would like more information.

CYNTHIA THOMPSON
Hanover, NH