Eating alone does take some getting used to. I’m good with it now, though often, when I’m traveling solo, I have my big meal at lunchtime when there are lots of other solo diners. Then I just have cafe snacks or something in the evening or, if I don’t feel like going out, I’ll get a sandwich or something and take it back to wherever I’m staying.

If I do dine out alone evening hours, I take something to read (or a journal to write in). Then, I get to be “who is that interesting woman dining solo, she must be a writer of some kind….” then some tragic wallflower.

But that’s all in MY head. Who cares, really, what those other people are thinking.

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I’m older and have been solo – not just traveling – for a few years. Some destinations really shine for the solo traveler while others just leave me flat. I recall seeing the both the Mona Lisa and the pyramids for the first time and wishing I had someone to share my thoughts with. Then again, there are some trips to Spain during the high season where being accompanied would have been just awful.

I have never considered the idea of traveling with other men. If I’m going to travel with a companion, my companion is going to be a beautiful woman.

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I love busting out the ol’ laptop at a cafe with wifi. Seems less lonely and I can get work done in a sociable setting rather than hiding away in a hotel room.

I agree with Justruss, the downside is not having someone to share amazing moments with. But then again, you’ll often meet new friends to share moments with so it’s a tradeoff I guess.

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Also, bring another female you know and trust well, such as a friend, family member, or relative when you’re alone or with other guys so that way you don’t get into trouble, especially with local women and children.

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Traveling solo is not bad in some situations. Not only male, female also travel by herself. However, as you mentioned there were many disadvantages like eat alone…so boring. I’m interested in walking on the beach alone so I can think much more about me, my family with all best things. So cool!

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I travel solo whenever I can – and do share your philosophy. I’m not unsociable at all, and often team up with other travelers along the way for a stretch, but the freedom of not quite knowing where I’m going next or what I’ll be doing or whom I’ll be meeting is for me a burst of energy.

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I agree with everything you say. I have travelled solo to Oman, Tunisia and Morocco. By far the best experience was Oman because I made a dozen very good friends with Omanis throughout the country, travelled around the country and saw and did things that were unique to that country.

If I had gone with friends I would not have met all the people I did, Omanis seeing me with friends would not have made the overt effort to get to know me and make me feel comfortable and I probably would not have ended up in some of the small towns that I found myself in and in restaurants or shisha bars I always ended up striking conversations with other customers or staff. On the other hand, I went alone to Tunisia, and other than 1 or 2 locations outside of the resorts, that was the worst time I had, solely because hotels in beach resorts are set out for package holidays and all residence come with family, friends or lovers etc, being alone in these situation does make you feel self conscious and its also harder to make friends, and people do judge when your the only one solo in a beach resort and always judge negatively.

In the beach resorts I just put my head phones on, sunbathed, swam and ignored the stares, whereas outside of the resorts I found that the staff would often chat and fuss over me and there was also other solo travelers. In Morocco it was a bit of both, for the most part I did not feel like the odd one out for being alone and social interactions in easy to come across, but when in restaurants etc you can feel a bit self conscious. All in all when traveling alone choose your destination carefully and most people will actually be impressed, esp when you go off the beaten track.

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