New Year, New Adventures – What’s new in 2025 for you?

Wow, this is exciting! I can't wait to hear about your new trip plans. And I'm sure you'll be showered with help and support here on the Forum.

New year. Solo travel.

Don’t fear it. Embrace the freedom.

Congrats on your new outlook and sense of adventure. I can't wait to read your Trip Reports celebrating your new life style! Where to first?

Current government contract ending in February, pending contact from the new contracted company on my position. If my pay remains the same or goes up, then I'll stay another year for my planned retirement & slow travel to begin in March 2026. If a significant pay cut, then I retire and begin my slow travel in March 2025.

Good for you! I have a similar issue and have traveled solo for 8 years since retiring. It's liberating to be able to plan a trip that's just for you. I also find that we have a renewed appreciation for each other after I return from a trip, particularly because my husband sees how happy it makes me to travel and meet new people.

Wow, Mary! That truly is a major mental shift. First, while I am sorry your husband is at the point he is no longer interested in traveling, I am so glad he recognizes how it makes people like us feel and is happy to send you off on your own. Because we know you CAN do it!

“Solo travel” after “couple travel” takes a bit of getting used to but as you are beginning to discover, it is absolutely wonderful to be able to do exactly as you want when you want. It is travel on a whole new level.

As we all know, life doesn’t stay the same. We either move with the changes and hold on to our different joy - or we don’t. “Don’t” isn’t a great choice. All the above doesn’t mean I would choose not having my husband to travel with, but that isn’t a choice. The choice is continuing to travel (where my joy is) or being sad staying home.

I love your new resolve!

P.S. New for me is a 4 month trip - by far my longest. We’ll see how I like it. lol! I leave Sunday.

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Mary, this is such a great post and one I almost could have written. My husband also likes traveling, but doesn’t love it (really I’m obsessed), the way I do. However, when I suggest I might go alone, he always comes around. I also try to please him with some of our destinations, museums etc on our trips and I’m ok with that. However, I travelled solo for years before we met rather late in life, so I’m good with solo travel too. Enjoy your new found freedom!

Thank you, Jane, Claudia, Plumeria54.

Brushtim, I hope your slow travel gets here fast!

Pat, we have our thrice rebooked Budapest trip coming up in May and before that a long-awaited Florence trip in March which he will probably still go on, so I’d be looking at starting solo travel in the fall. I’m thinking Copenhagen and/or Paris. Will probably do a simple one city/one week for my first couple of trips. Make it easier until I get more confident.

TexasTravelMom, I think he’ll probably still come on one trip per year, which as he says is “still a lot for most people, you know.” Ha. Perspective is everything. (And I’m looking forward to having 4 months of trip reports of yours to read!)

Dave, this forum is definitely populated by "my people" because a 5 year travel plan calendar with sticky notes is my idea of fun!

Tammy you reminded me of something else I've considered. I know I'll constantly be thinking "he would love this" when I see and do certain things. He loves art and I'm going to go to the Louvre without him and not feel it's a shame he isn't there? Even a couple of times in London and Granada when he stayed in the room I was preoccupied with what he was missing out on. But he doesn't necessarily view it as missing out, or doesn't care as much... so I'll need to adjust my thinking.

Mary! You CAN do this! I'm glad your husband is good with you traveling solo and that you are willing to try it out.

I'm a solo traveler as I think you know and often combine it with a tour of some kind. At this point most of my tours are to places that are harder to manage with public transit. When I first started with solo international travel I found that for the first full day I needed to have a timed entry for something to get me moving. Once I was out of the hotel I was fine it was just walking out the front door that felt daunting, lol. It also helped to go to familiar places first...ie London and Bath, lol.

For your first solo trip I recommend doing a less complex trip with perhaps fewer moves. Where are you planning to go?

For myself, I'm returning to Orkney and Shetland in July with my regular small group tour company and adding some time in Edinburgh on before and after. I'm also going to do a tour of SW France starting in Carcassonne with a week in Paris on my own before and after.

I look forward to seeing your planning posts and then to your TR! What a fun time you will have!

I am excited for you!

I love to travel, and my husband likes it but not as much as me. When I mention a solo trip he changes his mind, or he will suggest I take our daughter along, which I often do.

Our travels for this year include Alaska next month, then in August Greenland and Iceland (8th visit). Hopefully a Christmas Market trip too, but that has not been planned yet.

For 2026, my husband is planning on sailing Between Iceland and Greenland again, and right now a friend of mine are planning to meet him at the end. We will get a camper van and do our thing first before meeting him, and then who knows. We are also hoping to squeeze in the Faroe Islands.

I still have Switzerland on my list, but it keeps getting pushed down with these other places.

mikliz97, those all sound great!

Thanks, Pam. I'm thinking Copenhagen (seems like a less intimidating first solo destination) and maybe closely followed by Paris. If I'm solo there's no "but we just got back, it's only been xx weeks since the last trip" LOL

Mary, if you need help on the May trip, just log in and ask. There are 4 or 5 that do a good job helping on Budapest. That suppoort network (Ive noticed its very good with Germany too) might help make the process more fun.

Mary - I am so heartened by your and your husband's discussion and decision-making. I know you are going to enjoy your trip with him and your solo trip(s) too.

Mary, there’s a phrase I’ve been hearing recently in a couple of different British TV series, so they must be true. When one door closes, another one opens. I think that’s a good philosophy.

As you know, I’ve been traveling solo for decades and I guess I don’t even know the difference because I’ve never traveled as a couple with anyone. A couple of friends from time to time, yes and my daughter, but it’s really all I know so I take it for granted.

But, that said, I can see where it would be a different experience for someone that is used to traveling with a partner. So I hope you will continue to come here and vent and ask and explore your new mode of travel. And if you ever have any questions or want some advice, I hope you know that you can always PM me and probably 99% of the people on this forum.

One other thing, if you’re ever thinking about a destination and maybe you’re a little worried about traveling there alone, why not post here and see if anyone else is traveling there or wants to travel there? There are several people here on the forum that do what I think of as “parallel traveling.” They don’t really travel together, but they stay in the same town or city and maybe visit a few sites together. That might be an option for some places. Most of us are pretty flexible and I, for one, would welcome the chance to meet up with someone and maybe even travel together a bit with another forum member.

I think you’ve got a very positive attitude and I commend you for that! Welcome to the wonderful world of solo travel!

Oops, I forgot to talk about my travels for 2025. New for me is a trip with two of my grandkids to London in Paris in the early spring, and also new to me is a 12 day tour (my first tour) that I’m taking in Romania. But I am tacking on a 3 to 4 week solo trip both before and after, probably heading to Bulgaria and then maybe Budapest. And that’s in September/October 2025.

My parents were my first travel partners; not only as a child, but (as my Mom puts it) they followed me around Europe for years. After they hung up their passports, and travel girlfriends found boyfriends to travel with, I tried my first solo trip. I was anxious at first and leaned towards a "my way" type tour company for help, before quickly realizing that I could - and would rather - do it myself. That first solo trip was a bit scary and also liberating.

My trips are coming full circle, as then-boyfriends / now-husbands (or now-exes) are "done" traveling, and I've met other independent travelers on the forum! So now I'm enjoying a variety: my own solo trips, tours with friends and girlfriend trips. I'm discovering that the mix of styles makes me appreciate each of the styles more. While intensely planning an independent trip, I can think "wow, I'm glad the tour company is taking care of all these details for my other trip." And while on a tour, I can think "I'll let go of control for this trip" knowing that I've got an independent trip coming up where I make all the decisions.

So, in 2025, I've got 3 tours booked, one friend trip and one independent trip. I'm even taking a domestic trip with my parents. I'm looking forward to all of them, with tour buddies, friends, parents - and myself!

Mary, bravo for your self reflection and putting yourself out there. There is only one way to know how you do traveling solo, and that is to do it! As a mostly solo traveler, I remember how many people were so "worried" for me to go alone, and I will admit I was nervous on my first overseas trip. But I decided going and doing was better than staying home alone and wondering. And now after many, many trips solo I can't really imagine traveling with someone and having to compromise/consider/adjust to make sure everyone is happy. I've done a few family and friend trips and those were quite a bit more stressful! I'm not saying one way is better than the other - they're just different.

And one of the nice things about all this modern technology is that even if you're solo, you're not out of touch. You can text or call your husband to check in or keep a travel blog to keep him and friends updated about what you're seeing. If you're feeling lonely while traveling you can take a guided tour (museum and food tours are my favorite).

You'll get great advice and support in this forum, a lot in this thread already. Ask away when you're ready.

Thank you all for the encouragement!

Mary, I’m very excited for you. I’m married (40 years this year!) and my husband is my favorite travel partner. That said, I do 100% of the planning for every trip I take, whether it’s with him or a friend I’ve traveled to Europe with a few times. Like you I try to choose places and things that would be of interest to who I’m with. In doing that there are sometimes things I would like to do that I don’t because of their lack of interest. We were in Paris for a week for my 60th birthday and I mentioned to my husband that I would like to have an afternoon to myself to just do what I wanted. This was his 4th time to Paris so it wasn’t entirely foreign to him. He couldn’t believe I wanted a whole afternoon! Lol! I suggested just a few hours was fine, but in the end it never happened. Thankfully he doesn’t care if I travel without him and in 2018 I went by myself to Europe. The reason was to visit with family in Germany. My cousin had just had twins. I had a lovely one week visit with them in Hannover and spent a few days with Ms. Jo before going to Paris. I was there for about 12 nights. The first week was in an apartment with a friend, but we didn’t spend much time together. After that I moved to a hotel. I wasn’t sure how I would do being solo and I have to say that I enjoyed it very much. I kept busy doing exactly what I wanted to do. I didn’t have to worry about whether my travel partner wasn’t having fun. That includes friends I sometimes travel with. I wouldn’t hesitate to travel solo again.

Edited to add that this Spring I’m going to Australia with a friend and in the Fall hubby and I will be taking an 11 week trip to Europe to celebrate our anniversary and both of our birthdays. We will be in Switzerland , Germany, France, Portugal and England. Part of the trip will include places we cancelled in 2024 due the heath and subsequent death of my developmentally disabled brother. I’ve been taking care of him from the time he was born, when I was 12 years old, and was his conservator. I am still devastated by his loss, but my trip that started two weeks later helped distract me a bit. This year is the first year of my life where I’m not responsible for anyone else.

I’m kind of in the same situation as you are, Mary, in that my husband isn’t terribly interested in traveling either, at least for international destinations that require a long-haul flight. We completed a trip to/from Barcelona last month to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary that included a cruise. It took months of convincing him and while he enjoyed it and seems to be glad that we went, he much prefers less time in the air. He traveled quite a lot in his career and just doesn’t have the desire for travel. For international trips in the future, I probably will either go with friends and/or go solo.

I took my first solo international trip in August, 2022, flying in and out of Rome and spending the majority of my time in Siena (a new-to-me destination) and in Florence (where I had spent two nights previously with friends on a girl’s trip in 2015). To me, that was the perfect introduction into solo international travel as it combined somewhat familiar destinations with new ones. It was exhilarating to be able to do what I wanted, when I wanted on the trip without considering my husband’s (or my friend’s when we go on girl’s trips) wants or needs. It was lonelier than other trips but I got used to it and always spent some time each day or evening talking to my husband for a few minutes.

In April, 2024, I went on my second solo international trip, this time to the Netherlands. Again, my husband and I spent two nights in Amsterdam 2019 prior to a cruise, so it was familiar. I based myself in Amsterdam for a week and went on several day trips to other towns and went to museums and attractions that I hadn’t been to before. I had a wonderful time and it worked out even better than my first solo adventure.

On my next solo trip, I want to go somewhere that is completely new to me. I haven’t figured out yet where that will be, but I love trip planning and hopefully will be able to go somewhere solo this year also.

I’m so excited for you and am looking forward to hearing where you decide to go!

Mary, we are rooting for you!!

I started traveling solo a few years ago after realizing that my husband doesn't have much interest in traveling. He also has to travel a lot to take care of family, so the idea of travel for fun is just not working for him right now. I still enjoy traveling with my husband (we went to England together in 2024) and he enjoyed it enough that he wants to go back again (possibly in 2026). I felt a lot of guilt leaving him and our son home and going off on my own adventures, but I realized that I am a much better person when my travel itch is scratched. It was a little scary...but I got over it the very first day, and really embraced the freedom. I am also planning to take a few tours in places I do not feel comfortable traveling by myself, for example Morocco.

What's new for my travel plans in 2025? Not much, unfortunately. With our son in college, and a lot of family responsibility, we are definitely in the sandwich years, but I hope to turn it up a notch in a couple of years. Mostly family obligations this year but sneaking in 4 days in the UK on the way. A couple of trips locally to national/state parks. And dreaming. Lots of dreaming.

Allan, sounds like you need to find a luxury hotel that launches balloons from their rooftop.

Mr E., thank you! You've helped me a couple of times already but since I prepared and cancelled twice, I know I'll forget stuff by the time I finally get to Budapest. Strangely, the 100E airport bus is burned in my brain for some reason.

Thank you, Kim, Mardee, CWsocial, CL, Andrea, Sherry, MapLady. This forum is just lovely.

I'm looking forward to hearing your report of how everything works out on your first solo trip.

I always travel to Europe with my husband, and it's a little hard for me to imagine traveling solo, but I know that I probably will if the time comes when that's my best option. Like you, I've been inspired by reading the trip reports on this forum written by solo travelers. For now, what's new is a plan to visit two new countries in 2025--Greece and the Netherlands.

For us, our plan is to secure a long-stay visa (France) so we aren't limited to 90 days in Schengen. Most, but not all, of 5 months we plan to spend in France. We also plan to lease a car through the Peugeot program, and see places in France, Spain and Portugal that we've not seen before. High on my list: the Dordogne, Bilbao, Porto, Montpellier and the Algarve. Hope to play some golf in continental Europe this summer, too.

Mary, the 100E for me means I am home. It's a good thing. Let me know your plans and I am at your service.

And i believe we have a few other RS types coming in May, as well as some Texans I know. May would be my annual pilgrimage to Bosnia for fly fishing but haven't set the dates yet.

Mary, such a nice post! Oh my gosh, can I just say, “Me, too!”? I’m off in 9 weeks (but who’s counting?)…solo to Northern Ireland and London, and I’m so excited! My husband is my best travel buddy, and he’s also really happy to stay home with our dog lol. I’ve usually done most of the planning, which I love, and it really is fun to plan a trip with only my interests in mind. He would hate to spend hours visiting vintage bookstores in London! And Pam and Jean, you’re both such inspirations. Such a nice thread…so many supportive folks on this forum!

Barbara N, it's a bit hard to imagine for me too and I always knew it would happen someday, but didn't expect it this soon.

cathy, I relate! I enjoy traveling and sharing with my husband and although he enjoys what we see and do, I think deep inside he could take it or leave it. I'd love to read a trip report if you have time when you get back. bookstores + London <3

Mary, good for you for being bold and planning solo travel.
I am a frequent solo traveler and love it.

My (retired) husband enjoys travel, but (1) he doesn't enjoy flying so he would prefer to stay longer wherever we're going, and (2) we have an elderly dog to whom he is completely devoted, and he hates to leave him.

I am fully flexible with my employment, but if I'm not working, I'm not getting paid, so I like quick solo trips. I enjoy flying so I don't mind only staying for a short time. Last year I went to Lisbon, Portland (four days each) and London (a long weekend). I also went on a Viking cruise with three other ladies.

My husband and I did a five day trip to Amsterdam, where we had a great time - but he also worried about the dog and needed frequent photos and reassurances from our son, who was house- and dog-sitting.

In March I am going to Dublin for a long weekend, again solo.

My husband is definitely more of a relaxed traveler. He likes to sit around with his coffee in the morning and read, and then get going. If I am somewhere for a short time, I'm more efficient and get going early to make the most of my time. I have a rough plan for each day that can be arranged according to the weather and my energy level. I pack a lot in without feeling rushed and I feel I'm better at this when I'm on my own.

He and I have discussed an October or November trip to Madrid and Sevilla, but again, he's going to be reluctant to leave the dog, so I'm not sure if that trip will materialize.

I plan to forge ahead my with my solo travel plans, though! I'm definitely happiest when I'm planning a trip, or taking one. :-)

I hope you have many wonderful travel experiences in 2025!

Thanks, kayla! My husband doesn't love flying either and although he mostly has enjoyed our trips so far, we're just never going to be in the same place in terms of how frequently we want to travel. Dublin is on my list for a potential solo destination for next year - please report back if you get a chance.

I did it! I've booked my first solo trip! A week in Copenhagen in September. :-)

Good for you, Mary !! That ought to be wonderful !! I had five days in Copenhagen in October and loved it.

Woohoo!! I am so glad you booked!

I don't know if you are a one-bag traveler or not and since you will probably be in one hotel it may not make as much difference BUT as a solo traveler it's essential for me just to have my carry on bag and a personal item when I am in transit. I do have a very small cross body bag I wear on the plane that is just big enough to hold my passport, CC/DCs and money so that I have it on me at all times once I get thru airport security. I have it under my cardie or light jacket so that it is not visible.

When I started I also used to take a plastic document holder in my personal item to hold my boarding passes, venue tickets, train tickets, etc. Now I've gone mostly digital and recommend immediately doing screen shots of all boarding passes, train tickets and museum entries and putting them in a "photo album" on your phone.

Thanks, Kim. Technically I'll have 5 days too (6 nights).

Pam, I'll be taking my carryon sized bag but will need to check it as I won't be able to lift it into the overhead on the plane. Checking a bag will be a new experience too (it's been years). I'm thinking I'll probably have a small personal bag with me for essentials on the flight....and I guess I'll need to figure out a way to have my wallet/passport on me when going to the WC on the plane.

Mary--That is exciting! We went to Copenhagen in October and loved the weather then. It is a fun city with so much to see.

Here are a few examples of what I am thinking about:

https://www.baggallini.com/securtex-anti-theft-activity-crossbody-bag/AAC459-BGR-B0144-NS.html

https://orilondon.com/collections/chelsea

I found mine at TJ Maxx for about $10 so if you have a TJ or Marshalls on your regular "route" to somewhere I'd consider starting to stop in there and see what you see. Or treat yourself to one of the yum colors on either of the above websites on Tuesday which Jean swears is Shop-for-Travel day. (where is that laughing head off emoji when you need it??)

BTW, some airlines are fussy about whether this is considered a "bag" or not. I've not had any problems on Delta but I always have room in my personal item for it to fit and still zip up the personal item when I go thru security. A FA on an Alaska flight made me put it in my personal item but I was with family members so not as much a problem.

Congrats on booking your trip!

For keeping things securely with me on the plane, I use a waist pack. I put it around my waist and it doesn’t come off during the journey. I have put it in my personal bag and remove it after I board. There’s no tell tale strap showing and not one has questioned me. I keep my phone, passport, reading glasses, tissues, etc. in it,

This one is packable so it you wouldn’t use it during the trip you can just stash it in your suitcase,
https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/82300011/stowaway-packable-waist-pack?

I use a 2 liter Lululemon belt bag most of the time at home and during my last few trips. I wear it cross body, but on a flight I put it around my waist. It’s a little nicer than the packable bag. I tried to add a link but for some reason it didn’t work. It also comes in a 1 liter size, but the 2 liter fits everything I need to not carry a separate purse.

For inspiration! : )
“…Traveling on your own is fun, challenging, vivid, and exhilarating. Realizing that you have what it takes to be your own guide is a thrill known only to solo travelers. Your trip is a gift from you to you.” - Tips for traveling solo, RS page

Hi Mary!
My husband & I had the same situation in 2018 as your husband & you - great marriage and one person likes to travel to Europe more than the other. For mine, he was an avid golfer & hated to miss the summer days. We ended up doing a variety of travel styles to Europe after going there together for many several years:
2018 - my 1st solo vacation in Europe
2019 - a hybrid trip. I went to France for three weeks; he came for the last week.
2022 - another solo trip to Italy
2023 - two weeks together in the UK celebrating our 45th anniversary. He flew home afterwards while I was onward to join the RS Adriatic tour.
2024 - southern Spain together in February. Another solo trip to Italy for me in May.

The 2019 plan worked out nicely, and how fun & romantic to meet up in a Paris train station!

I am going to attach the link for my first solo trip because I spent a lot of time (engineer so I analyze everything) thinking through how to best travel solo & also help my husband know it’s all okay. There’s several helpful tips at the beginning of the trip report that I still follow. I will add that eating alone feels fine now. At first, it felt strange. I usually spend some of the time after ordering food & waiting for it to arrive to just review my photos on my phone that I took, or I bring a few papers to read.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-trip-to-italy-2018

Have a great time! It really is a treasured experience to reflect again later - how you chose to spend your time, how you can develop your own travel style & choices, and the lovely memories! I loved traveling with my husband & I also love traveling solo!

2025 is solo travel and also bringing an adult daughter on one trip. What’s new is navigating 2025 as a widow.

Pam, I'll happen to be driving by a TJ Maxx tomorrow. I think I'll pop in and see what they have. And oh look, it'll be Travel Tuesday shopping day, or whatever it's called :-D

mikliz97, I'm really excited. It looks like such a beautiful city.

Andrea, thanks for the little bag inside the big bag idea.

Jean, thank you, thank you! I have read about your hybrid trips and that might be something that could work with my husband too sometime down the line. He is always ready to go home before I am. Why did I never realize RS had a solo travelers page? I guess I hang out in the forum so much I forget sometimes what a wealth of information there is here.

Regarding bags for ease/efficiency/security of travel which is so much more important if you're travelling solo:

In addition to a tiny pocket size bag like the orilondon Pam showed, which is great for the plane and out and about, on our last trip to the UK I took a small Baggalini purse (costco last year) that holds a lot (a snack, map--I like a small city paper/plastic map, tissues, glasses, RS pages, etc, in case I don't have a jacket with pockets)

I also took a Stashbandz
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stashbandz&hvadid=630833107854&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9033812&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2081106574170525032&hvtargid=kwd-91851376387&hydadcr=24665_13626674&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_2yx3d9kpsz_e

which I sometimes wear on travel days for my passport and extra cards. I also use it when I'm out and about and don't feel comfortable with it in the Baggalini, or if I'm not taking the Baggalini. I also have some Eddie Bauer/Costco travel shirts with a side zip pocket large enough for passport and cards. These have given me such freedom while being a tourist---so much more comfortable than the old travel money belts.

I had thought a little about a solo trip this year (or before my husband retires June 2026). It looks as if our only travel this year might be to our daughter's wedding. We'll see once the wedding venue/date/details are determined (If anyone knows an intimate Seattle area venue that won't put us all out of international travel for years, DM me:)

Have a great trip!!

Mary, I’ve been thinking more about your solo travel. It becomes such an opportunity to try new things that are of no interest to your spouse. I just signed up for a flamenco dance class in Sevilla, Spain. When my husband was with me last year, I didn’t consider it. Also, I love classical music & arts. Sometimes he would attend with me, but he didn’t care for opera. So, I would choose some different types when traveling alone….plus picking out a nicer seat since it’s one ticket instead of two! I took a couple of outdoor sketch & watercolor classes in Bergamo, Italy traveling solo.

The one annoyance is finding something you’re really wanting to do solo but finding that the site requires you to sign up at least two people - ugh! Well, keep searching on that topic. Use key words from an activity. Sometimes if you find the actual small business site (not Viator, etc. who are just middleman businesses), they have the option to sign up as a solo. Or, I have emailed them and been able to create a custom experience for the same money. That’s how my Bergamo classes were done, and he was a fantastic artist instructor! I couldn’t find a bike tour that fit exactly for Alberobello countryside last May, and by contacting the business, he allowed me to just rent one of their ebikes for the afternoon and do my own ride to obtain some great photos. Anyway, a lot of words (LOL!) to broaden the possibilities. : )

CanAmCherie--I will DM you. We are in the heart of wedding venues, and our son has been looking at them.

Mary-

I am almost never on here but I happened to pop on today and saw this. I think this will be in my future too, mostly because while my partner is my favorite and we have a great time traveling, he is much more limited time-wise now and his passions burn more brightly here in the mountains, while mine are lighting up brighter in the direction of so much more world to see than here. I am excited for you, and can't wait to hear about your first trip. I too had decided I'd stick to some more familiar places the first trip or two, just to ease the entry.

Email me, it's been forever, but thank you for posting this. Exactly what I needed to read today! <3

I’ve traveled solo of and on for decades. Taken 2 RS tours; Istanbul and Florence. When he was alive took my partner to London. He was totally engaged and loved London. The history, the museums, the parks, the Underground, cafes and pubs.

My favorite memory was due to pure luck. From our accommodation ( Vancouver Studio Apartments) we tubed to Westminster and walked out of the exit signed Thames. He stood there admiring the river and the Big Ben bell chimed. He turned and asked
“ did you plan that?” I said “ no “ smiled and said
“ Welcome to London.” He talked about that trip till he passed.

Thanks, A.

What a nice memory, Claudia.

Copenhagen is cozy, handy and an ideal choice. The perfect gateway when you want to ease into Europe. There are many places close by that can be reached by travelling 30 minutes or less on a commuter train. At Klampenborg station a little to the north you will find a lovely sea-side beach with views across the sound, and an amusement park amongst the oaks. Paris would be a nice complement. The only problem will, as always when travelling eastwards on a plane, be the accompanying fatigue, and I feel sympathetic towards those of the husbands who feel that they can't handle too many of those flights in one year.

Travelling alone means you get a more immersive and complete experience, as any travelling companion will always have a "shielding" effect, filtering out large swathes of the local ambience, much of what is to be seen, and assorted impressions and feelings, as a minimum of 25-50% of your attention will always be directed towards them. I have been to many places in Europe on my own and have had wonderful experiences, for example Crete, and Transylvania in rural Romania.

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce "semi-parallel" travel, as it was once presented to me on the streets of Manhattan by a friend ; Travel with a friend or partner, but choose to do activities apart some of the days and then see each other again, early or late, in the evening. Quite a shock it was for my younger inexperienced self to have this suggested. Now I can hardly do without it.

Thanks, Cherryplanter. That's an interesting thought about the "shielding" effect. I probably do experience this as I spend a lot of time worrying about him enjoying himself - he's not a difficult person, but I have spent a lot of energy trying to make him love travel as much as me, and looking back I think it has prevented the immersive experience that you speak of. I'm curious and excited to see how I do with solo travel (I predict I'll enjoy it!).

Unless I have family members going with me or meeting up somewhere on an agreed upon town as the place to rendezvous, which as of now doesn't seem to be likely, I'll be going solo again. I had better do that in my mid-70s.

This summer the projected new places are "deep" in France, literally in the geographic sense or in the northern and eastern fringes.

Likewise, this applies to Germany in the eastern regions and in Schleswig-Holstein, too many deferred places. The main problem is to overcome procrastination, inertia and get going.

@ Mary....No need to feel nervous or "bit daunted" and so on. Traveling for over 50 years, a good deal of it solo, those feelings affect me too from time to time. Then, so what?

Bottom line: don't let these feelings deter you or pose as mental obstacles from what you want to do, this is, travel! My compliments to you for being determined to undertake this traveling. Lots of European women travel solo, all ages, from 20 somethings to seniors, even on night trains.

My Follow Up Mary: I will be retiring at the end of May 2025. Head out 30 Jun to Sarajevo, Belgrade, Budapest, Paris, Cappadocia & Antalya until my return for Thanksgiving. Mapping out 2026 with SE Asia & Europe.

Safe Travels on your future trips.

Congratulations, brushtim!

Thanks, Fred.

Update/addition: I was speaking to a friend last night who likes to travel but doesn't very often (once every few years) because her husband doesn't want to and hates flying. She was asking about my trip next week (Florence!) and saying how she'd love to go but her husband has no interest in going there, and I posed the question "Have you considered going without him?" She replied "I don't know if I could travel solo at my age. Maybe I could have when I was younger."

Reader, she's 60.

My friend also labeled me "brave" to travel solo, a word I know has been discussed here and that opens up a whole can of worms for me. No one would call my husband brave if he decided to go on a trip without me. I also think I may be guilty of using that word, or at least thinking it, way back when I started reading the solo women trip reports here.

I started to wonder how much spending so many years on the RS forum has skewed my perception (in a good way). Would I have considered solo travel without having read about so many of the women here doing it? It's normalized here. Although I'm of the age group (mid 40s) where I should be using social media, I really don't. I do use YouTube for travel content but I'm very easily and quickly annoyed by 20-something "influencers" where solo female travel does feature prominently. So other than a few blogs, most of my exposure to solo women travel is through trip reports here.

I have thankfully yet to read a TR here that consisted of "Carrie live vlogged herself walking in Switzerland and got a million likes" or "Jean received free gelato all over Italy in exchange for recommending certain gelato shops" or "TexasTravelMom uploaded the 5 dos and don'ts of Budapest!" or "Mardee lined up for 4 hours to buy a specific pastry that went viral on Instagram and took a selfie with it" (although, to be fair, Mardee would more likely post a viral video about the best and worst travel purses...)

I'm rambling, but I'm posting this here as a reminder to myself when I inevitably get nervous as the solo trip get closer. I'm not brave; I'm normal.

Mary, fun post, thanks for sharing.

It's ok to be a little "Abby Normal" as well - Young Frankenstein reference.

Mary, thank you for your update…just what I needed to see two days before my solo trip to Northern Ireland and London. Lots of planes, trains, buses and an automobile, too…so it just needs to all fall into place lol. I had a momentary freak out last night….love to know that I’m not alone!

Oh cathy, you're going to do great! Breathe. Have an amazing trip!

Mary, you made me laugh with your comment about Mardee posting a video about best and worst travel purses.

Mary, I thought of you the other day when this FB meme came across my feed. “My husband said to me that we needed to stop spending so much money on travel, so I left him at home and saved 50%.” It made me laugh.

Tammy, another laugh! Thank you!

hahaha, Tammy!

Mary, you ARE normal! Plus you made me laugh!

TTM, someone I may or may not be married to had the gall to call several international trips each year 'excessive.' The nerve!

Mary, you need to take a serious look at that relationship. Sure, we have to put up with a lot from our spouses, but still, there is a line that must not be crossed.

LOL! Jane, that cracked me up. (But also, Mary, she has a point.)

You're right Jane - those are fighting words!