Travel partner cancelled 1 week before

Jason,
If you are comfortable traveling alone, then I say "Go for it!" I have made a couple of dozen solo trips to various European countries and I have always found as many people to share meals or talk with as I have wanted - especially in either English or Spanish speaking countries.

Solo travel is a whole different type of experience, and you may find you enjoy it very much ...

Life is short, go for it!!!

I love solo travelling, would be hard-pressed at this point to even want to consider travelling with anyone. If you're good with your own company you'll be fine. You might even see more, I find I'm able to zip in and out of places while others are still waiting for a partner or group to finish. I find I'm more comfortable alone in Europe than anywhere else.

Definitely go! I'm so sorry your mom broke her leg - I'm sure you're both very disappointed. However, you can still go and have a great time by yourself!! I think you're going to have a blast.

Sorry to hear about your Mom's leg--hopefully it heals soon and she'll be back scrambling (safely) up & down ladders. Hopefully, too, you'll be able to travel with your wife (and kids?) on a future trip. For now, I'd stick with you plans to go -- you never know when your next opportunity to travel will be!

Is your wife worried about your safety? Being stranded? As an experienced traveler, you should navigate just fine, and Ireland is hardly Sierra Leone or Syria right now.

Whether this happens to be your first time in Ireland, and if you're planning on driving, you may not have a "co-pilot" to help remind you not to stray too far to the left side of the road -- where ditches, stone walls, hedges, bicyclists, sheep, and other things you might not want to hit will be. You might also not have a 2nd driver for times when you might be tired or want to enjoy the scenery while someone else drives. If these aren't applicable, though, then they're not worth a second thought.

If you can keep in touch with your wife and let her know how things are going, hopefully she can have a great trip to Ireland herself (maybe with you?) in the future.

Jason, So sorry about your mum. You are a great son to have wanted to take her along with you in the first place. I am sure she is devastated. Ireland is on my travel list...
Seriously, you should go, especially since you mentioned you do enjoy being alone. My husband does not like to travel alone, but I think there are times I think everyone needs some alone time where they don't have to "worry" about another person. Go and let us know how it all turned out!

I almost always travel solo and, while I miss having someone to share the "wow" moments with, I enjoy the freedom solo travel affords. Biggest drawback is not having someone to share costs with. If that's not an issue, go for it.

Is your wife concerned about safety? Give her detailed itinerary so she knows where you will be/how to get ahold of you. Agree that you will contact her once a day (text/Skype/email/facetime.etc) so she can feel better. Abundant wireless makes it easy to do these things.

And I agree with everyone else that says go for it on your own!!!

Didn't you travel solo when you were single? No big deal traveling solo in most of Europe. Most of the time I travel solo over there. In your case I would go on with the trip, unless your mom's situation warrants you to stay.

I usually travel solo, too, and I love it! Ireland is particularly easy to do on your own. I'm sure you are disappointed in the current circumstances, but you can still have a great time on your own.

Don't miss Ireland! It is beautiful, and easy to deal with and I think you will enjoy being alone there.
People are very friendly in the pubs!
Just be careful if driving, if you haven't driven on left-side before.

Go for it. Many of us love traveling with our families, but sometimes we like to have a little peace and quiet. That's something that's rare these day.

Thanks for all the feedback folks. I've decided that I'm going anyway! You helped convince my wife, too. I've worked hard planning and perfecting the itinerary for my mom and I, couldn't just drop it all.

Good to see that there are some who prefer traveling alone. I agree that Ireland of all places is particularly well suited to the lone traveler. I'm really looking forward to sitting on top of Skellig Michael (never been there!) in total silence.

I've always traveled with with at least one other person. This will be my first solo trip. Any advice would be appreciated.

Jason my limited experience in Ireland was five days in Dublin this past July. We found it easy to find people to chat to, folks were very friendly . I have done France and London solo, and like others I really have enjoyed my solo trips!

I just spent 17 wonderful days in Ireland. It's so easy to get involved with the locals - they all speak English (after a fashion:-) and they are all friendly. Though I usually started conversations, several times locals began them with me in the pubs - which are terrific. Pubs are the place for meals as well as live music - much is traditional Irish folk music (trad) but there is a also a lot of other genres to be heard. If you don't like the music, amble along to the next pub. Just don't be shy, the Irish love to talk. Many of the tourists I met were from other parts of Ireland or the northern U.K. You are going to have a great time!

I spend the great majority of travel time going solo, often for months at a time. It's easier to meet people. And easier to change plans if you change your mind. I usually travel for two weeks with friends, and I look forward to that, but I'm very content to do the majority of travel on my own.

You can always connect with your family via Skype or something similar if you want.

I just had my 35th wedding anniversary.

You say that your wife doesn't want you to go alone.

I'll have my 36th anniversary next year.

I'd listen to my wife.

You won't find a more hospitable place to travel alone than in Ireland!

I met a fellow who only travels alone, because he meets more people that way. People are more apt to talk to a solo traveler than a duo.
Although I travel with another, I do spend a lot of time on my own. I do enjoy that down time, sitting at a cafe and taking in the local action.

Have a great trip and do let us know how it goes!

Looking back at it, I wish I had gone over to Europe in the summer I was 40. That would have been solo traveling too.