In a recent post, I mentioned how I was unsure of how to spend my time in Israel after being so forcefully guided through the country on my Taglit-Birthright Israel trip exactly one year ago. Last year, travel through the tiny country was mindless. I sat down on a bus next to my sister and listened to my iPod for a couple hours before being shuffled off the bus and shown some grand historical site or museum. In 10 days, we worked our way from Tel Aviv up north to the Golan Heights and down south to the Negev Desert covering almost every inch in between. Many of the places my trip didn’t hit, I made it to visiting friends when I decided to stay and hop around for an extra 15 days.
This time around the country, not only did I have no guidance — in the form of a tour guide, guidebook or otherwise — but I was completely alone. In just two short weeks I learned all the little nuances between traveling with an organized tour, solo or with a friend.
For starters, I know that traveling with an organized tour is definitely not for me. I was pretty sure of this after my 2008 trip through Europe as a graduation present to myself, which felt more like speed-dating the capital cities of eight countries, rather than actually taking the time to know them. Visiting Israel with Birthright, though an amazing experience, also confirmed this; on organized tours you spend more time on transportation than you do exploring the cities outside of what is pre-planned. Organized tours — however much not for me — work great for others, especially those uninterested in going through the motions of planning an extended holiday or travel. They’re also a great way to find out if long-term travel is for you, and in that case, my trip to Europe certainly served its purpose.
For me, traveling with a friend is ideal. I’m social; I like to talk a lot, share things with people, go out at night and take lots of pictures with friends. I like having someone close to me to experience all the wonderful things I am, and to
have someone feel as excited as me about where we are and what we’re doing. Traveling with a second, in many countries, also works in your favor for prices of tours and guesthouse rooms (hostels are much more rare). The Middle East, it turns out, is not nearly as conducive a place to travel as a backpacker to start, let alone a solo traveler. All the difference in the world is made with a plus one.
Places like Europe, Southeast Asia and South America where backpacking is the norm, appear to be much more accommodating to those flying solo. I had a perfectly fine time in Bangkok (though I had wonderful friends there), Malaysia and Hong Kong. It is harder to meet travelers in the Middle East because all warnings from the State Department and beyond point to not traveling the volatile region. Had I not been located in Israel and Egypt as a solo traveler, my outlook on solo travel could be different. I think it all depends greatly on where you are both in the literal and figurative senses.
What kind of travel works best for you? Do you prefer tours, traveling with someone or going at it alone? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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I have to agree about the traveling with a group. I just returned from a group trip of China & S. Korea. 3 weeks of non-stop madness. I had to come home to process everything I experienced. I at least know where I want to visit again.
i agree, organised tours are not for me either!
i met a group of people in lima who had done an entire organised tour from san paulo across to lima in 3 months. when i heard how much they were willing to pay for things (what they considered normal) i was shocked.
i began to think that travelling alone through a few south american countries, and with other backpackers instead of an organized group, had exposed me to much more affordable ways of travelling/eating/partying.
i almost felt sorry for those on the group, like they had missed out on so much, and avoided so much exposure to the countries they had travelled to, by moving around in their isolated tour bus.
but as you said, it works for some people. i guess it really just depends what kind of experience you are looking for, and how many shared bathrooms/bread roll breakfasts you are prepared to put up with!
hey,
i am a lone traveller, although i do find that i often end up with travelling buddies for days or weeks randomly…
i think that it, as you say, it depends on the kind of experience you are looking for, where you are in your head and heart, and where in the world you are…
if you want to learn about life and about yourself, then yeah, solitude and having to fend for yourself is going to teach you these things and give you the adventure that your heart is looking for…
if you’re in a rush, or are just looking for a nice time visiting interesting places for your few weeks a year off work, wishing to relax, then i can see where the appeal of spending a little more and having everything arranged stems from… convenience….
it all comes down to time, money and mentality… and also where you are going… i have found since arriving in egypt, for instance, that this is not so much a place to learn about one’s self (well i have learn that i cannot cope in this heat), as it is a place to see ancient monuments, pyramids, visit museums etc, and when a country is predominantly for sight seeing, a lone traveller is very quickly bored…
just as a thought…
nice blog by the way…
It’s nice to hear someone else likes to travel with a friend. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person who isn’t gung-ho on solo travelling.
I like both, if you have the right partner. I’m definitely more of a solo traveler. I don’t like having to wait for people to get ready, be kept up by snoring and there is a pressure to have fun and to meet men and a loss of freedom for spontaneity. Yes I like talking and sharing with people but that’s the whole point- you are forced outside of yourself in order to meet new people and have new experiences. If I want to spend 300 euro on dinner in Tuscany or if I want to bum it in a $7 hostel in downtown Cairo I can do those things without having to garner consensus. Anyway you can’t really lose- traveling either way is one of the best ways to broaden your perspective. Cheers, Sarah!
I spent 6 months backpacking the east coast of Australia and hated it. I was on my own, 29yrs old and very much outgrown hostels and box wine.
Im currently at Singapore airport on my way home after spending 6wks in southern Thailand volunteering and travelling with a friend and I much preferred it. We could afford nice, private rooms and always had someone to do stuff with and talk to.
For me, travelling with a friend is preferable.
I also went on a Birthright trip to Israel in 2005. I’d love to go back to Israel and travel on my own (especially now that I have friends there).
I used to enjoy solo traveling because it forced me to be social and meet people. But it’s a lot more fun traveling with my wife since she loves nature and food as much as I do.
This is interesting to me because I’m trying to decide whether to do the birthright trip (it’s my last year to be eligible). While going on a free trip sounds amazing, I have looked at the itineraries for many of them, and they are totally nonstop crazy travel all over the country for 10 days or so straight. It sounded to me like there was no free time to go off and do your own thing–you are stuck doing everything with the group. The schedule just looked too exhausting. I think I’m going to pass and just go on my own accord with my own itinerary…I think it would make me too stressed out to go on their whirlwind trip!
I’m currently planning a solo RTW trip. Mainly because I don’t have any one willing or able to travel for a year.
It seems that there are several pros and cons to any style of traveling. That all depends on the person.
The way I’m looking at it, like others have said, it will force me to get out of my comfort zone. I also like the idea of traveling on my own terms.
As far as tour groups, I was thinking of kicking my trip off with one to help me get adjusted to life on the road. I found some tours that are not so structured that are geared towards Independent travelers.
It won’t be till next year and I’ll probably change my plans several times.
Thanks for the different perspectives.
This is all the great review of your trip and we get a loads of information out of this most memorable and enchanting voyage of discovery and explore new vistas as well.
Every country has its own taste of travel and it can be enjoyable if you travel according to its customs and taboos and destination planning for sure.
I definitely prefer travelling with someone, especially when it’s a partner, because it’s just so much easier.
I do find of course that when you BYO friends, you miss out a bit on the socialising and getting out there and meeting random people that you do when you’re by yourself. I still think it’s worth it though.
The problem is getting your partner/friend to travel with you for as long as you want; which is why I’ve done a lot of solo trips. Tours just make it so much easier when you’re travelling solo – I hate the structured time-capped way they’re organised too – but even if they’re just the free tours, I like how you’re given a platform to meet people and eventually do things with them!