Partners make the most of there time alone with a solo travel adventure
Colleen Wann (third from left) on the Cape to Cape track in Western Australia. Picture: Supplied
I don’t want to start any arguments over the breakfast table today, but wouldn’t you just love to leave your partner and go off on your dream holiday?
Because not all solo travellers are single or widowed; some are in relationships, and many are married.
Yes, there are real wives and husbands who agree to take separate sojourns, without compromise, without guilt, without each other.
The reasons cited by married solos include differences of opinion over destinations, or one person’s lack of interest or physical ability. Rather than staying home stewing about their incompatible companions, the thrill-seeking spouse gets up and goes.
Leaving a loved one behind may seem an odd concept for some couples, but it can be a refreshing opportunity for well-deserved “me time” away from your everyday routine, to break free and do your own thing.
It’s not only your chance to see the places you really want to see. Think about the little things: you wake up when you feel like it, eat that greasy breakfast in bed, walk around (the hotel room) naked, take your time in the bathroom, read a book to the end, go shopping all day long or don’t go anywhere near shopping, jump out of a plane or into a spa, stay out late or stay in, meet the locals or do not speak to another soul for an entire week.
Whatever suits your style. It’s already a holiday, even if you stay within the same state.
Of course, not everyone can handle (or be trusted) travelling minus their other half.
The reality can be confronting, nerve-racking or desperately lonely, and sometimes things go wrong, as I discovered when chatting to some married (and now formerly married) solos.
Ross Jackson, 61, Minchinbury, NSW (Solo style: Motorbike trips)
“I have done numerous trips on my Harley-Davidson Electra Glide that I call the Road Sofa. I’ve done trips to Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, with countless rides around NSW in between.”
“The best by far was from Wisconsin, across Minnesota and South Dakota and into Wyoming. Again, I was solo on a Harley that I hired over there.”
“Travelling with mates would have been good but I feel that if you are riding motorbikes with four or five men, it would seem threatening to some people. As I was on my own, I was approached by a lot of people asking where I was going, and I often got invited for drinks or dinner.”
“My wife goes on ‘girlie weekends’ to the Hunter Valley wineries, and we also love travelling together. But we both feel that no matter how much alike and in love we are, we’re still two individuals and have different needs. We respect that in each other and allow each other free time.”
“The only disadvantage of travelling solo is that when you’re standing there looking at some fantastic scenery, you can’t share it with your partner. It just means I’ll have to go back there and show her one day.”
“My advice to other couples: do it. It helps you keep in contact with your individuality and the reasons you were attracted to each other in the first place. Besides, it’s extra sweet when you get home.”
Helen, 49, Adelaide (Solo style: Walking)
“As the Chair of HockeySA, I travel alone frequently for work and less regularly for sport. My children are old enough to be abandoned, and my husband prefers camping. We usually do a trip each year but no walking – he’s just never going to try it.”
“I really wanted to do the Cradle Mountain walk, so I went with Tasmanian Expeditions, as recommended by friends. I never thought that going completely alone was sensible in such an area, so a small group made sense.”
“I shared a tent with a complete stranger and walked for a week with people I didn’t know and haven’t seen since. The trip exceeded my expectations. The guides were very perceptive that I was comfortable walking alone and didn’t need or want to fill my days with conversation.”
“I’m looking forward to next year when I would like to do another trek – maybe Hinchinbrook or Maria Island.”
Colleen Wann, Mandurah, WA (Solo style: Group tours)
“I often travel solo as my husband doesn’t like doing long flights and is not interested in going to places I chose to travel to.”
“I enjoy solo travelling on group trips as there are often other solos, and married couples always make you feel part of the group too, so you are never alone.”
“My most recent trip was South America for five weeks, and I’ve done New Zealand, Canada, Croatia, Bosnia, a European river cruise, and the Cape to Cape Track with a group called Travel With Me.”
“My husband doesn’t mind as he does his own trips with his mates, and we also make sure we take holidays together.”
“The only disadvantage is paying the single supplement, as I don’t always want to share a room, because I have had holidays ruined by sharing with snorers.”
“I know many married people who would love to travel but don’t, because their partners are not interested, but I recommend they try a solo trip as it will open up a whole new world to them.”
“They should book with a group that specialises in solo travellers.”
Jim Baldwin, 54, Windsor, NSW (Solo style: Cruising)
“My first cruise was with my wife, now my ex-wife, for our honeymoon. It ended up a disaster for her as she got a migraine before we even sailed out past the Sydney Heads, but I absolutely loved it.”
“I’m a people person and make friends easily, and I decided I’d continue cruising on my own.”
“My wife was a teacher so she was happy to have the peace and quiet at home to concentrate on her work.”
