Male traveling as solo

I've posted on several threads about solo travel and I believe I've seen postings from other male solo travelers.
Since my only RS experience was my first (and so far, only) trip in Jan/Feb, and I was the only solo, I can't speak
about trips where there are 'a number' of other men also traveling solo. Yet I'm pretty sure there must be.

We wish!! I’m a solo traveler. Not by choice. Lost my husband but not my enthusiasm for traveling. I always hope there will be more solo men traveling. It adds a certai J’en sais pas to the trip

We wish!! I’m a solo traveler. Not by choice. Lost my husband but not my enthusiasm for traveling. I always hope there will be more solo men traveling. It adds a certai J’en sais pas to the trip

Reply to eryan : Though I've only been on 2 RS trips (3rd one coming in Sept), both times as a solo, I don't recall any solo women on either trip. I would guess that it's more unusual to encounter solo women than solo men on RS trips,
even though RS generally caters to older and in many cases, retired people, and even though women statistically
survive their spouses. Why are there not MORE solo women on these trips. I've noticed single women coming on
both trips, but they were already paired up (friends, relatives, etc) with other women.

Your trips may be the exception or mine are! Women seem to request roommates more so than the men and therefore appear to be "paired up". Kinda like going to the loo. I have noticed that there are more partnered women and men traveling solo. I have yet to meet a married man traveling without his wife. Either their partner does not travel, has passed or is still working and we have reached an age where waiting is not an option :-) I have not found RS to attract people looking to meet other people; rather it attracts people interested in other people if that makes sense.

LarryLobo, your experience has been very unusual. On my 7 trips with RS, solo women outnumber men by of a factor of about 6 to 1. The great thing about RS, though, is that most people are very friendly and your single status and gender don't really seem to matter much. After far as I can tell, very few folks are hoping to meet anyone for a romance and that adds to the ease of group interactions.

I have traveled solo for many years: Russia, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, France. The women travel in groups. A solo female traveler is regarded as odd and somewhat threatening. The fact that you go your own way seems strange to them. I’m
Always being told to Be Careful etc. but they don’t welcome me. Sadly.

I don't understand your comments. Is it the countries you traveled to that thought it was odd? Or fellow travelers? I have had people ask me why I prefer traveling solo before. I always say I like my own company and don't have to compromise on what I want to do. I travel with friends and family from time to time and compromise is always present.

Eryan, are you talking about RS trips or travelling alone in general? If you're talking in generalities, then, yes, I agree with you. In the early 80s I travelled alone internationally for my job with a multinational company. I was young then and got many strange looks from the locals, especially in South America. Anyhow, I hope times have changed since then. As far as RS goes though, as a single woman I've never felt unwelcome in any group, even when there were predominantly married couples in attendance.

I’ve never traveled with RS. It has nothing to do with cultural issues. It has to do with people out of their element clinging to one another for protection and endorsement. I travel as an independent person. I explore. If it’s a group I often go off the grid which seems to be considered odd. The women never go without the husband. The single women band together against the alien. I travel Totally alone. I have also traveled with a group. The more expensive and exotic the destination the more open and sophisticated the group. RS vs Butterfield and Robinson are two different worlds. Viking cruises is yet another distinct group. As a woman I have never felt there was anyplace I couldn’t go or anything I couldn’t access. I reject the entire notion.

I heartily disagree with your comments about a female solo traveler! This female solo traveler makes an effort to be always pleasant, kind and friendly, and I have enjoyed every one of the 3 RS trips I took!

I heartily disagree with your comments about a female solo traveler! This female solo traveler makes an effort to be always pleasant, kind and friendly, and I have enjoyed every one of the 3 RS trips I took!

I never said anything about people who travel alone. I am one of them.

They don’t travel
Alone because they’re scared and need support

You are just wonderfuk

Eryan, I see the same in comfort zones. I've frequently traveled solo and really enjoy the preparation and logistics, learning geography, language and culture. Of course, I've had to be very flexible at times, too, and realize that might be unacceptable to many. The main reason I tried my first (and only) RS trip was the group accesses. I went to Panama, was able to traverse the canal on a 90 motor yacht, return in the domed railcar all because of their preparations and contacts. I later went off on my own locally (I'll eventually post that info) and enjoyed that immensely. I'll look into your B&R, Viking groups. I also have considered Lonely Planet.

This is not a forum to attack or object to other people’s opinions or challenge their experiences. Every person is unique. I normally travel alone. Without a group. Macchu Picchu, The Galapagos etc. I like to go at my own pace. Group
Travel is very new to me.

I find this forum helpful. At times people do not always agree. I either learn from what they have to say or I can unsubscribe to the forum. Sometimes times I have an ahamoment and say I never thought of it that way or I think I certainly don't agree with that.

Take a RS tour and see if you have a different experience. RS has some interesting programs with free time built in on most. You can also go rogue if topic of the day not your cup of tea. I have done that on a few tours. As long as you let your Group Leader know you are doing so.

I have found , on the most part, RS travelers are a different breed. Social status, gender and physical appearance seems to disappear and people want to either share or listen to others experiences. I started RS on the younger end of the boomer gen and over the years have met some fascinating people.