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alone or with a friend, or with a group, or with an organized tour? The answer depends on many factors, including your temperament, age, health and finances etc.

Initially in my adventures I traveled alone when all was new. Often I encountered young backpackers traveling with their girl friends and I got to wonder whether or not I should try out this variant. Oh to find a suitable companera!

My view on the matter of travel companions is that flexibility is important. It is not a black and white situation.

Being a man I like to travel with a woman because such a companion brings forth a whole new aspect to the adventure, whereby you share your diverse interests. For example, my lady travel companions would like to sketch landscapes or old buildings, go to church and wedding services, chat away to the locals and get involved with Latino family functions, much of which if I was traveling alone probably I would be too shy to experience. Of mutual interest were museums, art galleries and scenic wonders.

On the other hand, my lady companions would welcome my experience and interests, which include the ability to read maps and know where we are, and where we are going, and our financial situation. Old book shops, antique shops, cigar factories, sport fishing shops, wineries, and restaurants interest me, and always there was the venture into the countryside to see if we could catch a trout and cook it at the hostel! Yes, I share my fishing gear with my companera!

So I can recommend traveling with a woman, but not necessarily all the time. Often women are restricted in the time they can get away. Not to worry. On a 3 month trip maybe you can arrange to travel together for 2 months which leaves 1 month for you to venture alone, perhaps in an area that you have never been before.

When traveling alone one is not really alone. Often I found that I would meet up with a friendly backpacker and travel together for short periods of a few days or a week until our ways parted. Sometimes, a month later our paths would cross and we would have a beer together and share experiences.

Group travel is a problem. Three is a crowd and I have never tried it so no comment .... but I have tried traveling in a group of four friends and for me it was a disappointment. We never seemed to be able to agree where to go for meals or how long to stay in one place. Also, if one member is more affluent than the others then where to stay often became an item of discontent.

Backpackers, like fine wine, mature in old age, and now I look forward to participate in organized tours. Next month I am off on a tour of Spain, Morocco and Portugal! I'll let you know how I get on.
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