by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: May 12, 2009

There are occasions when we find ourselves travelling alone through choice. It may be that we wish to truly get away from it all and simply enjoy the peace and quiet that solitude in different climes can so easily afford. Perhaps more often, however, we are likely to find ourselves travelling alone through necessity and this can lead on occasion to loneliness and overwhelming feelings of seclusion. At these times, it is therefore advisable for us to try to meet people with whom we can perhaps share some of our time away, perhaps in the pursuit of common interests, and ease many of the burdens of travelling alone in this way.

The first opportunity to meet someone while travelling alone is on the outward journey itself. If we are travelling on such as a charter flight, this makes the whole process so much easier. We will know in this instance that all of our fellow passengers are travelling to the same onward destination as ourselves and are on a leisure trip in the same way we are. This therefore affords us the opportunity to chat to people in the airport departure lounge, the person or people we are seated next to on the plane and even perhaps those on any coach which provides us with onward transport from our destination airport. We can casually enquire as to what activities these people have planned for their trip, perhaps find a common interest in visiting a certain attraction and arrange to do so together.

If we are staying in a hotel while travelling alone, the hotel restaurant, bar and perhaps entertainment suite all afford us opportunities for meeting other people. We may find ourselves regularly seated next to fellow travellers in the restaurant with whom we can strike up conversation. We can visit the bar and strike up conversation with other patrons. We can attend the hotel's entertainment events and perhaps request to occupy a spare seat at a table. These are probably the best opportunities for finding other people who are travelling alone and spending some quality time getting to know them.

If we are on a package trip, it may be that there are excursions or day trips organised for leaving from our hotel. If any of these trips appeal to us, it may be that we will find others going on same who share common interests with us. We may get chatting to some of them on the coach and arrange to explore the destination in their company.

Wherever we go and in whatever capacity, there are almost always going to be opportunities to meet people when travelling alone. The secret is simply to be friendly, be sociable and be ourselves. In this way, we are likely to find kindred spirits and through them, some company to ease any burdens which we may find upon us created simply through the perceived idea of travelling alone.

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