90% of my trips are solo trips. I like it that way. Granted most of my travel in in the U.S./Canada so I'm not dealing with any language barriers (which are scary to me).
I can relate to people being surprised when you tell them you're either planning to travel alone or are traveling alone. The reaction is usually something like "BY YOURSELF!!!???? Wow, I could never do that." Some people ask if you're afraid--my response is usually something like "of what?" with an amused expression on my face.
Before they were married both my parents used to take trips by themselves, so I guess it's not very unusual or weird to do so in my family.
I like solo travel because I'm a control freak who loves scheduling and keeping a very full schedule. My style of travel is not for everyone. Many would find it too regimented and exhausting. But this way I get to do exactly what I want and when I want. I never have any complaints or feel I have to compromise to make someone else happy. I have a friend who keeps insisting on going on trips with groups of people and she always without fail, comes back feeling unsatisfied and unhappy with how the trip went. I've told her a zillion times she should just go by herself and do what she wants but she just does not seem to be able to do it. I don't think I've ever come back from a trip feeling the way she does. Granted--not everything always goes exactly according to plan and sometimes you have to skip something you wanted to do because of unforeseen circumstances out of your control--but that happens in life in general too. Dining alone has never bothered me, and the older I get the more self possessed I get; I used to do like SallyCat suggests and eat extra early/off hours, but now I just eat at whatever time I choose. I despise eating at the bar so I always get a table. In fact, when I'm on vacation I tend to order a lot of food anyway so I can try everything (drink, app, entrée, dessert) so what I order tends to be on par cost-wise with what a couple often orders, as I've observed most people don't get dessert and many skip the appetizer--so if the server doesn't like a single diner, tough darts. They are getting a solid meal order from me. I haven't had too many times when I feel like I've been given a bad table because I was by myself either, and the times when I really want a specific type of table (view etc), I make it clear I'm willing to wait for one to open up and they usually accommodate me. The squeaky wheel gets the grease--if you want something specific, speak up, your experience is just as important as a group or couple--at least that is my motto.
I've only had one time when I was "bothered" by a guy. I was watching a hula show on Waikiki and the guy next to me asked me a question (can't remember what it was). Eventually he asked me to dinner and I said no and walked away. He grabbed my hand and I wrenched it away and said something to the effect" we are walking right by the police station--do I need to go inside and ask them for assistance?" He quit following me then and I cut back through a hotel and circled around and continued watching the show! It was more obnoxious/annoying than scary. Jerk.
I'm currently planning a trip for Aug 2018 to Australia. That will be my first solo trip to another continent, but I figure that one should be relatively easy since at least English is spoken. If that goes well, I can do more solo foreign travel.
