SEC-S16W2 | Solo vs Group Travel - A group? No Option

I love travelling, travelling around, always discovering something new.
As soon the weather changes, there is a warm breeze and the sun shines, I want to leave, get away, see the world (remember the film 'Chocolate'? That's how I feel). If that world I need to travel is only a few miles away, that's fine too.

I always save for the trip and as soon as I have the money I go.
I never care about the hotel, luxury or food just about reaching my destination. My children never stopped me I take them with me, still babies of a few weeks old, and never experienced problems, no sick children, nothing. I travel light with as little luggage as possible, so indeed I am that mother without bum wipes, paper tissues and suitcases, bags packed with all kinds of stuff I have to drag along like a pack mule. Vacation and travelling should be easy and not a burden. If not I prefer to stay home.

Unlike many, I do not have burnout during my trip (holiday) because I am prepared and not so naive that I assume that it is everywhere like at home. I am also not the Dutch person who takes suitcases full of food along, I eat what is available, preferably where and what the locals eat and if the flow of tourists goes to the right, I go to the left.

You guessed it: I don't like groups and especially not group travel. As far as organized group trips are concerned, I am not the only one who is horrified by them. At the moment my youngest has to organize a group trip for 40 people, not what she or most people think would be interesting or fun, but what the teacher has in mind and wants tourists to see. This teacher may occasionally be a guide in town, but he clearly has no idea what he's talking about. His requirements do not even correspond to how airlines, hotels, etc. work concerning bookings. The man must be living on some cloud no one knows about. The benefits of internet if it comes to travels is unknown to him.

If I am travelling, am on vacation I want value for my money meaning doing what I like and when I like it. If I'm tired, I go to bed, if I want to walk around, look at the shops, listen to a street musician for an hour and skip dinner the decision is mine. I want to be able to do what I feel to without any hassle. I don't like to stick to a timetable because otherwise, I'll miss the bus or a stressed guide will scold me.

I don't want to be stuck with people who have different interests than me, who smoke, drink, are 'joking around', are loud and make me feel ashamed because I belong to that group. Unfortunately, there are quite a few people who misbehave. If on holiday you encounter them everywhere: on the flixbus, in the most expensive hotel, on the plane and at the campsite. So people like me are better off traveling solo. This way I don't get annoyed with others and others don't have to get annoyed with me either.

A flight or trip by train or bus can easily be booked online. This also applies to overnight accommodation, taxi reservations and so on. Places often have a tourist information office or a site and otherwise, information can be found about sightseeing, festivals, theatre visits, nature, the doctor, dentist, and public transport tables on the internet whereas also travel blogs of other (solo) travellers with suggestions and warnings are shared.

The Dutch Railways have city trips, walks and tips. They give a map on what to do in a city in 24 hours. These are not group trips, you travel alone and decide for yourself what to visit. Not in the mood for a city walk then it can be skipped and visiting the market, a cinema, library, all the bookstores, sitting at the riverside or watching people and street artists are options too.

Last spring/summer I travelled with a friend by car and that was fun, but two people don't make a group! We laughed a lot and spent the nights in the craziest places and under different circumstances.
Just like me, my friend is a wanderer and we prefer travelling for months. Who knows, maybe when the children are old enough there will be money for a van or camper again (to sleep).

Will this ever happen? I can dream and if not, I have enough memories of the trips I made as well as plenty of slides and photos to refresh my memory.

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It is said that preparing for a trip is more than 50% of the pleasure of travelling. For me, that percentage is way higher, while for my youngest it is currently considerably lower because the teacher, Mr Whiner, ruins every creative, fun journey. It's a good thing that man doesn't have a travel agency, otherwise he would be bankrupt within 6 months.

Header + Photogrid: Canva
Photos: taken by me 
7-3-2024
I am a mobile phone user only