Janice Waugh saw an unusual question in the Google search terms that led people to her blog, Solo Traveler: Is it weird to travel solo? The question caught my attention because more than a few people heading off on longer trips are going solo. Planning to spend a year or two in another country, or to just travel when the mood strikes you? There’s a chance that you might have a significant other interested in traveling with you, but it’s equally likely that you’re going it alone.

I don’t think there’s anything weird about traveling alone, just as I don’t think that there’s anything strange about traveling with someone. It’s a question of what works best for you and what you enjoy. But I realize that there are plenty of people out there that have a hard time imagining heading off to a new country without anyone they know going with.

Personally, I’ve done plenty of both. I’ve landed in a new country without knowing a soul, crossed borders to hang out with friends and even traveled with my whole family (including aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents). Some of my favorite adventures come from meeting new people along the way, which I feel like I don’t do if I’m traveling with someone. Instead, I wind up talking to whoever I brought with me for the whole trip.

Janice’s answer to the question turned into a full manifesto. You can download her ebook from Solo Traveler. It’s free.

Do you have a preference for traveling on your own? Or do you have a favorite person to travel with?