Frustration of being stuck in PER

[Flashback]

I'd like to see what people's thoughts are on this.. I fly enough each year to justify having QP etc. but not so much that I fly "too much" and get sick of it. And thus when it comes to taking holidays.. I prefer to fly somewhere, outside of Aus to have a look around and/or relax.

My problem is this.. I'm at that point in life (age..!) where your mates either can't afford to go with you, or can't get time of work - which makes things frustrating..

Further to that, when I was up in Broome last weekend I ended up getting stuck there an extra night (Qantas was nice though, putting me at the CBC Resort for the night!) and it was with that realisation that even if you go somewhere, where it's a 'holiday' destination and one you'd relax at.. when you're up there by yourself there just isn't really much to do.

Am I the only one feeling the same..? Or do other people carry my anxiety/frustration of not being able to do much!

 

[JohnK]

My problem is this.. I'm at that point in life (age..!) where your mates either can't afford to go with you, or can't get time of work - which makes things frustrating....

.... Am I the only one feeling the same..? Or do other people carry my anxiety/frustration of not being able to do much!

Totally understand your frustration.

I am older than you but in a similar situation. I decided a long time ago that I didn't need company to travel. Most friends don't want to go to the same places as me, can't afford it etc.

I travel alone but find that I am not alone much or get bored. I meet people when on holidays whether it be playing golf, drinking, sightseeing etc. I still come back home feeling refreshed and glad that I took the break.

 

[Flashback]

Maybe I'm just too shy then... (and need to start playing golf!) :shock:

 

[JohnK]

I am naturally a shy person as well but really make an effort when I am on holidays. What have I got to lose? More than likely I will not see these people again but if I happen to see them again next time it makes me feel more comfortable.

 

[NM]

Then you get married and have a travelling companion, but the mortgage is then the restriction.

Then you have kids and it not only the mortgage but also the additional fares and accommodation costs (though the food and beverage costs drop as McDonalds becomes the standard faire).

Then you become tied to taking vacations during school holiday periods when the prices sky-rocket and the destinations are crowded.

I am still awaiting the next phase when the kids are self-sufficient and Darby and Joan can enjoy travelling the world knowing we are spending the kids inheritance.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

When I saw the thread title I thought it was about something else

 

[Flashback]

Hehe - nah, I don't mind Perth... despite the rising living costs it's not a bad place to live

 

[wiz]

I thought this thread would be about how shocking the international customs clearance at PER airport is! Perhaps this topic should be raised though, because I do find it totally frustrating, for sure!

... Well I too am from Perth (but am currently stuck in Canberra until Christmas). The one thing I find about travelling, is that it is definitely better to have a friend or two to share the experience with.The way I see it, you get better value from it, as it's always good fun talking about the good old times you had on "that holiday", long after it's been and gone. But speaking from experience, it's very hard to organise any more than one mate to tag along with. Having three or more also creates hassle with having to please everybody, not to mention accommodation issues.

I guess it just depends on the types of friends you have. Some might have commitments or financial constraints as you have mentioned. I've been lucky recently, as most of my mates are at that stage where they all have gone into full time work (a few years after leaving uni), so have few commitments. And they haven't really been anywhere decent, so are finally getting a real taste for travel... I have always loved travelling, so a couple of times we have been able to team up a small group... But even then you sometimes end up going off and doing your own thing.

Ah yes, and I totally agree with taking more risks / making more effort when you're abroad. I love the feeling of being in a foreign city; with an unplanned itinerary, a little nervous, but ready to conquer all the same. Agreed that this can be harder by yourself though.

Hey and look at the bright side. At least you're not stuck away from home for 2 months like me, not knowing anyone in Canberra except your new work colleagues! I am actually missing Perth, believe it or not!

 

[Mal]

I travel solo for most of my journeys, and with friends for a few of them.

Both have their advantages. When travelling solo you are in complete control of your holiday. When travelling with friends you are restrained by their wishes and the compromises you make together. As examples, I prefer to stay at Hilton's, friends may prefer a cheaper hotel or may think I'm crazy flying Cathay to Hong Kong then Singapore rather than Qantas direct to Singapore etc.

There are times when travelling can get boring. But if that happens, you need to schedule enough to do to ensure it doesn't happen.

It is relatively easy to meet friendly strangers overseas or in other locations in Australia (although a lot easier if you backpack or stay in low end hotels where you have something in common!!).

 

[oz_mark]

Like others, I have had periods in my life when travelling solo was the norm, and other periods where I would travel with varying numbers of others. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

While there are places I probably would prefer to not travel alone (for examples, staying in a Tahitian resort is probably best done with company :mrgreen: ), I find that I generally have no trouble meeting people in my travels. And the fact that I may never see them again is often a plus.

Indeed, sometimes it gets boring, but I always find that if I go in the right frame of mind for the holiday I am going on, I rarely get bored.

 

[Shano]

My only solo travel has been work related and has often involved extended periods (anywhere from 2 to 6 months) overseas in predominantly Asian countries. For a lot of these trips I have had limited contact with other English speaking people, so communication can be a big challenge (my grasp of other languages is very patchy). While this was a little daunting at first it soon became quite exciting to become fully immersed in a totally different culture. It is also quite satisfying to be able to navigate a foreign city, even though I would often find myself travelling in the completely opposite direction to where I wanted to go. I have also found that I have been treated to a level of hospitality by relative strangers that you would struggle to find here.

So although you don’t necessarily have someone specific to share these experiences with, I have found that you end up sharing many different experiences with many different people around you. This can be very fulfilling and I have many good memories of these trips.