Many people prefer traveling alone, and for independent travelers, solo journeys offer infinite opportunities to explore a place deeply, meet locals, and even make friends.
The most frequent problem for solo travelers can be feelings of isolation, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, when everyone else seems to be out and about in numbers divisible by two. Check the sections in this book on popular local music clubs and bars where you might meet locals and engage in some lively conversation. Whether or not you feel like chatting with Québécois or not, jazz and folk music spots, especially those that charge no cover -- and most in Montréal and Québec City do not -- are also great places to visit if you're on your own.
Bed-and-breakfast inns can be a cozy way to travel on your own, and you can find them in both Montréal and Québec City. Guests come together over breakfast and might end up going out to explore together. Prices are often (but not always) lower than those at hotels, many of which charge the same rate for a room whether it's occupied by one or two people.
Guided walking tours are another excellent way to explore the cities and enjoy a couple of hours of social interaction at the same time.
Unfortunately, if you like resorts, tours, or cruises, you're likely to get hit with a "single supplement" to the base price. Single travelers can avoid these supplements, of course, by agreeing to room with other single travelers on the trip.
TravelChums (tel. 212/787-2621; www.travelchums.com) is a travel-companion matching service with elements of online personals sites, hosted by the respected New York-based Shaw Guides travel service.
For more information, check out Eleanor Berman's classic Traveling Solo: Advice and Ideas for More Than 250 Great Vacations, 5th Edition (Globe Pequot), updated in 2005.
