| | Traveling SoloPage 1 of 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) | I love to travel, but I have no one to go with and I'm thinking about going somewhere on my own.
Have you taken a trip by yourself? Any good or bad experiences?
Ironically I work in the travel industry, I just have not worked up the guts to go somewhere by myself.
Thanks | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/24/2007 11:17:02 AM | Yes, I have. The experience was awesome. I met people from all over the world and we had a blast. Just make sure you travel during the day to avoid the bad spots at night. And keep your eyes open at all times. Never be afraid to meet the locals. They are what make these trips so much fun. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/24/2007 11:41:42 AM | If you want an easy way to meet people I would suggest using hostels for lodging purposes. These are not luxury accomodations but they are great social places, mind you its required that you be a little extroverted. I tend to stay at hostels operated by the HI hostel chain there accomodations are pretty good.
The reason I like staying at hostels is that I've met people from all over the world and surprisingly they all had a decent command of the english language. Another benefit is that you get to learn a little bit about their cultures and they are always interested in interacting with somebody that lives in america.
my favorite hostel is the HI san francisco located in union square. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/24/2007 2:41:31 PM | I have travelled a lot on my own, have taken tours which end up being fairly independent and should you want company it's there. And none of the experiences were horror stories, a lot depends on your own attitude. Other trips I have taken off all on my own which is great too.
In my late 20's went with Contiki which was fun; later it's been Cosmos - and they are pretty good. And yes, you end up making friends which is a bonus, and especially I noticed if you are single woman, people are very caring and protective.
Go for it if you really want to, good luck. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/24/2007 5:18:37 PM | hi do you as a travel guru know any good hot and sight see places for a 36 year old man who wants to travel alone in the end of september 24th john  | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/24/2007 7:53:35 PM | | I have travelled alone, and loved it! I second the recommendation of staying in hostels instead of hotels. You will meet lots of other solo travellers in hostels. The only bad experience I had was in one hostel where a guy tried to steal money from me, but the hostel evicted him, and refunded my money. You have to be smart about hostels. Don't wear expensive clothes, don't carry a lot of cash, (don't talk about any expensive items you may have bought) and use a money belt at all times. You do have to be comfortable sleeping in co-ed dorm rooms, but if not, there are still some hostels that offer single person rooms for a higher charge. Hostels can be noisy, so take earplugs, and do your research before booking each hostel. Hostelling International has a web site that rates each place, and books like Lonely Planet are also a great source of information. Otherwise, the best thing to do when travelling alone is to spend a few days in each city, and book yourself onto some day trips or guided walking tours. You will always meet other friendly tourists on bus tours, and it's a cheap way to get to sites you wouldn't be able to without a car. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/24/2007 11:43:03 PM | Yep and it is amazing! Like people have stated, book a hostle and be prepared to have a different adventure each day. Be sure to talk to different people at breakfast and see what they are doing and then tag along... or announce what your plans are and see if someone want to join.
Be smart and confident and no one will question you. Most of the time people assume you are with someone and just off on your own for a little bit. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/25/2007 3:28:59 AM | Denmark is a lovely little country for travelling around alone,people are friendly enough,the foods good,the beer is too!
I travel there alone all the time,though it is better to be with someone you can still have a great time alone wherever it is | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/25/2007 1:59:21 PM | Since you work in the travel industry you should be able to find some escorted tours you could go on. That way you will be with a group of people and most likely find some to actually hang out with. AND you don't have to plan every little excursion yourself. AND you don't have to worry about being in a foreign country all alone, or speaking the language... which is a concern for language challenged people such as myself.
Another option I've checked into are volunteer/mission vacations. Same deal, you are with a group of people with common interests.
Either way, get out there! That's the best thing about being in the travel industry ... do it while you can. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/26/2007 6:21:13 PM | | I just returned from a solo 2 wk vacation in Hawaii. I used a travel agent to book flights (from home and return, and interisland) and car rentals. I used www.vrbo.com (vacation rental by owner) to find my own accommodation. Much cheaper than resorts and my goal was to sightsee and take some tours so I didn't really need a fancy resort with pool.. too many beaches to enjoy! Made sure my accommodations had full kitchen so I could prepare some meals if I wanted, and laundry facilities so I could pack less and just wash and go! No problems at all... had a blast and this was my very first time travelling in this manner and I will definitely do it again. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/27/2007 10:49:45 AM | I have travelled solo, in hostels and I am 35.
What you need to consider is this...
Do you want a relaxing vacation, or an adventurous one?
Do you want luxury or an inexpensive place to sleep/groom?
I found, that in hostels there are a lot of solo travelers, and group travelers. But it is noisy, and sometimes breakfast is not that great (if it is included).
I have a co worker that goes on vacation all the time to all inclusives, and is planning her next vacation on a cruise - solo. She is outgoing, but also reserved. I am more conservative, and talkative.
Since you work for the travel industry, you should look into all areas of interest to where you are thinking of going. That way, you will know if you want to save money for adventures, then a hostel might be great. Or an all inclusive with awesome adventures included (some not).
The best advice I can give you on travelling solo - if people won't go with you, don't waste your life waiting. Go see the world?
Another tip - side tip. There are language emersion travels to countries all over the world, so if you want to learn Mandarin for example, you can book an vacation in China, stay with a family, learn the language, and can have enough free time to see what you want to see in China. Another co worker of mine is going to Guatamala to learn Spanish $600 inclusive for two weeks. Worth looking into I'd say... CHECK IT OUT!! | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/27/2007 4:18:34 PM | The best advice I can give you on travelling solo - if people won't go with you, don't waste your life waiting. Go see the world?
Exactly!!!
I wasted a lot of time asking friends to come with me and after taking some advice from a few lovely folk on here and mates who had travelled on their own I went for it, it was by far the best holiday I ever had ( Thailand).
I too worked in the travel industry but it wasn't until I left that I took advantage of this fabulous world I lived in.
Depends on what you want but I just booked the flight and let the people I met influence my next day actions, met some fantastic new friends and had amazing experiences because I chose at that precise moment to go do them, not wait for my friend to get herself out the bathroom!
Go Girl, but stay safe xx and we wanna hear all about it! | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/29/2007 7:24:22 PM | I have traveled quite a bit alone, it's GREAT! You don't have to ask someone else what they want to do, if you want a pee brake you can just take it, eat only at places that interest you, and if you decide you like an area well, you can choose to stay there longer and omit something later in the trip.
I've even traveled cross country hauling my own horses- more challenging, but worth it! Go riding in new places! | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/31/2007 12:22:54 PM | | I left the USA for a 3 months trip to Spain alone with one one nite reservation in a pension in Madrid. have to admit it was probably the gutsiest thing I have ever done ... Was a great trip ... ended up going to many places I had read about and dreamed of going .. most adventurous was running with the bulls in Pamplona Spain during San Fermin ... Not much of the trip planned .. It just sort of evelved along the way .. that is probably what made it so great. Would love to do it again but be fun to do it with easy going folks that do not need every day planned ... | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/31/2007 1:11:34 PM | I say this over and over...the most empowering thing i've ever done as a woman is travel solo. I started travelling solo in my early 20s and loved it each and every time. but then again, when i was 5 years old I took off with some local kids in Mexico and hung out with them for the night, until my parents came looking for me LOL. so i'm wanderlust spirit by nature.
but seriously, as a woman, people are much more open i feel to talking to you, watching out for you, approaching you, etc. It also teaches you a lot about how to trust your own instincts, how to blend and become invisible (a worthy skill), how to make small talk, and just general how to be alone and enjoy the pleasure of your own company.
It is only the the past couple of years that I've actually started to enjoy company with me when i travel.
take a look at the website journeywoman.com it is AMAZING and a great resource for the first time single female traveller.
I have friends from all over the world who I still chat with, many of whom i wouldn't have met had I not ventured afar on my own. I've travelled on my own all through Europe, India, parts of Asia, Argentina.
Be brave and embrace your warrior spirit  | |
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BJWW44
| | Joined: 3/30/2006
Msg: 16 | |
| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/5/2007 3:54:23 PM | HELLO,,,
I love to CRUISE........
I am a SOLO CRUISER........
A cruise is a goood vacation for a solo traveler..........
I have been on 17 cruises...............
I enjoy road day trips and weekend trips................... | |
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kimoi
| | Joined: 6/10/2007
Msg: 17 | |
| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/20/2007 4:10:03 AM | i did a 3 month european trip solo and had a ball. I did organised tours in some countries and my own thing in others. haggis tours were excellent for scotland and ireland. Bus about is also really good if you dont mind camping.
Do be carefull if you book hostels over the internet. My absolute best hostel was in paris and was on the top storey of a brothel - it was an adventure just getting down to the street!
Dont waste time waiting for someone to come along, it will probably never happen and if it does you will have to do things they want. travel solo and have it all your own way. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/20/2007 8:52:17 AM | I almost always travel solo. Finding somebody else who wants to see all the same places is difficult at best, so you wind up a) missing out on things you want to see b) getting dragged off to places you don't want to visit and maybe c) ruining a friendship as well.
Even when you travel by yourself you're not alone; you meet lots of people and hook up with them for trips from an afternoon to a few days.
If you make any effort to be sociable (and if you don't, why travel?) then the people you meet will take you to things you might not have considered on your own. That pretty much removes all the advantages of a regular travel partner that I can see.
Of course, if your SO wants to come with you that's another matter...
I have stayed in hostels a lot and mostly enjoyed them. They ranged in quality from spic-n-span Swiss marvels to dodgy druggie-infested holes in Greece. After a few years in dormitories, though, I found myself getting less interested in them. It's just as easy to meet people in small hotels with private rooms and you don't have to put up with snoring, night screams, people grinding their teeth nightly, or kleptomaniacs. In poor countries good hotels can be quite cheap, and in rich countries camping is sometimes a possibility. :) | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/21/2007 6:29:41 AM | | I have always traveled as a family. This years goal is to travel with another single friend of mine, but I also want to travel somewhere alone. I too feel that it will be an empowering experience. I suppose it is another way to seek independence for me. My son is older now, so I find myself with more time on my hands. Who knows what I will find out there. The only thing stopping me right now is myself..so I'm going to get out of my own way! LOL Anyone want a postcard? | |
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ksue44
| | Joined: 6/20/2005
Msg: 20 | |
| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/21/2007 7:21:57 PM | Here's where I've been solo:
Botswana (Africa) 2006
England 2004
Holland 2003
Bahamas 2000
Costa Rica 1999
Belize 1997
Mexico 1997
I've had good experiences. Always be aware of your surroundings. Don't stand out like a tourist. Be respectful of other countries customs, rules, laws, etc. Don't carry too much cash on you. Keep your valuables at home.
Do your due diligence on the location that you choose. When you travel solo, always give your friends/family your travel plans, a copy of your passport, phone #'s, etc. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/23/2007 3:44:16 AM | Queen Sassy,
Do you have any more info on the Language learning trips.
I am in the process of learning Spanish & can't get it.
A friend of mine said the best way to learn is to go there .
She lived in Mexico for 4 years & can speak it fluiently now.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. 
Cherokee | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/23/2007 6:20:35 AM | | I have also travelled solo. You have the freedom to do and see what you want. Some people might see it as "strange" but I'm not gonna sit on my hands and wait for someone to come along with me. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/23/2007 10:22:04 AM | Hey Loca, I work in the travel industry myself. If I am going on a trip by myself, I like to go to cities that have a good public transportation system hooked up to the airport in the city. Places like Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and St. Louis all have train systems that run to the airport and can take you downtown to do what you want to do. I personally use my day trips to go to different baseball parks by myself. No one really knows you and you can bring a camera to take pictures of what you did while you were there.
Feel free to write me for other suggestions. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 8/30/2007 8:49:32 PM | Yes, I have done a lot of travel on my own and it works out just fine. I find that you can meet a lot of interesting people. One thing you might do before you go is identify either professional associations in the area to which you are going or organizations based on your interests or hobbies. Time your trip for when some events are going on. Also, I try to work in a couple of sightseeing tours. That way you will be with a group for part of the time. Finally, if you stay at a resort with organized activities for a few days, again, it gives you a chance to mix and mingle and meet people.
If you'd like more ideas, pleae feel free to e-mail me.
Good luck. | |
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| Traveling Solo
Posted: 8/31/2007 5:05:14 PM | | I have taken several trips solo. My advice is to do your homework ahead of time. Most states and major cities have tourist websites that will send you information. You can plan what you want to do and see, yet you are free to change plans as you go. I also went on a 3 night cruise alone. It was one of the best cruises I have ever been on. Just be sure to introduce yourself to people as you sit for a meal, etc. You will be surprised at how many people you meet. Definitely strike out on your own, no point in wasting time sitting home alone. Happy travels! | |
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