| General Travel Tips and Advice Have you traveled before?- Please share your tips and advice with fellow Tpunks! |
 |
11-22-2009, 07:55 PM
|
#1
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: currently in costa rica
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
my 3 fears
Hi my name is Olivia and I just found out about this blog thing and I love it!
I'm not quite sure if I am in the right forum but here goes:
I live in Costa Rica and love it, and I just started working at a restaurant in Jaco which also has a hostel. The people seem cool and that is why I now want to travel.
However I have 3 fears, one is I am only 18 years old, do you think that is too young?
Another fear is that I would travel alone, do you think that it is dangerous? (I would travel to South America somewhere).
Also, I am reaaally shy, and it takes me a while to express myself, so when people meet me they probably think I am really serious and have no sense of humour :S I hate it but I can't help it.
Well, thanks in advance everyone!
|
|
|
|
11-23-2009, 01:02 AM
|
#2
|
|
lover of Germany
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
|
Welcome to TPUNK!
1)I personally don't think 18 is too young.
2) Travelling alone can be a really good experience and a chance to learn about yourself and try things you might not try around your friends.
3) I too am rather shy but travelling can force you out of the comfort zone. It sounds scary but before you know it you are making friends and have laughs. I suggest you start making friends at the hostel as many of them are solo travellers like yourself.
Its like the 1st day of school or summer camp really nerve wraking but when its time to go home you won't want to leave 
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.
Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.
[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
|
|
|
|
|
11-23-2009, 12:18 PM
|
#3
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 86
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
I did a solo trip through Europe when I was 18 so age is not a problem. Also it is no more dangerous to travel solo than it is to walk around your hometown alone. Just keep your head on your shoulders and you will be fine. Finally I am also generally a shy person but you make friends in hostels very quickly. Personally my approach was to hang out with the other solo travelers. I enjoyed exploring on my own during the day and then would hang out in the evening. If there is no other solo travelers then I suggest either doing something social the hostel hosts like a pub crawl, or just build up your nerve for awhile, approach a group that looks friendly, and ask where there from.
|
|
|
|
|
11-23-2009, 12:48 PM
|
#4
|
|
lover of Germany
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
|
Hostel people are fairly easy to befriend as many of them are like you-in a foreign country and maybe a little shy.
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.
Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.
[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
|
|
|
|
|
11-23-2009, 01:35 PM
|
#5
|
|
Artist of Life
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ottawa, Canada aka O-town
Posts: 1,530
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
|
18 is definitely not too young, but all age is relative. The most important question is do you think you can take care of yourself or not. Understand that it will be more risky travelling alone than with others, and it is more risky for a single woman than a single man.
However, in understanding all this, as they say: nothing wagered, nothing gained. No risk, no reward... I think all of us here at tpunk have taken some significant risks here or there and most of us are glad we did it
__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."
Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)
"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
|
|
|
|
|
11-24-2009, 09:28 AM
|
#6
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 65
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Always carry a spiked baseball bat coved. Then you'll be fine.
|
|
|
|
|
11-24-2009, 09:29 AM
|
#7
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 65
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Minus the word "covered."
|
|
|
|
|
11-26-2009, 11:29 AM
|
#8
|
|
TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: From Aussie, but living in Canada for now
Posts: 1,789
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Your concerns, while warranted, should certainly not stop you pursuing your travel goals. Backpackers are a very friendly and tight-knit bunch. If they see you're struggling with any aspect of your travels, they'll look after you. If you think you’re ready, I say go for it!
|
|
|
|
|
11-26-2009, 05:11 PM
|
#9
|
|
Admin
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: spiznain
Posts: 6,581
Thanks: 46
Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts
|
Like everyone else has said, you'll be fine.
Get up and do as much karoake as possible, starting this weekend. That should break you out of your shyness  .
Welcome to the boards  !
|
|
|
|
|
11-27-2009, 06:07 AM
|
#10
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: currently in costa rica
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
wow thanks everyone :D i am most definitely leaving soon 
|
|
|
|
|
11-29-2009, 12:38 PM
|
#11
|
|
Tpunk Senior Moderators
Join Date: May 2006
Location: in transit
Posts: 2,063
Thanks: 3
Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
|
I have been living and traveling in Nica for over 3 months now, and have met SOOOOO many solo female travelers, making there way through C.A. towards S.A... Almost all of them have had no problems... A few made silly mistakes and had things stolen... But other than that... And remeber, staying in hostels can pretty much guarantee that you will meet people to travel with that are heading in the same direction! I have had the most amazing times and met the most amazing people, that I didnt know the week before... Step out and go for it!!! The number one thing I can tell you to take with you in these parts of the world, is Pepper Spray.... Best of luck and keep us posted!!!
__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:25 AM.
|
Linear Mode
