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-   -   First Time Solo (https://tpunk.com/showthread.php?t=6775)

Teagen 08-08-2005 06:44 PM

Yes, it's another first timer!! :) I'm a little shy about posting msgs...not sure why??? I will be travelling to New Zealand in October. :huh: ....just a tad nervous.... I have been checking the site eveyday, reading the boards and have found answers to most of my questions. I, unfortunatly, still have a few questions that I'm almost afraid to ask. :rolleyes: (if nothing else a few of you seasoned travellers will get a laugh I'm sure) ....ok..here goes....what do I do about footware?? I was planning to ware my boots and bring sandles...will that be enough??? Should I bring a travel iron??? Will there be one at the hostel or should I just accept that I will be wrinkled once I get there???.....and is this something I really need to be thinking of???? :mellow: .... As I'm planning to start in Auckland, and I'm a female traveling solo, should I spend the few dollars more/night to stay on the girls floor or will that take away from the whole experience?(staying at Base Auckland) aarrrgg :unsure: I'll cut this one short cuz now I'm wondering if I've posted on the right board :stoked:

Tadpole 08-08-2005 09:04 PM

First off Welcome to the Boards! :thumbup:

I packed a nice pair of walking shoes/boots and a pair of flip flops. I walked an average of 20-30 miles a day. My brother and I never took the subway/metro/tube/ubahn. If it was a 5 hour walk to the Eiffiel tower then we were doing it. The first week of the trip my legs and feet were so tired and beat after just a 5 hour walk, even with my nice shoes on. After my muscles got use to the walking I could wear anything, walk 7 hours a day and be fine to go dancing that night.Half way trough the trip I packed up my $120 pair of walking shoe and brought out the flip flops. I never wore 'shoe' shoes before the trip and I was perfectly happy wereing my $15 flip flops for the next 3 weeks in Europe. Wear whatever you are comfortable walking in, wether it be a nice pair of shoes of those good ole Rainbow Flip Flops.

I never found a hostel with a travel iron. Try to pack clothes with fabric that doesn't wrinkle or show wrinkles as much.

Im a guy so the girl in an all girl room isnt my line of knowledge ... I leave it for the female travelrs to answer. Personally I cant imagine you would have any problems, I never saw any for girls.

space virgin 08-08-2005 10:02 PM

Welcome!! :)

Wear whatever shoes you think will be comfortable to walk in for long distances and for the love of all that is holy, if you're going to buy new ones, do NOT purchase a pair less than six weeks before you go!! You will need time to break them in. The max I walked was probably 10-15 miles a day, averaging more like around 8-10. But I also have a job that requires me to be constantly moving, so I was already somewhat used to that and had a fantastic pair of shoes. And I *did* take public transportation fairly often, lol.

Stay in whatever dorm rooms you're most comfortble in. :) If you're not sure about going co-ed, book yourself into a female dorm. If you feel up to venturing to the wild side, you can switch over. :cheers: Usually I don't really care where I end up; I've stayed in all female rooms, half & half mixed, mostly guys, and one extremely interesting time when I was the only girl in an 8-bed dorm with 7 dudes from Sweden who were in London to catch the ABBA musical. :lol: :thumbup: There was never any point where I felt even remotely unsafe, but then again I'm also not always the most cautious or observant person. I've wandered, somewhat oblivious, into a good number of crackhead or otherwise ill-advised neighborhoods by myself. :rolleyes: With no ill effects. :) (Actually the worst experiences I had with being bothered while wandering around were usually in the touristy areas. But that's western Europe, I'm betting New Zealand is easier to deal with!)

And don't bother with an iron. A hostel *may* have one if you're really desperate, but just try to bring clothes that don't require one. Or put your stuff in a dryer for a few minutes if you're desperate and nothing else is available. :cheers:

TERI 08-08-2005 10:25 PM

hi. Welcome to TPunk! :thumbup:

I'm going to New Zealand in June'06, and am also staying at Base Auckland. Later on over to Australia. I'll be gone for no less than a year. Solo female as well and I plan to stay in co-ed rooms if thats all there is(and even if it's not). :wub:

I haven't backpacked before. So the list of shoes im planning on taking is crazy(I know). I just keep thinking I need all of them. I'm taking a pair of good/comfy runners, a pair of black heels, my sport/walking sandals, and a pair of flip flops for the hostels and stuff. Maybe I'm not as much help as I thought. ;)

:cheers:

omisan 08-09-2005 12:41 AM

You definitely don't need a travel iron. If you get desperate, you can always see if someone else in the hostel has one or take it to some place and pay a few $$ to get it pressed - the weight/space savings of not having one is well worthwhile.

Footwear - I'd love to have a variety of shoes with me (for a guy, I have a lot of shoes) but shoes are heavy and take up irregular space in your luggage. I second the one pair of hiking/athletic shoes + one pair of sandals/flip-flops combo. If I'm on a trip where I know I'll be doing a lot of clubbing or going to chichi places, I'll also bring a pair of fancier shoes, but keep in mind that you can always *buy* cheap shoes that *look* fancy, which are good enough to last the duration of the trip. Wasteful? Maybe, but I think it's better than lugging dead weight around. If anything, you can give away the cheap-but-nice-looking stuff you buy to other people along the way - pass the good karma around.

Teagen 08-09-2005 06:35 AM

:thumbup: :thumbup: Thanks to all for the advise....whew...I feel way better...I thought for sure I'd be laughed off the boards :lol: ....I won't be so shy when the next batch of silly questions comes up....cuz I just know they will...Thanks again :kisscheek:

tecia 08-20-2005 02:33 PM

First Welcome to the family!!!!! :cheers: We all think our questions are stupid at first and at first I didn't want to post because every one was such a family. :blush: Don't ever worry about posting anything!!!! That is what we are here for :)
ok so staying in co-ed rooms is really just fine. However, you want to be comfortable so if you feel better in a room with all girls go for it!! I do have to say I made some great guy friends that i traveled with and it was kind of fun bc when you are the only girl they feel the need to make sure your taken care of :blush: helping me with my bags and what not. :cheers:
For shoes I had one pair of good walking sandals, flip-flops and a good pair of walking shoes. I had my flip-flops on most of the time even to the clubs :)
And don't bring an iron like they said try for clothing that you can't tell is wrinkled :cheers: the dryer work wonders also!!!


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