A year too long to go solo???

[Inside]

Well me and a mate have been planning on heading of to Europe in May for a year, however my mate convinced me to delay until july and now it looks like his backing out alltogether

i dont have a problem doing Europe solo, as i consider myself outgoing (dorm life does it to ya) plus my sister and about 5 other friends of mine are currently scattered throughout Europe.

However im just wondering if a year long trip will prove too much to take for a solo traveller???

have other solo backpackers here taken a trip of such length?

[Inside]

Also does a solo trip require more planning

Im the kind a guy that just like to rock up to a city and then find somewhere to stay. Im not big on itineraries or reservations, i dont want to be lock in to anything

But if i travel solo should i book ahead?

[simply_angelic]

Actually, by travelling solo, it's way easier to find places to stay. (you know, much easier to find one bed available than 3 etc)

Definitely go for it!! I didn't plan a thing when I went to europe. I had a rough idea of where I wanted to go but that was about it. Luckily, a lot of travellers are crazy planners and you can learn a lot of cool places to go from them hehe. As for the solo part, trust me, you'll never really be alone....unless you want to be. That's beauty of going solo!

[Diorama]

You will be fine. I went to OZ for a year by myself and ended up travelling together with so many people . So I wasn't really alone at all. It's much easier meeting ppl when your a solo traveller. I'm heading out again in September. Once again i will be going on another solo year (and maybe more ) trip. So my advice. Do it. Seriously you'll come back from your trip and ppl will think your a rockstar for going at it alone, but they just don't know how easy it is.

[joe7f]

Originally Posted by Diorama

So my advice. Do it. Seriously you'll come back from your trip and ppl will think your a rockstar for going at it alone, but they just don't know how easy it is.

I have already gotten that for a 3 month trip much less a year!. As mentioned above, it is not only easier to find one bed instead of three, it is easier to meet new people solo than with a group. It is easier to do something like, sleep in a train station instead of getting a hotel (or get a hotel instead of sleeping in the station) if you are solo. In short, it is easier to please yourself than yourself and another person.

Solo rocks, and Europe is built for backpackers. If you start feeling lonely just go to a party hostel

It sounds like you have friends you can meet in various cities so I am guessing every month or two you will see one or two. Not too bad

--Joey

[Esterina]

I too say go for it ! I did 6 months on my own in Asia and I met in some places so many people that I sometimes felt the need to be alone !

For having packbacked in Eastern Europe and Asia, I would say that South East Asia is the most backpack friendly place. I strongly suggest you go there. Not only is it crowded with long term travelers, but it is so smoooooth on the budget ! We like that when we travel for one year, don't we ?

Eastern Europe rocks, but I've found the travellers to be a bit more individualistic. But culturaly speaking, this is my favorite place though. Also very budget friendly, although big cities are getting more expensive rapidly.

Planning wise I see two major points :

*If you don't want to plan, maybe avoid Western Europe and even Central Europe in the high season, otherwise you might have trouble finding a bed. Also, remember that it's moonsoon in most Asia during the summer. So maybe do a bit of planning regarding seasons. I'd say (if you are from Europe) : Summer in Eastern Europe -- Transiberian to -- , Fall in S.E.A./China (gorgeous after the moonsoon) -- fly to -- Winter in India/Nepal --fly to-- Spring in Western/Central Europe.

*Visas. You'll visas when you leave Central Europe. In Asia, only Thailand doesn't require one. So, unless you don't mind applying and waiting on your next destination visa while abroad, no prob. Otherwise, maybe get the most difficult to have ahead of time (such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, that require an invitation letter prior to requesting a visa).

Is budget an issue ?

[Inside]

Budget will be an issue, so i'll be picking up a bit of work here and there when i can


Im an Aussie, but i have an Italian passport so Visa's wont be a problem for the EU

[Inside]

At this stage only Europe is on my radar


Whilst Asia would be great its probably down the order, after Europe the America's will be my next trip, catching up with friends in Canada and the states and then concentrating on South America

[MolsonGirl]

I'd say go!! You're always meeting new people... and who knows maybe the person you were supposed to going with will jump in the middle.. and maybe you'll continue to travel with them or not.

[Esterina]

One year in Europe, that's fantastic !

Season planning is still advised for the winter (I guess you don't want to buy warm clothes if budget is an issue).

And the only problem from late May until late August is the lack of available beds in hostels, in every major city, including Budapest, Krakow and Prague. But I think booking one or two weeks ahead is enough.

Budget datas (daily, approx.) :

Western Europe $75
Central Europe $40
Eastern Europe (from Romania) $30

It's possible to cut some $ off, if you avoid buy food in markets and grocery stores;

Small towns and villages are not as expensive;

in Central and Eastern Europe, you can bargain the price of your room (in hotels and private homes only) during the low season;

transport is extremely cheap in central and eastern europe, so if you're headed there from western europe, buy the ticket only to get into the first country and from there buy the rest of the trip. that's a huge money saver!

[Inside]

Originally Posted by atchoum

Budget datas (daily, approx.) :

Western Europe $75
Central Europe $40
Eastern Europe (from Romania) $30

Is that
75 US Dollars?
75 Aussie Dollars?
75 Euro?
75 Pound?

[nena]

I find that travelling by myself is always more fun than with someone else. It's easier to meet people, easier to find places to stay, you can do whatever you want whenever you feel like it. My longest trip was 10 months in Australia, by myself and I didn't think it was too long or whatever. You meet so many people while travelling anyway and these people are by themselves as well so it's easy to make friends with.

[foofiter]

I am on month 17 of solo travel now and its great. Wouldn't do it any other way. I have had friends meet me along the way for a couple weeks here and there but other than that its solo.

DO IT

Foo

[millmuff]

I think you'll be hard pressed to find anyone in these forums that won't encourge a trip of that length by yourself. It really does come down to your personallity, or maybe I should say attitude.

A trip of that length by yourself can either be a life changing experience or really hard for someone to take in by themselve. It all depends on how you go into it.

I'm setting up for a trip of the same length this fall,also by myself. I's definetely a big leap to leave your regular life to something os unknown, but you'll find lots of good advice for all aspects of your trip here...dont be afraid to ask!

[Inside]

im definantly doing it, no doubt about that. I was just after some opinions.

I've had 4 years at Uni, living in Dorms every year, so i consider myself outgoing and find it easy to strike up a convo with strangers. however due to my years at Uni, i've also come to prefer being surrounded by people.

The only time i spent alone at uni was when i was doing assignments, sleeping (sometimes) and on the toilet, besides that i was always looking for someone to chat with


So it will be interesting, i have no doubts i'll have a kick *rse year

[freespiritz]

I haven't gone solo for any extended period of time, but I say go for it! It's way easier to meet people when you're on your own, so don't worry about finding someone to chat with.

I love traveling with people - but very specific people that I know I can travel well with. Even if I get nervous about traveling alone, I love the freedom to just do whatever I want instead of always trying to work towards a consensus.

Good luck!!

[Esterina]

Originally Posted by Inside

Is that
75 US Dollars?
75 Aussie Dollars?
75 Euro?
75 Pound?

That would be in US dollars. But like I said, this is only an average. The more you like to party and eat out, the higher the amount gets.

An easy way to make money and enjoy good company is to work at fruit picking/harvest : Grape, apple, cherry, citrus, olive, etc. If you could grab a book such as "work your way around the world" by Susan Griffith, you'd have the infos about which month harvesting is going on in each european country. Plus there are dozens of other work ideas.

[Inside]

Well i was brought up on an Orchard, working as a child picking Apples, Cherries, Necterines etc and now Managing a Cherry Orchard for my father over summer, i also used prune and pick grapes in uni holidays to save some cash so this would probably be the field i'd pick up some work

So i'll probably go down this path, as its usually cash in hand and there is now real problem in working 2-3weeks then p*ssing off

[Inside]

In terms of a Budget, i have enough to easily live for 6 months, and im confident i can stretch it to 8months with living on the cheap


So basically if i want to stay for 12months i have to work to have the money for the extra 4

[Inside]

We'll my mate officially dropped out today................so im going solo, booking in the next couple of days.

In 2 months i should be in london, woot woot