First Time- All alone - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

sm803 · 01-30-2005, 09:25 PM

This is my first time on this forum. I have to say, it's great!

So, my trip to Europe (3 weeks from mid-February) was a gift from my parents, but they are putting me in rather nice hotels. I'm not complaining, it's a wonderful gift, but I'll be alone in Spain and then Paris, and I was wondering if anyone had any non-hostel places they could recommend for me to go to to meet other people?

I'll be in Madrid/Barcelona for the Spain part. I'm 22, and lots of fun- if anyone's in the area then

Thanks!

**JiveTurkey** · 01-30-2005, 09:49 PM

A good place to meet people is at the tourist sights.. However, the best way to meet people is at the hostels I'm sorry to say..

You will meet people, and I'm sure you will have a blast!

Good luck!

**omisan** · 01-31-2005, 10:11 AM

Another way to meet people is to get in on a tour... there are always other solo travelers & groups of young people to hang and make friends with! Also, the more active the tour is, the more likely it is you'll not be hanging out with geriatrics.. bike tours, for example, tend to attract a much younger, hipper crowd than, say, a coach ride visiting various cheesemaking facilities... Bon voyage!

sm803 · 01-31-2005, 02:52 PM

Thanks! That's actually very valuable advice, i didn't even know where to start before I started browsing the forums. I'm okay on my own, but I'm sure it's always more fun with some likeminded folk around.

**pinion** · 01-31-2005, 03:09 PM

I think the best thing you get on with is like a pub crawl or anything with drinking large sums of beer.

Alcohol is always a great way to meet people

sm803 · 01-31-2005, 04:09 PM

Haha, i agree, but being a young girl alone- would it be strange to go to a bar/pub crawl alone.

I'm from NYC, and maybe I'm too used to having a group of friends around, but I think folks would look at you a little funny if you did something like that alone.

Or maybe Im just worrying too much.

Well, I leave day after tomorrow, so I should probably relax a bit

**omisan** · 01-31-2005, 04:41 PM

Are you kidding me? I've done pub crawls alone, and I never had a problem - in fact, it was a great way to make new friends. 'Course, I would forget who the hell they all were the next day...

**bellelass** · 02-02-2005, 03:07 PM

I'm 20, I go alone all the time. Believe me, travelling alone is the best way to go. Seriously. No one thinks its weird if you go on a pub crawl alone. No really, go alone and dont think twice.

**TheWills** · 02-04-2005, 01:44 PM

pub crawls to backpacker bars are key

you walk in alone and I bet you by then end of the night your gonna be hangin with a group that wants to get out of the shitty bar and hit up some megaclubs and stuff, and besides there will be this really cute guy you like and one thing will lead to another......... and you'll be posting a story in the sex while backpacking forum before you know it, infact someone should throw a link down on this thread as I dont know how to do it

**voyd** · 02-04-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bellelass@Feb 2 2005, 05:07 PM
I'm 20, I go alone all the time.* Believe me, travelling alone is the best way to go.* Seriously.* No one thinks its weird if you go on a pub crawl alone.* No really, go alone and dont think twice.

Agreed. In the US, people self-segregate and travel in cliques. There's a lot of social glass walls separating people. But in the EU, people are far more independent and everybody mingles and meets random people all the time, everywhere. It's a completely different scene - and much friendlier. So don't worry about goin' out solo - in fact, relish it!

**omisan** · 02-04-2005, 03:25 PM

Rolling solo is the only way to go...

Ok, actually, I have no friends.

**pinion** · 02-04-2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@Feb 4 2005, 04:25 PM
Ok, actually, I have no friends.*

I was actually really surprised by how many girls were backpacking solo. I met more girls going solo then guys. Actually I think thats why I love backpacking so much, the girls backpacking solo seem alot easier to talk to then the ones in groups.

**urOZm8** · 02-04-2005, 08:05 PM

I went on a pub crawl alone in Berlin and it was a wicked fun time!! I bumped into a couple of the guys I met on the crawl in Prague later by chance and then went drinking with them

ev

Whathahell2001 · 02-07-2005, 07:27 PM

Planning my first trip to Europe and will be traveling alone, where is a good place to look for these pub crawls?

I kinda got an idea where I am going from Spain to Italy up through Germany and on for a month and looking forward to it...any good ideas of bars etc...

**urOZm8** · 02-07-2005, 09:39 PM

^I found out about the crawl through flyers in the hostel. This will be the main marketing campaign to get this one going Im working on here. Any suggestions for other methods?

ev

**kingcrazylegs** · 02-07-2005, 10:51 PM

I'm sure you'll have no real trouble meeting people. If you are courageous enough to talk to people then you will be fine - this has never been difficult for me.

Anyhow, Happy Trails and welcome to Tpunk.