Female Solo?? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

halcyonrx · 03-29-2006, 06:52 PM

Basically I feel like I am repeating what other people have said, but I need reassurance! I am going solo to London, Spain, Italy & Paris for a month (26 yo). I am really nervous about doing it alone since I am kinda shy & don't want to be really lonely. I am debating if I should do a Contiki tour half the time or if I should just do the alone thing? Any suggestions? Thanks!

**space virgin** · 03-29-2006, 07:12 PM

Even if you're really shy and worried about it, I wouldn't do the Contiki tour... believe me, you will have more fun by yourself!!

Unless you're, say, pathologically shy and incapable of responding to human interaction-- which I doubt-- you'll be dragged out of your shell and partying in no time. You'll probably be so NOT LONELY that you'll want some time to yourself, haha. The secret? Staying in hostels and making friends with other travelers.

Hang out in the common room, someone is almost certain to say hi-- and let if flow from there! I highly recommend going by yourself. The freedom and sense of accomplishment you'll gain, especially considering the fact that you're shy and this would be a huge step for you, is an incredible feeling that you'll carry with you for the rest of your life.

On the other hand, try to get OUT of the hostel and see what everyday life is like in the places you're visiting. It's pretty easy to get sucked into the whirlwind friendships & partying that hostels provide, but you can also make some good travel buddies out of it as well.

Seriously. Do it.

nemesis331 · 03-29-2006, 07:34 PM

go by yourself. you'll be fine. and if you need any help along the way thats what TP is for.

try to make meet-ups so u can run into familiars but i'm sure your gonna end up meeting so many people on your travels

good luck. you can do it

**LostFarmboy** · 03-29-2006, 08:05 PM

You'll be right mate. I agree with SV, i say avoid the contiki tour and just go it alone. I can absolutely guarantee you wont be lonely, you may be setting off solo but you will get no time to yourself, you'll make a heap of friends as soon as you check into your first hostel.

Have fun!!

**simply_angelic** · 03-30-2006, 09:41 AM

I agree I agree I agree. Go solo babe, you wont regret it!

**tumblezweedz** · 04-02-2006, 06:42 AM

Going alone is awesome, but here's a tip I learned from experience. Always take along a book, postcards and pen, newspaper or magazine to give you something to do at restaurants and cafes if you happen to be eating alone. Sometimes a woman sitting alone at a table attracts uhmmm, unwanted attention. (Maybe guys too, I'm just speaking from my experience.) When you have something to do with your hands and eyes, it's easier to ignore, and makes you feel a little less uncomfortable. You can still people watch from cafe tables and take in what's going on around you, but it gives you something to do if things get quiet or you get bored.

I was 22/23 when I went the first time, and while not terribly shy was not very comfortable with the whole thing. But I learned so much about myself and what I could do (and couldn't do!) that I would highly recommend it to anyone. Even my own daughters ... in quite a few years.

supermitaines · 04-05-2006, 09:07 AM

I fully understand for a lengthy trip (in my book, a month is a long time) that going alone can be fun, but I'm also freaking out since I'm going to Dublin alone but for 2 weeks. I really don't want to end up alone...

any suggestions?

**tumblezweedz** · 04-05-2006, 11:30 PM

If you're staying at hostels, you have to work remarkably hard NOT to meet people - just hang out in the lounge a while and say hello to whomever is there - you'll have somebody to talk to in no time.

Places to meet people: hostels (easiest to start with), trains, cafes, queues, museums, strolling down the street, parks, tourist attractions, train stations, pubs... really, you won't have any trouble, and will have a great time.

annielee22 · 04-06-2006, 12:29 AM

totally understand where you are coming from, i'm 21 and i leave in a month and i'm travelling for a month by myself, i'm freaked too. I'm also excited, it'll give me a chance to really see what i'm all about.

**PlayPal** · 04-06-2006, 07:22 AM

Being nervous is half the point. It means that you're REALLY stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself, which is HUGE! Going by yourself, you will be nervous and maybe uncomfortable at first, but then you will meet a few people (which will happen remarkably quickly, if you're at a good hostel) and relax. Then you will wake up one morning, completely at ease, and think, "well damn, here I am completely on my own, and I can do WHATEVER I want today. That's what going by yourself allows. If you want to hang out with people, it's by choice, not be obligation. On the other hand, if you want to sit in front of a pond all day, pondering the intracacies of life, you can do that too, with nobody complaining that they wanted to see the collosseum that day. Enjoy.

**PlayPal** · 04-06-2006, 07:22 AM

yeah, I can't spell.

PHAT MATT · 08-06-2006, 06:56 PM

I hope to have all my money saved up by the end of the year and making arrangements to start traveling in early March and stay about 1-2 months.... I am probably going it alone as no one I know is as ambitious as me to just work their ass off for 4 months, save a ton of money, and then just drop everything to backpack through Europe for 2 months. I am putting off my plans to buy a car so I can make this happen. I too am nervous about going it alone but I am sure I will meet awesome people on here between now and then as well as in my travels when I get over there. I am so psyched and hope everything works out so I can do this when I want!

I think everyone is right, going it alone might be odd at first but once you meet others and let loose it will be great fun!

DiannaMarie · 08-07-2006, 02:41 PM

(eek! first post! guess my lurking days are now official behind me, huh?

)

I have some concerns about overnight train travel. I've been told that in certain parts of eastern europe it's not very safe for a solo female. I don't really want to shell out more cash for private sleepers, but I'd rather spend the money than comprimise my safety or my good time traveling. Any thoughts? This trip will be my first time to europe (Whee!), and I'm planning on leaving in mid- April (these are the early planning stages).

**tumblezweedz** · 08-07-2006, 03:14 PM

By whom have you been told this, and regarding which countries? Have the people warning you actually ever been there? I had been told similar things, but didn't have any problems. In fact, I felt rather more comfortable taking overnight trains in Eastern than in Western Europe. But I didn't go everywhere.

The good news about sleepers in eastern Europe is that they're pretty cheap - and when you consider that you'd be spending a night in a hostel anyway, it's not like you're paying extra. I mostly just rode in the regular compartments (no extra fee). There was generally a large, grandmotherly type in the car who became the self-appointed guardian of the rest of us, one lady memorably invited me to rest my head on her ample shoulder and sleep a while. On the other side of the compartment, the skinny, uniformed army guy put his stocking feet up on my seat and I got lots of giggles from the other riders by pretending to tickle his toes.

In Spain and Morocco I booked sleeping compartments for little $$ and extra piece of mind. I guess bad things can happen on the night trains, but that hasn't been my experience - on trains through the former Soviet Union, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain or Morocco. Put your valuables under your pillow or tucked inside your shirt/slacks while you sleep and you will probably notice if anyone tries to get at them.

And WELCOME to the boards!

DiannaMarie · 08-08-2006, 12:41 AM

Thanks, Tumblezweedz!

To clarify a bit: I'm planning on Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Slovak Rep., Romania, Czech Rep., Austria, Belgium, Britain, and Ireland (Whew! It'll be a busy couple of months!). I'll be spending extensive time in Ireland (attending school), and in the Czech Rep. (a research grant from my university at home to write on the Velvet Revolution).

Any tips at all for a solo gal in these countries would be GREATLY appreciated! I don't want to spend my entire trip in libraries and classrooms!

**tumblezweedz** · 08-08-2006, 01:15 PM

Be sure to post some questions in the country/region specific forums, so that people who skip this topic see them - a lot of tpunks know these countries well and have zillions of tips and favourites.

Portugal: haven't been, seek advice elsewhere!

Spain: most of our visits have been in the south - Andalusia - and we loved it. Sevilla is beautiful, and pretty well anywhere on the coast is nice. I also liked Segovia. Madrid, uh, it's fine but I'd head elsewhere after a couple of days. Still haven't made it to Granada, but it's on my must-see list.

France: Paris, obviously. There's too much to ramble on about, if you ask more specific questions you'll get better advice. Also, Mt. St. Michel is quite unique, and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. It's hard on a tight schedule, but worth getting out of the cities and into smaller communities to get a sense of how real people live. I enjoyed my couple of days in sleepy little Pontorson. Colmar is another pretty little town.

Italy: we've been to Venice - talk about unique - and if you can, get accommodations in the city so you can wander about late at night or early in the morning, the city is completely different and utterly charming. Also, Milan (I wouldn't bother on a tight schedule), Naples which I liked though my husband didn't as much. The walk up Vesuvius gave us great perspective when we visited Pompeii later in the afternoon. Rome, well, you can't go wrong, can you?

Germany: we've lived here for nearly a year and barely explored a fraction of it. So much variety, it really depends on where you go and what you want to see. I've really only transited through Berlin, so don't have much to contribute about it. The north and east is totally different from the south and west, though - if you've time to check out different regions, it'll give you a broader idea of the nation. Again, getting out of the cities is a plus if you can swing it.

Hungary: we went for 6 days, with the intention of getting into the countryside/beaches a bit, but had such a great time exploring Budapest that we never left the city. What a fascinating mix of cultures there - even the churches are quite distinct from those you'd see in the surrounding countries. And I was fascinated by the villages full of little square houses we saw from the train. Beergal's the expert on Hungary, as she lived there for a while.

Slovakia: of the two days we were there, I spent one laid up in bed, sick as a dog (I blame Salzburg, not Bratislava), so I didn't get a terribly comprehensive picture of the place. We visited the castle and the lovely blue church, and were generally delighted by the friendly people. Despite feeling rotten, I have fond memories of our quick visit, so it must be quite a pleasant place, mustn't it? Generally, three days is the minimum you need to get a sense of a largish city, but Bratislava might be one capital where you can cut down without missing too much. Obviously, it's nice to stay longer, but if you're pressed for time, two days would probably give you a decent flavour. I'd love to have visited the mountains in Slovakia, they look gorgeous, but that opportunity did not arise.

Romania: my husband's there now, but I haven't heard his impressions yet. On a previous trip he visited the old palace in Bucharesti, which he said was absolutely overwhelming. Atchoum has spent a fair bit of time in Romania and can give you tons of tips.

Czech Rep: Prague's on nearly every wish list these days, and it's worth it, but it's also pretty crowded. There are a couple of tpunks living in Prague at the moment, I believe, so check the eastern Europe forum, track 'em down and get the insider information.

Incidentally, for Hungary, Czech, Slovakia and possibly Romania, check out www.inyourpocket.com, indispensible guide books for a great many locations, mostly in eastern Europe. The online version is just a taste of the hard copy, which is cheaper to buy when you arrive in country - usually they're roughly the equivalent of $3 in the local currency. They're printed every two months, generally, so they're much more current than guide books can be, and they're much much much more extensive, particularly in covering eateries and bars/clubs, etc. In our experience (we lived in and traveled throughout eastern Europe for two years) if the restaurant reviews are scathing, they are to be believed! You can usually buy the guide books at train station newsstands/kiosks right when you arrive, or you can pick them up at larger bookstores or tourist information offices. The only place we couldn't find a copy (though there is one) was Bratislava. Since you're going to be in Czech for a longer period, you'll probably find the in your pocket enormously helpful, but we got them for every city that had them, and they were all well thumbed.

Austria: we visited Vienna, Salzburg and a tiny alpine village called Grobming, and liked the latter best of all. Once again, this is a great country to get away from the cities in. We extended our stay in Grobming, in part due to medical necessity (my son this time), but mostly because we fell in love with the peaceful pace of the place.

Belgium: just got back from nearly a week there, and we really enjoyed it. We stayed with my cousins near Waterloo, so drove past the Lion's Mound nearly every day. We didn't actually visit it, though I did several years ago on my first visit. If you're a Napoleonic history buff, it's well worth seeing, otherwise it's a little, um, flat. Brussels itself was great fun, and we also got out to the seaside resort of Oostend and an open air museum near Hasselt. I went to Bruges several years ago, it's a beautiful city, but also a bit crowded. I went into more detail in the "Breakfast in Belgium" thread in the Departing forum if you want to get more specific ideas.

Britain: well, there's barely enough there to do for three or four lifetimes, so I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something! I've been a few times, but there are lots of Brits aboard, so I'll defer to their advice.

Ireland: never been, but again, there's good representation from the Emerald Isle around here, so if you ask for specifics you'll be bombarded.

Check out the Travel Stories and Where Ya Going forums to get more ideas about things to do and see along your route, and feel free to ask questions as often as they occur to you.

DiannaMarie · 08-08-2006, 01:41 PM

Thank You!

hegartyc · 09-22-2006, 10:29 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(halcyonrx @ Mar 29 2006, 10:52 PM) [snapback]109560[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Basically I feel like I am repeating what other people have said, but I need reassurance! I am going solo to London, Spain, Italy & Paris for a month (26 yo). I am really nervous about doing it alone since I am kinda shy & don't want to be really lonely. I am debating if I should do a Contiki tour half the time or if I should just do the alone thing? Any suggestions? Thanks!
[/b]

Although you might be scared about going alone, that is the best way to travel on the Contiki. You already have the confidence to book the trip, so now all you have to do is prepare for an unbelieveable journey. The people you will meet on your trip are all there for the same reasons you are, and then you will have around 50 other different people to experience the new places and cultures with.

I went alone on a Contiki with 45 other people. I can't even explain all the fun I had. Sure it was scary at first, but the minute I met the first person I felt at ease because of their excitement for the trip too!

If you want to... check out my blog on my trip and reassure yourself that you will have fun and bring so many memories back to share that your friends will be sick of hearing you talk about it so much!!

http://katedoescontiki.blogspot.com

Ambs · 10-02-2006, 08:16 PM

i can ever see myself traveling with another person. solo girl is the way to go!

rachael9 · 10-11-2006, 05:01 PM

I'm probably the shyest person you'll ever meet and I did a Contiki alone and loved it! The people were so much fun and it gave me a little structure, so I wasn't aimlessly wandering around Europe trying to figure out what to see. I'd say start off with a Contiki, then you'll know what you like and can venture out more on your own later.