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travelling alone - how & where??

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Comments

  • firrybabe
    firrybabe Posts: 122 Forumite
    you could go to lunch alone somewhere near your home.

    I find sometimes when I am lunching alone it is a good chance to think or flick through a newspaper or book.

    first few times I had lunch alone I thought people would stare, then I realised they really were more interested in their own food.

    As for where to read in the hostels etc read wherever you like ! there's so many different people there which is half the fun. also it can be a good ice breaker

    In Chile last year I randomly met my next door neighbour's best friend who I'd never met before ! Small world.

    I am planning my first holiday alone later this year. I've flown alone long haul a couple of times but this will be the first time I'll be hostelling it alone. Am looking forward to it as can plan my own routes and do my own thing at my pace.

    Good luck with your trips
  • gwernybwch
    gwernybwch Posts: 214 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just to underline all the messages of support – go for it!! I’m 35 and are planning a big trip on my own this summer.

    I’m not sure that I would go to Amsterdam as the first travelling trip though.
    I spent a night in Amsterdam on my own, it seemed more like a stag-do city than a place that single travellers went and have to admit that I felt a bit conscious of the connotations of a lone male being in a city that is best known for it’s red light district!
    If you fancy Benelux, I would go for Bruges. I went there last summer and stopped at a hostel called “Charlie Rockets” (I think), lots of friendly fellow travellers there.

    An alternative might be Italy – going to Florence, Rome and Naples – it seems that these are popular destinations for independent travellers.

    I would agree with others – Australia or New Zealand – the countries are very well set-up for backpackers.

    As for eating alone – I would try and pick hostels with communal cooking facilities. When you are cooking in the same kitchen with others, it is a good chance to start chatting to others and then you just join each other when you have cooked your meals.

    Good luck and enjoy your travels!!
  • black-saturn
    black-saturn Posts: 13,937 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Amsterdam isnt just a red light district. The Red Light District only stretches for about 3 or 4 streets. There are hundreds more streets full of shops, cafes, museums, galleries and bars. You actually have to look for the Red Light District to find it and even when you get there it's only full of tourists having a laugh at the women in the windows. Just make sure you pick a nice hotel or B&B and everything will be fine.
    2008 Comping Challenge
    Won so far - £3010 Needed - £230
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  • Bathsheba
    Bathsheba Posts: 152 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have a look at www.skyros.co.uk - holidays in Greece (plus Thailand and Cuba). They're not cheap, but are fabulous for people travelling on their own (and in fact as they're full board, once you've paid up front, all you really need is beer/wine money). They offer a range of courses/workshops on all sorts of different topics - you can do as much or as little as you want, or just lie on the beach! A great way to spend a relaxing holiday, learn something new (if you want) and make new friends (sounds corny, but it's true!).
  • SallyD
    SallyD Posts: 1,009 Forumite
    Uniform Washer
    I have never looked back travelling on my own. First trip was a Nile Cruise - what a wonderful way to begin my solo travel. Second trip was an Explore 30 days trip to Egypt and the Sinai - wow.Third trip was a week in Austria - cheap and cheerful, accommodation allocated on arrival, daily walking trips on the mountains starting from the Tourist Information Office - heaps of people from all over the world.......by now I had really got the travelling bug. Started staying in the International Youth Hostels,Venice,Rome,Florence,Ischia,Naples,Milan,Paris,Stockholm,Ireland, Berlin,Lille.St.Malo to name but a few.

    Met some wonderful people along the way and correspond regularly via email. Just back from Israel where I joined a pal I first met in the Florence hostel a few years back.We have met up in France a couple of times and this year I visited her at home in Haifa and we travelled down to Ein Gedi and Jerusalem staying at youth hostels.

    Now, as to eating alone - in the Youth Hostels you never do. Most offer an evening meal. Not a la carte, but generally okay. You will never be short of conversation.

    There are also YMCA's and church guesthouses ( can sometimes be expensive) and there is also University Halls of Residence that let rooms in the summer.

    Now, I started travelling at 42, I am now 54 if I had not made that first trip I would still be sitting here just thinking about it............just DO IT. If it really is unbearable, you just get the next flight home.
    SallyD
  • Jay-Jay_4
    Jay-Jay_4 Posts: 7,351 Forumite
    What an inspiring post Sally! :T

    I bet you've got a few stories to tell from your travels :wink:
    Just run, run and keep on running!

  • black-saturn
    black-saturn Posts: 13,937 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What a brilliant post. Makes me want to get up and go now. Oh hold on I can't, I forgot about the kids :rolleyes:
    2008 Comping Challenge
    Won so far - £3010 Needed - £230
    Debt free since Oct 2004
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