Inexperianced overseas traveller in need of suggestions...

ZELDARINO

Hi,
Long time lurker, mostly reading the savings forum, but noticed the holiday forum and thought it could supply some friendly advice!
I'm a 29 year old male with a full time job but with annual leave upcoming, I'm able to travel betweeen Sept 11th and Sept 23rd.
Over the last few years I've visited all the major Uk cities on my own (and a few less than major ones too!) but now I'm thinking that it's time to visit overseas. The only thing sort of stopping me is that I've never actually been out of the Uk on holiday before! I have a passport, have done since 2004, but my excuse for not using it is due to other commitments etc I haven't yet used it.
So does anyone have any advice on where they think a good holiday would be for me? I'm not adverse to long haul flights; Hong Kong and New York are places I definately want to visit someday but as a first trip overseas would it be too stressful to visit them with my non-existant experiance?
I have no bad habits and like a bit of culture but after the end of a relationship a month ago, I'd also like to meet some female company while I'm away, if you know what I mean :P (and I'm sure some snarks will say why not Bangkok but a purely sex holiday is not what I'm after. Honest!)
I'm looking to spend less than £1000 on the trip.

zagfles

If you want to meet people then I'd strongly recommend staying in hostels, you are far more likely to meet interesting people who want to socialise than if you stay in hotels. Also far cheaper.

I was going to suggest Australia as there are loads of solo female travellers but you'll need a bit more time and money (at least another week and another £1000).

SE Asia might be doable but with less than 2 weeks you're probably best sticking to Europe, backpakers in Europe are less likely to be solo travellers but still plenty and those travelling in pairs or groups tend to be friendly anyway...

ZELDARINO

Today I also signed up to lonely planet for potential travel companions.
I've had a reply from a young Spanish lady who suggested meeting her in zambia but paranoid that I am, and having recieved a lot of spam emails over the years, I suspect from her badly written messages that it could just be a fake thing. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't feel comfortable with it.
I suppose I should be honest and say there are places I've always wanted to visit and ask specifically about them.
Besides New York and Hong Kong, I like the idea of Spain or Greece, even Paris.
Would those countries be good for a male solo traveller and what parts expecially are recommended?

kizkiz

Meeting in zambia and bad english - 100% scam
Decidewhere to go first
For a first trip abroad i would suggest somewhere english speaking, or where english is very common. Tbh, most big cities you should cope fine with

ZELDARINO

On 04 Aug 17:27, ---- wrote:

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hi

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im marta 28 YEARS from barcelona spain and im loking for travel companion to travel to senegal west africa very nice and save contry it will be posibility to visit the gambia during the trip if you want joing me welcome the program wil be visiting local tribs and natural park and later finishing in the cost to enjoy butyful beaches .waiting for your answerthanks

On 04 Aug 17:58,

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wrote:

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Hi Marta and thank you for your message!Travelling to Senegal actually sounds like an interesting holiday. Have you travelled there before? also Do you have knowledge of where to stay and how to travel there? I am able to travel Sept 11th until Sept 23rd. Would those dates be good for you and how long would the trip be?

On 04 Aug 19:39, p--- wrote:

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hi ---- nice to have your answer .this wil be my segond time to visit senegal because is very nice contry and the pepole are very open and the losts of instresting to se there that is good hotels road are good for travel in the contry side and i al ways keep the contact of the local tour guide who took me by the contry side so no problem . To travel to senegal that is plane living from london to lisboa Portugal and then from lisboa to dakar o may be that is flay from london o from brussel asks travel agent the flight take only 5H 30 M FROM LONDON i thinki hop that you wil make the trip with me en senegal the date wil be good for methanksmarta

On 04 Aug 20:13, ---- wrote:

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So I would meet you in senegal or would we both fly from lisbon or london?

p----i wil fly from barcelona to dakar on the 10 SEPT and we wil met in dakar if i know the day you wil fly from london i wil come to pick you from the airport and start the trip the nex daylet me know if you have the flightregardmarta

I don't think I will take up this particular option

zagfles

It's a bad idea anyway - even in the unlikely event it's not a scam. What if you don't get on, don't like each other etc, will you feel obliged to carry on travelling with them, or they you, will they stop you potentially meeting other people?

Some of the best holidays I've had have been backpacking on my own - meeting different people every day, sometimes travelling with them for a few days then going separate ways...

What about getting a train ticket to Barcelona via Paris, stop in Paris for a few days, maybe somewhere else in France or Spain on the way, then Barcelona for a few nights, maybe back a different route... Not sure how the tickets work these days and whether stop-overs are allowed so you'd need to check. Trains are often a good place to meet people especially couchettes

wallbash

29 and never been abroad , you NEED to broaden your horizons .
Im now over 50 with a family , but

1971 ....... a cruise ! by myself at the tender age of 19 . Strange choice , but I had the money and wanted to travel ( in comfort)Saw Venice . Dubrovnik, Athens , Ephesus and Rhodes

'72 USSR Moscow , Leningrad, Kiev and Odessa

'73 California........... Billy no mates !! that was me. ( I had the money friends did not.)


Ps It was the girls I met on the Cruise who asked me over to San Francisco.

I just hope this , inspires you to plan a holiday and ........... GO!

zagfles

wallbash wrote: »

29 and never been abroad , you NEED to broaden your horizons .
Im now over 50 with a family , but

1971 ....... a cruise ! by myself at the tender age of 19 .

19? Pah!! I started travelling round the UK by train on my own at 11, first trip abroad on my own at 15, though that was just a flight plus train to relatives. Backpacking round France and Germany with a mate at 16, inc sleeping rough as we'd run out of money:o

Strange choice , but I had the money and wanted to travel ( in comfort)Saw Venice . Dubrovnik, Athens , Ephesus and Rhodes

'72 USSR Moscow , Leningrad, Kiev and Odessa

'73 California........... Billy no mates !! that was me. ( I had the money friends did not.)


Ps It was the girls I met on the Cruise who asked me over to San Francisco.

I just hope this , inspires you to plan a holiday and ........... GO!

Yup - go for it, even if you have problems like I did it'll be an experince you won't forget

sillygoose

Last chance for club 18 - 30 before your too old? don't know if its changed or if it still involves organised activities between males and females involving rope, balloons and squirty cream.. :kisses2:

ZELDARINO

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. (Yes, even the hedonistic 18-30 one, even though I'm pretty sure if I went on one of them alone I'd look like an OAP!)
I'm going to think about it and research my options over the next week before comitting to anything (and mse will be used for a lot of research!)