girl travelling solo tips!

symphonies

Hi.

I'm a twentysomething year old who's never travelled alone before. I've been abroad with friends and family however, I'm ashamed to say each time I've let everyone deal with the details (flight bookings, hotel reservations, travel insurance, ect) I've just paid my part and let others handle the rest.

Now, it's come to a point where I feel I really want to go on a holiday by myself. I enjoy my own company and think a little me time is in order.

But I don't know where to start. Do many people (especially females) go on holiday by themselves? Is it easy to book? Does anyone have any tips? I really want to do this but I feel quite overwhelmed (and maybe a little scared) of the choices. And more importantly, if anything were to go wrong on holiday then I would have no one to run to.

Since this will be my first solo holiday, I want to keep it tame! Which means, it needs to be somewhere in Europe. Other things include:

- not France or Germany (been there plenty of times. I want somewhere new.)

- a week. (I'll go for longer next time when I'm more confident.)

- would like to fly from Birmingham airport, if possible. London at a stretch.

- no hostels! :eek:

- budget? nothing more than a £1500.

- type? I like doing the whole cultural thing (museums, historic buildings, ect) however, I wouldn't mind a day at the beach.

- time? Planning to go around October this year.

Any tips/ideas?

Also, what do I do about food? I think I'd feel self conscious eating alone at restaurants. Though strangely, I feel comfortable sipping coffee in cafes! I think it's because the former is so much more formal and you rarely see individuals sitting alone at restaurants.

Also, have you travelled alone? If so where and what was your experience like?

Thanks!

MasterPoo

A girlfriend of mine travels alone all the time! She usually stays in hostels ( apparently they're not as bad as we think, personally I'm not convinced?!?!?!?).

Tips: 1. Stay safe - just because you're on holiday, don't leave common sense at home.
2. Possibly book some planned excursions for your chosen destination?
3. You could do a tour, i.e. with a group of other single travellers? An OAP I know (I know you're only in your 20's) used to go on a SAGA dancing holiday every year by herself, I'm thinking there must be something for your age group? Google is your friend.

You could go to Italy, Rome (Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, etc), Florence, then travel to sea side, other options that could offer you Cultural experience and Beach, Barcelona, Turkey, Greece, Dubai.

Pick a destination, then go onto TripAdvisor, research hotel options, research flight options, decide if you want to go AI/Half Board, use the travel sites to see if pricing it up yourself as opposed to package deal works out cheaper?

Personally I enjoy doing everything myself, it adds to the excitement of the holiday. Package deals, if ATOL/ABTA protected will obviously offer you protection should something go wrong.

Ask questions on the relevant Forums on the Travel sites, e.g. on TripAdvisor if you do decide to go to Rome, there is an entire forum section where you can post your questions etc.?

Read up as much as you can about your destination, and then have a FAB SAFE holiday.

PeacefulWaters

symphonies wrote: »

But I don't know where to start. Do many people (especially females) go on holiday by themselves?

Yes.

Is it easy to book?

Yes.

Does anyone have any tips?

Be flexible. Compare package holidays against DIY. Use the internet to search for flights (Skyscanner), hotels (I use hotels.com a lot others may suggest Expedia, Alpharooms and numerous other options including research on TripAdvisor) and ways to get from airport to hotel (taxi costs, transfers etc).

Consider what you want to see and how to get there from your accommodation.

I really want to do this but I feel quite overwhelmed (and maybe a little scared) of the choices. And more importantly, if anything were to go wrong on holiday then I would have no one to run to.

Serious question. What could go wrong? Get to the airport in good time. Avoid war zones. Carry a credit card to pay for a crisis. Have travel insurance.

- not France or Germany (been there plenty of times. I want somewhere new.)

- a week. (I'll go for longer next time when I'm more confident.)

- would like to fly from Birmingham airport, if possible. London at a stretch.

Malta. Murcia. Barcelona. Greece.

- budget? nothing more than a £1500.

If you can pack light a Ryanair flight from Birmingham to Murcia could be in the region of £50. Avoid school holidays and cheap hotels are available too.

- type? I like doing the whole cultural thing (museums, historic buildings, ect) however, I wouldn't mind a day at the beach.

- time? Planning to go around October this year.

Any tips/ideas?

Google "interesting things in <insert destination or locality> make a list and go for it.

Also, what do I do about food? I think I'd feel self conscious eating alone at restaurants.

Get a burger. Book a self catering apartment near a supermarket. Try a hotel with room service. Eat in a cafe. Numerous options. Just get out and do it!

Though strangely, I feel comfortable sipping coffee in cafes! I think it's because the former is so much more formal and you rarely see individuals sitting alone at restaurants.

Yes you do!

Also, have you travelled alone? If so where and what was your experience like?

I went to Dublin in my early twenties.

They did buses, trains, bars, restaurants, hotels, museums, entertainment and all sorts. You'll find these things across Europe! The only thing that held me back was my own lack of imagination.

Many places you'll find people speaking excellent English. Where they don't, taking the time to speak a few broken words of the local language is usually welcomed and often gets an English response in return (you've been to France ...). In the Czech Republic I discovered pointing and waving with a smile effective too.

Plan it well if you're a nervous type. But very little can go wrong. Post your thoughts here and you'll get ideas, warnings and suggestions too. It helped fine tune an excellent driving holiday around South West USA for me and my family.

No reason why these people can't help you to cover all bases as your ideas evolve.

Money - look into getting a Halifax Clarity Card or similar
Passport
Flights (research on Skyscanner, book direct with airline)
Transfers
Accommodation (research on Trip Adviser)
Attractions
Insurance / EHIC card.

Mike10

I went on my first solo travel (male late 20's) two years ago and haven't looked back since.

Flights; I just used all the budget airlines websites to find the cheapest flights. I've flown with Ryan air numerous times and never had a problem. Just make sure your luggage fits within there requirements if taking it on as handheld.

Accommodation; I didn't stop in hostels but used booking.com and found cheap private rooms always available where I wanted. The rooms basically had a bed in with a wardrobe but that was fine for me.

I went to Rome for 3 days and paid about £180 for return flights from Birmingham and a room in the centre using the above.

The advantage of travelling alone for me is the freedom to do what I want, when I want. Conversely, if things don't go to plan or do go wrong, you do have to rely on yourself to sort them out.

Food/Drink; I generally ate/drank in small cafes but I always found it quite interesting seeing tables of couples who were sat in complete silence anyway.

I've been to Rome, Berlin, Venice, Iceland and Mexico alone and loved every trip. I'm planning on going away at Christmas to Prague, Vienna and Budapest also.

Go for it! If you don't like it, don't do it again. Chances are you will and will spend most your free time planning your next trip.

What have you got to lose really...

Voyager2002

Easy...

Avoid high street travel agents since most of their deals are for couples.

Hostels can actually be really good... also consider Air B n B.

Rather than formal restaurants, there are plenty of places to eat where being alone would not be unusual. In Spain, a tapas bar is an obvious option.

sexyshark

I have recently come back from kracow by myself and loved it, stayed in a hostel just off the main market square, had no issues with it whatsoever, receptionist very helpful, and would go by myself again

Hobsons_Choice

Always carry a book!

rainygreyhound

I travel by myself quite a lot and I love the freedom it gives you. I do sometimes feel a bit awkward dining by myself but that's just me. I'm sure people don't even notice to be honest. There's plenty of reasons to be on your own in a restaurant. As mentioned, I always make sure I've got a book to read whilst waiting. I love Italy so I'd highly recommend Florence!

Doshwaster

Good on you for wanting to travel alone. Why be held back just because your friends dont want to go to the same places you do?

There's a whole world out there to explore but if you have never gone solo before I'd suggest trying a few short breaks in major European cities before getting more adventurous with longer trips to more exotic destinations.

A lot of female solo travellers take a cheap (but fancy looking) ring with them so that they can slip it on to warn off any unwanted personal attention (or take it off it they want to encourage it...)

No matter where you go you will find loads of other independent travellers from all over the world. Just don't be shy in striking up a conversation - most people are happy to chat about where they have been, what their plans are and to share tips. Taking a book/Kindle is always a good backup but don't treat it as your only companion, there are loads of interesting people to meet out there (and a few crazy ones too but they are easy to escape from).

zagfles

Loads of people travel alone and it's probably about 50/50 male/female. I've met hundreds in my travels, check the tripadvisor forums for any place you're interested in and there'll be plenty of trip reports from people who went on their own.

Why rule out hostels? Most have private rooms if you don't want a dorm, and they are brilliant places for solo travellers. Hotels can be lonely places for solo travellers, they are usually full of couples & families, whereas hostels are full of independant travellers, and even those who aren't on their own are far friendlier than people in a typical hotel.

Typical hotel bar people will keep themselves to themselves, typical hostel bar people will get together with strangers for a drink and a chat.

Walking tours are a great way to see a city and meet people when you're travelling alone, they're usually cheap or even sometimes "free" (ie tips only).

Eating alone in a restaurant isn't that uncommon - plenty of business travellers do, you've probably just not noticed it. Especially in pub type places. But you're likely to meet people who are also travelling alone and find someone to go out and eat with (solo female travellers in particular seem to make friends very quickly with other solo female travellers and go do stuff with them for a few days)

totallybored

I'm female and went travelling on my own a couple of summers ago. I'd never done it before but I had a great time. I decided to be very adventurous and went overland through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. It turned out to be much easier that I thought so you'll be fine in Europe!

Things I'd advise are:

Take luggage you can carry, lift, put on public transport easily yourself. I'm used to having hubby do all the carrying for me.

Take a kindle and a smart phone. I found them invaluable for when I was in a bar or restaurant on my own. Both are places you normally go with someone else so they help keep you occupied. I was fine drinking in bars on my own which is something I'd never dream of doing here.

Take a bag that goes across your body to keep valuables in. I love designer bags but they're not practical when travelling on your own.

Book hotels that are walkable to the main sights if you can. I don't mind using public transport in other cities but when you're on your own as a female you don't always want a complex journey back to where you're staying late at night.

Don't feel obliged to talk to other solo travellers if you don't want to! I found loads of people tried to befriend me but you don't have to go for dinner with 55 year old Shiela from Melbourne if you feel the only thing you have in common is speaking English and being female!