girl travelling solo tips!

duchy

There's a lot to be said for travelling solo.
You can see more as you don't spend time waiting for others or compromising on plans. If you want to change plans because you come across something more interesting enroute - again you can just change your plans.
You *do* need to like your own company ....although people tend to be friendlier (both locals and other holidaymakers and will start casual converations with a sole traveller more readily than a couple in many cases.

In most of Europe personal safety for a lone woman is no different to the UK. Most places are safe but certain areas aren't and don't wear a load of jewelry or other conspicuous displays of wealth. If you are self aware here -you'll be the same abroad.

SavingPennies_2

symphonies wrote: »

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

You sounds like you like the same things as me, and Venice ticks all the boxes! Yes I'm biased as I've been several times and love it, but is loads of culture and if you fancy a day on the beach you can pop to Lido on the water bus. It also feels like a safe place to be, even at night there are plenty of other tourists milling about and eating/ drinking outside the cafes and restaurants and I don't think you would feel out of place on your own.

Only word of warning, October the weather might not be so good, it will be cooler and there's a likelyhood of rain.

You mention going to the beach but in October that will rule out a lot of Europe as it wont be warm enough for sunbathing...

Blue264

Firstly, I book business travel, and send single women all over the world as part of their jobs, so once you've done this a couple of times, you can go almost anywhere. It's just a matter of building your self confidence and awareness. The vast majority of hotels will only put a single female guest in a room on an upper floor and where they have to pass reception to access it. If anyone tries to offer you a ground floor room, refuse it.

When I was single, I always headed for comedy club or night time city walk / ghost walk in the evening as they're group activities.

symphonies wrote: »

I think I'll probably only have a rucksack, a wheely-draggy case and a long strapped bag that I'll wear cross body with the zip on the inside!

For my next trip, I'm definitely getting one of these..

http://www.highspiritbags.com/

I always use cross body bags, but really like the idea behind these backpacks. Just what I've been looking for for years.

I definitely need to make sure my hotels are close to main attractions as it's much easier to walk than take a taxi. I suppose it's especially true in foreign places where you can't tell whether a taxi is licensed or not.

Depends where you go. I've just got back from Rome and Barcelona and only saw licensed cabs because they have very distinctive livery. In Greece, the best way is to only get a c ab from a licensed stand and where the drivers are often talking together in a group. They soon sniff out a rogue cab driver and get the police on them.

Hostels in Europe are a great way of meeting other travellers and getting advice. Barcelona has some of the best hostels in the World. I'd also look at family run B&B places where the staff are more likely to notice if you're late back and care about you, without interfering.

Just to give you an idea, I stayed in this B&B with my OH last summer, and would be more than happy to stay there on my own, because you're on first name terms with the family right from the off, and they were always happy to give any help and advice.

http://www.filoxenia-hotel-tholos.gr/

The Med has thousands of places like this where the B&B is big enough to have everything you need, but small enough to care how you are. It's the brilliant balance of being free all day, but going back at night to a home cooked meal and a good chat on how your day has been.

duchy

I wouldn't travel with three bags solo - I'd stick to a small wheel case plus a day rucksack ......but I like to stay unencumbered

MasterPoo

Blue I love that bag! Thanks for sharing.....off to purchase!

SavingPennies_2

"I'll probably only have a rucksack, a wheely-draggy case and a long strapped bag"

duchy wrote: »

I wouldn't travel with three bags solo - I'd stick to a small wheel case plus a day rucksack ......but I like to stay unencumbered

I agree carrying 3 bags for a weeks holiday is way too much, think about the hassle of getting on and off public transport, or if you need to go to the loo, walking through busy tourist areas...it's all so much harder with lots of bags, and easier to forget or lose things. I always travel as light as possible, even more so if I'm on my own. Id aim for one bag (rucksack or wheely case) then one smaller bag which ideally you should be able to fit into the bigger bag when necessary.

Doshwaster

SavingPennies wrote: »

I agree carrying 3 bags for a weeks holiday is way too much, think about the hassle of getting on and off public transport, or if you need to go to the loo, walking through busy tourist areas...it's all so much harder with lots of bags, and easier to forget or lose things. I always travel as light as possible, even more so if I'm on my own. Id aim for one bag (rucksack or wheely case) then one smaller bag which ideally you should be able to fit into the bigger bag when necessary.

Learning to travel light is one of the most important travel skills - and especially so when you are going solo. I'm always amazed to see some people travelling with backpacks bigger than they are.

In Europe, most hostels will have self-service laundry facilities. In Asia you can get some to do it for you for pennies. In Thailand or Vietnam I can do 2 weeks on 10 Kg.

Choose clothes which are versatile, hard-wearing, dry quickly and need the minimum amount of care. That's easier done if you are a man but I'm sure the women around here will have some tips too.

Blue264

Doshwaster wrote: »

Learning to travel light is one of the most important travel skills - and especially so when you are going solo. I'm always amazed to see some people travelling with backpacks bigger than they are.

:T:T:T

I travelled with one checked in suitcase between two of us last week for the first time in 18yrs and never again! We usually only take hand luggage and do one wash whilst we're away if needed, but thought we would need a bigger case with taking jumpers, hiking boots and jackets this time. I'd honestly forgotten the amount of hassle it is.

Yolina

Doshwaster wrote: »

Learning to travel light is one of the most important travel skills - and especially so when you are going solo. [...]
Choose clothes which are versatile, hard-wearing, dry quickly and need the minimum amount of care. That's easier done if you are a man but I'm sure the women around here will have some tips too.

I went to St. Moritz for a week in January (not for skiing though but obviously needed to bring the warm winter stuff) and had everything I needed packed in a bag smaller than the allowed hand luggage size, plus a small rucksack-type for my laptop/ Kindle/ munchies etc so some of us girls can travel light too

Andypandyboy

I would say Venice is the ideal destination. Very safe and great for wandering. Lots of nice hotels for all budgets. Easy to get around either on foot or by water bus. Loads to see and do. You can pre book a lot of the sites. Viator have some good tours, the Ghost tour is good.