Travelling solo

sami_lou33

Hi all. Just after a bit of advice. I'm pretty single and it's looking a great deal like it's going to stay like that...but I want to see a bit more of the world and I don't see why I can't do it on my own?? My last holiday abroad was in 1999! And to be honest, I don't know where to start!! I'm not amazingly wealthy so looking for a reliable, safe and cost effective way to boost my travelling experience. I'm not particularly fussed on where I go(although I do have a wish list) and I'm pretty flexible as to when I can travel etc. Just hoping that someone can steer me in the right direction or give me some hints and tips. Thanks in advance

PeacefulWaters

What are the top three things on your wish list?

Then helping becomes easy!

bylromarha

My friends travels the world alone.

She often goes with organised groups, such as Wendy Wu.

http://www.wendywutours.co.uk/

Lots of companies do trips for singles, and after you've done a few, maybe you'll feel you can go it alone?

Enjoy the research!

paulfarrugia

Read solo travel blogs. There are loads out there and give tons of advice on travelling solo.

BlondBoy

No reason at all why you shouldn't do it alone! Tons of people do. Go for it!

Off the top of my head, I'd say:

1. Decide where you want to go and see if there's a well established 'travellers' trail' there (ie the routes that backpackers usually follow). Plan around that. as you'll likely meet people heading in the same direction - you can travel with them for a bit if you want, or do your own thing. There will be others coming along later if you want a change of crew or want to spend time alone!

2. Stay in hostels, not hotels. Hostels are very sociable places and, if you haven't been in one for a while, aren't anywhere near as grotty as they were. (Well, many aren't.. ;-) )

3. Sharpen up your street smarts. If you wouldn't do something/go somewhere alone while at home, don't do it while you're away. And if you'd be in two minds at home, probably best not to do it alone while travelling, but...

4. Local tour agencies are your friend while you're away. When you rock up in whatever town or city you're in, look around for cheap organised tours/walks etc. You'll meet tons of other people that way - many also travelling alone. Plus it's often cheaper to do it that way and your money goes straight into the local economy.

5. Don't overplan. Have a rough idea where you want to be and when, but don't slavishly stick to it. It's more fun and less pressure being flexible.

6. Lonely Planet/Rough Guides are a pretty good start. Books are out of date the moment they're published but they'll give you some ideas. (ie don't be disappointed if you read about an amazing restaurant and take 5 buses to get there, only to find it closed last year!)

7. Even a little bit of the local language makes a huge difference. If you can get enough 'survival' language to get around, get fed and watered, talk a bit about yourself and find out about others, it makes a huge difference. People are, generally, very kind - and they'll be kinder still if they see you've made an effort with the language.

8. You'll have days when you're tired, lonely and wondering what on earth you're doing. And that's fine. You'll forget those, as the amazing days will more than make up for them. And it's those that will linger in the memory.

Hope that helps. And if anywhere in south/central America or Cuba are on your list, happy to give you some recommendations! (Spent a year travelling there on my own not so long ago).

Best of luck - and carpe diem!

martindow

sami_lou33 wrote: »

I'm pretty single

What does this mean?

You're either single or you aren't I would have thought - it's like pregnancy in that respect.

Or maybe you're pretty and single in which case you probably don't need advice at all.

zagfles

BlondBoy wrote: »

No reason at all why you shouldn't do it alone! Tons of people do. Go for it!

Off the top of my head, I'd say:

1. Decide where you want to go and see if there's a well established 'travellers' trail' there (ie the routes that backpackers usually follow). Plan around that. as you'll likely meet people heading in the same direction - you can travel with them for a bit if you want, or do your own thing. There will be others coming along later if you want a change of crew or want to spend time alone!

2. Stay in hostels, not hotels. Hostels are very sociable places and, if you haven't been in one for a while, aren't anywhere near as grotty as they were. (Well, many aren't.. ;-) )

3. Sharpen up your street smarts. If you wouldn't do something/go somewhere alone while at home, don't do it while you're away. And if you'd be in two minds at home, probably best not to do it alone while travelling, but...

4. Local tour agencies are your friend while you're away. When you rock up in whatever town or city you're in, look around for cheap organised tours/walks etc. You'll meet tons of other people that way - many also travelling alone. Plus it's often cheaper to do it that way and your money goes straight into the local economy.

5. Don't overplan. Have a rough idea where you want to be and when, but don't slavishly stick to it. It's more fun and less pressure being flexible.

6. Lonely Planet/Rough Guides are a pretty good start. Books are out of date the moment they're published but they'll give you some ideas. (ie don't be disappointed if you read about an amazing restaurant and take 5 buses to get there, only to find it closed last year!)

7. Even a little bit of the local language makes a huge difference. If you can get enough 'survival' language to get around, get fed and watered, talk a bit about yourself and find out about others, it makes a huge difference. People are, generally, very kind - and they'll be kinder still if they see you've made an effort with the language.

8. You'll have days when you're tired, lonely and wondering what on earth you're doing. And that's fine. You'll forget those, as the amazing days will more than make up for them. And it's those that will linger in the memory.

Hope that helps. And if anywhere in south/central America or Cuba are on your list, happy to give you some recommendations! (Spent a year travelling there on my own not so long ago).

Best of luck - and carpe diem!

Good advice above, just to add, people often think hostels means sleeping in a dorm, you don't have to, these days most hostels have private rooms sometimes even en-suite if you don't want a dorm.

agrinnall

There are also quite a few threads on here from people asking similar questions which have got a lot of good advice on them.

Doshwaster

Yes, this is a subject which regularly comes up on these pages.

Travelling solo is great - you get to do exactly what you want, where you want and when you want. If you have never done it before then maybe just try a weekend city break to Europe but once you get the taste of it you will be booking expeditions around Asia in no time at all.

I avoid long organised tours and "solo holidays" like the plague but as the excellent advice from BlondBoy above says, short local tours are a brilliant way of meeting people and doing things which would be too expensive or difficult to do solo - but if you do get stuck with bunch of annoying people then you aren't with them long.

rustyboy21

How about doing something that you have always really wanted to do?


I have never been away solo either, but in 4 weeks time, I am off to do a Padi Dive course over in Majorca for a week. OH didn't want to go away due to illness, so agreed I could go by myself.


I have booked all independently. Flights with Easyjet, apartment with Holiday lettings, car hire, etc . I found that booking an apartment worked out cheaper than a hotel, as no single room supplements and ( for me) a place where I can flake out after a heavy day and do what I want, without having to dress up for dinner.


Don't worry, its just getting over the first hurdle of booking it, afterwards you will be waiting for the holiday to come around fast.