Traveling Alone

[LightBright]

Has anyone ever traveled alone to Europe or Asia? What country did you visit, where did you stay? Do you have any tips for staying safe?

 

[OoohShiny]

I (a male) have travelled to Sweden on my own before IIRC (it was a while ago now!) - just a short trip but I liked the fact that I could just do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted! It is nice to have someone there to share things with, of course, but take a compact camera so you can show people stuff when you get back and focus on experiencing things as you do them instead

It's not like we're ever really alone nowadays anyway - if you have a decent mobile phone contract, it can track your every move across the globe and you can report in regularly!

The other half and I met a single American lady travelling alone when we were in Paris - we booked onto a walking tour that included a lunch with everyone, so we had a chance to talk properly and get to know people. She had been other places as well, I think she was touring Europe!

Don't believe all you see in Taken - the continent is not filled with swarthy eastern european men looking to kidnap single women and sell them on the black market!

Use common sense, set regular check-in times on all-knowing facebook (and 'check in' at places you eat / visit) but set your preferences so only your close friends can see what you're doing, call home every evening, do research before you go, only drink bottled drinks that are opened in front of you or by you personally - all these things should help make any trip safe for anyone.

Bad things can happen anywhere in the world - reference that case of some pig farmer in America that police suspect of murdering 400+ girls IIRC?!? - so don't let fear of bad things stop you from doing what you want to do.

 

[bludiva]

I've traveled solo to London, Paris, Kuala Lumpur and a few other places, usually short trips like a few days before or after a work trip. Usually stay in mid priced hotels or hostels in decent to nice neighborhoods walking distance to lots of things. For staying safe esp as a woman I try to dress so that I blend in or look like a student. I haven't had a lot of trouble...avoiding areas that are too crowded or too quiet esp at night helps. I don't carry a lot of cash, & use ATMs along the way as they're pretty easily accessible anywhere & check in with someone back home every day or two and let them know my itinerary.

 

[September_Blue]

I live in Germany and travel solo a lot. I’m happy to give any suggestions for safe travel, cost saving tricks, etc.

 

[dk168]

Female, early 50s, and I have travelled alone for work and pleasure many a times in Europe and in the Americas.
The last big trip was to LA in 2016, and I booked and arranged everything myself, and was very pleased with it.
For work, I went to Lyon recently and had a blast.
I prefer to plan my itinerary and do the bookings myself.
This way, I feel I am in better control.
Planning is key, and research. Apart from reading up on the glossy side of the destination, it pays to dig out the dirt so as to avoid the rough neighbourhoods and beinf scammed etc...
Good luck!
DK

 

[PunchFromAbove]

I love traveling alone and have just started. I've been to London and Warsaw solo and in June I'm heading for Paris. I'm a man however which makes me a tad less afraid of assults and such, but I never get drunk except from perhaps in the hotel bar or so.
I never stay out to late as it's taking unnecessary risks as I see it, besides I'm sight seeing at the daytime which makes nightlife less interesting.

I'e been many places in the company of others, but never enjoyed trips as much as I've done solo.
A good book to read when you're at restaurants is a good advice to keep loneliness away.

I recommend it, just do it
Solo traveling rocks

 

[MarionC]

I routinely travel solo to France. (70 something female) The key for me is to be totally prepared, know where I am going and how I'm going to get there. Down to the smallest detail, so I use google maps to "walk" from, let's say, the train to the subway. I like to stay in a room in a well reviewed Airbnb so I have a personal contact. Write down or print out everything having to do with your trip, and don't just rely on your phone gps.
Keep it simple, plan just a few things. And don't worry or get stressed. I used to get terrible anxiety if I got lost, now I know people are very helpful and kind. It helps to know at least a phrase or two in the local language to show your goodwill.
And have a wonderful time!

 

[OoohShiny]

I routinely travel solo to France.

France is a mere train ride to the UK - you should come and visit!

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

I routinely travel solo to France. (70 something female) The key for me is to be totally prepared, know where I am going and how I'm going to get there. Down to the smallest detail, so I use google maps to "walk" from, let's say, the train to the subway. I like to stay in a room in a well reviewed Airbnb so I have a personal contact. Write down or print out everything having to do with your trip, and don't just rely on your phone gps.
Keep it simple, plan just a few things. And don't worry or get stressed. I used to get terrible anxiety if I got lost, now I know people are very helpful and kind. It helps to know at least a phrase or two in the local language to show your goodwill.
And have a wonderful time!

This rocks, Jimmianne! If you eve feel like visiting Versailles, I'd love to show you around. If you EVER need any help in France, let me know!

 

[MarionC]

This rocks, Jimmianne! If you eve feel like visiting Versailles, I'd love to show you around. If you EVER need any help in France, let me know!

Wow thanks! That is so kind.
Do you live in the area of Versailles ?
I know we should not give out our location here, so please never mind if you don't want to answer.
I live 3 hours south of Paris part of the year.

 

[MarionC]

France is a mere train ride to the UK - you should come and visit!

Yes!

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Wow thanks! That is so kind.
Do you live in the area of Versailles ?
I know we should not give out our location here, so please never mind if you don't want to answer.
I live 3 hours south of Paris part of the year.

Yes, I do. If you happen to be in the region, let me know!

The greater Paris region is so densely populated that this is no real clue to find me (for anyone who's after my bling).

 

[qubitasaurus]

I go pretty frequently with my husband, but once we reach Europe we typically split up and go to different countries -- we usually have full schedules with lots of work commitments and they don't entirely line up. Sometimes I think I am safer by myself, as my husband is Asian and he gets pick pocketed a lot in certain countries (i.e. multiple times in a single week long trip). When I am by myself I more or less blend in until I open my mouth.

Having said this, whenever I am by myself I split the cash and credit cards up -- so that there is something to fall back on in the hotel safe. I always read the tripadvisor for the hotel thoroughly before hand and am careful to specifically read the low * and ** star ratings individually to see what people were upset about. Also I often come home earlier than I would if I had company.

I can remember a trip I took to brazil 2 years ago. My parents also headed to Brazil at the same time, and connected with me in Rio (I live in a different country to my family, so we met up in Brazil). The tripadvisor had complained that the hotel was stealing people's credit card details (either from the safe or front desk at check in). So I explicitly made sure I left my platinum card at home -- and carried debit and travel cards and quite a bit of cash which I left in the safe. My parents thought I was crazy. When we got home their card was stolen and someone was making transactions on it in South America .

I remember a trip I made with my husband 1.5 years ago to china, and we had a whole asile of the plane to ourselves. Someone shifted to sit next to (1 seat away from) my husband -- who had all his laptops (he travels with 3 laptops and a tablet, all top of the line) pilled ontop of the seat next to him. My husband wanted to look at the lightening storm half way through the trip. When he left the plane he failed to realize he was short a laptop, as well as a few of my things he had borrowed for the flight! A month later he realized his credit card had been stolen by the girl who shifted next to him on the flight and there were multiple fraudulent transactions all in small amounts dispersed over the course of the month.

There are a lot fewer mishaps when I travel by myself! I am a bit slap dash, but I try to check things beforehand, and not do anything too risky. It generally works out.

 

[LaylaR]

Has anyone ever traveled alone to Europe or Asia? What country did you visit, where did you stay? Do you have any tips for staying safe?

It was 20 years ago now (holy moly!) but yes, I traveled alone from Switzerland to Venice by train and stayed in Venice and then went back.

Since I had family in Switzerland I was staying with, they were pretty clear that American tourists have a reputation for rudeness and are easily spotted and then targeted for theft, or being overcharged, or other things. So as a woman traveling alone it was important to blend. My family chose a small hotel for me they had stayed at in Venice that Europeans stay at, not Americans.

I was careful about my documents, wearing a hated fanny pack to keep them close (this is before the EU) and split up my money and cards. I made sure I dressed nicely, wore a little make up and was well groomed over all. That was a big deal. I wore skirts and dresses a lot on that trip (whole trip was 5 weeks), and not short ones, and no jeans or anything sloppy. I knew Spanish and was (back then) conversationally fluent, and I'd been in the Italian part of Switzerland for several weeks with my family, so I picked up Italian pretty quickly and I did my best to speak in Italian and use local currency, etc. People still figured out I was from another country, but most assumed I was Canadian or Australian: as those tourists at that time had a better reputation than American ones for trying to fit in and for being respectful.

And I made some Italian friends on the train that looked out for me: taking me to the stores locals use, helped me negotiate (haggle) for good deals on the items I bought, and pointing out the good restaurants off the tourist path: smaller, family owned places.

It was an immersive experience. I LOVED being on my own schedule and enjoyed just going with the flow of the culture and the area. I was cautious and careful but not overly so and I had a blast. I'd travel by myself there again.

 

[dk168]

I would rather travel on my own than with someone who is not compatible.
It is one of the reasons why I parted with my ex-hubby.
DK