Advice and Support from Thousands of Users Just Like You

Travel Share your experiences, warnings, dream trips and travel questions here.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
followmesky's Avatar

followmesky likes to fly

Pacesetter

Join Date: Dec 2007

Posts: 413

See profile

TravelBarbie wrote :
Dealing with the loneliness is easy...find yourself a local man
j/k...kinda ...that actually can be a fun part of solo travel!

But seriously - there is a kind of loneliness that suddenly creeps in unexpectedly, and can be quite acute. But I have found that it actually creates that need in you to make new friends and new connections. You get over it pretty quick. But it definetly helps if you are someone who can laugh at your own jokes, and be okay with a lot of personal introspection.

I highly recommend the book called "A WOMAN ALONE: Travel Tales From Around the Globe" This book TOTALLY inspired me to take my first solo voyage...and I've been doing it ever since
Thank you all for your feed back!
Now, I know, why you're so hooked on traveling solo.. haha
Sounds like its a liberating experience.
- October 18th, 2009, 01:00 pm
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#21   Reply With Quote
QAKittyCat's Avatar

QAKittyCat is working

Quick Study

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 76

See profile

Yup, I travel solo many a times and find it to be quiet rewarding. I do also let folks know where I'll be going/at/etc...

Lots of work for researching and such but well worth it.
- October 22nd, 2009, 03:49 pm
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#22   Reply With Quote
timeless2's Avatar

timeless2 wants to know which hat to wear next?

Virtuoso

Join Date: Dec 2008

Posts: 3,359

See profile

I have left for travel by myself many times. Conversation with fellow travelers is easy and I don't always initiate. I have met many wonderful people and had great times with men and women that I have 'picked up'. And you don't even have to sleep with them - imagine that.
- October 23rd, 2009, 05:04 am
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#23   Reply With Quote
lululu's Avatar

lululu needs to meet a guy on her own continent.

Newbie

Join Date: Oct 2009

Posts: 41

See profile

I want to give a different opinion about Asia. I have traveled pretty extensively, and even though they are not English speaking countries, any place that gets its money from tourism is going to be filled with people speaking enough English for you to get by. Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India. I've managed to navigate my way through all of them, using English and my rusty high school French (only helped in Cambodia).

Nepal is brilliant for a single woman. There are guest houses where it is very easy to meet people, the streets are safe, the shopping is spectacular, and yo can always join a trek for part of the time, so that you have both the solo traveler and group experiences. (Interesting fact, evidently one in four single women sleeps with a Nepali trekking guide while visiting. I didn't, but the men are beautiful! )

Thailand is another fabulous place to visit. The whole sex trade thing is kind of skeevy, and it's a little disconcerting to see so many older white men with young Thai women, but if you get past that, the art and culture (and food!) are spectacular, and the people are so friendly.

Do you get lonely? Sure. I spent an entire day sobbing in a hotel room in Mumbai because I was lonely and sick and wanted my mom (I was 40 at the time) and then the next day I got up, got into a taxi and had some amazing experiences. It's worth being a little lonely sometimes for the opportunity to see the world.
- October 24th, 2009, 11:29 am
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#24   Reply With Quote
propchick's Avatar

propchick believes life's all about wandering off on tangents.

Quick Study

Join Date: Oct 2009

Posts: 54

See profile

Marlo5678 wrote :
Believe it or not New York city can be good alone if you stay in the Theatre district.
I did two solo trips to NYC, and I totally agree! People are incredibly friendly, especially when they find out you're on your own. Just writing about it brings back the best memories -- the bartender who used the "f-word" when he signed my cast; the South American diplomat who walked with me from the hotel elevator as far as the Greek restaurant where he was meeting his wife; wandering through a street fair. Really, really cool.
- October 28th, 2009, 12:19 am
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#25   Reply With Quote

ADVERTISEMENT

lil_lamb's Avatar

Veteran

Join Date: Dec 2008

Posts: 1,016

See profile

i've traveled alone, as in not solo on a group tour. i like to travel. the cost is what it is. i think the thing to do is arrange your trip so you will have the chance to meet people. volunteer vacations are cool.
- October 28th, 2009, 01:36 am
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#26   Reply With Quote
TravelBarbie's Avatar

TravelBarbie loves loves loves teaching!!!

Quick Study

Join Date: Mar 2009

Posts: 105

See profile

lululu wrote :
I want to give a different opinion about Asia. I have traveled pretty extensively, and even though they are not English speaking countries, any place that gets its money from tourism is going to be filled with people speaking enough English for you to get by. Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India. I've managed to navigate my way through all of them, using English and my rusty high school French (only helped in Cambodia).

Nepal is brilliant for a single woman. There are guest houses where it is very easy to meet people, the streets are safe, the shopping is spectacular, and yo can always join a trek for part of the time, so that you have both the solo traveler and group experiences. (Interesting fact, evidently one in four single women sleeps with a Nepali trekking guide while visiting. I didn't, but the men are beautiful! )

Thailand is another fabulous place to visit. The whole sex trade thing is kind of skeevy, and it's a little disconcerting to see so many older white men with young Thai women, but if you get past that, the art and culture (and food!) are spectacular, and the people are so friendly.

Do you get lonely? Sure. I spent an entire day sobbing in a hotel room in Mumbai because I was lonely and sick and wanted my mom (I was 40 at the time) and then the next day I got up, got into a taxi and had some amazing experiences. It's worth being a little lonely sometimes for the opportunity to see the world.

Its great to hear your perspective ob Nepal! It a place I have been wanted to go, but not sure about the infrastucture for tourism...so now I am excited!!! Maybe that will be my summer solo destination! (And ps...your quote about needing to meet guy on your own continent...LOL!!! Girl I hear you on that one!!!! hahaha!! I currently have an exceptionally dreamy Turkish man, whom I met this past summer, who I wish was on this continent...sigh!!)
- November 1st, 2009, 08:43 am
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#27   Reply With Quote
lululu's Avatar

lululu needs to meet a guy on her own continent.

Newbie

Join Date: Oct 2009

Posts: 41

See profile

TravelBarbie wrote :
Its great to hear your perspective ob Nepal! It a place I have been wanted to go, but not sure about the infrastucture for tourism...so now I am excited!!!
Nepal is SO great! It's been a tourist destination since the 60s, so the Nepalis are really used to dealing with Westerners. The culture and sights are simply amazing--temples, medieval villages, the himalayas!

If you are in Kathmandu, it is really easy to meet people. People post notices on guest house bulletin boards looking for people to trek with, there are tons of great places to eat and drink, the shopping is to DIE for! And you can travel really inexpensively, or splash out and stay at a higher end resort. I love the Kathmandu Guest House (the Beatles stayed there). It's funky and hippie, and rooms cost anywhere between a couple of bucks and a hundred dollars depending on if you want air con and your own bathroom.

But you have to get out of Kathmandu as well, and get up into the mountains. You can fly, get a car and driver, or book a trek and walk through some of the most amazing scenery you can imagine.
- November 2nd, 2009, 11:45 am
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#28   Reply With Quote
kyongmee's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009

Posts: 2

See profile

I agree with most of the posts here and it's great to know I'm not alone in this. I started traveling alone when I was 18. I started slowly, learning to fly alone and meet friends or family in other areas of the country. Then I started meeting friends and family in other countries/continents. I did my first totally alone trip to Miami where it's easy to walk around get the lay of the land. Eating alone was probably the hardest thing I dealt with but it's great once you realize how fun people watching can be. It may help to practice eating alone at home (I've seen that mentioned here before) I met lots of fun new people on my Miami trip and went bar hoping with some cute guys from the UK. It encouraged me to travel alone until I can find the man of my dreams to travel with.

I'm planning a few trips cross country to see the national parks and a back packing trip across Europe the following year.

Small steps to make yourself comfortable with traveling alone or not is the key. I've found that confidence will also ward off any strange looking men that may cause problems.

Enjoy! It's great to be able to do whatever you like, whenever you like!
- November 7th, 2009, 12:09 pm
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#29   Reply With Quote
Wondering_Nomad's Avatar

Wondering_Nomad is off to London for a week....

Quick Study

Join Date: Apr 2009

Posts: 155

See profile

In the last 8 years I have gotten used to travelling alone and actually quite like it now.

It always means that I am completely free to do as I please and I have visited some beautiful countries and met very nice people along the way.
- November 15th, 2009, 09:18 pm
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Share on Facebook

#30   Reply With Quote

ADVERTISEMENT

Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Favorite female singer? eHA_Admin_Lori Music 16 October 24th, 2009 01:24 pm
Female speak Fleuellen Dating 11 October 2nd, 2009 02:39 pm
When can the female begin initiating dates/plans? Checkingin Ask a Dating Expert 14 September 22nd, 2009 02:37 pm
What do women think of men flying solo on a night out? jec30 Dating 56 August 6th, 2009 01:15 am
My Boyfriend is Calling Female Escorts Off the Internet turquoisepink Dating 31 May 16th, 2009 02:48 pm

Latest on our Dating Advice Discussion Boards

“Or get screwed by the government when you work for them.... ” – shoopthedoop

Join the “Gimme some Friday Night Roll Call !!!!” discussion

“It is probably better to not say that you are committment minded. Some women don't know how to take that because it is not what they are used to or it doesn't fit the image of the guy in their ... ” – bigfincat

Join the “She does not want to be with me because I'm "too nice".” discussion

“Online dating is not a fast process. Many, many people will be losers, flakes, and worse. It matters a lot that you learn how to make a good profile and photos, and give it time - while keeping ... ” – D_Lion

Join the “What am I doing wrong?” discussion

“They are: A: Being nice B: Acknowledging you, that they received your close message.” – melcalrrt

Join the “Re-opening a Closed Match” discussion

“I have no idea if I am type A or type B. But whatever, I like girls that are a bit opposite to me though they don't much care for me. Oh wait pretty much no one cares much for me ” – Gr8Guyn2008

Join the “Are you type "A" or "B"? Which works best for you?” discussion

“OK. What I see is maybe your being quiet and shy is working against you. You don't feel comfortable approaching a woman you don't know. Who does, really? I'm sure any man here can tell you ... ” – j0hn8andy

Join the “Dating: Why Age is an Asset” discussion

“That's why I use the "politically correct" can't stand. It weeds out the uber-easily offended... ” – shoopthedoop

Join the “Dating and insecurity” discussion

“ ... And rejection seems to be more the norm, whether you are disabled or not. (Otherwise, why are all us fantastic people still single?) My dating experience has taught me resiliency amidst ... ” – Gr8Guyn2008

Join the “advice/encouragement on dealing with some fears” discussion



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:09 pm.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0