Question:
Hi peeps, am just writing for much needed advice about travelling alone. I'm 22 and have 9 months between June2004 and March 2005 to go travelling before i join the scary grown up world of work. My problem is that most of my friends appear to be settling already and I guess I'll probably be attempting the trip alone. I havent exactly travelled further than Europe before, although I want to see as much of the world as possible. As much as my heart tells me to just go for it, my head keeps throwing worries (like WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING!) into the equation. I was wondering if anyone had any advice about safety, how easy it is to meet others etc etc..I have visions of being befriended and then accosted by dodgy characters!

Choices:
Thanks

 

I've traveled alone extensively, and it has many things to recommend it. First, most people will be likelier to strike up a conversation with a solo traveler than they would if you weren't alone. Second, when I travel alone, I am not distracted by someone else's reactions, and I've learned to trust my own intuition about whether or not a given situation feels comfortable or possibly dangerous. Trust your instincts!

I would never advise carrying large amounts of cash, particularly US currency. Use a credit card at ATMs to get small amounts of the local currencies.

Bon voyage!

Am arriving in Bangkok on the 6th July, also on my own and quiet terrified.
Don't know where you are planning to go, but if you want to meet up, I'm more than happy for us to tag around together till we get our bearings.
jemayres@yahoo.co.uk
*Jem*
ps peace and blueskies

Hello again, thank you both of you for your replies, unfortunatley jem I think you're arriving this July whereas in my ridiculous pre-planning way my travelling wont take place till next July, Thanks anyway though! I hope you have a brilliant time, let us know how it goes, any tips would be hugely appreciated!

Kelly

hi there, just wanted to say that I started backpacking a month ago solo... thai cambodia and now ending vietnam heading for laos..
Wanted to tell u that, I was never REALLY alone.
I met two girls at the cambodia border and we traveled together for 2 wks.Do tours, u meet people on your buses.
Also my corner one liner is this : uve already completed the harded part, by commiting to doing it solo. Remember to be confident, and i always do my best to "make it look easy"... easy with my big travel guide haha. Smile, people will respond..good luck!

I am a middle-aged person. In my experience the only probl. with starting, carrying on alone is self-confidence and morale:once you have overcome those you are bound to meet others.You depart alone but never stay alone. That's what I have found out. I think it's the human craving for company...that makes you and others just... meet. I have also expereinced that travelling with your friends (as opposed to solo)is an obstacle to meeting people and perhaps sometimes to seeing more of the places you visit. Just a few thoughts...If your morale is high, just go for it, with the usual necessary precautions known to all women travellers (read books and/or talk to other women or male travellers before going and travel in a "professional" way with the right equipment and attitude and knowledge. Be well prepared and everything will go just fine! Take care!

marionvoyage