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20 year-old female planning solo Europe trip -- advice??

20 year-old female planning solo Europe trip -- advice??

Old Aug 30th, 2014, 03:46 PM
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20 year-old female planning solo Europe trip -- advice??

Hi Everyone,

This is my first time on these forums, so I apologize in advance if I'm posting this in the wrong place. I actually stumbled upon this site while researching tips for a young woman traveling solo, and I hope that you all will be able to help me!

First off, here's a little background info: I'm a 20 year-old college student who recently studied abroad this summer and who has caught the travel bug. I'm American and reside in the Midwest, and my trip abroad was to Quebec, Canada for a short immersion experience. I absolutely LOVED IT and never wanted the trip to end. I met so many incredible people who were so interesting and so different than the people in my area, and I also learned so much French. This trip was the first time I ever left my state and it was also the longest time I was away from home, so it truly did help get my feet wet.

Basically, I know that people will tell me that I'm young enough to have time to travel the world, but I want to do so NOW and do this trip next summer. I want to do it while I'm young and while I'm not tied down to anything. Ideally, I'd like to visit a few of the central European countries like France and Germany and maybe even Britain and Spain as well. Also, some distant family members reside in Poland, so of course I'd plan on staying there for a bit of time. I have a decent nest egg saved up to travel (about 17k) and have an entire four-month summer during which I can travel, which gives me a good amount of flexibility. Additionally, I actually made a European friend on my Quebec trip and I have the distant family that I mentioned, so I will have people to visit while I'm abroad.

So, I've got the time, money, and passion to do a solo trip to Europe, but I feel like my youth interferes with my goals. I traveled to Quebec with a classmate and so wasn't TRULY on my own, and I feel like that helped me make friends and get around. It's always easier to go at something when another person is by your side, and I worry that I won't be as friendly and open if I'm by myself in a country in which I'm lost and cannot speak the language. I do suffer from anxiety and had an initial problem adjusting to my classes in Quebec, but I distracted myself with friends and activities and eventually got over it.

I've read that hostels are the way to go for young people since they're cheap, flexible, and usually are a great source to make friends, and I think that's the way I'd like to go. However, I really don't know too much about them except for the limited information I gathered from my friends in Quebec, so can anyone elaborate on their booking/staying experiences and pass along any tips?

In general, I feel like this post is all over the place, but I guess what I'd truly appreciate the most is perhaps anecdotes of other young travelers and any tips for someone who is still rather new to traveling. I probably can fit in a few solo trips to other states or Quebec again during my longer school breaks, and I'd assume that would help prepare for this one and would give me a better idea of how to handle such an experience.

I just really want to get out of my boring hometown/state and do something with my life. Also, I'd really like to practice my French again, which I know I could do in France and a few other countries as well. Spending a semester abroad is DEFINITELY a strong possibility (I'm considering a program in France for as early as the fall of 2015), but I feel like taking a solo trip is something that I need to do for myself on personal and emotional levels. My family is very simple and has not done a lot of traveling, so I'm not receiving a lot of support from them and so am turning to other people who are more knowledgeable.

Thank you so much for reading and thanks in advance for any replies!! If I need to provide more information or anything, please let me know!!

- scrabbled
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Old Aug 30th, 2014, 04:05 PM
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It's great that you have the time, money and inclination to travel now - don't waste it! You'll find that traveling solo you'll actually be more open to new experiences and new people than when you have a companion. Since you speak English, and you've already learned some French, you could shake off any travel jitters by starting in the UK and then taking the Eurostar on to France.

You'll find more travelers your age on the Lonely Planet thorntree, so you might want to post there as well. You should also take a look at their guidebooks, plus Rough Guide and Let's Go. For some examples of successful solo travel see http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...collection.cfm

For train travel see seat61.com, for finding cheap flights see skyscanner.net. For booking hostels see hostelbookers.com and hostelworld.com, for booking hotels (sometimes you need a splurge) see booking.com or eurocheapo.com and venere.com. You might also consider couchsurfing.com and airbnb.com.
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Old Aug 30th, 2014, 04:41 PM
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Most of the posters here are of more mature years and not hostel type travelers. Agree tha tyou should look at the Let's Go student guides and the Throntree section of Lonely Planet to get tips from budget travelers you age.

A couple of other points:

As an american you are allowed to stay in Schengen (basically most european countries) only 90 days as a tourist - so that will be the limit of your trip - unless you go to areas outside Schengen - like the UK. With a student visa (and acceptance at an accredited university you can stay longer - but not as a tourist). If you try and are caught (for instance leaving) there can be significant fines and you may be banned from Schengen for a number of years.

The countries you have named are not central europe - except Poland - the rest are western europe.

Can't imagine why anyone would try to discourage you - you're in a perfect position to travel - with both time and money (I usually had one or the other but not both together - time being the problem now). But my first visit at 19 with my BF was 5 weeks of heaven - and I've been back more than 100 times since (although about half of that on business).

Would suggest you do all the research you can now - and schedule the trip to get the best local weather - and go with an open mind and be ready to roll with the punches. (Things will go wrong and mishaps occur - but that is part of the learning process and as long as you keep your common sense you will be fine.)
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Old Aug 30th, 2014, 09:52 PM
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nytraveler and thursdaysd have given you excellent advice.

Might I suggest that you consider seeking out some structured time for part of your trip--an academic course, a volunteer effort, whatever.

For example, if you want to improve your French, there are all types of intensive programs in all parts of France where you could stay for anywhere from a week to months. At the school where we studied in Sancerre, for example, there were quite a few people who were traveling solo. A couple of them decided to travel together after they left the school.

No matter what, good for you for thinking about all of this at your age. Time, money and health rarely coincide, so enjoy.
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Old Aug 30th, 2014, 11:10 PM
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I'll jump in with my 2 cents. I didn't get on to solo travel until fairly recently and I am twice your age! I love the freedom of doing what ever I want and the challenge/fun of making new friends.
I have a number of friends and I met many younger travellers on my trips who were going through Europe with http://www.busabout.com
I think this concept gives people flexibility and also the social aspect of meeting similar travellers. Hostels are also great for finding company and walking tours are also generally very social.

All the advice above is very good and I can't stress enought the benefits of doing your research before you leave.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 06:49 AM
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Pay attention to ONE part of the all the advice above. Join the Lonely Planet Thorntree forum. That is the forum best suited to help you.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 09:32 AM
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There are no specifics hear so my own comments are general by some of the tings you said. One, believe it or not, you will have plenty of time in your life to travel if you want, some young poeple on here seem to think life is over at age 21 or something, I do not understand that.

Secondly, you say your family is simple and I wonder if that means they don't have much money (I know you can be simple and wealthy, simple in having simple tastes and experiences), in which case, I hope you aren't blowing 17K on a trip to Europe while still in college and then going to take out student loans to pay for school. I don't think anyone should spend that kind of money while so young, I think it is irresponsible, unless you are mega-wealthy, a Trump or something. If your family is very wealthy and thinks it fine and don't expect you to pay for anything in your own life (school, clothes, whatever), okay. I travel to Europe every summer and make a very good income and never spend that kind of money on my vacations, and I don't stay in hostels. I don't stay 3 months, of course, but that is a very privileged thing to do, blow that kind of money when so young, if that means you will then have no savings and will expect others to pay for things for you at home. What are you going to do when you graduate, how will you start out without any money?
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 09:43 AM
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What a mean-spirited, over cautious post! And what young people do you think are posting? I'm in my 60s, alas! I say that if you have the money and the time you should go for it. Who knows what might happen next year?
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 09:56 AM
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Christina, what a strange thing to say in answer to this post.

Scrabbled, I live in Europe, my kids are your age, and I can assure you that there are lots of young people your age traveling around Europe, Asia, Australia, all over the world really. Most of them work during the year in order to afford their travels. I can't help you with specifics, but as others have said; go to the Thorntree forum for more information.
And go for it, if you want to travel.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 10:21 AM
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Hi SC,

I wouldn't spend that much money on that long a first trip, especially if I didn't know that France, Germany, Spain and the UK (Not Britain) were in Western Europe.

How well do you speak Polish? How well can you navigate public transportation?

For a first visit I strongly urge you limit the trip to 3 weeks and two countries - eg, the UK and Spain.

Next year do another three weeks.

Then, as a seasoned traveler, you will be far more likely to plan a visit that you will really enjoy.


"No" is "no" in Spanish, "non" in French, "nein" in German, "nyet" in Russian and "nie" in Polish.
"Yes" is accepted everywhere.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 10:23 AM
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PS,

I'm impressed that you have managed to save $17k.

Would you like a mature, well-traveled, older gentleman as your personal guide?

No charge for my services. Just pay my expenses.

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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 10:40 AM
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Quick, scrabbled, take Ira up on it.
AZ
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 10:46 AM
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That's way too much money to spend on a trip for a 20 year old. A cautionary tale: I knew a woman who got divorced and spent all her money on a grand trip to Europe. She ended up sleeping in her car and hanging around the Unitarian Church for hand outs. I'll never forget that!
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 10:47 AM
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journeywoman.com is an excellent travel resource/site for women travelling alone. It is likely that LonelyPlanet is your best info bet, given your age - but there's no such thing as having too much information I don't think, so give JW a look.

Good luck to you!
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 10:59 AM
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A 20 y.o. Who has managed to save 17k is probably smart enough to figure out how to spend it. And just because she has that much doesn't mean she might not spend less. Especially if she's sleeping in hostels and traveling overland.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 11:53 AM
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scrabbled - your original post is well worded and you do a good job of explaining what you want and why you want it. But I have to agree with some of the others that what jumped out at me is how a 20 year old, especially one who has never been out of her home state, could manage to save 17K to spend on a trip. Gotta admit that is very unusual. Not saying you aren't for real, but there are a number of people who like to post on these forums who make up stories and get the generous people on this forum to spend a lot of time trying to give good advice to what turns out to be a troll. So if this is a serious question could you give us a little info on how you managed to save up that much by age 20 and never spend anything to even visit neighboring states, and now you want to spend four months on another continent.

I would advise any first time traveler to another continent to limit themselves to no more than a month or two at most -and split that into two week segments - so maybe four or five cities (or regions). And you should be able to do that for under 10k and that's staying in 3 or 4 star hotels.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 12:39 PM
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Well my DD went with 2 friend a couple of summers ago and spent $8K in about 6 weeks - plus airfare. Her university was covered in large part my scholarship and expenses by a small inheritance from one of her grandfathers. So spending on travel wasn't taking away from her education.

As for hanging onto all of her cash, we don't know her circumstances and at 20 she needs to make those decisions. She may well have scholarships or other resources. Of course I don;t recommend that she spends assets down to zero - but I traveled a lot when younger and now think of all I saw and enjoyed - not all that it cost.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 12:50 PM
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It amazes me how small minded and how narrow a view point some people have.

Just because you couldn't save $17k by age 20 or spend it on travel, doesn't mean everyone is like you. What a bunch of old ladies this forum has.

Go to Thorntree, forget anything else you read here scrabbled. As you can see, most are old farts without a clue about anyone that isn't like themselves.

If you want to go on a cruise with the grey hair crowd, this is the place to ask questions. If you want to bum around Europe for a summer with a backpack, this is the LAST place to ask questions.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 12:58 PM
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I think travel is in itself a wonderful educational experience.

You could also consider another study abroad trip next summer if you wanted a partially scheduled experience and could combine this with venturing out on your own before and after the formal education part. My daughter had a wonderful time doing a summer program in Cambridge and my son loved his program in France.
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Old Aug 31st, 2014, 05:58 PM
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Thank you all very much for the replies and information! I will definitely check out all the links and sites and do my research.

And now to clarify a few things:

Ah, yes, of course it's Western Europe. To be honest, I was really tired and I think I was trying to get at visiting the more centrally parts of Western Europe, so it just came to me as "central." Sorry about that! I promise that I'm not one of those completely clueless traveler-wanna-bes

And as far as my "wealth" goes, I'd be glad to elaborate as I'm sure it'd help offer perspective. I currently live at home with my parents and commute to school while receiving a full-ride scholarship. I also receive federal grants to help pay for books and such since my family indeed doesn't have a WHOLE lot of money, and I also have 2 jobs and babysit on the side. All in all, I've spent all my previous summers working and saving and have finally reached a point of comfort (for now). I did spend a couple grand on my Quebec trip, but I'd been saving for that and could budget it appropriately.

Of course I don't wish to spend ALL of my money on a trip (that would indeed be foolish), but I mentioned the overall sum to show how I definitely have extra money to spare and that I don't have to worry about anything in my immediate financial future (knock on wood).

And I like the idea of doing another short-term study abroad trip. That's what I did this past summer, after all. There actually are only one or two week programs? Whenever I looked up programs, I usually only found 3 or 4 week ones. I'll have to give it another look!

And yes, you all are probably right in that I should limit my first trip to only a couple of countries. The UK would be ideal since I speak English and France would work since I can speak French fairly well, but I worry about meeting up with my family in Poland... I did some train and flight checks, and since their part of Poland is isolated from the big cities, it would be take a lot of time and money to make it there from France, which I would probably have to stop at anyway since there aren't any direct flights from my area in the US to Poland.

The more I research, the more I realize how intense and stressful traveling can be. It's like one big challenge to get everything to work!
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