konsui

I've been looking into going to Europe this summer. Initially I was planning on going with my older sister who is 21 years old, when she returns from Africa where she's been working this past year, but she recently told me she doesn't think she would be able to afford a trip. This prompted me to look into solo travel, as I am free this entire summer and would like to seize the opportunity to travel.

My main concern is my safety. I have friends that I plan on meeting up with in several countries (France, Finland, Austria, Germany and Hungary) but am worried about how safe I would be while I'm by myself. I plan on staying in hostels rather than hotels, and traveling by train. I've never been out of the country or traveled alone, so I am nervous since it would be a new experience for me.

I would appreciate any advice from those who have traveled alone, female or male! If there is anything that I've left out that would help you give me a better response or better advice, please let me know!

girlonthego

Can you speak any languages besides English? That would be helpful. Keep your main money and documents under your clothes.
As a mom, I would want you to stay in hotels vs hostels, but I am more protective.
You don't have a good friend who can travel with you for even the first leg of your trip?

konsui

I can speak German fluently. I know French, but my knowledge would be described as rudimentary at best.

As of right now, none of my friends would be able to go with me. Because of money issues/they have plans for the summer already, more than anything.

girlonthego

Well knowing German and some French will make traveling solo a lot easier!
Safety is something that is never guaranteed. You have to use your 'city sense' and always be aware of your surroundings.

As a mom of a 19 year old, I would be nervous sending her to europe solo, but each kid is different and if you are someone who has grown up near a large city, then you are probably more worldly than my suburban kids.

just27

Without knowing you, I don't think there is an "answer" to be had. As a 19 year old female, I was all over Europe, by myself, usually staying in youth hostels. If my son had wanted to travel in Europe between (US) high school and college, I wouldn't have been too concerned. Do you usually make (good!) decisions by yourself, or do you call your parents/whoever and ask what to do? You mention that you're planning to meet up with friends in several countries. Perhaps you could arrange your arrival at one of your friend's locations, to get your first feel of a foreign country. If you're independent, and reasonably aware of your surroundings, you likely have the tools for a wonderful summer in Europe. (Same safety rules apply in Europe, as wherever you live now.)

StCirq

Well, it depends on how savvy your are and how well you know how to protect yourself and your belongings, but generally speaking it's a Lot safer than traveling around the USA on your own. Thousands and thousands of young European and other women do this every year, and the horror stories are VERY few and far between. My own daughter started traveling on her own in Europe at 16 and did fine (but she had experience and spoke French).

I don't know about staying in hostels (but I've never even been in one, so am clueless). Part of me thinks it could be safer because there'd be lots of other people your age around to consort with, make friends with, go out with, etc., and part of me thinks probably a fair amount of theft happens at hostels. So I'd choose the hostels carefully. And consider stays at monasteries and convents, where you'd almost certainly be safe.

A lot depends on your confidence and experience, so it's hard for us to tell, but if you were my daughter, I'd encourage you to go, make sure you have the proper lifeline (cell phone/iPad) to communicate back home, and have a ball!

nytraveler

As long as you take basic safety precautions you will be fine.

And those are exactly the same in the USA as abroad:

Always be aware of your surroundings
Always keep you valuables in a safe place
Never let go of your purse or backpack even in a hotel or hostel - unless they are locked in locker
Do NOT ever drink too much - make sure you are sober at all times
Do not accept drinks from strangers and never leave your drink alone anywhere (there are a ton of roofies out there)
You do not HAVE to be nice to strangers - feel perfectly free to ignore them if they approach you (unless you meet in your hostel and know something about them)

If you are 19 assume you are in college and managing your own life - it's really no more complicated in western or central europe than here. However, you should learn basic greetings and "do you speak English" in each of the languages. And you will find almost everyone says yes - or will at least try.

gwan

I was a little older than you - 21/22 - when I first went to Europe alone. Mostly stayed with friends and family in the UK but stayed in a ratty hotel in Paris by myself, and was pretty miserable and lonely. Stay in a hostel where you can meet other like-minded young travellers, and if you follow the general safety rules and common sense outlined, you will be fine. I now love travelling by myself!

PalenQ

Safer over all than traveling in the U.S. or living in on or near campus in any large university town.

Put angst to rest the worst thing you will experience is initial homesickness - for a few days.

Safe for single women, for everybody - lots of younger than thou Europeans traveling around on their own.

soogies

I echo the advice of St CIrq and nytraveler. As long as you are aware of yourself, your surroundings and feel you are confident in being alone in THIS country, you should be okay.

Personally, I wanna say hell yes just because of the fact that you used "rudimentary" to describe your French. .

From what little I know of you, I would encourage you to try this trip - researching as much as possible all your connections, hostels, trains, etc. Meeting friends along the way will help with the possible lonely times.

This is all said by a mom of three daughters, all of whom have travelled to Europe alone since age 17. They are now 23, 24 and 26 and each has been to Europe more than half dozen times. So, yes, I am a big proponent of travel - it broadens you, makes you wiser, more tolerant and interesting, IMO.

You have my vote!

PalenQ

I don't know about staying in hostels (but I've never even been in one, so am clueless)>

IME you are more at risk of a sexual assault - the worry always when some gal asks about the dangers of traveling alone - in your college dorm or campus apartment than in any European youth hostel - this is really much ado about nothing - Europe is in so so many ways safer than what you've been living in the last few years!

konsui

Thank you guys so much for your replies! You've all given me things to think about and consider, which will make planning my trip less stressful

nanabee

I have the same question you do consui. My God-Daughter is doing the same thing under similar circumstances (only she is 21 and has graduated from the honor's program at a major university).

Many have mentioned hostels. I'd like to know (as you do) more about staying in hostels. Her father made her promise she would not stay in any. My experience with a hostel in our town (a popular tourist area) is that it is a flop house for kids using drugs & alcohol and basically communal living without much personal safety. I know this is not true of other hostels. My parents stayed in hostels every summer for 5+- years with their teen age kids. The rooms had bunk beds and were separated men/women and they traveled in England primarily. But this was back in the 1970's.

bilboburgler

Ok, there are hostels and hostels, the https://www.hihostels.com/ organisation is pretty safe and certainly the UK version of these guys is great (cheap and in the right places) http://www.yha.org.uk/

sofarsogood

The overwhelming reason why (especially young) solo travellers should stay in hostels is not just that they're cheaper than hotels, but that you'll meet other solo travellers like yourself; it's impossible not to. If you stay in a single room in a hotel you're less likely to meet other people.

And when you meet others, you all go out for meal or drink together and that's what makes travelling much more fun.

jent103

How safe you'll feel will depend on where exactly you are (both the city and the area within a city), but in general, assuming you have common sense (which it sounds like you do), there's no reason you wouldn't be just as safe as in the States, likely even safer.

I would book your hostels ahead of time and look at reviews to make sure you're staying in central locations in pretty safe, clean, etc hostels. Lots of hostels are great and safe; there are also some that cater to a seedier crowd, so you just need to figure out which is which.

Speaking German and a romance language (however rudimentary) will help you tremendously! I'd go for it. Just do your research and keep your guard up.

spaarne

<i> Is it safe to solo travel in Europe? 19 year old female
Posted by: konsui on Mar 2, 13 at 3:58pm</i>
Statistically your physical safety is less at risk in any European city than it is in a comparably sized American city. The major risk in Europe, and not just for young women, is pickpockets. They want your money, passport, jewelry, and other valuables. Protect them well.
In my experience hostels are safe, partly because there are so many people around all the time. For an illustrated introduction to hostels see http://tinyurl.com/3kjae8w. University dorms are another low cost sleeping possibility. For example, if you decide to add London to your itinerary check out the London School of Economics Rosebery Hall.

PalenQ

ditto to all that spaarne says about the sfaety of women traveling alone - nothing to worry about except the usual pickpockets and bag snatchers. Otherwise I guess there is always a remote possibility to a sexual attack or more often, especially in Italy IME, of unwanted attention and catcalls, etc.

DebitNM

Travel as light as you can without a lot of "desirable" electronics which tend to make you a target for theft.

Also, light with luggage so you can easily handle it when on public transit or just getting from one place to another. Schlepping around a lot of stuff just seems to make you more vulnerable.

Have a grand time, I wish I had done this back when I was that age.

ira

Hi K,

For each country you will visit, learn to say hello/goodbye, please/thank you, NO/yes and "where is the toilet?".

Do not carry anything valuable in a back pack.

Enjoy your visit.