Haileyemma

Hey all,

I'm wondering if anyone has tips for finding a travel buddy. I've been toying with the idea of going to Italy alone for a couple weeks but have decided I'd be more comfortable travelling with someone. Any ideas how to safely meet other women who don't want to travel alone?

Thanks,
H

greg

You have so far indicated safety as an issue.
There are many more to traveling with someone else. Here are the classics to learn about other issues.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-sorrento.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ugust-2013.cfm

michele_d

I would be very reluctant to travel with someone I did not know at all. Not so much from a safety standpoint but from a personality meshing standpoint. I can't imagine how disappointing it would be to be on a trip with someone and find out you did not get along, or there were things you just couldn't tolerate about them. All your time and money would be wasted. A lot of people on this board travel independently and love it. Maybe they can give you some encouragement to tackle this trip.

nytraveler

I think there are a lot more issues than safety - unless you are talking about getting separate rooms.

I have traveled with a work colleague (a disaster) and a close female friend (fine for a few days but after that her always wanting to find a cheaper way to do things drove me nuts).

IMHO I now travel only with DH, possibly with B and SIL - and if there are 4 of us we agree to do different things some days (sometimes in couples, sometimes the girls and the boys). And we know up front we have the same sort of standards and budgets for hotels and meals.

LSky

For the reasons listed above, I'd be reluctant to go with just anyone.

I used to travel with a dear friend who is a great traveler and remember one time coming home from a trip and the thought struck me that if I didn't speak another word to her for a year it wouldn't bother me. Fortunately, that didn't happen and I love this woman.

Maybe a great way to meet a travel buddy is to do the things you're interested in at home and get to know someone that way. For instance, if you were a gardener then join a garden club. That way, they may have group travel opportunities. Go on a couple of those and you may meet someone.

If you meet someone you may want to travel with, talk and talk and talk about everything. The links provided are entertaining but should be taken seriously.

Enjoy.

kybourbon

I'm not a fan of that trip report where the person was unhappy with the companions yet didn't bother to speak up. Some people are more easygoing than others and don't have problems getting along like this trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ight-women.cfm

The Rick Steves website has a travel partner section.

https://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/...ers/index.html

Many of us find travel to Italy alone to be no problem. What concerns you the most about traveling alone? Italy is pretty safe and if you stay in the historic centers, you shouldn't have any problems.

If you just don't want to be alone all the time, you can book a couple of organized tours in each city which will "partner" you with people for a day.

shekat

Hiya H,

I am travelling solo around Greece from 30 September and then I'll be flying to Rome on 19 Oct. If you are around Italy then let me know. I think you will be very safe travelling alone, but similar to you, I prefer travelling with someone (and my boyfriend would prefer if I travelled with a female!

But if the only thing stopping you from visiting a country is being alone, just go for it anyway. You'll always regret it if you don't

Cheers,
Kat

Kat

shekat

p.s. my email is shekat (at) hotmail.com

donnaandspence

I am actually in the same situation. I'm staying in Italy for 3 months as an au pair and I am having difficulty finding other English speaking people to spend time with, travel with etc.

I'm fine to do things on my own but being by yourself all the time can be kind of lonely.

I'm in the Venice area so if you would like someone to show you the city, feel free to email me.

[email protected]

adrienne

Another thread where the poster doesn't bother to come back and thank people for their time and suggestions.

brit85

Hi,

Im travelling solo to Italy in November. I will be in Rome from the 8th to 13th, Florence from 13TH-16th and Venice from the 16th-18th. I will be going to Paris and Amsterdam after.

If anybody is around let me know! It would be nice to meet with somebody rather than being by myself for 3 weeks!