sbrach

Hi everyone!

I can currently pick up and leave anywhere in the world, yet have very little travel experience outside of Canada and the US.

Details:
- Homebase: Vancouver, BC, CANADA
- 2-4 weeks Available
- $5,000CDN Available
- Vegetarian Diet
- Nerves/Scared
- Good attitude/Open Mind
- Adaptable
- INTO: sports & adventure & natural wonders
- NOT into: sitting on a beach for 7 days, herded around in big groups visiting museums

Where should I go for my very first solo trip as a female?
I would be extremely grateful for feedback.

Thank you so much!

xx S.Brach

sparkchaser

Seattle and Portland.

Here's why:

- No language barrier
- People are generally friendly
- Great food culture with many, many vegetarian options
- Not too expensive
- Lots of outdoor activities available to you (for example, Mt. St Helens is located on the way from Seattle to Portland and, depending on the time of the year, you can hike to the top; the Columbia Gorge is chock-full of beautiful hikes)
- Natural wonders: Mt. St. Helens, Haystack Rock (day trip/overnight from Portland), and other cool sights
- The same street smarts that serve you well in Vancouver will work for you in Seattle/Portland



NOW, if you've already been to Seattle and Portland but were looking for something "not-USA", then the UK or Iceland would suit you well but either will likely be on the more expensive side.

dulciusexasperis

It would help if you gave at least a time period sbrach. Now, spring, summer,etc. I would not suggest any of the places sparkchaser has mentioned if you want to go NOW, simply based on weather. If you're thinking of the summer, they are viable options.

If you wanted somewhere to go now I might suggest Borrego Springs, California. Fly to Palm Springs, rent a car and drive there in 2 hours. It is in the middle of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Great hiking, wildlife, scenery but very much like home in terms of what you are used to and will be comfortable with.

But since you mention you have not been outside Canada and the USA, you may mean you want a place outside of those two countries. Again, you aren't being clear enough in the information you have provided.

If that were the case, I might suggest spending 2 weeks in the British Virgin Islands sailing. What's more, you don't do it alone but you don't do it in a big group either. Read here for a Vancouver based example.
http://www.vancouversailingclub.com/...virgin-islands

Sport, adventure, not sitting on a beach but actually gaining useful certification in something. Sailing courses are actually a very good way to have a relatively cheap vacation at the same time as learning something.

There are a lot of things people can suggest sbrach, but without knowing you personally, how can anyone know what might appeal to you? I would suggest talking to family, friends and work colleagues for ideas, they know you, we don't. But ask people who do more than just take a week package holiday to Puerto Vallarta or some other typical package tourist destination.

Nelson

Right, we need to know when you are planning to go, that makes a big difference.

Presuming you are looking to get out of the USA and Canada I'll dive in and suggest you research Southeast Asia. My wife and I spent time bumming around there in our youth and it meets your requirements, IMHO. We were vegetarians at the time. There is a well-established budget travel infrastructure, lots to see and do, generally easy to get around.

Granted, it could seem scary to a solo female traveler.

This would not be a good destination for April - August due to hot weather and monsoon issues, except for Indonesia. But it's a great place to escape North American winter.

It's a long flight so it would be best if you could plan for the 4 weeks there.

Bamaman

Start in London. Then go wherever the budget air carriers out of Gatwick Airport can get you cheap.

How about Budapest? Ever seen a big Saturday night disco in a psychedelic Turkish Bath? The city's incredible.

suze

I'm single and in Seattle. I could do either Mexico or Hawaii for that amount of time and money easily.

mlgb

No mention of your time frame but if you can return by mid-May you should find airfares to Lima Peru for under $800 return.

Although it's probably too late to get on the Inca Trail at this point you can still visit Machu Picchu, do other hikes, go along the coast for sandboarding at Huacachina, and go down into the Amazon jungle.

There is a well developed "gringo trail" and most tourism providers have at least one person on staff who speaks English, it is part of the tourism curriculum.

Pop on over to the South America forum and read some of the good trip reports such as that by crellston.

BLT83

If I had that amount of money and time available, I agree with Nelson and would go somewhere in Southeast Asia. It's inexpensive, so your money will go far (and you'll probably come home with some money left over unless you really go crazy!), there's great food (even for vegetarians), and there's lots of excellent cultural opportunities.

That said, you did say you were nervous/scared, so I can see how places in Southeast Asia might feel overwhelming for your first trip outside of Canada/US, even though places like Thailand are, IMO, very easy for a solo female traveler. Since it sounds like you're more into sports/adventure/natural wonders than cities, someplace like Australia or New Zealand would be good. The only problem with those places is they're pretty expensive - you could easily spend all your money in two weeks, especially since airfare is usually pricey. But, they're great for adventure/natural wonders, they speak English so there's no need to be worried about the language barrier, and while they're still different from Canada/US, there's enough that's similar that you shouldn't feel too nervous/scared.

mlgb

As much as I like NZ, and have been there many times, I always remember the young Canadian tourists I met there, from BC.

They said it was too much like home!

Everything in NZ is expensive, and Australia more so. Even food.

thursdaysd

Yes, arriving in Oz and NZ from SEA resulted in serious sticker shock!

LancasterLad

Head for the Khao San Road area in Bangkok.
You'll meet up with loads of like minded people, and plan the rest of your itinerary using all the travel tips and advice you'll quickly acquire.

thursdaysd

Just so you don't imagine for one minute that there is anything Thai about KSR. I have found it occasionally useful for exchanging guidebooks or money (when I needed USD for Myanmar), but it is chock-a-block with rip-off artists and kids who are at least as interested in partying as traveling.

Nelson

The OP seems to have vanished into thin cyberspace, so we don't know if she's got anything in mind. But LancasterLad's point of meeting other travelers is valid. Going solo doesn't mean staying solo, if one chooses to team up with others. The opportunities are always there.

We stayed "near" KSR in the '80's and that was OK, but staying in the heart of it, like Thamel, could indeed be quite the zoo. One gets adept at saying no, I don't need a fiddle, necklace, or some hash. Amazing how all that stuff miraculously appears out of hidden pockets.

thursdaysd

Capri can be scenic and charming, but you have to dodge the crowds. The Amalfi Coast is stunning, too. What time of year is she thinking of going? Summer will be hot and crowded - maybe better at the lakes and Dolomites. For my (solo) visit to Capri and the Amalfi Coast see http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...om-s-italy.cfm or start here for text with pix: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...ivating-capri/

janisj

The OP is gone and the thread was topped by a spammer . . . ('innocently" asking about a certain website -- but recommend the same website on other threads)