First solo trip, where should I visit?
Mar 26th, 2017, 02:13 PM
#1
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First solo trip, where should I visit?
I'm a 30 year old lady, and I'd like to take a solo trip in July or August for a week. I'd prefer somewhere warm.
I enjoy art, history, and nature.
My budget is about $1,000 - $1,500, and I'm thinking of staying at a hostel..
Which city would you recommend and how would the itinerary look?
Thank you in advance
I enjoy art, history, and nature.
My budget is about $1,000 - $1,500, and I'm thinking of staying at a hostel..
Which city would you recommend and how would the itinerary look?
Thank you in advance
Mar 26th, 2017, 02:36 PM
#2
It would help if you tell us where you'll be beginning your trip. I see you've also posted an inquiry for a So. American destination in June with a friend, so will this one be a continuation of that trip, or instead of that one, beginning from your home? It makes a great deal of difference in cost and time spent getting there.
Mar 26th, 2017, 08:27 PM
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My advice = go to the place that MOST appeals to you and that fits within your budget. Assuming you don't completely disregard safety (e.g., you might want to exclude Somalia and South Kenya from your immediate travel plans), you should have a wonderful experience!
Many of us are fully addicted to solo travel, and this thread might give you some ideas.
http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...collection.cfm
Identify a few high priorities and then go to your local library to do some in-depth research. You are about to open the door to a world of amazing and rewarding options!
Many of us are fully addicted to solo travel, and this thread might give you some ideas.
http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...collection.cfm
Identify a few high priorities and then go to your local library to do some in-depth research. You are about to open the door to a world of amazing and rewarding options!
Mar 26th, 2017, 08:33 PM
#6
$1000+ doesn't go very far if one has to fly to get there.
Most anyplace in the northern Hemisphere will be warm in July/August . . . some uncomfortably hot. Mexico would likely be the cheapest from Reno or Vegas.
Most anyplace in the northern Hemisphere will be warm in July/August . . . some uncomfortably hot. Mexico would likely be the cheapest from Reno or Vegas.
Mar 27th, 2017, 01:08 PM
#7
Mar 27th, 2017, 01:29 PM
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Have you stayed in hostels before? I've stayed in several of HIs all over the US, and I would be happy to expand/compare/contrast as much as you'd like about that. Just let me know!
But my first thought- where I'd personally start price comparing- D.C. Or Chicago or San Diego
Why? Well, the main reason would be affordability in both flights and hostels. The really good hostels on the coasts- SF, LA, Boston, and NYC are comparatively VERY expensive during high season. They have no competition, and rent is expensive. So a bed in a dorm is very often 50-60 dollars a night. And then on top of that, NY and Boston are pretty expensive food/attraction wise, although it is possible to do NYC relatively cheap.
Chicago has great neighborhoods, a fantastic lake trail for biking. Great window shopping on Michigan ave. fantastic museums that aren't too pricy. Beaches to sunbathe along the lake, many terrific parks. It's a great and less expensive city during the summer than many destinations. The HI is well located and really nice. Chicago is serious about its food and that goes for hot dogs, pizza, and ice cream just as much as the Michelin star restaurants.
DC is hot and muggy, but it has the monuments and the zoo and is a transportation hub so you could do trips to Baltimore or Philly or even Williamsburg. It has the monuments, world class smithsonian zoo and museums- all free, all can fill up weeks. It can be an expensive city of course, but it's also one of the cheapest US cities I've been to, because all you really need to pay for is the transportation, hostel and the food. And a really good day trip is Philadelphia- you can see the historic stuff, walk old town, eat your way through reading terminal Market. Again, hostel is really nice and well located (and also oddly cheap- less expensive than it's any and Boston counterparts). There's the national aquarium in Baltimore, and a historic Fort that you can reach by water taxi.
I'm throwing San Diego in the mix for the weather and also because it's another in inexpensive hostel destination. Less humidity, great beaches. You might be a beach person. I am not, which is why I would not go to Mexico solo. I'd be bored silly. (Not that beaches are the only thing to do there- it's just that the people I know who hostel and sightsee cheap there do it for the beaches and booze).
Let's say 300 hundred for ticket, 40 a night for the hostel. (7 nights, 280.that leaves you 900 for food and entertainment, possible budget in all cities I listed. If the ticket costs more, I would shave nights off- 5 would be good. I tend to take longer trips- 2 weeks- but in both Chicago and D.C., I got all of my "must sees" done in 4-5 days).
(Note: I have not stayed in San Diego hostel, and I've never been carless there. It struck me as possible to get around but probably less easy than D.C. and Chicago which have really good transit.)
But my first thought- where I'd personally start price comparing- D.C. Or Chicago or San Diego
Why? Well, the main reason would be affordability in both flights and hostels. The really good hostels on the coasts- SF, LA, Boston, and NYC are comparatively VERY expensive during high season. They have no competition, and rent is expensive. So a bed in a dorm is very often 50-60 dollars a night. And then on top of that, NY and Boston are pretty expensive food/attraction wise, although it is possible to do NYC relatively cheap.
Chicago has great neighborhoods, a fantastic lake trail for biking. Great window shopping on Michigan ave. fantastic museums that aren't too pricy. Beaches to sunbathe along the lake, many terrific parks. It's a great and less expensive city during the summer than many destinations. The HI is well located and really nice. Chicago is serious about its food and that goes for hot dogs, pizza, and ice cream just as much as the Michelin star restaurants.
DC is hot and muggy, but it has the monuments and the zoo and is a transportation hub so you could do trips to Baltimore or Philly or even Williamsburg. It has the monuments, world class smithsonian zoo and museums- all free, all can fill up weeks. It can be an expensive city of course, but it's also one of the cheapest US cities I've been to, because all you really need to pay for is the transportation, hostel and the food. And a really good day trip is Philadelphia- you can see the historic stuff, walk old town, eat your way through reading terminal Market. Again, hostel is really nice and well located (and also oddly cheap- less expensive than it's any and Boston counterparts). There's the national aquarium in Baltimore, and a historic Fort that you can reach by water taxi.
I'm throwing San Diego in the mix for the weather and also because it's another in inexpensive hostel destination. Less humidity, great beaches. You might be a beach person. I am not, which is why I would not go to Mexico solo. I'd be bored silly. (Not that beaches are the only thing to do there- it's just that the people I know who hostel and sightsee cheap there do it for the beaches and booze).
Let's say 300 hundred for ticket, 40 a night for the hostel. (7 nights, 280.that leaves you 900 for food and entertainment, possible budget in all cities I listed. If the ticket costs more, I would shave nights off- 5 would be good. I tend to take longer trips- 2 weeks- but in both Chicago and D.C., I got all of my "must sees" done in 4-5 days).
(Note: I have not stayed in San Diego hostel, and I've never been carless there. It struck me as possible to get around but probably less easy than D.C. and Chicago which have really good transit.)
Mar 27th, 2017, 02:22 PM
#12
I'd be interested to know just how warm rhemakaelle wants her destination to be. To me, warm begins in the high 70s. Others likely have a different idea of "warm". That could make all the difference coming up with a recommendation.
Mar 27th, 2017, 02:44 PM
#13
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True. Nevada (at least the parts I'm familiar with) isn't exactly cool in the summer, though, dry heat or no. So I assumed 85+ is what she meant by warm, if she's talking about the US. Also assumed flying, as she mentioned hostels. Parking in the major cities doubles your hostel bill easily. I'd camp if a car is involved. And lot of the US hostels are on the coasts, and best transit is east coast.
But there are really neat and reasonable coastal hostels in California, if she is driving. Less art and history but short drive to SF for that (which I don't consider warm, but certainly a more comfortable temperature.)
But there are really neat and reasonable coastal hostels in California, if she is driving. Less art and history but short drive to SF for that (which I don't consider warm, but certainly a more comfortable temperature.)
Mar 27th, 2017, 02:53 PM
#14
Maybe she's spending the summer away from Nevada, with the 2 trips we know about, because it's too "warm". She needs to give us her preferred temperature range, we can't assume. That means we're just guessing.
Mar 27th, 2017, 07:02 PM
#16
<i>Assuming you don't completely disregard safety (e.g., you might want to exclude Somalia and South Kenya from your immediate travel plans), you should have a wonderful experience!</i>
Uhhh, what's wrong with southern Kenya? Northeast Kenya borders Somalia, it is true. But most of southern Kenya borders Tanzania.
Although East Africa is nowhere near the OP's budget.
If you're in Nevada, OP, have you thought about Northern California? Or is that too boring/close?
Uhhh, what's wrong with southern Kenya? Northeast Kenya borders Somalia, it is true. But most of southern Kenya borders Tanzania.
Although East Africa is nowhere near the OP's budget.
If you're in Nevada, OP, have you thought about Northern California? Or is that too boring/close?
Mar 27th, 2017, 09:51 PM
#19
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Thanks for your suggestions...am I being too optimistic? I envisioned visiting somewhere outside the States...80 degrees is warm, I don't mind humid or dry. Just don't want to go somewhere freezing. Even 75 degrees is warm enough��.
