wendy_atl

Hi all,

I recently traveled to Europe and went to France (Pairs), Germany (Berlin) and Poland (Poznan), and i loved it! i have a college roommate who is a polish national and we met in Paris and then traveled back to Poland. It was awesome! but when i asked her about the possibility of taking another trip she sort of commented that it would be too expensive for her (Poland isn't on the euro and the conversion isn't in her favor!)

anyways i'm 25 and single, and i work for a university in atl- and i have a pretty flexible schedule and want to go back! specifically Italy and Greece (maybe a few other spots) but i don't really have anyone that has the time off and funds, and im sick of putting stuff on hold for people!

i'm not a pro-traveler so there is no way i could go alone. does anyone have suggestions? i have heard contiki is fun but it makes me anxious not knowing anyone directly who has done it. I like to sight see and i also like to drink and have fun but i will also need my sleep! lol

Blueeyedcod

Lonely Planet have a forum to connect with and meet other travellers.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...vel-companions

Contiki is indeed fun but there are many early starts and lots of time on the road. They have 'slow travel' itineraries - some of those many suit you. They are slow for Contiki whose large itineraries can involve just one night in a destination.

http://www.contiki.com/destinations/...avel/easy-pace

There is one tour on this link that does what you are seeking - Italy and Greece.

Travelling solo is not that daunting in Italy - many people do it. If you stay in hostels you will meet other people whom you may wish to spend time with.
Good luck

suze

<i'm not a pro-traveler so there is no way i could go alone>

You don't have to be a "pro" to travel solo. Especially in a country like Italy it's very easy to plan your own trip, go around by train, etc.

Sorry no experience with tour groups to share (not my thing).

MmePerdu

Two suggestions...

Sign up and post/search for travel companions, here:
https://www.thelmandlouise.com

Join and stay with members in their homes, here:
http://www.womenwelcomewomen.uk

janisj

>>i'm not a pro-traveler so there is no way i could go alone.<<

If you always wait to find compatible traveling companions you will miss out on a lot. There is no reason a 25 yo ca't manage on her own.

There are tours that will put you w/ a room mate -- but I would slit my wrists first.

suze

<im sick of putting stuff on hold for people>

Just one good reason to learn how to travel solo. Or you could be waiting around your entire life -lol!

flpab

I know a single women that uses https://www.gate1travel.com/ for her trips.
I have younger nieces and they love to travel but it does become a problem when no one else has money or vacation time.
I take a lot of day tours and there are always single women and men on the tours. Everyone included them and we all talked. Nice way to get to meet others.
They were traveling alone and took day tours but had very busy schedules planned for their trips. B&B's are nice for single travelers .
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-solo-trip.cfm

Green dragon does solo trips and she is a budget traveler so read a few of her trip reports.

thursdaysd

No reason you can't handle solo travel - see http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...collection.cfm for some inspiration.

However, you might look at Intrepid Travel or Imaginative Traveller.

flpab

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

Actual link

sassy27

Would you be interested in half solo half tour group? I see this a lot in England/Scotland. I split my trips there by doing the same while I'm not solo but have seen solo people doing this when I meet up with a tour. Specifically, I go to Scotland for a week independent than pick up a Rabbies tour. There have been a few singles each time that I talk with and have asked the one solo to join us for dinner. The last time, there was a couple who let me hike with them when my travel partner didn't want to. It can be hit or miss (didn't work out well for me one time in Paris on a day tour when I was solo) but still maybe something to look into?

BigRuss

Who wouldn't like to be a pro traveler? If you pay me to do it, I'm in.

I'm not even an amateur - I have to pay my own way.

The Contiki single country tours tend to be less getupandgo/partypartyparty than the multicountry tours. I went on a couple before the Euro was born. Yes, there was electricity then.

nukesafe

If you wait for someone to be "ready" you will wait forever. Not just in travel, but in life. Just go on your own and have a wonderful time.

suze

It depends how you look at it. To me a solo trip might be a little bit scary. But going on an organized tour and being stuck on a bus, at meals, in hotels, with a bunch of people I don't know 24/7 and assigned a roommate I have never seen before... well that's a lot "scarier" the way I look at things! Just depends your perspective.

janisj

I agree re big coach tours. But just in case suze's comment is re sassy's post . . .The types of she is talking about are a whole different kettle of fish. Rabbies does small groups (less than 16 in a mini bus) mostly in Scotland but also in Ireland and a few in England. They are a terrific option. They run from day trip to 5 day tours.

For someone traveling alone they are an excellent way to see other part(s) of the country that are rural or difficult by public transport.

So say -- spend a few days in Edinburgh on one's own, then hook up w/ a 3 days Rabbies tour to the Highlands, then take a train down to London and spend 5 or 6 days solo w/ maybe a couple of London Walks.

https://www.rabbies.com
http://www.walks.com

(London Walks pub crawls are great for singles - a truly non-threatening way to visit several historic pubs)

dwc0201

Wendy, I have done a great deal of solo travel and loved it. Just be prepared to ask questions if you need help with trains or directions. Most people are very accommodating. You will find other people traveling on their own and just strike up a conversation or ask a question and you may find a dinner partner for the evening. Feel free to send me questions.

suze

<But just in case suze's comment is re sassy's post>

It wasn't.

sassy27

Thanks janisj for clarifying my post. I think for someone trying out traveling solo that would be a great itinerary. I also think if English is your first or only language this would be good to gain some confidence as well as trying out being totally solo for a few days but not the whole time. You also wouldn't be stuck with or needing a roommate either. You could always catch a Rabbies tour in London and then go to Paris on your own so again solo but also a tour. There could be other tours out there and this is just an idea.

mariha2912

You mentioned Greece and Italy. I can not comment about Italy but many popular tours (often including Greece+Italy or Greece+Turkey) are popular with people way older than you. Nothing wrong with been 70 years old but when I was 25 I don't think I would enjoy spending two weeks in a bus with 70 years olds... I wouldn't enjoy it now that I am 35, let alone 25. I live in a place where I get to see tons of Trafalgar, Gate1, Cosmos, Insight etc etc tours. Age groups are way older than you. I get to see Contiki too, I think the mainland tours focus on the upper side of their agre groups,aka mostly people around 30 year old versus 18 and from what I see Contiki is not always the drunken tour people stereotype (although quite often it is!) but I often get to talk with people on this tour and they have no idea about what they just visit. That been due to been more concentrated on having fun or bad guidance or what I am not sure, but paying large ammounts of money to think you just visited a temple of Poseidon after visiting Delphi and mixing up a Charioteer statue with Pythia is not good use of one's money on my opinion.

As with other destinations suggested, you could always mix DIY and local tours or travel without a tour but let a local travel agency help you with travel logistics. You may want to google chat, key and g.o. tours Greece especially for mainland bus tours but island tours too, while travel agents such as Aegean Thesaurus,Fantasy Travel, Dolphin Hellas, Astoria Travel could help you plan an itinerary, book hotels, get you tickets for ferries/flights to the islands, arrange transfers between ports/airports and hotels and so on.

All that said, I am a dedicated fan of Solo traveling and I started traveling solo when I was younger than you. An important thing for this to sound less scary is to start making research research research. The more you have iron out the details, the easier it will feel. It takes a certain attitude too, be self-confident and content with your own company and not travelling with meeting people on mind. It does happen usually, but this is not the purpose of it all and you have to go planning having a good time on your own. If you meet other people who you click with and hung out for a while, this is an added bonus.
I admit solo traveling may not be for everyone though, so I suggest you to start planning a couple of sort trips closer to home to see if it suits you.

Anbd as this turns out a long post, that;s it for now lol

nytraveler

You already have one trip under your belt so I would not hesitate to organize another trip on your own. If you stay at pleasant hostels you will meet plenty of other young people to do things with along the way.

There is no way I would reco a full -on tour (although you might want to do a day tour in some places) since they are very confining and tend to be much more expensive than doing it yourself. Never mind all of the aggravation of very early stats and sitting around on buses for much of the day.

dreamon

I completely understand the desire to travel with others rather than by yourself. If you want to join an organised tour, I'd make a list of aspects which are important to you (e.g. how much free time, are hotels centrally located, size of group, transport (public or bus), what's included, likely ages of your companions, how long in each place, etc) and find a tour company that meets your needs. Intrepid Travel, Gecko, Peregrine, G Adventures, Imaginative Traveller, and others may be options for you. There are also many companies offering tours with a specific focus such as hiking, cycling, food, art, history, architecture, etc. Some companies offer 'tours' of a just a few days which you can incorporate into solo travel.

If you decide to go solo, then staying in each place a bit longer can give you a growing sense of confidence because places become more familiar and you get to grips with how to get around, where things are, how things work. And it's more relaxing and often more rewarding as well.