booking hostels in advance?
 

i was in italy for the month of march last year, and never worried about this. {i realise this was "off-peak" season} now i will have approximately 11 weeks in europe {3/germany, 2/france, 1/n.italy, 2/spain & portugal, 3/g.b & eire}. is booking ahead an absolute necessity or am i worrying over nothing? <BR>thanks for any and all advice, <BR>vincent.

Hello fellow travelers, would you please help this girl out with some advice?

I'm leaving for my solo Euro trip next week and my friend asked me how I'd ever take a (proper) photo of myself over there. I have no idea except to take photos of only scenery or to try to take my pictures holding the camera at arm's length. Have you asked or would you ever ask a stranger to take a photo for you? I'm afraid someone might run off with my camera. I was thinking of bringing along a disposable camera for this purpose, but after hearing from a friend whose plastic grocery bag (filled with groceries) was ripped off by someone on a Vespa, I'm not so sure that even a cheap disposable camera could do the trick. Are thieves desperate enough to steal a disposable camera? Then again, it was possible that person on the Vespa didn't recognize that it was a only grocery bag? Am I just being paranoid? How did/would you solve this problem?

Thanks a bunch.

Muimei, yes, of course! Otherwise, I wouldn't have had photos of myself taken, when I wanted.

As a female solo traveler, I usually ask it to a couple, or to a family apparently in the same circumstance I am, meaning traveling, never to a single male, as I don't know how a man would take my request...

To have the camera stollen never occurred to me.

Please, don't get paranoid. Use common sense, and you shall be fine. Paranoia will likely ruin you trip, and take away all the pleasure of experiencing a new culture.

<i>&quot;I'm afraid someone might run off with my camera.&quot;</i>

Where in the world do people acquire such fears?

I've put my $15,000 Contax into the hands of strangers hundreds of times. Of course, holding a camera of this stature seems to empower and embolden (more like intimidate) the uninitiated.

Strangers abroad are incredibly generous and all-too-happy to step in and &quot;play&quot; photographer because everyone traveling can imagine themselves in a precious situation alone. I've <b>never</b> had anyone turn me down.

The last thing that ever occurred to me was someone running off with my camera. I guess that's the power and security of theft insurance. Let 'em take it. Then, I get to buy the newest version. ((P))

I have travelled solo for years (Europe, Asia, South America), and always get strangers to take photos for me.
Generally I try to ask other people who look like tourists (easy to spot as they are usually stopped to take photos of the same thing). If there is no one like that around, I'll smile and ask someone around who I feel comfortable handing my camera. Chances are the business man out on his lunchhour or the older couple out for a stroll aren't going for a run with my camera.
Stolen cameras do happen - but I have only heard one story in all my travels.

YES!! I love pictures of my vacations and often want to be in them!

For years I, a formerly single girl in my 30s, travelled alone, sometimes to Third World countries and have never had a problem and people have always been gracious...in some cases asking to have my picture snapped lead to very nice conversations with strangers!

Often times people will offer to take your picture. Use common sense and like anything else, you'll be fine!!

It was 1999 - our last day in Paris, we were enjoying the Luxembourg Gardens one last time and I desparately wanted to have a photo taken of us with the beautiful gardens in the background. Another couple were leaning on the railing with their backs to us. I plucked up the courage to ask them to take a photo for us. By chance they were Australians (as are we) who were working in London, and in Paris for the weekend.

We talked for at least three hours on that day, and last year we flew across Australia for their wedding and gave one of the speeches (they are 20 years younger than us - more like our children's ages!) but what a wonderful friendship we now have. Their first baby is due any day and we have another trip across Australia planned later in the year to wet the baby's head. All because of a photo.

I've done this around the world - Africa, the Middle East, and throughout Europe. I try to pick out other tourists who are also holding a camera - have never had a problem at all!

Great story Launa.

I think you must apply common sense.
As the other replies have said; Always ask someone who is taking pictures already they may be in a group or a couple. Then get them to return the favour. I have never been refused and it can be a great ice breaker as Launa found out. Now that must be fate.

Good luck

Muck

I do that all the time. I usually look around me, and look for tourists. Since I use a film camera, I don't have the luxury of viewing the picture after it's taken, I always look for tourists with SLR cameras rather than point-and-shoot. I'm convinced that the SLR owners are(generally speaking) better photographers than those with point-and-shoot.

I would be more afraid that they'd drop it, rather than steal it.

Where do people get such fears? Well, maybe from TV. Don't you remember the episode of Family Ties when the Keatons visited Paris. Standing in front of Notre Dame they asked a stranger to take their picture with their expensive camera. He kept backing up further and further and finally took off running. It was a very funny episode, but oh so believable somehow. I think of it often when I see strangers asking other strangers to take their picture. I seldom ask others to take mine, but I seem to be a magnet for being asked by others, and I happily oblige. The other day it was a group of four and I ended up taking pictures of their group with all four of their cameras.

Didn't that also happen on National Lampoon's European Vacation? The family wanted their picture taken in front of a beautiful fountain. The &quot;photographer&quot; kept having them back up, until they were standing in the fountain. He then grabbed all their stuff and took off. I love that movie!

Sure, I often ask people to take my picture. It works best if you see other tourists taking pictures (maybe volunteer to take one for them if it seems appropriate) and ask them to take one for you. Also waiters in cafes will probably oblige (then tip nice).

Even when you're traveling in a couple you need to do this to get you both in the same photo.

The beauty of a disposable camera (I never thought about theft) is that there is absolutely nothing for the person to have to monkey with to take the snapshot for you.

I'd use your best judgement- the man loitering against the wall wouldn't be high on my list of photo takers!!!
I've been asked many times to take a photo while on vacation. I must be that &quot;nice woman with all the children taking photos. Let's ask her!!&quot; I've only gotten frustrated twice- once when I was asked to take a group photo and then was given no less than ten (or was it fifteen!!!!!!0 cameras). I took two and refused the rest of the cameras. The other times was when I was running (not jogging, not walking) in Hyde Park and a guy jumped in front of me by the serpentine and asked if I'd take a picture. Ok, I should have stopped, but I was sort of busy!

I've loved the pictures others have taken of my group- the ones with headless people or totally out of focus!!! But it's all worth it for ONE GOOD/GREAT one!!!

one more thing. It's a great idea if you travel with a friend to switch cameras for most &quot;person plus place&quot; shots. I spent my junior year of college in London (but really running all of europe with a new found friend). I was looking through my album recently and most shots were of the friend I haven't seen or spoken to in 15 years! I hope she has some great of me!

Although I'm not generally a solo traveler, I've never had a problem asking others to take my picture or volunteering to take pictures for others. I think it's part of the fun of travel.

Try volunteering when you see a group of &quot;school kids&quot; on holiday and watch their faces light up - all of them get to be in one shot!

I learned this trick on my first trip to England, in 1981. My husband and I were spending our last day in London, and were standing in a beautiful part of Hyde Park. A stranger offered to take our picture - and I had never even thought about trying to get both of us in a picture! Weird, I know, but that innocent offer opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. (And, gave us a nice, cherished picture from that trip.)

I agree with the others to be smart about who you pick to take your picture. Other tourists &amp; families are always a good choice. Business people are also usually very accommodating.

Go for it! (And don't bother with the cheapy disposables, unless that's what you were planning to use anyway.)

Gayle

Like the others, I have never had a problem...and I have done most of my travel solo.

But I have also found innovative ways to balance my camera in all kinds of weird places and doing the timer shot. I wouldn't recommend this in crowded places, but it's handy to practice. In fact, most of my travel photos that I like were taken this way, since I can set up the shot how I want it.

OneWanderingJew....formerly single eh? So I take it you are back from the honeymoon? Welcome back!! :)

<i>Have you asked or would you ever ask a stranger to take a photo for you?</i>

Yes. Look for people who are taking their own photos, especially those who look like they know what they're doing. I typically offer to take a photo of another person/couple first and then ask them if they'd kindly return the favor.

When I traveled alone, I often asked strangers to take my picture with my camera. Never had any problems. I usually asked fellow hostelers, or tourists--kindly looking middle-aged Americans or older women, in most cases. :) Just use your judgement; you'll be fine! And you'll definitely want pictures of yourself.

SeaUrchin
I am Indian born in London, parents born there, and have made many visits to relatives over the years. On one particular trip my husband came with me - his first visit to India.
I remembered when visiting with two (white) girl friends some years previously a number of people had asked them to have their photos taken with them so I had warned my husband to expect this.
So when a school girl came up to us with camera and smile I gave him a told you so grin... only to have them take their photos with ME!
I'm an overweight and very ordinary looking character so I couldn't work it out at all, I could only assume I looked like someone famous or something. Poor woman!
;)

Should explain, husband is (white) English and 6 foot 6 inches tall so stands out like proverbial sore thumb in India...

I've always asked Blonde Japanese girls to take my photo with my Costco $7 disposable camera. They always put their hand up palm out and giggled. Have a good time Muimei and beware of young men wearing running shoes'

Ask someone with a nicer camera then the one your handing over. That should alleviate the fear that they will run off with it. Also, with a bit of luck (and this is why I'd pick someone with a really nice camera), they might just know how to use it well.
Good luck.

perhaps those who are nervous about handing over their camera to a total stranger have been watching chevy chase european vacation in preparation for their trip!! yes i do it all the time and also offer to take photos for others too, it is a touristy thing to do, but i usually ask other tourists in preference to locals, mainly cos i think locals could be rushing off to business etc. i must say though that i often wonder when tour guides get us to line up our 30 odd cameras on the groud and take the group photo, how we would ever retreive our cameras if someone did come by and steal one. it woudnt be mine because i am not even into digital camera taking yet!!!

Yes, plenty of time. I usually try to ask a family (one of the parents or their teenage children) or a couple with cameras in their hand, to take my picture and I'll take their pic in return, and it has worked out great.

But keep in mind also, try to select someone that seems like they know how to take pics, otherwise, you'd waste your time. I know it sounds stupid but I have experienced also seeing my pics out of focus etc. Thank God for digital camera so at least you can ask someone else to retake it.

A tripod and self timer can work wonders - also increases the sharpness of your shot.

Strangers are often kind - if I'm travelling alone and must have a photograph of myself I usually ask a respectable looking passerby to assist.

I haven't traveled solo thus far, but one of my sweetest memories is of strolling on the University of Washington campus with my son in his cap and gown on his graduation day, when he approached a couple where we were standing in front of Denney Hall, and said &quot;Would you take a picture of me and my Mom? She's the reason I'm here today.&quot;

It brought tears to my eyes then and still does when I remember the moment.

That said, when I am traveling, I rarely wish for photos of myself and am not enamored of the few I've had taken. I take photos of my sister/travel partner, but the only ones that seem to please me are those that capture HER image, not the image of her posing in front of some monument or another. I have great pics of her sitting across the table from me on the terrace at Hotel Haus Lippman in Beilstein, with just a hint of the overhead grape arbor fuzzy in the background, or of her seated across from me on the train from Rome to Milan.

All my favorite photos I've taken are about a place and a moment for me to remember, the world through my eyes, not me through someone else's eye.

We have asked people plenty of times and had them offer, too. For several years now, when someone takes a picture of us, I thank them and then ask if I can take a picture of them so that I can remember them and their kindness. Everyone has always agreed, and those are some of the best pictures and memories we have of our trips. People tend to stay for a few minutes after you take their picture and talk with you. Having a picture of them helps you remember the occasion (where you were, what you were doing, what you were taking a picture of, what you and they talked about, etc.) so much better. Also, when they have been locals, many times they have given us great tips about what to see or where to eat in the area.

Thanks, all of you. Great advice and stories! I'll definitely watch out for young men with running shoes! :D I guess I was quite a bit paranoid about going to Europe... Way too many &quot;horror stories&quot; relayed to me by family and friends. I was a psych student and still wasn't thinking with my brain! All my relatives and friends seem to only think about the bad stuff. I got more info about thefts than info about great places to see!

Thanks for setting me straight.