LoveItaly

Hi Neil, actually you are the one that picked up on the troll factor. I didn't, just thought it was a strange question. After reading your post I just clicked on the name and saw the post from this person that took place ages ago. So the credit goes to you, dear sir!

isabel

Well troll or not, you have to remember that probably the majority of benefit any of these threads have is not for the original poster, but for the many people who read them just looking for info. There are probably tons of people out there who never ask or answer a question but just read. So all the replys are probably doing someone some good, even if we don't know about it. So unless the question is really stupid and useless, it's worth answering.

hightide

True Isabel, just hate to be snookered...

Ral04

okay guys...i have had such a mix of emotions reading these replies. first let me say that i am not up on all this lingo- being trolled? i don't have time to visit this sight 10 times in one day. i do have a life. i appreciate all the info many of you have given me. i am sorry i took some time to get back but my sister gave birth on friday and my nephew did not survive so i have been taking care of family things.

i did post a question awhile back(very good loveitaly) but if you noticed it was to go with a friend. and once again i was dooped and she backed out on me. so here i am finally making it a point to go by myself because i am tired of waiting for friends. as h2babe said it is exactly what would happen to me. the moment i would ask my friends to book a flight they would back out. so i figured the only way to go is by myself.
i thank many of you for great advice, h2babe, isabel, loveitaly. but i have to say that some of you are rude. i am sorry to say but tallulah and nytraveler, you have no idea. i have the best parents in the world, they are not overprotective. they love me more than anything and just don't want anything to happen to me. they don't share the love to travel and have no idea what eurpoe would be like for their daughter. i have not been to too many places. that is why i am going now. i have had to put myself through college and work full-time. i have not had money to travel. my parents don't and won't stick money in my account. yes, i may be a little bit inexperienced about being away from home but that is one of the reasons i am leaving. many 25 year olds are married, have children and may even be regretting it. at least i am not in that position!! so please don't assume all 25 year olds should be in the same place at this age. everyone is different. i can only wish my parents would have paid for me to travel when i was 16, 18, 19 or whatever age but they didn't. i am not spoiled, i have worked for everything and i know in the long run i will only be a better person because of it.
if i sound too harsh, i apologize. but i feel that some of you judged me not knowing anything about me. all i know is that we all share a common bond which is travelling. i just wanted was some helpful tips and not judgement of the person i am!

cigalechanta

My parents had no money so I traveled older than you, the first time.
Go, have fun, read books about the areas you are visiting, and I too had friends who backed out when I went alone so I upgraded where to stay so as not to worry about my safety.

bellastar

Ral04
I take you at your word.
But I'm another one who is much too busy to come to this forum many times each day to chat about who is or isn't "real", conduct background searches, or check everyone's ID, as some of the above posters seem to be so interested in doing. And they have sometimes been mistaken, that's when they do in fact come across as rude.
Seaurchin's suggestion of the site "Journeywoman.com" is a good one. You'll find some good stories, tips, and a more welcome atmosphere there. When you go (and I'm sure you'll have fun) just be sure you get a cell phone so you have a way to call home often, if the mood strikes you. Enjoy yourself, and collect some good stories to being home with you! Happy travels!

cigalechanta

Goethe said, don't treat people as they are, but what they should be.

h2babe

Ral04 -

Sorry to hear about the newborn baby; you and your family are in my prayers. I completely understand where you're coming from. I didn't grow up with a lot of money either. Let alone travelling after high school or in college, I worked 3 jobs just to survive college (rent, books, food). But again, I made a decision to go through with college. Just like travelling, if you want it bad enough, then you'll gather enough courage to make it happen for yourself, with or without anyone to go with. Plus, I know that, IMHO, I appreciate everything that I have now, including travel opportunities, a lot more, simply because I had to work for it ( I had to work for the money, I had to gather the courage to go alone etc). Happy Travels!

suze

<will i have fun?> OK now I do think you WILL have fun because this idea obviously means alot to you (from your last reply to us all).

Kindly take the good suggestions and ignore those of us that were not helpful (myself included).

I didn't get to Europe until I was 40, since I paid my own way, all earlier trips were to Caribbean and Mexico. So consider yourself ahead of many! Like your friends, plenty of people never travel at all.

You can most likely stay safe by taking the usual precautions. Also as someone mentioned having a tiny bit more money can help by staying in a bit nicer places in a bit nicer areas of a city (than the very cheapest). And some cities/countries are known to be easier to travel, so you might want to stick with them on your first trip.

Buena suerte!

nytraveler

Ral04

Sorry if I offended - and for your family problems. but my comments stand. And just for the record - the parents you describe seem overprotective to me. Mine never would have presumed to comment on my travel plans.

Also for the record - you're not the only one whose parents couldn't or wouldn't frank their lives. My parents didn;t have any money either. I was self-supporting from the age of 17 - putting myself through college via a combination of scholarships, student loans and jobs (2 in the summers and part-time during the year) - plus a more than full course load and 3.9+ GPA. And my trip to europe at 19 was financed by me - well with a little help from my boyfriend - he paid more than his share of a couple of things. We just did a lot of planning and squeezed every penny.

There are always excuses not to do things - but if you want to enjoy your life - you just have to stop worrying and take the plunge. With a little extra thought - and effort - you can really do almost anything you set your mind to.

Tulea

I'm 21 and will be traveling alone this summer. I am planning on studying in Moss, Norway for a month and making weekend trips to Finland and Sweden on my own. I'm a little nervous, but I think I should be okay.

Good luck with your adventure!

klbell

Give me a break! Gee. Do you walk down dark alleys at midnight? Do you have unsafe sex? If you do these things your odds of being "unsafe" here in the U.S. are pretty good. Even more so here than in Europe, which is really a pretty safe place as world places go. Use common sense and enjoy. And for goodness sakes, you are an ADULT. You do not need your parents'permission to live your life

Neil_Oz

bellastar, you're a much kinder person than me. I don't believe a word of it.

tondalaya

Honey child, if you have to ask if you'll have fun, the answer is never.

bellastar

Neil_Oz;
I think it's interesting that you are still returning to read and post to this thread if you "don't believe a word of it."

I also think it really matters not at all whether the opening post is from a real person (which I choose to believe) or a "troll" (which you seem to believe) since it elicited several replies (including one of yours) containing information that is travel-related and would probably be of use to any young first-time travelers who might be reading it and not wish to post their own questions fearing the harsh tone of some of the responses offered here.

Therefore, I think this thread is quite useful on the Fodors forum, because it succeeded in collecting some good relevant information.

Ral04

I am still dumbfounded that I have caused such a stir among some of you. All I wanted was to ask some simple questions. I KNOW I would have fun, I just meant if it would be AS MUCH fun if I were alone and not sharing these memories with a travelling partner.

I really appreciate everyone that was supportive of me and gave me good advice-you know who you are.
As for nytraveller and neil and some others, why are you even a part of this website?
Neil--This is suppose to be a fun and helpful source of info and not badgering people because they didn't ask the right question or you don't believe they are real or that you are "being trolled" To me it indicates that you have no life and have to feel good about yourself to make fun of me or my family and care about who I am, where I'm from and if I made any spelling mistakes. This will be the last time I use this website much less this talk forum. I never would have expected to get this from asking advice about travelling. GET A LIFE!!!

hightide

Just my opinion but if you ARE on the -up-and-up, perhaps might have been helpful if you had posted in this message thread: posted this before, trip didn't work out, thinking about it again, looking for new/more input.

The way it came out just smelled fishy. Not passing judgement, just offering advice.

There are a lot of people on this forum that spend a lot of their own time just trying to help people and is frustrating to think that your time is spent needlessly on/for someone who doesn't need it or is just up to no good.

I do agree with the posters though who commented that no post is useless because everyone learns something from the info whether the original poster is legit or not....

Just something to think about...

suze

I'm sorry you are giving up this valuable resource because a single thread hurt your feelings.

You receive better information here when you ask more specific questions. In such early stages contemplating a trip maybe simple research on "solo travel" etc. would be beneficial. Then you can gather information without putting yourself on the line with other posters.

No one can answer "Will I be safe?" because it is an impossible question to answer. But there were many good website referral & thoughtful tips given about general planning and approach to the trip you describe.

Elizabeth

Ral04 - I hope you don't give up on this forum as a place for useful advice as I have not found anything comparable myself.

I completely agree with you that judgments about you, your "maturity," your family, and your relationships with them are uncalled for.