I feel silly asking this question but I honestly don't know where to go I can't think. I don't want to go anywhere romantic or see nothing but couples. I also don't want to go where it's all single people. I don't know what I'm looking for but maybe you can help me. Where have you gone alone for a week or 2 weeks it doesn't matter. I also kind of hyperventilate during take off so if I can just get there and stay put that would be best.

Fiji would be perfect!! Enjoy.

>>I don't want to go anywhere romantic or see nothing but couples<<

OK -- whether a place is 'romantic' or not mostly depends on who you are with.

Where have I gone solo? Tons. London, Paris, Japan, Scotland, Amsterdam, Spain, Venice (yep -- supposedly too <i>romantic</i> but just an amazing city) Yosemite, New York, Victoria - and countless other places.

>> I also kind of hyperventilate during take off so if I can just get there and stay put that would be best.<<

If you go to Europe there is no reason you'd ever need to get on a plane except to get there and get home. You can easily get to most every city from most every other city by train.

London for a week and Paris or Amsterdam for a week would be a wonderful solo trip.

London for a week, then train to
Edinburgh/Glasgow. Fly home from there.

Pat

Welcome to Fodor's!

Where are you coming from? Is budget an issue?

The only holiday I have taken alone in recent years was on the Hurtigruten. Mostly couples it's true but not entirely, and not all are "couples" some are siblings or parents/adult kid or friends and quite a few solos too.

It all depends on what you like to do when you get there where you should go. If you like museums and city life then Yosemite (or other US parks) or the national parks of Europe are not for you, but pick a city any city and go.

If you like coast then do a road trip, in the US or say along the south-west coast of England or around Brittany.

For distraction, if it were me, I'd look for a city with a lot of things I wanted to see and do, performances, lectures, museums, walking tours. I think it would be harder to stay distracted in the countryside. But your mileage may vary.

If you want to speak English, I would think London has plenty to distract anyone. If you have an interest in ancient ruins, Rome. Myself, I would head to Paris because I love the language, food and culture and have thoroughly enjoyed my solo trips there. But there are plenty of other cities that would appeal to me: Barcelona, Lisbon, Madrid.

>>London for a week, then train to
Edinburgh/Glasgow. Fly home from there.<<

Maybe even better than London/Paris. Either would be a terrific solo trip -- All four cities are very easy to navigate on your own.

find an activity that you like to do [learning a language, painting, covering chairs] in place you've never been before and sign up for a course.

You'll meet like-minded people, get to know a new city, and have a great time.

London-Paris-Amsterdam

2 weeks - trains are great and even go overnight between many cities and cheap flights can make a fly into London, bullet train to Paris and fly to Greece - Europe is your oyster - from what you say it don't matter where you go as long as you go.

To help get a fix on a European train trip check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com (check the latter's free online European Planning & Rail Guide for a country by country itineraries geared to trains, which again are fantastic - can meet locals or other travelers or be by yourself.

Your question is rather wide open - do you want to go to big tourist meccas like Paris or London, which can be fatiguing if you go with a check list of must museums, etc or do you want more rural areas and nature like in the Swiss Alps?

If I choose London and Paris then I have to fly from London to Paris and I don't want to get on another plane. I've been dying to go to Paris but I don't want to go there alone and I don't have time to learn French just to get around. I have to think about what I like to do. That sounds pathetic but I'll get back to you on that.

You don't need to speak french to get around Paris. Millions visit every year without understanding a word.

I didn't think someone would see this. Is Fodor's Travel pretty much the same as Tripadvisor?

No one flies from London to Paris - they mainly take the Eurostar train that does it in just over two hours - are you afraid also of long tunnels - in that case you can take a ferry from Dover to Calais and then proceed by train to Paris - unlike you fear boats too - then if going to London better stay in the U.K.

www.eurostar.com is the official site of Eurostar trains London to Paris - book really early for some really cheap fares.

So Paris by train is a go?

Then it's about 3.5 hours Paris to Amsterdam and fly back from Paris or Amsterdam or other Continental airport.

I too hate to fly so I feel your pain!

And you do NOT need to fly in order to go between Paris and London, Fabbie. It is called Eurostar, and it is a train that takes you from city to city via a tunnel under the Channel. Just do a search on this site and you will find all you need to know about it.

Reykjavik.

You can fly direct on Icelandair from many places in the US.

Everyone speaks English.

Everyone is very friendly.

You can take various tours from Reykjavik to see other parts of Iceland.

You can rent a car and drive the ring road around the country in about 5-7 days.

In summer the weather is spectacular and you can sit outside in many public places and just relax and enjoy the long daylight hours.

I went alone to Iceland a few years ago and met many nice people, both tourists and locals, and lots of other single travelers.

And it's a beautiful place to see.

I didn't think someone would see this. Is Fodor's Travel pretty much the same as Tripadvisor?>>

I think you just answered your own question.

it's very different.

I think London and Paris would be a great combo.. both cities have tons to do .. and language is really not an issue, millions, literally millions of tourists visit paris every year and most of them do not speak French.

I have done both solo and both are "solo friendly" never felt out of place.. in fact surprising for some folks.. but Paris is a great place to be solo in.. dining alone is a non issue, not like here in North America where if I go into a place and am waiting be seating one can feel a bit awkward.. in Paris women dine out solo a lot more then here.

I appreciate your suggestions. I think it's important I go somewhere where there's a lot to do so I don't sit in my head too much. I don't mind tunnels that's fine. So I can take the train to Paris? Do I have to change trains somewhere in the middle and if so how many times? I don't mind trains either.

There was a question about budget and if it's an issue. Sorry if I miss some questions I'll reread later on or just ask me again. It's always an issue! What do you think a 2 week trip to London and Paris would cost? I do have a little saved up.