Tips for Solo Traveller
 

I'm just posting this as a general question. I'm planning my first trip on my own and, even though I found answers here and there, I thought I could get a little more answers.

So, how do the Fodorites deal with being alone on a trip?

How do you ask for people to take pictures of you in front of 'X' monument?

How do you start conversations with total strangers with it being awkward?

What do you do during meals?

How do you cope with boredom and being away from family and friends?

Also, there's the whole thing about money and safety. We usually split up money, debit and credit cards between partners when we travel. Any tips for those issues when traveling alone? Other issues I might have to worry about?

Thank you!

On the "Smart Travel Tips" forum, you can click on the "solo traveler" subgroup - you'll be able to pull up many threads on this subject.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1874

<i>how do the Fodorites deal with being alone on a trip?</i>

About 1/2 of the trips I go on are solo and I actually enjoy being alone.

<i>How do you ask for people to take pictures of you in front of 'X' monument?</i>

I tend to look for folks who look like tourists. I usually don't choose a single person, but rather a couple. I also look at the person's camera- the fancier the better. Lastly, sometimes I pick the Japanese tourists - they tend to take LOTS of pics so I assume their skills are decent. :) After I pick out someone, I just walk up w/a smile and say, &quot;Would you mind taking a picture for me?&quot; Never got a NO as an answer. These days w/digital cameras, you can check the result right away. if you don't like it, ask someone else to take it again.

<i>How do you start conversations with total strangers with it being awkward?</i>

If the person is a local, I usually start with some &quot;dumb&quot; question, such as,&quot; is this train going to ...&quot; and then continue on.

If the person is a tourist from the US (easy to spot), then I'd say, &quot;You're on vacation? Where are you from?&quot;

<i>What do you do during meals?</i>

I usually have a guide book w/me so I have something to read. But other times I just enjoy people watch and enjoy my meals. As I get older, I feel more comfortable dining alone.

<i>How do you cope with boredom and being away from family and friends?</i>

I write DH a postcard every day, as a way of &quot;connecting&quot; with him. When I really long for some conversation, I just start talking to strangers. :)

<i>Also, there's the whole thing about money and safety. We usually split up money, debit and credit cards between partners when we travel. Any tips for those issues when traveling alone? Other issues I might have to worry about?</i>

I tend to keep most of the valuable stuff in a hidden money belt. In my day bag, I only put enough $ I need for the day and only 1 CC/ATM. Even with that, I split them up by puting some $ in the wallet, the rest scattered in various zipped pockets in the bag. Even if someone slashes my bag, chances are he/she won't be able to steal all the $ if it's scattered.

The one thing I don't like about traveling alone is going to bathroom w/all my luggage. Haven't figured out a way to get around it.

In the evening, I always pick well-lit streets w/folks on it. Even if it means I'm not going the most direct route.

Anyway, I really enjoy traveling alone, though I'd love DH to join me on my trips but he's too busy w/work. I find that traveling alone allows me to interact more w/others. Lastly, I enjoy doing whatever I want, whenever I want, without having to consult w/someone else. If I feel like skipping breakfast? Fine. If I feel like turning Left at this intersection? Okay! If I feel like having a box of chocolates for dinner? No Problem!

Enjoy!

nessa_L- I think it would be great to travel alone! I am doing it too but just this weekend kids off camping trip with Boy and Girl Scouts and my husband too. Getting lots done!! Will be alone for few days come August in Venice. I wish I recall thread on here that gave me such confidence as an amateur photographer and a Venice conversation, it made me want to go right then and there! Can't wait untill I get there and spend those days before my family arrives. I'll land in Milano and take train to Venice for few days. I pick my 15 year old daughter up from her program outside of Venice near Trieste, we travel to Paris for 5 days, then back to Venice to meet husband and 12 year old son.

Many of your questions I have done myself here, in USA:

Taking pictures? Ask anyone around you or your monument to take a picture. My tip, most use the small, automatic type so first I look for a 35 mm type as that person, having a more professional camera, will probably take a better shot. I try not to ask very mature folks as many tend to move the small cameras as they depress shutter. That means a blurry result.

Start conversations? I find it easy but I am outgoing. Just tonight in supermarket in breakfast isle, I turned to lady to complain about the $4.50 price of ceral and we started talking. You can ask if anyone has been to the monument, why they are seeing it, how they like the area and so on.

Meals- time to relax, look around or read your book/newspaper.

I will not look at it as boredom but a time of freedom away from family demands.

There are many threads about money, credit cards, passport on this forum. I just read one last night so do a search on passports. Generally, some keep passport in hotel save or in a waist or chest money belt. One said it was kept between her shirts in locked luggage. Wherever you keep it, make copy of passport and keep in luggage. Hide your money same way if you do not care to bring it all with you daily.

Other issues- watch the purse, be observant as you normally would and you will fit in beautifully.

Where are you going on this trip?

I can only echo the previous posts. I frequently travel alone and never really think about it. The only concession I make is to dine early at better restaurants.

I only take memory photos, so no problem for me, but I wouldn't be nervous about asking.

Since I enjoy my own company ;) I don't usually make it a habit of starting conversations,however when the opportunity arises I carry on as I would at home.

Remember a smile is always welcomed and can ease awkard situations if they arise.

I always travel alone &amp; never read in a restaurant. I've never understood the need to do that.

I don't have my picture taken anywhere so I just snap the pics myself of &quot;X&quot; monument.

Maybe I'm weird but I don't seek out opportunities to strike up conversations with strangers, either. If it happens, it happens but usually it's at others' initiative.

I used to always travel with someone (hubby, daughter, sister-in-law) and while I do love traveling with them, in recent years more and more of my trips have been solo and I find I really enjoy it. YK nailed it when she said &quot; I enjoy doing whatever I want, whenever I want, without having to consult w/someone else. If I feel like skipping breakfast? Fine. If I feel like turning Left at this intersection? Okay! If I feel like having a box of chocolates for dinner? No Problem!&quot;

I stay in touch with my family by cell phone. On my first solo trip it was daily, but lately I've been telling them to only call every third day or so. If I get lonely (rarely) I can always call them. I write in my journal a lot (never do journal writing at home) and find it's a little like talking to someone - whoever will read my trip report - or myself in 20 years when I plan to re-read all my trip journals.

If you really fear being lonely you can always do a day tour with a group and you'll meet people that way. I hate tours, but the few times I've taken them (usually for logistical purposes) I did find I spent a lot more time talking to people. And I know some other solo travelers who take day tours just for that reason.

There are two great threads here about solo traveling - one is titled &quot;I vant to be alone&quot; and the other something like &quot;this is why I'll also travel solo from now on&quot;. If you search you might find them.

Good responses from other posters. I don't have a problem with traveling alone, though I love traveling with my sister when I can.

When I travel solo, I try to find an internet cafe so that I can tell family what's going on. I also send a copy to my email address so that I have a kind of journal.

I find that strangers--often young men, for some reason--will strike up conversations with me on trains. I suspect that they feel safe talking to a woman whose gray hair reminds them of Mom. I think that sometimes I start the conversations also with some innocuous question.

I am one of those who often reads at meals.

I always wear a money belt. In it I carry a debit card and a credit card, along with my cash.

I generally watch a little TV so that I can see what the current issues are in the country in which I'm traveling. I really don't get bored by myself.

Thank you for all the great advice!

I really don't think I'll get bored since I'm usually amused by little things but you never know how it'll be once you're in a foreign country by yourself.

Also, I'm a young woman and I probably look a lot younger than I really am. Do you think I might have trouble or something? I'm going to London, by the way.

Hi nessa, I recently got back from my first solo trip, a week in Paris. For background, I'm 30 and for better or for worse am always being told I look much younger. I live in a big city, and have been single and living alone the last couple of years.

Regarding safety, I think with the normal precautions you'll have nothing to worry about. If you're accustomed to living in a big city then these precautions are probably second nature already- be aware of your surroundings, don't leave your purse unattended, always have a bit of cash on you, don't engage with strangers who approach you for things, look like you know where your going even of you're lost, get a cab instead of walking alone late at night/early morning, etc.

I personally don't use a money belt, or any sort of special system for carrying money. I carry my purse with my wallet like I do at home, and leave my passport, tickets, etc. in the hotel room or apartment.

You might want to have a cell phone. I bought a second hand gsm quadband on ebay and got a travelsim card.

I also wouldn't stay in an area that's too quite or devoid of people at night.

As for conversations, I found that travelling alone presented me with far more opportunties for chats with people than travelling with someone else.

You'd be surprised. As a girl on her own, you'll probably have to beat them off- other women travelling alone and glad to see another doing the same, couples who will sort of adopt you, and of course attention from men. You really don't need to try too hard to have conversations with people at all.

My biggest fears going to Paris were that I would get seriously lost, or that I would sleep in or get lost or otherwise screw up somehow and miss my flight home- I have a terrible sense of direction and can get pretty dizzy at times. But now I know I can travel somewhere alone and have fun and get myself home in one piece. And if I can do it, anyone can do it. You'll have a great time.

I would have no qualms going to London solo. It's just like going to NYC solo. Lots of young, single people walking around, and lots of different ethnicities so whether you're white, black, asian, hispanic or whatever, you never really stand out in London screaming tourists!

FWIW, I did a junior year abroad in London and not know much (if any) people when I first arrived. I had just turned 19. Never had a single problem the whole year I was there.

Nessa,along with carrying some money and a CC in your money belt, also pack a photocopy of your passport, a copy of your medical card, and a list of emergency phone numbers. If there's an accident or something, medical personnel or police will have phone numbers they can dial. You might want to buy a calling card before you go, in case you need to make a call.

Create a free e-mail account on-line, with Yahoo or whoever, and check in at home occasionally. Also, if there is trouble (let's say there's a terrorism scare and everybody's calling each other), you can get through easier on-line than on the phone.

I've travelled alone to London several times, and it's been fine. Sometimes I've gotten unwanted attention from men, but you might deal with that at home, as well. If you see someone on the tube carrying a theatre program, ask them if they liked the show. Assuming you're an American, ask other Americans which state they're from (states seem to matter more than cities).

Sometimes, if you travel alone, you are actually more approachable for conversations. The first time I traveled to London, I had other people asking me directions, and how to use the tube. You'll have a fine time! Ohhhh....London has everything! :)

I love traveling solo! As others have said, it's such a wonderful opportunity for indulging your own tastes and whims.

To answer your questions:

Dealing with being alone? To me, it's a pleasure, but perhaps that's because of the number of interactions I have to have every day on the job.

Often I've actually had people offer to take my picture (but I generally say thanks but no thanks.)

Generally, people start conversations with me, but a common experience/asking for assistance is always good.

During meals--eavesdrop :), people watch, savor the meal...and often I'll only do one restaurant meal a day, frequently a late lunch, and then do dinner al fresco. (More time for sight seeing!)

Bored? Nope. I do link up by email (sending mini trip reports every few days to folks who actually do enjoy them) but otherwise, it's not an issue as long as I know everyone's okay.

I keep a bit of spare cash in a few different spots (like the inner zipped compartment of my camera bag), but in general just behave as I do in my own city.

If you want to get a flavor of some solo trips, there's a list of them here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35084942

Enjoy your trip!

I hadn't been overseas on my own for many years, but in March I was in Paris solo for several days and loved it.

Pictures? I'm the one on the other side of the lens.

Conversations? Easier to talk to people when I'm alone. That way my daughters won't be rolling their eyes or embarrassed by me.

Meals? I eat. Also read, look at maps. I do that at home too.

Boredom? Never an issue. I am more likely to feel guilty that I am spending too much time relaxing than to feel bored.

Money? Wallet in the purse, just like at home, but I keep the wallet in an inside zippered compartment. Extra credit cards, passport and cash back at the apartment.

I almost always travel alone and as others have posted, I don't feel the need to converse with other people, I don't want photos of myself and when eating I just relax and enjoy the place. I'm not bored and now with internet cafes just about everywhere I can communicate with family if needed. I love traveling alone!
After having been scammed by taxi drivers from the airport a couple times, I now try to arrange for a car service and if I arrive on a very early morning flight I reserve my first hotel for the prior night, so that I'm not wandering around disorientated that first day. It gives me time to shower, maybe take a brief nap and get my self together.

Nessa, I agree with the others. But as far as the pictures, I do like a few of myself somewhere. What I find helpful is finding a couple who are taking pictures of each other and offering to take a picture of both of them and then usually they are very willing to take a picture of you at that site.

You are all making so much more confident! I'm starting to think that I can actually do this!

I may add that I will have a moneybelt. I can't imagine traveling to Europe without it. There's no way I'll risk having my vacation ruined by losing or getting anything stolen.

Yes, Nessa, you can do it alone! I have done it alone and with others for over forty years. I am of a &quot;certain age&quot; now but once was young like you and even then didn't worry. My first trip I was 21 and looked 16. Just went flying off to wherever the fancy took my planning. Never bored, too much to see and do!

I agree that day trips help a lot. In Belize, where you go with a guide everywhere, I tried to go to a site when others from the resort were going. Then someone from the group can take your picture, and you have someone to eat lunch with. I find meals the hardest, and am not helped by staff who ask multiple times, &quot;Just you?&quot; &quot;Just one?&quot;.

hi nessa~ I love to travel solo. I've done 5 trips to Europe and at least a dozen more between Mexico &amp; Hawaii.

For me there's nothing to &quot;deal with being alone&quot; because it's really my prefered way to travel.

When you're at a momument, ask another couple who's taking pictures if they want you to take one of the two of them together... then they will reciprocate and take one of you on your camera.

Other than a situation like the above, I don't talk to strangers when I travel. I'm not interested and don't think it's particularly a good idea, with a few exceptions (an older lady in the park, etc.).

During meals, I eat ;-) but you can bring a magazine, paperback, or journal to write in, if that prop makes you feel more comfortable. Stick to casual places and you'll be fine alone.

I am rarely bored. Since I'm single and live alone at home, traveling solo is not all that different. I do email back &amp; forth with my sister and a couple friends from internet cafes. That takes any edge off potential lonliness.

You just need to be more careful than ever about your belongings and money when alone (no one to watch your bags). I split up my own valuables between a couple different places. Moneybelt is a good idea. Or leave things locked back at the hotel, if your hotel offers a room or front desk safe.

&quot;It's not a good idea&quot; to talk to strangers while travelling?!!
What's the point, then?

What's the point of what? Do you mean the main point of traveling is to talk with strangers?

Everyone you see on a vacation is a stranger. If you don't interact with anyone while travelling, don't you feel like you're missing out? Maybe we have different definitions of &quot;stranger&quot;?

I have been traveling alone for many years. I actually enjoy it..come and go and do as you please!!

I have no problem dining alone. I really don't initiate conversations with others, but often do have great conversations with others. Often both French and othr travelsrs think I am French and will ask me directions.

I have met many who are now friends and we get together when I am in Paris,

As to money and credit cards. I never caryy all with me at one time.

I take a laptop, so have it for contacts from home or wherever.

I have never felt unsafe in Paris or my other travel places. If you get a little lost, so what, you may find a very interesting place!!

Enjoy it all...........

Well certainly I interact in shops or restaurants, with the staff at my hotel. But most places I go, I am not fluent in the language, so the possibilities of striking up a conversation with someone in line at the post office or whatever, doesn't usually come up.

My focus is to experience a new place, soak up the culture and atmosphere, see the sights, have some good food, relax. Don't get me wrong I am not against interacting with whomever, but it simply does not come up that often for me traveling solo.

Flipside, on a tropical vacation it happens more more often, talking to people at the beach or the hotel pool. But less so when I'm traveling a major city in Europe by myself.

On my solo trip in April to France and Italy, I took my tiny laptop. My nephew had downloaded movies and Seinfeld episodes onto flash drives, so I had English TV for late nights in my room alone. Nice change from reading every night.

All I can say is an apprehension you have about travelling solo will go right out the window the first time you overhear some of your fellow tourists fighting with each other about their sightseeing schedule. You'll thank your lucky stars that you can do whatever you want, whenever you want.

I always ask fellow tourists to take photos - I only bug a local if I have no other option.

I've found many people (locals and tourists) are more likely to strike up conversation when you travel alone. Nobody is going to look at you like you have 2 heads if you speak first (just don't assume everyone speaks English). If you strictly stay at hotels, you can find yourself feeling fairly isolated if you are social by nature. Hostels, B&amp;Bs, guesthouses and smaller inns generally offer more of an opportunity to meet and speak with other travellers as well as the property owners who are good sources of information.

During meals, it's fun to people watch. But I've also used the time to write in a journal, plot out the next day's itinerary in a notebook, look over maps more carefully, etc. The only problem I encounter as a solo traveller is restaurant hosts tend to try and seat you at tables in quiet areas - they must think because you are dining solo you want to be tucked away in the back or the corner. Speak up and ask for a different table if you want one.

I traveled solo around the world for a year and never found I was &quot;bored&quot;. With the telephone and internet, it's pretty easy to connect with friends/relatives back home.

As a woman travelling solo, you do have to keep your wits about you at all times. Don't drink too much alcohol, if a man wants to buy you a drink make sure you get it directly from the bartender (don't let a strange man go up to the bar and get a drink for you), don't leave your drink unattended in a restaurant or bar. Always have enough money on you that you can get a taxi if you need to at the end of a late night. In certain countries, it is best to not make prolonged eye contact with a strange man as it can be seen as an &quot;invitation&quot;. In other countries, in rural areas, you may find you get some odd looks if you walk into a pub and sit right at the bar.

Keep your money tucked out of sight, lock it in the hotel safe or use a moneybelt to carry it with you. Make sure you have photocopies of all your credit cards, passport, ATM card, insurance card, etc. - leave them with friends at home or scan them into the computer and e-mail them to yourself so you can easily call in for replacements if lost or stolen. Call all banks and credit card companies before you leave home and let them know how long you will be travelling and where you are going so they don't think it is fraud occuring on your cards and cut you off in the middle of your trip leaving you without access to cash/credit.

You'll have a great time and will wonder why you worried about all these things once you are there in the thick of things.

Nessa, I'm glad to hear you are carrying a moneybelt. It's a must, IMHO. If you really get weary of eating meals alone, try eating a hot meal out at lunch, and then make your dinner meal a take-home sandwich with fruit, nuts, or chips. I often do that, watching British television in my hotel room.

You might consider doing some of the London Walks while you're there. That gives you an opportunity to talk with other visitors, and you can take each other's photos, as well. I can't say I've been bored on my trips to England, there's too much to do. It can be lonely sometimes. You just want to share your experiences with those you know. Email your friends and family, and send off a few postcards. I like sending cards to my sibs' children.

The London Evening Standard is on sale at several stands in the afternoon, and that can be your company at dinner. That paper focuses on London news, and they always have something on mass transit or London development. You can always wander alone in a store, and there's plenty of those in London.

One of my favorite things to do in London is rent a deck chair in the parks. Take a sack lunch, a newspaper, or just lie there and watch the people. There's deck chairs in Hyde Park, and some in St. James Park, too. A young man on a bicycle will come by and ask for a pound or two, and you can sit there for a few hours.

Again! Great comments everyone. It's so nice to see that this is doable.

I was planning to do quite a few London Walks (I'm going for 2 weeks so about every 2 days I might do a different walk). Are the other walkers a mix of couples, families, locals and solo travelers? I'll be traveling off-season in January, if that changes anything.

I was also thinking of attending afternoon tea in one of formal hotels. I understand that it is not something that an average Londoner would do every week but actually something that high society would do. Any experiences with attending afternoon tea alone?

London Walks really get all kinds of people - couples, groups of 3-4, singles etc. One of the walks I took (Hampstead Heath, which was great), I chatted w/a lady who is from New Zealand, but her daughter is working in the UK. She is taking 3 months off to travel in Europe! Since she has a base in UK, it's easy for her to travel 1-2 weeks in 1 country, go back to her daughter's for a week, then off she goes to another country. It was fun chatting with her.

Oh, and Nessa, I forgot to tell you the adventure I had last year when traveling solo in London. I went to dinner at Belgo Centraal. After I was seated (commnunal tables), guess who was seated directly across from me at my table?

The actor Brendan Fraser! I didn't recognize him at all, so we just chatted throughout dinner about random stuff. It wasn't until half way through dinner when I found out who he was (I asked him what he does).

See? That's the added bonus of traveling solo. If DH had gone w/me on the trip, I wouldn't had this opportunity!

Nessa, I haven't done afternoon tea by myself in London yet, though I have a few times with friends, but I did have it solo at the Peninsula in Hong Kong and it was a wonderful, pampering experience. (And considering I'd been roughing it to a certain extent for a good part of the trip, it felt lovely to be spoiled.) I'd recommend it anywhere!

Hi nessa, I have a few more thoughts. I read your other posts and know you'll be also doing daytrips outside of London on this trip, and that you're in college. So here are my 2 cents:

1) Ceidleh gave you very good advice about alcohol. Know your limits and know when to stop! If you're at a bar/pub/dance club by yourself, you want to be sure you are capable of getting yourself back to your hotel. Sometimes when you strike up a conversation with others, you may lose track of how much you have had.

2) Do not be afraid to say &quot;NO&quot; to others. With you being a young person, you may get unsolicited attention from men. If you're interested, fine, but if they start to bother you, do not feel pressured to go along w/them. Just be firm and say NO and walk away!

3) NEVER tell strangers which hotel you're staying at. If someone asks you (even if they're &quot;normal&quot; people and just curious), tell them something like, &quot;I'm staying near _____ (insert a London attraction)&quot; but don't give out the hotel name.

4) I find Londoners tend to mind their own business, so if I were you, I wouldn't try to strike up a conversation w/your fellow pax on the tube, for example. If you want to start a conversation, you'll be better off trying that in the smaller towns of Bath/Cambridge etc.

5) Lastly, this doesn't apply to you on this trip since you're going to the UK. But when I'm traveling solo to a country where I don't speak the language, I always learn the few words of STOP, HELP, POLICE in the local language and memorize it in case of emergency. Fortunately, I have yet to utilize any. :)