looking for somewhere to go.
 

Looking for some suggestions on places to do some solo traveling. I'm 22 and female and have done a bit of solo traveling before, so I'm not afraid of being alone on a trip...

I'd like to go somewhere not too touristy -- i.e., no high rise hotels, no old ladies with fanny packs and visors taking pictures of nearly everything around them. Haha, sorry if I sound cynical.

I love to see new cultures.. see what kinds of things different people appreciate. I'm also a photographer.. I love the outdoors, and would MUCH prefer a vacation in the wilderness over a crowded city.

Being a young female, I know I need to take safety into consideration, so I'd like to go somewhere not too dangerous (though venezuela is at the top of my list...)

Anyone have any good wallet-friendly ideas for me? It's much appreciated.

New Zealand's South Island is fantastic. Although airfare will be the significant cost here, the U.S. dollar (as weak as it is) still does slightly better than the NZD, so lodging and food can cost slightly less if you plan carefully.

Whether you drive yourself or do a hop-on/hop-off backpacking bus, it's definitely lacking in high rise hotels (unless you are in Christchurch), barely any old ladies with fanny packs (don't call it a fanny pack in NZ or Europe - it means something TOTALLY different) unless you take a Milford Sound cruise boat.

You're able to spend signficant amounts of time outdoors (fabulous day or multi-day hiking), great photography ops and you can learn as much as you are willing about the Maori culture.

It's a very safe country as far as females travelling on their own. Locals are extremely helpful, friendly and down to earth.

I would not recommend this trip if you have only 1 week. At minimum, you need at least 2 full weeks to really see the South Island's highlights.

Why not go to Venezuela, if that's the top of your list?

Visit your library and borrow a bunch of guide books. Or go to Borders or Barnes and Noble have a cup of coffee while you browse their guide books. Start with some big picture books, or the Insight or Explorer series. Then graduate to Lonely Planet or Rough Guides for some budget friendly logistics. This question really can't be answered by anybody but you.

And you can travel solo just about anywhere you can travel as a couple (I would exempt Saudi Arabia and perhaps Iran.)

"Why not go to Venezuela, if that's at the top of your list"


Because I am afraid it would be too unsafe for a solo american female traveler like myself.

Am I wrong?

hello foxinthesnow~ heck I'm no expert on South America, but I've not heard that Venezuela is a specifically dangerous country. Is it a particular city you need to avoid? What have you found in your research that makes you think it is not safe for you to go there?

Well, my reason for wanting to go to Venezuela was to do a tour of the morichal largo river... (if you go to www.mikofish.com and click on "tours" you will see what I'm talking about)

I would have to fly into the capital, Caracas, and take the bus from there to El Tigre.

I guess I'm mostly just worried about my experience in the Caracas airport, as I've heard a lot of stories of mugging and violent crimes happen there.

If anyone's been to Venezuela recently, I'd appreciate your input.

i should have added... most of my information about crime in Venezuela comes from the US Department of State website:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1059.html

I'm not saying you should go to Venezuela. But that government website you're quoting typically makes most everyplace sound too dangerous to go.

How about Argentina instead? Buenos Aires gets great comments.

Buenos Aires... I'd like to go somewhere more off the beaten path.

And yeah, I figured as much with the US government site. After reading about a few more countries, it seems a little blown out of proportion.

(You're right about that website.) If I read there I'd be afraid to go to Puerto Vallarta Mexico, which is one of the most tame destinations available in my experience.

For off-the-beaten path destination, and young solo travel, also check over on The Thorn Tree at www.lonelyplanet.com (if you haven't yet).

As you're finding not that many people read this forum on Fodor's and there's not a SA forum. You need to find someplace with more of a following of adventure travelers or people with specific experience in the South American countries, away from the major cities.

Buena suerte!

"there's not a SA forum" - yes there is, the Latin American one.

Oops thanks for the correction Thursdaysd. I realized after I posted that Fodor's includes SA under Latin America (I read that forum for Mexico myself). I've seen Argentina mentioned often enough, less frequently Peru, but rarely Brazil, Chile, Venezuela...

Was just thinking Thorn Tree might have a much bigger readership for this particular question... seeking less traveled destination and an outdoorsy kind of trip.

Oh I agree that the thorntree has more off-the-beaten-path travelers, I just have a harder time finding useful info or interesting chitchat over there. I check fodors on a daily basis, but I only visit thorntree occasionally for specific questions.

Thanks Suze, I'll definitely check out Thorn Tree.

Glasgow, and hang out with Stuart and Stevie -- Scotland is pricey, but has great outdoors.

Why not visit the Pacific North West, if you have not already. Pretty safe, as places go, lots of scenery, hiking, city stuff, opera, water sports, etc. New cultures, well some say we are all strange here, 'tree huggers' is what they call us. At this very moment in time, I just returned from a long walk in the rain, watching the tide come in, there is a young coyote in the driftwood, and a cat...hmmmm, wonder who will win this one. The Tulip festival is on, La Conner is a great town to do solo, folks are friendly, etc.

If you need to go out of the country, maybe Portugal on the Algarve...a great place to be 'solo' or walk along the beach and meet so many folks from everywherre. lots of young people too, as it is a favorite vacation spot for young Europeans.

I'd hardly call the PNW seeing a "new culture", though there certainly is a lot of "wilderness" to explore, that's true.