I decided that I really want to take a vacation alone (or with a tour group) in late April for about 10 days. The thing is I'm a little unsure of where to go. I'm debating between Italy, Turkey and some other place. I just really need to get away before I start up my classes in May.

Any ideas?

A part of me doesn't want to go alone because I just don't think it's safe especially at night. But I also have NEVER travelled alone & wanted to try the solo experience. And the other part of me wants to go on a tour group with people my age. I'm 29.

I've heard of Contiki. Any other tours group that cater to people my age? How do prices compare?

I need to go somewhere & just get out of here for a little.

Maybe you can do both? The first part of the time with a group, and then some time on your own? You should be quite safe in both Italy and Turkey, but traveling with a group first would help you adjust to the country without adjusting to traveling solo at the same time.

I'm not the Contiki age group, but I seem to remember reading that it's likely to a big, party type group. If that's what you want, fine, but it's not the best way to experience a new country - you can party at home. You could look at Intrepid, or the tour companies offered by Adventure Center. I like the Rick Steves' tours, especially for less experienced travelers, but the age range is likely to be much higher.

You might find some ideas on boldlygosolo.com. I recently wrote a list of ten and a half tips for being alone at night in a foreign city.
You will find some entries that include tour operators whose trips you might enjoy. My advice is, if you want to find people in their 20's, look for trips that are less expensive and less luxurious.
I find the more expensive trips tend to draw an older crowd. The best thing to do really is contact companies and ask the age range of people who have signed up for future tours you might be interested in. When they say "we have people signed up who range in age from their 20's to their 60's," ask them to be more specific. How MANY people in their 20's or 30's?
If you don't want to go with a group but don't want to be on your own at night, think about doing something like a language program or dance classes, or something else you're interested in, in one of the countries you're considering. For instance, a lot of people go on their own to Buenos Aires to learn to tango. You will meet people that way and likely find dinner companions and people to go out with. If not, you still have met people during classes. Good luck choosing. boldlygosolo.com

Do not take a Contiki tour. I have taken 2 of them (Spain/Portugal and Ireland) and had a blast - but they cater to a younger age group. Contiki does offer travel from 18-35 years old, but the majority of the (very fun) people on my tours were in their very early 20s. Lots of drinking, many late nights, and very early mornings.

I just returned from my very first solo trip - a quick 4 night trip to Puerto Vallarta. It was one of my best trips yet. Good luck!

MissBlonde~ An easy first solo trip in Italy would be going to Venice and Florence. Venice/Rome or Florence/Rome. If you stick to cities then you can get around by the train and won't have to rent a car. It would be a fairly straight-forward trip to plan.

I am not certain why you think going alone is not safe, so I'm not sure how to reassure you about that.

For me a tour, especially like Contiki, would not be what to do since you say you "really want to take a vacation alone"... you're not alone, you're on a bus with a bunch of strangers!!

Let's not be so negative, suze. On a Contiki tour you're on a bus full of fun new friends!

All kidding aside, while it wouldn't appeal to me (I did not much enjoy the few bus tours I've been on), it might be something appropriate for the OP. Or, as others have suggested, combine a tour with a solo visit to a city and have it both ways.

Maybe if we know why you're interested in Italy and Turkey, we can give you more specific ideas for possible destinations. You say that you have never traveled solo--but it sounds like you'd like some time to yourself. I would choose to travel solo, but I would line up a few small interesting tours---in my case I'd take a walking tour of eateries, etc.

I personally love Rome--- but I love cities. What about you?

I agree with Suze - what would make you feel unsafe?

Italy would be a great place to go solo - the Italian men are very friendly in bars/restaurants - not pushy, at least in my experience.

I went to Spain for 2 weeks by myself and never felt unsafe walking around at night.

If you are alert and street smart, there is no reason to feel unsafe just because you are overseas. Unless you would also feel unsafe in NY, Chicago, or Washington, DC? (I have live in all 3 of those).

If you have street smarts and use common sense in the U.S., you're well equipped to travel alone in Europe -even at night.

I've travelled alone and had a great time because locals are more likely to stop and talk to you (something they may or may not do if you are surrounded by a group of fellow tourists). I have also done tours (Stray in New Zealand). With the tours, you never know what you are going to get. It could be a busload of people who want to sleep through the sights and treat the whole trip like one long pub crawl, or you could wind up meeting some great people to hang around with.

You may want to consider travelling on your own using public transportation to larger cities, base yourself in a city for a few days and then take day tours.

If it's your first trip to Italy and you have just 10 days, you could easily spend 3 days each just seeing Venice, Florence and Rome.

If you go alone, consider staying in hostels - I met a lot of people staying at hostels in their late 20s/mid 30s when I backpacked around the world on my own.

Traveling alone is fun!! What I usually do visit tourist office/info. center when I arrive at my destination. Many times I met other solo travelers and you ended up exploring new places together. I stayed at hostels before but hostel can be quite tricky though. I was lucky I was paired with 3 nice travelers but the guy across the room from us was a drunk. Either way, just use common sense and you will have the time of your life!

I just got back from 10-days solo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Had a GREAT trip. No problems with safety, day or night. I talked with lots of interesting people (if you are open to it, I believe this happens more when you are alone than if you are traveling with someone else).

i have travelled a little on my own and i felt uneasy at night
i wasnt of the age where i needed to go out nightclubbing
i remember even in london thinking to go to a movie round picadilly but figuring it would end too late and not wanting to go back to the hostel on my own
so i just had early nights and got up super early
i was well rested and took advantage of the lack of early morning crowds
but would i like to do it again?
nope
i would if there was noone to go with but it's not for me anymore
if youre younger there's always the chance to find new friends-thats easy
but it's the sharing of the memories later that i love so much

No reason to be nervous in London at night. Lots of other people about! I'm now 60 (alas!) and still happily traveling on my own, and have no problems going to the theater in London.

Flip side, I never traveled solo when I was younger because I was able to find friends who wanted to go. It's now that I am older (50+) that I feel most comfortable traveling alone.

It's easier to fly under the radar, people are nicer to me now that I am older. I'm not looking to make new friends when I am traveling. I'm comfortable doing things on my own (I look for a nice cafe comfortable walking distance from the hotel, bookstores, etc. for evening entertainment).

I am 34 and have done three trips on my own. Two clompetely solo (the west coast of North America and the UK) and one tour (Africa with A&K).

As comfortable as I was in the US/Canada and the UK, there are certain things I would do 'just in case'. I tried to look people in the eye and make people laugh every day- they would be much more likely to remember me if I went missing. I also made sure I left a paper trail- using my credit card wherever possible.

For my solo trips I am currently much more comfortable with going places that have English as their native tongue, but I would also consider the more 'touristy' areas of other countries.

Why do I like going it alone? Because I can go where I want, stay where I want, eat where I want... and pay as much or as little as I want!

I think you will be happy you went solo. No need to worry about leaving a paper trail of your every move. You can leave your travel plans with family and keep in contact with internet cafes. When I travel by myself, I tend to return to the hotel after supper because that meets my comfort level. I tend to get up early and hit the pavement running so am tired after supper anyway. If you are hesitant, I would suggest Ireland as an excellent first solo trip. People are friendly. No language barrier. Except in a few places in Dublin in the middle of the night, you are as safe as any person could hope to be.

Guess I should check the posters original date! Miss Blonde I hope you had a great trip!

That's OK grapes. It's rare that a poster is the only one with the same question. Others reading the forum can benefit from good advice on the topic, even if MissBlonde has come and gone (or not).