Starting to get scared!
 

My tickets are all ready, and now it's starting to sink in. I'm less than 2 months away from my solo trip. I'm having alot of obstacles, from family calling me crazy and unreasonable, to my own doubts and fears. Not too mention low cash reserves (which is why I'm keeping things as cheeeaap as possible... we'll see how that works out).

I know if I keep a postive, open attitude (maybe even be a little friendly) I'll do fine, but I'm still scared nonetheless. Any words of advice for me?

2 months away and you're freaking out. ;)
You'll be fine. What are the things that are concerning you? Don't listen to people that have never travelled alone. If I did, I'd never have left and visited the many places I have.

When they tell you you're crazy, just smile and say "Yes, I know." Then just let it roll off your back. I guarantee that when you get back and tell them all your stories, that they won't call you crazy anymore.

I find for me that planning eases my anxiety a bit, so I plan, re-plan, and then re-re-plan my packing list, etc.

It's a little scary the first time but it's great travelling on your own. If you have time do a solo trip in your state/province. Then you'll feel more confident when it comes to the big adventure.

Read travel blogs and ask questions in forums on how to budget. Everyone figures it out eventually. I would say make a daily budget and try to stick to it. Remember it all depends on what country your going to. Eastern europe is generally cheaper than western and so forth.

You can do it. Have confidence in yourself and everything will turn out alright. The tickets are bought, your locked in to going, flick that worry off your shoulders and stand tall. I am going, I know what I'm doing. Remember following your heart and dreams is a good thing!! Don't let what other people say bring you down. If I did that I would have never started travelling.

I would recommend booking hostels all the way. If your worried about hostels then go visit one in your neighborhood. Meet the people, check out the room and see that it's not quite what the stigma says about it. Then you'll meet new people at hostels and won't always be travelling alone.

for a no charge hostel booking website plus travel blogs check out

www.nomadwannabe.com

I remember when I was scared of hostels, then a friend dared me to stay in one and I loved it. Usually I end up going out with the people I meet to dinner or to do sightseeing. It's alot cheaper than staying in hotels and being alone in one sucks.

Cheers,

Theresa
www.nomadwannabe.com

Once you've gone, you'll quickly see that it wasn't nearly as hard as it seemed. It will shock you how easy it all is. Be proud!

Corshi~ How wonderful to hear you are going ahead with your plans!! Words of advice? 1) Everyone's scared the first time. 2) Don't take advice from people who have never traveled before.

Corshi -- make sure you have your accommodation for the very first stop confirmed before boarding the plane. Also check out the tourist information center before you do anything else upon arrival. There is always city card for tourists that is real value for money (if you plan to do a lot of sight-seeing).

Smile, learn a few local phrases and you will be fine. Lower your expectations -- if you're influenced by perfect photos in travel guides -- a few notches and be open-minded to enjoy the good and the not-so-great, and you'll fare even better ;-) Happy traveling!

A little voice keeps telling me that if I don't meet alot of people on my trip, it will be a failure. I'm trying to tell myself that I'm going just to spend some time alone exploring and taking pictures, going on a little adventure. But all my brain wants to do is think about things to make me stressed out.

I read stories about happy socializings on solo trips and feel like my trip has to be like that. But I want to have fun, and talking to random people just isn't what I do! So I think right now I gotta get over my preconceived notions of what a solo adventure should be and focus on keeping an open mind and having fun.

After all, it's my trip. I should travel the way I want to, right?

And thanks for the replies and support. Especially to suze and toedtoes, you guys were kind of critical of my plans at first (a very good thing, it made me change my thoughts about everything). Thanks a million.

Critical is what I do... :-d

Seriously, while I have spoken to strangers during my travels, I wouldn't say I've met a lot. I talked to the volunteer at a museum, or to the waiter at the restaurant. On a trip cruise, I talked to the couple sitting at my table (actually it was theirs and I crashed).

So, what I'm trying to say is relax. Tell that little voice to just shut up. You'll end up talking to just the right amount of people on your trip - not one too many and not one too few.

Trust me, you will not find yourself on your deathbed years from now regretting that you didn't talk to just one more person on your first solo trip; you'll be thinking how glad you are that you went and how you remember with fondness with the people that you did meet.

Hi Corshi,
I'm also taking my first solo trip. I'm going to Spain in a few weeks. Don't be scared & don't worry! I was a little worried initially, but now as my trip approaches, I am getting very excited!

Just think of what a wonderful adventure it's going to be. Don't place any expectations on yourself - just go & have a good time. Whether or not that means being friendly or not, just do what works for you & I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Corshi, I'm going through the same thing, right along with the friends & family thinking I'm nuts to worrying about the cash in case I get pickpocketed. I'm 7 weeks away from leaving and every time I start getting excited about the experience, I get the OH MY GOSH WHY ARE YOU GOING ALONE from someone (usually coupled with "can you bring me back ...?") But ya know, I'm not going to let it stop me. I figure bad things can happen even if I stayed home, and this way, no matter what happens, I'll always have Paris. If I have a couple of rough spots or momentarily scary spots, they will be outnumbered by the great experiences and the memories to last forever. Go for it! From reading the boards here, we're not the first ones to feel like this, but I haven't read many regrets for going for it! :)

I don't know what we can say to help you stop focusing on meeting other people during your trip. And especially please don't judge the success of it by if you do, or think it's a failure if you do not.

Truly, I don't know how to talk you out of those thoughts. Because for me they are so completely unimportant and have nothing to do with why I travel solo.

Maybe you could start obsessing about your packing or if you're going to get lost or something else to take your mind off the idea of having to meet people along the way (only kind of kidding you!).

When I did my fast brisk through Germnay I didn't find time to really socialize but it was still by far one of my favorite places. I was so concerned about what the reactions would be of a single BLACK female roaming alone. People were pretty freakin awesome,super helpful. Those that weren't,older folks that looked at me kind of wild eyed,I think they didn't know english and just were hoping I'd disappear and stop asking them questions. :D
Yes Germany is in my top two. :) ((y))

Corshi - Take a deep breath....exhale. Trust me, everything will be just fine. I was in your shoes once. My family thought I was nuts..blah blah blah.

But once I made it to Italy (a place I had longed to see for I can't remember how long) I was just so in awe that I was finally there, all my fears were gone. I am sure jet lag might have been a small part of it. Now I am planning my 3rd solo trip in less than 2 years.

As for meeting people, just strike up conversations with people. You will be surprised how friendly people around the world are.

But here is a suggestion that worked for me on the last 2 trips. Start a thread on the Europe board asking anybody if they are interested in a GTG. Be it for dinner, a drink or to see the sites together. List the cities and the dates where you will be.

I did this for my first trip to Rome and it snowballed into a lunch at a local couples house that had 18 people from Fodors and Slowtrav. Talk about a great time.

Trust me, you will have a great trip!!

Tom

As for my family, when I called them from Italy, I got the same reply alot...'I hate you, but bring me back some wine'LOL

Corshi - You will have a great time.

I traveled alone for the first time almost 10 years ago; a business trip to New Zealand followed by 3 weeks of solo travel around the country. A rental car but no hotel reservations. I was scared, but determines cause I didn't want to waste the opportunity (or my company's free airfare).

It opened my eyes to the joy of solo travel. I loved it! I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. I could spend hours shooting photos on a beach as the sun set without having to cater to whiny travel companions that want to eat or check into the hotel or go shopping. Some days, I would reach out and meet other travelers which was great and other days I was perfectly content with just being alone.

Since then I have done many other solo travels, sometimes weeks, sometimes just weekends. Drove all over Wales on a weekend between business meetings in England and have driven solo cross the US twice now.

I still occasionally travel with friends or family, but mostly my circle of friends and family rarely have the time, money or desire to travel with me.

Go. Don't stress about it. And most important, have a blast!

There's nothing to fear except fear itself... There, I said it; sorry, I just can't resist it :-))

Seriously, Corshi, don't put such unwarranted pressure on yourself. Any trip -- solo or with a tour group --is not supposed to be measured by how many people one meets along the way or how well one socializes. It's about the total experience. Go forth.. and venture...!

You will really do yourself a favor if you can get over putting so much pressure on yourself about socializing on a first trip.

My priorities are about seeing someplace new, getting out and experiencing something new... who cares what everyone else is doing?

I agree! Just focus on having an "experience" and leave the details (like the experience "of meeting lots of people") out of it.

In all honesty, what you get out of this trip will likely be something entirely different than what you think you will going in. But, that's not going to be a lesser experience - just different.

Just go with the flow and let life lead you to the appropriate place instead of trying to force yourself on the wrong path.

Toedtoes makes an excellent point!! Never ONCE in my life of travel (about 30 trips to date) was the trip ANYthing like what I expected it to be when I was day-dreaming about it at home in anticipation.