Anyone travelled on their own?

FeFiDoh

FeFiDoh

FeFiDoh

Soldato
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Swindon
People may remember me asking what to do about the £6.5k work are offering me to leave now and a lot of people said to take it and run.

Well I wasnt so sure and have stayed but have yet to go back to work this year, we go back on the 12th. This is also the deadline for letting them know if I want to take the money and go or stay.

Now the other day my barber of all people came up with the idea of taking the money and to go travelling! Im currently living at home for various reasons, I have a nice amount of money already saved up so I can spend this £6.5k and not miss it as such.

Just wondering if many people here have ever travelled for a long period of time on their own? I was looking at possible gapyear sort of things where you go to australia/nz maybe.

The idea its self sounds amazing but im the prospect of travelling on my own is very daunting!
 
No I have never travelled alone but I know there are networking sites for backpackers I would have a google and see if there is anyone you could hook up with.

All I can say is DO IT, it will be probably one if not "the" greatest experience of your life.
 
R5Rich said:
I was looking at possible gapyear sort of things where you go to australia/nz maybe.
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How about you go half the distance.... such as SA or there abouts and take me :D

Or

Go a quarter of the distance.... such as egypt and take me and 2 other randomers :p

Or

Go to your local.... Take all of OCUK and have a brill night :D

In all seriousness - Go to NZ, i have been looking at re-locating there as it looks amazing. Do a whole tour of the island north to south or visa versa, lots to do that way
 
Depends how comfortable you are being alone tbh. If you are confident to go alone then go for it! If not then save it for something special :)
 
Going alone doesn't bother me much, but would prefer to share the experience with someone.

I can vouch for NZ, the only downside is you'll come back and will never be content in this country again.

Definitely travel NZ. I'm planning something similar over 6-8 months in 2010.

South to North, working in places in between. Possibly taking 2 weeks out at the end to fly out to Fiji from Auckland - then flying back to meet the parents whom will be arriving to live out there. (if all goes well).
 
I went to work in Holland at the beginning of 2008 on my own, was an amazing experience and has definitely made positive impression on my life.

I am not going to lie to you in the first few weeks it was hard being on my own / not knowing what to do with myself at weekends ect.

But as time moved on I managed to get in with a group of people I worked with who spent most of their time drinking in bars around Amsterdam, lots of fun but my work did suffer a bit lol.

One thing I really noticed while being away is that when you are put in a position that you have to make friends then it comes a lot easier than expected and quite often you find find people in the same situation as you who are more than willing to make new acquaintances.

Just don't sit in your hotel room or whatever at the beginning, get out, go to bars ect.

Hope this helps
 
I traveled the West coast of the States by myself a few years ago (a 3 month trip) and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I constantly found myself wanting to go 'WOW, look at that' to someone. Alas, I was by myself.
 
mp3kla said:
I can vouch for NZ, the only downside is you'll come back and will never be content in this country again.
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Bull-dink.

I can too vouch for NZ, but I certainly don't feel like I'm missing out being back HOME in the UK.

NZ is a lovely place to visit, but I fear it would get tiresome quickly (going off what family members who have emigrated to live out there tell me)
 
I went to Canada for about three months on my own a couple of years back without knowing anyone or indeed anything much about the city I was going to (Vancouver), as long as you make a bit of an effort to be sociable then you shouldn't find it too hard although it doesn't suit everyone of course.

If you're staying in hostels then you'll probably find lots of people in similar situations to you so it will be quite natural to organise to do things together.

//edit and don't worry too much about making a fool of yourself with people, after all you can move on the next day if you want.
 
paradigm said:
Bull-dink.

I can too vouch for NZ, but I certainly don't feel like I'm missing out being back HOME in the UK.

NZ is a lovely place to visit, but I fear it would get tiresome quickly (going off what family members who have emigrated to live out there tell me)
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Tiresome in what way?

I'm going to be finishing my degree soon, and can't think of anywhere else better to start my working life.

Being able to spend my earnt cash doing things I've always wanted to do regularly, and until now haven't been in the ideal place for it.

I.e. Snowboarding & skiing, mountain biking, white water rafting and climbing.


Moving out there for me won't be a gamble. To gamble, you have to have something to lose. I have nothing to lose, everything will still be here waiting for me if I decide to go back.
 
My cousin's on a solo round the world trip right now, she's posting her progress on a blog site, but I haven't asked her folks what the web address is :rolleyes:
 
I went to South Korea on my own for a few months. It was a total get away. I kept in contact with 2 people and it was bliss. Plus, not being able to speak any of the lingo made it even more of an oasis.

Sigh.....
 
DO IT!

Surprised by so many saying about NZ, i found it was a more relaxed, less active and fun Australia. I wouldn't limit yourself to one place however, get a plane ticket with a number of stops. Possibly one of the best stops i found in the world closed down recently which was gutting news as I wanted to go back. If you can find some way to get bar experience before you go, i found it the easiest type of job to pickup on the fly. As said previously you can move on if u make a tit of yourself, so dont have any regrets :)
 
I think my best travelling has been done alone. It gives you a chance to really (i'm going to sound all womans magaziney here) re-invent yourself. you dont need to be embarrassed at doing things you usually wouldnt! Like me, I'm quite a shy guy and i dont like to hit on girls with my friends around, but i managed to have a little romance with a girl while travelling through vienna simply because i wasnt afraid to go for it. Its one of my most treasured memories and one that wouldnt have happened if i was with a friend. You can also make your own choices and do exactly what you want, all the time. Another up side is that travelling alone allows you to meet more people because you are forced to talk to people because of solitude. While "forced" sounds like a bad thing, it really isn't. making newfriends is suprisinly easy with people in the same situation!. with a friend you do talk to other people sure, but you do stick with each other way more. And if you do want solitude, its yours. Travelling alone is the best kind of travelling really.. it may be daunting thinking about it now but as soon as you start with it you'll love it! i can not reccomend it enough. Just think: when in your life are you truly away from your normal every day to day life? even taking one friend with you doesnt allow you to escape. I'd go on...

Oh and if you do go travelling for a long time with someone you'd better make damn sure he/she is your soulmate. I managed three months this summer in Aus with my closest friend but only just made it through 6 weeks with my closest female friend. Even travelling with someone, its important to have time alone. I'd probably suggest a split from each other in an extended journey of more than three months.
 
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I spent a year traveling the US a while back. Had 2 members back in the UK who had emergency contact with me in case of anything.

I have to say I would never live there but I tell you something, it was an absolute ball. Especially in Harlem when I stepped on some 9ft tall black dude's feet in a club. Just as he was ready to plough his bucket fist into my face, he caught my accent, apologised profusely and bought me a drink. I spent the rest of the evening and the next 2 days with him and his female friends. I have to say the things the female friends and I got up to will not be told as bedtime stories with the Grandchildren. :)

DO IT!!!!
 
Just flipping do it, you will gain confidence and meet loads of people. My first few days were 'daunting' but once you get over that and push yourself to talk to strangers, you'll have an amazing time and pick up some great life skills.

So, in summary, DO IT.
 
As a first stop I recommend popping in to a local STA or Trailfinders and chatting to them for an hour or so about round-the-world flight tickets.

Be open and discuss what you like - e.g. hot/cold countries, off the beaten track beaches, natural attractions or museums, cities, clubs, ladies with ping pong balls etc., and try to trace a line round the world map. Don't just limit yourself to flights in and out of the same airport - try to find overland routes that might be of interest too. I wish I had done more journeys overland than by air.
 
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