Going travelling - alone - any advice

Pinkchick03

Hey all,

I am strongly and seriously considering going travelling early next year.
I want to go to Japan first and foremost, but might take in Thailand (visiting friends) and Austrailia (maybe!).
Am I mad going travelling alone?
Is there anything I should know?
How do you meet people when you're away?
My mum's friend can set me up with a job and apartment in Japan - and I am getting down to learning some before I go!
Other than that any tips or advice I should know?

Thanks in advance!

smk135

hey Pinkchick,

I'm leaving on the 26th to travel alone too, and it's the best thing to do in my opinion, if you feel comfortable with it.

i know for sure that i'll meet people cause i'll be staying in hostels and everybody meets everybody in those places. otherwise, if you have to get an appartment straight away then hit the Irish pubs, as much as i hate doing that, it definitely works and they generally look out for you too!

best of luck!

Cheiftan

Pinkchick , best move you'll make is to travel on your own.
I did it for 8 months and I have to say it was great. For sure there are moments of loneliness but the good times by far outweigh the bad.
What you have to remember at all times is that you do what you wanna do , all the time.
Going on group tours/ treks/walks etc are a great way of meeting people , getting the travel agency type mini buses here there & everywhere are also good for meeting fellow travellers.
The only downside is that you have to drag your bag to the jacks at the end of a long bus journey rather than tell your travelling companion to mind it for you but thats hardly the end of the world
Irish bars are good to a certain extent but cast your net wide is what i say:D
Just go for it , you won't regret it :cool:

muppetkiller

the only way to travel is alone !!!
I did for 4 years and loved every second of it..You meet way more people this way and you get to decide where to go to during the trip
Have a ball !!!!

spanner

I am thinking about doing the same. I am gonna take the SSIA money and use that. I am a little aprehensive about the whole thing but sure see how it goes.

Dave!

Doing the same this summer, 3 months in Thailand! Scary!

empirix

DaveMcG wrote:

Doing the same this summer, 3 months in Thailand! Scary!

3 months in Thailand is nothing and you certainly won't be alone, whether you choose a foreign backpacker or a thai girlie - sooner or later you will have company!!

And to the original poster, just have common sense and you'll be fine and if you don't wgo tell your ma's friend i'll take the job and a[partment - happy days!

I travelled around Asia and OZ/NZ as well as europe in my time, about 3.5 - 4 years in total, never got into any bother at all(i am a big bloke), the scariest part for me was getting a high speed catermeran ferry from Samui to mainland Thailand in the monsoon season, **** how they can sail that boat with such monster waves amazes me!!!! most definitely never again!

Enjoy and don't worry and also practice safe sex wherever you go!

Dave!

empirix wrote:

3 months in Thailand is nothing and you certainly won't be alone, whether you choose a foreign backpacker or a thai girlie - sooner or later you will have company!!

It's my first time abroad that wasn't a family trip though! So I'm a little apprehensive. I can afford the 3 months (or will be able to), but not sure if I should go for 2 instead..... hmmm... needs more thought

Cheiftan

Don't be even thinking that way , go for the full three months , 2 months me hole!!

Pinkchick03

Hi all,

I've actually applied to the Nova Group to teach in Japan! I've been accepted! Going in February - can't wait! They're organising my visa, job, accomodation, health insurance and everything! So happy! Can't wait From there I can go traveling to Asia and Austraila WWWOWWWHOOO!

conor_mc

George Hook on NewsTalk 106 does a travel slot where they've covered travelling solo in the past. You can email them and ask for the notes. Email address is on the website, along with the full list of available notes.

Rabies

Pinkchick, I'm doing it right now. Left Ireland, went to Hong Kong for while. Moved from there to Auckland, NZ. Staying here until mid Dec, then I'm going to Perth, Australia to get drunk for christmas and New Year, then back to NZ. Prob tackle the southern island then.

Pinkchick03

Thanks ConorMC!
you sound like you're having a blast Rabies!
Roll on February!!!

hussey

A huge amount of people travel alone, out of my exp in Oz most will be alone at one point in their journey

Alot come over alone, then meet up with people in hostels and the like, and would stick with them

I did alot of travelling around Oz on my own, and it's so easy to meet people.
something simple like 'So where have you come from' can start a friendship
it really is that easy!!