Travelling Solo... Tips?Stories

sunflower_sal

Hey guys

I'm planning a solo world trip for January next year. Plan is to volunteer in Thailand for 3 mnths then continue to Oz, New Z, Fiji, San Fran, Toronto.

Getting a bit Jittery about the solo aspect of the trip, has anyone any experience in heading off to lands unknown alone? I'm going solo and as a female I'd love some feedback from fellow ramblers, or even people who are planning solo trips themselves.

Thanks a mill
Big Love
xx Sal

mac123

i think you will be fine. its very easy to meet fellow travellers when your away! you will also make many friends doing the volunteer work and some great bonds im sure! enjoy it..

Ninja_scrotum

HI sunflower_sal,

Im glad to know there are other irish people planning to wander around the world alone! My friends think people like us are crazy. Maybe we are!

Why have you decided to travel alone? How much $$$$ do you hope to have? And will you be working with a volunteer company? Who are they?


I am also planning a solo round the world trip! plans are in the very early stages... Start with volunteering in Africa (Malawi or Uganda) then travel to some neighbour countries.....

Then more volunteering in South America somewhere! There are these Amazon Research stations (lots in Peru) in the absolute middle of nowhere that take on volunteers to help them with day to day duties around the rainforest & station! You know, normal stuff like studying monkeys etc!!! After the Research Station job is done, I will do some traveling around.

I hope to use www.helpx.net to save some money on my travels also, you should look it up. Work in various places around the world (including fiji I think....) in exchange for food & accomm. Another one like this is www.wwoof.org

Hopefully finish in Japan, where I can hook up with relatives and stay for a few months, maybe longer, teaching english. They pay you well in Japanland. (I will have a Tefl cert by then....)

This trip will definitely last longer than a year. I plan to save close to 15,000e. Now this is 100% subject to change, as it is all happening in about a years time!!!

sunflower_sal

Hey Ninja
That sounds like quite a trip you've got planned there. I'm hoping to volunteer with Usit for the 3 mnths in Thailand so in getting that I'll be covered for accom and food. Then onto Oz where I had planned on working my way along thanks a mill for the help I'll definately check out the links.

The reason I'm going alone is cause everyone I know is either married to their jobs or their relationships and if I waited around for a travel buddy I think I'll be too old. Been wanting to go for 2 years now so the feet are just getting far too itchy!

I'll have about €10k going hopefully so hoping that will cover me along with pennies earned along the way. Staying with family in Canada too so that will take away some of the cost.

Which volunteer org are you going with, I've been looking around, I chose Usit cause it seems the most flexble but I could be missing out on some.

Thanks again for the message!
It's good to talk to a fellow crazy rambler!:p

Spider_Baby

I went travelling with Friends originally but ended up travelling Thailand, Oz, NZ and Mexico alone.

...you'll be fine

You'll end up picking up travel buddys along the way that you'll travel with for a few days or even weeks.

neon_glows

Sunflower when are you leaving, im going solo too but in same boat, a little worried.

Ninja_scrotum

sunflower_sal wrote:

Which volunteer org are you going with, I've been looking around, I chose Usit cause it seems the most flexble but I could be missing out on some.

Im not set with any volunteer org yet, i would like to volunteer through www.rippleafrica.com but there are hundreds of agencies you can go with, i keep finding new ones everyday!! So I just have to find the best one.

at least I know the worst one already - the i-to-i crowd, have you heard of them? A few weeks ago i asked for an information leaflet, and they posted me out a few glossy, expensive looking magazines that were like tourist brochures. And they keep on posting me bits and pieces. Today I got a "save a panda" postcard.... They have too much money for themselves. Their fees are a rip-off methinks.

ecoteer.com is a good one, it has some volunteer opportunities that give you food and board and are absolutely free (no fees, no nothing!) although I haven't had time to scour it fully for terms n conditions etc...

volunteersouthamerica.net will give you an idea of just how many volunteer groups are out there... I know you're not going to SA, but at the end of this page they have an international links section which is handy.

you could possibly hop your way across a continent and pay very little for accom & food with these links!!!


About the solo-travel aspect, I'm sure you will be fine. Have a look at this forum, it has much more information than boards.ie for the traveler

And also this... http://www.bootsnall.com/guides/solo-travel-guide/

Haha! I've given you so many links you'll be stuck to the screen all day!!! You've plenty o' time to read them anyways!

And hey Spider Baby.... why did you end up on your own when you traveled with friends?? And how was mexico alone?

sunflower_sal

Thanks a mill for all the info guys
Specially you ninja That bootsnall site is great!
I'll need a week to look through everything lol


Seem to be getting the same vibe off lots of people, that the nerves and worries won't reflect reality. I'm starting to get excited actually going to be booking it all in the next few days methinks.

Planning on going in mid/late January neon! Was originally hoping to go in the first week but its considerably cheaper if you go two or three weeks in so the purse strings are dictating that one!

Yeah spiderbaby how was mexico alone? I was hoping to cover SA as part of my initinerary but don't have the funds to do it all and I think SA alone would make me even more nervous than I am! Reallly wanna go though!

Spider_Baby

sunflower_sal wrote:

Thanks a mill for all the info guys
Specially you ninja That bootsnall site is great!
I'll need a week to look through everything lol


Seem to be getting the same vibe off lots of people, that the nerves and worries won't reflect reality. I'm starting to get excited actually going to be booking it all in the next few days methinks.

Planning on going in mid/late January neon! Was originally hoping to go in the first week but its considerably cheaper if you go two or three weeks in so the purse strings are dictating that one!

Yeah spiderbaby how was mexico alone? I was hoping to cover SA as part of my initinerary but don't have the funds to do it all and I think SA alone would make me even more nervous than I am! Reallly wanna go though!

Only place I went to in Mexico was Mexico City. Wish I'd gone further afield but was soooo low on cash. The city itself was a wee bit sleezy. I stood out like a sore thumb with my pasty skin and blonde hair!
Didnt have any major problems though. Worst was having my ass grabbed at traffic lights, oh and a sleazy guy was blowing on the back of my neck at another traffic light, yuck.
Oh, did get followed too! Guy followed me down the street so popped into the shop to lose him but he followed me in. It was really weird. Not sure what he was up to. Managed to lose him after circling the shop 4 times with him following me, then I just stopped and looked at him until he walked off. Weirdo.

Mexico city is pretty cool though, well worth a visit. 5 days is probably long enough though. Theres pyramids nearby, plenty of Nacho Libre style boxing matches to go to and plenty of Cantinas for tequila drinking

dory

I´m doing what you´re planning on doing at the moment. Started travelling in June in Brazil, did two months volunteer work in Peru and learned Spanish. Then worked my way up north and am now in Nicaragua. I too didn´t want to wait for friends who were busy with work and things.
Travelling alone in the summer months was fine. But now in Central America there aren´t that many tourists. I always had people to travel with in Peru and Ecuador but since arriving in Panama I´ve pretty much been on my own. And it can get lonely and boring. Sun sets at 5.30 and some places are too dangerous to go out in after that. I´ve had a few long nights inside with my book. I´ve decided to stay here in Nicaragua for a while and forget about going north as I´d planned so I can work or learn or do something!
Good thing though is that I have total independence, and I find I spend more money when I´m with other people because they always want to go drinking and to nice restaurants. The people travelling for a month or so don´t understand that us year long people have to budget!

Ok, I think I´ve written too much already. I´m blogging about my experience as a solo femaler if you want to check it out. It´s at http://blogs.bootsnall.com/cybersusst
It´s very far behind at the moment but I intend on sorting that out while here in Granada.

Have fun!

sunflower_sal

Thanks Dory, .

It's so good to get first hand reports from people. You're so brave heading off to South America on your own , I didn't have the cahoonas. Looks like it's definately going to be Thailand now for 3 mnths and the rest to be confirmed, I'm getting really nervous now.

Nervous/excited though not sure which outweighs the other! :rolleyes:

Gaz

Ive travelled quite a few places on my own , its adds to the excitement.You ALWAYS meet other travellers as there is always some sort of backpacker trail to follow (even in the middle of Iran as i found out)

You get to do what you want when you want. Seriously its great and you will make some great friends along the way (you will also meet some right nutters)

Have fun !

sunflower_sal

Thanks for all tthe great advice guys. I'm just waiting to hear confirmation on my volunteer programme and will be booking everything around that,

It's great to have people who've been there that can advise ya (put minds at rest)

x
I'll keep ye posted on how I go

dory

You´re not by any chance paying for the volunteer opportunity are you? Don´t mean to stick my butt in here but in Ecuador I met two ladies who were travelling alone and happened to bump into each other in our hostel before heading off to their exact same volunteer place. One didn´t pay, the other paid 900 UK pounds, because she´d booked with an agency.
Just thought I´d let you know!

sunflower_sal

Seriously?!

I actually have paid for it already €700 for the 3 mnth thailand volunteer project with usit.. I was humming and hawing for ages about it and I couldn't find anywhere that did projects like that long-term that didn't have some fee involved (usually a grand upwards)...

I figured because it covers accom and food for 3 mnths it wasn't too bad. Haven't spoken to anyone who has done this through usit though so no chance for feedback

Oh i feel plebish now!

dory

Ah no that´s fine if they´re providing food and lodging. Some places you pay just to have a company select a placement for you, but USIT are ok. Usually you only get food and accom paid for if you´re a doctor or engineer and they really want you to work for them. So don´t feel plebish!

sunflower_sal

Ahh cheers i don't feel quite so plebish now.
Might though when I get there and it's not what I expected sure we'll wait and see!

GerryRyan

I'm doing the J1 thing solo next Summer - I know it's nearly a year away but I'm organizing and saving already.

I'm searching through american sites and message boards looking for jobs and accom. - but haven't a clue where to start.

The initial organizing will always be the hard part - good luck with it.

Valmont

sunflower_sal wrote: »

Hey guys

I'm planning a solo world trip for January next year. Plan is to volunteer in Thailand for 3 mnths then continue to Oz, New Z, Fiji, San Fran, Toronto.

Getting a bit Jittery about the solo aspect of the trip, has anyone any experience in heading off to lands unknown alone? I'm going solo and as a female I'd love some feedback from fellow ramblers, or even people who are planning solo trips themselves.

Thanks a mill
Big Love
xx Sal

There is a stigma in Ireland about traveling solo. I've been around Europe a fair bit on my own and I seriously had a more memorable and exciting trip than when I was with my friends (which was still good). I find with a group you'll constantly be opting for the lowest common denominator but when you're on your own, spontaneity and changing ideas etc... is a great option to have.

My mates want to go to San Diego for the J1 and I don't so I'm going to set out solo again and stay on the east coast. I really think that when traveling if you go outside your comfort zone (ie. going solo), the possibilities become endless. good luck!

littlesurfer

Hi,

I´m travelling solo in south america at the moment and i´l definately be going solo in future if i get the choice. Its so much handier for meeting people and also you get to go where you want when you want.

I think if you have a bit of common sense and don´t go wandering at night and also don´t have your camera or your boobs on show then youll be fine.

You´ll also be surprised when you get there at the number of solo travellers out there!!! Theres lots!! and lots of them women too!! I´m having no problems and i´d reccomend it too you,. Two mega thumbs up!

JerseyShore

Maybe you should go with a friend...

sunflower_sal

Thanks Ya'll

If going with a friend was an otion, the post would not exist but I'm feeling pretty good about it now thanks to everyone's tips and suggestions.

Cheers u guys