Teenager travelling solo

LegacyUser

Hi!
I'm 19 and very very wanderlusty. I finally have a job and so I have money to travel and I really want to. The main issue is that most of my friends don't have jobs so they can't afford to go, and truth be told I'm not that keen on being around someone day after day (even for a short period of time) unless we already get along brilliantly and know each other really well.
So I'm considering going to the UK on my own for a few days, but, and I know this is a strange question, but is this weird? I know most people my age wouldn't consider travelling solo, and I wouldn't even mention the idea to my friends because I know they'd think it's really weird.
It's something I'd like to do but I don't want to seem like a loner or anything. I'm kind of afraid that if I do this it's somehow a way of accepting being alone? My last relationship didn't end so well so I just tend to prefer my own company mostly, but I'm afraid that by doing things like this I'm cementing being alone. And it's also not something that I want to do if it really does make me seem strange.
Should I do it or shouldn't I? I'd genuinely like as many opinions about this as possible, if you think it's a weird thing to do and that you'd never do it then please say so, or if you think it's perfectly normal they please say so. I'd be grateful for as many different views about this as possible. I'm torn between what I want to do but what other people my age would perceive of me doing this. I don't want to be tarred as a loner forever. And before it's suggested I can't not worry about what people think of me, I do care about what they think.

nowyouresix

You are young, go and do what you want while you can. Don't be worrying about what others think of you, it will only hold you back, now , and in life!
Good luck!

OkayWhatever

I'm 19 too and I don't think it's weird at all! My boyfriend's going on a j1 for the summer so won't see him for 3 months.. I LOVE travelling, so i'm sitting here planning my trip away. On my own.

YES, I love my friends to bits, but I think I just want to do it by myself. And I don't care what anybody says.
If you go away on your own you can do what you want, when you want. Eat where you want, go to bed when you want and wake up when you want. Everything is on your own terms, you don't have to consult anybody else. Which is part of the appeal for me.

You're (we're :P ) 19! Now's the time to do things like this. Go for it, you might regret it if you don't!


DO IT DO IT DO IT :P

qwertytlk

Im 25, i like my own company, to an extent, but i dont think i would do this. Its not that i think ite weird or that a person who travels alone is a loner, its more that it wouldnt be my cup of tea. If people seem shocked or suprsed at you doing this, then i think the majority of them would only be this way as they would be suprised someone so young wanted to travel alone. Also they may be worried for you, but if anyone starts calling you weird or a loner then i wouldnt listen as they are just being stupid. I actually admire you for having the confidence st your age to want to do this. The only thing i would say is just to make sure your safe as you may be (seen as) vunreable. Not that you are, but you catch my drift-safety in numbers and all that. So just make sure your staying somewhere safe and dont go off with any stangers alone etc. I dont mean to scare you by saying that, i just think its something you need to be aware of.
Anyway fair play, enjoy your trip:)

stick-dan

OP I'm 24 and in about two weeks time i am heading off for a little while to Berlin on my own. Exact same situation as you, where my friends don't have jobs that can allow them to travel. Kudos to you for having a job that will afford you to travel a little I wouldn't worry a tad about what anyone thinks. I came to the conclusion a short while ago that if i was to wait on everyone I wanted to travel with I'd never get to go traveling. People just can't afford it now days. At least travelling on your own will afford you to do exactly what it is you want to do on your vacation.Have fun.

meoklmrk91

Off you go, don't let what anyone thinks or will think hold you back. No point in looking back in years to come thinking that you should have gone and didn't.

LegacyUser

gogogogogogogogogogogogo,

It's not weird, strange or bizarre. You'll meet people along the way, hate some, love some, forget some and maybe make some life long friends some.

It'll give you great confidence and an understanding of yourself most people wouldn't get the chance to find.

Anyone who thinks it's weird etc might just not have the nerve to do it, or as poster said, just not their cup of tay.

Being happy in your own company is the main thinkg as there are many out there who couldn't spend 5 minutes with themselves without starting an argument.

Go to UK and see how you like it. A little at a time and you'll find your way.

LegacyUser

I went interrailing solo at the age of 19, best time of my life. I recommend staying in hostels, i met some wonderful people in those places and ended up going to places i otherwise wouldn't have based on advice from people i met. I say go for it. Caution is a given, but have fun too!

MadameGascar

I high tailed it out of here as soon as I could at 18, one of the best things I've ever done. I went completely alone and wouldn't have went with anybody because I wanted to do it my own way. Some of the great experiences I had wouldn't have happened if I were with friends. You'll end up meeting plenty of people doing the same as yourself. You seem like you're mad for a bit of adventure so don't hold back!

littlebug

Go for it! For my first solo trip I was 20 though I'd been away for a summer before that with a friend. There's absolutely nothing wrong with travelling on your own and a few days in the uk will be an easy start to your journeys given no language difference etc. Advice I would give would be to plan the details well ahead in terms of transport and accomodation, know exactly where you're going and how you're going to get there when you get off the plane or boat, know where you're staying and how you're getting there. Have maps of the areas you're going to and public transport system etc. Choose accomodation and area carefully, stay sober and keep your wits about you

I remember one trip where I spent the first 2 weeks with someone I hadn't known very well beforehand and then a week by myself. Most of my happy memories (20 years on) of that journey were of a blissful week in Prague on my own

There's nothing wrong with being content in your own company. That independence has stood me well in later years. Being alone/ single never bothered me and made transitions (from relationships, moving cities, jobs etc) easier over the years.
Now I can barely leave the house without some combination of husband, kids, dog with me and while I now wouldn't have it any other way I'm very glad to have taken the opportunities I did when I could.

Chinafoot

I spent a large amount of time in Australia, on my own, at 19. While I went there initially with others I left them soon after and headed to another part of Australia. There is nothing weird or wrong about travelling on your own.

You're only talking about a few days in England, it's not exactly going half way around the world. I don't see why you would even need to ask if it's "normal" or "weird". If you want to get away for a little break then go for it. Try giving so much weight to what other people think of you. Go and enjoy yourself.

Nyan Cat

I travelled to new zealand alone.
Been to the uk alone frequent as well as belgium. I was 23 and 25. Not weird aT all.traveling wITH people has its down sides too.
the way i looked at it is, if i sat around till someone was free to join me id never go anywhere.
ass has been said. You meet people when on your journey

Stavro Mueller

You'll always have people who think doing things like that on your own is weird. These might often be the same people who are incapable of going to the jacks in the pub on their own and would never be seen dead going to the cinema by themselves.

I know people who've gone travelling by themselves and they're certainly not anti-social freaks with no friends and odd personal habits. Far from it. You're dead right to take this baby step and see how you get on in the UK. Fair play to you for having the guts to do this. There are people who don't have someone to travel with for all sorts of reasons and as a consequence they never get to go to the places they'd like to.

You sound pretty mature and sensible. As long as you keep your wits about you and don't do anything stupid, you'll be perfectly fine. Enjoy.

LegacyUser

I am older than you and I like to travel. I have gone on my own to New York, Washington, Boston and to the Uk a few times. I did this as some of my friends are in relationships or don't like traveling. I would not worry about what other people think.
When you travel on your own you can do and see what is of interest to you.
I would go to London for a few day as it a great city. It is full of things to do and see and is easy to get around. Get a oyster card with a travel pass for a few days so you can hop on and off the tube. If you look up http://www.tfl.gov.uk you can get more information.
The first time I was in London on my own I stayed in the YHA Hostel in Holland Park which is just off Kensington High Street which is a very nice area of London.
If you look up http://www.yha.org.uk and put in London and Holland Park into this search you can get more information. I meet some really nice people here and we ended up going to see several of the sites together.
One of the best travel books I have found are the DK Top 10 city guides - they have a lot of information, are not to big and have maps also.
Enjoy your travels.

IrishEyes19

its not weird at all, I would just say if its your first time travelling alone, that you stay safe and perhaps just keep in regular contact with a family member on where you are just to be safe.

I don't see what's odd about it at all. I went to work in Spain on my own when I was 19, travelled around a bit and have worked or travelled alone in several countries since then. Met loads of other people doing the same and made friends everywhere I went. I had one 'what the EFF am I doing?' moment when I arrived in Belgium alone at 23 with no house or job lined up, but it worked out fine in the end. The first few days were very lonely, but I made friends within a few weeks. I think it's really character building. I meet 20-year-olds at work (I'm a TEFL teacher) and can't believe how childish and sheltered they are compared to the way I was at that age. Travelling and spending time alone is really good for you, as long as you keep your wits about you and don't do anything silly!

Nyan Cat

I was traveling recently in mexico and costa rica etc. I was with 2 people because they were planning a jont at the same time a me and we said lets go together. Luckily it was a relative i get on great with as you share hostel dorms and share thecost and space of a room a lot. Id be very wary of doing that with someone i dont know as well. On our travels we met several solo travelers. Sometjmes wed spend the day hangjng out or traveling as our plans coincided. With one guy we spent a few days with. Its what happens if you let it! We met all of them on buses and boats traveling between places except for a few we met on a tour.

Meow_Meow

OP, I was exactly in your position at 19-- I'd never been on holidays except with my parents and all my friends wanted to go on boring package holidays. I just wanted something *different!!* so I headed off on my own to the Middle East and had the best summer ever- it completely changed my outlook on life. Yes, there were some lonely and homesick moments, but the majority of the time was absolutely incredible and I met SO many really great people.
I say-- if you're in a position to travel, go for it-- you won't regret it.


PS bring a good digital camera and tea bags