Travelling solo - easily done?

stripysocks85

Okay, so I'm trying to mentally persuade myself to book an organised trip as my mates have bailed for one reason or another on summer holiday plans - need to take the bull by the horns. This is the trip I'm looking at:

http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/SSRX#overview

Quite expensive. Has anyone travelled with intrepid before? Is it well organised? Will I be a lone freak?! I'm concerned that I won't enjoy it as much being on my own, as I would if I knew someone else, even vaguely, on the same trip - am I mad?

imme

I did an Intrepid tour in South America a couple of years ago.
They were fine, a good guide and decent accomm. Most of the people on the trip were travelling with friends of husbands/wives etc.

I think in general you will get solo travellers and couples/friends etc on the tour.
Couples might keep to themselves but if there are friends on the tour they'll usually be glad of a new person to talk to so they can get a break from each other.

The trip sounds brilliant, so many cool places.

Like you say the price is one of the downsides. They do look competitive compared to other operators, like G Adventures for example http://www.gadventures.com/trips/united-states/?ref=finder

Are there any tour operators based in the States offering a similar trip?

An alternative might be to do a DIY tour yourself, but you'll have the downside of travelling completely solo as the opportunity for meeting up with people on the road will be less as you'd have to stay in motels/hotels for the most part.
Enjoy.

stripysocks85

Thank you for this. I suppose I don't know of anyone personally who's done a similar thing before so it's totally the unknown!! I'm really close to bookking it as I don't think it's an opportunity I can afford to turn down, although I am going to be volunteering as it is for 2 weeks so maybe a month long holiday is too long to be on the go. I am really tempted though, could be the holiday of a lifetime. Who knows, I could be struck down ill [touch wood] next year or have some reason not to travelling and then will be kicking myself for not going when I can!

stripysocks85

Well I booked my trip. Not the original one I looked at, but a '14 day trip on trekamerica. Now to get flights & pre/post accommodation sorted, happy dayyyyyyyyyyys!

LizT

I've done two trips with Trek America, thoroughly recommend them, you'll have a blast!!

lc180

stripysocks85 wrote: »

am I mad?

NO!

I started going on solo trips recently and it's a little daunting at first but you'll get the hang of it quickly and meet plenty of people in the same boat as you.

The tour sounds like a great idea, I might even consider doing one myself next year. I did a road trip across the US a few years ago and loved it! no matter what some people say about the US- its a great country. I'm sure you'll have a blast. Enjoy!

stripysocks85

Thanks everyone. Tour booked, just going to book flights now and sort a little accommodation for after the tour to laze about. I'm quite impressed with myself at the moment but I know the closer it gets, the more freaked out I'll get! But I'll be grand!

LizT

stripysocks85 wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Tour booked, just going to book flights now and sort a little accommodation for after the tour to laze about. I'm quite impressed with myself at the moment but I know the closer it gets, the more freaked out I'll get! But I'll be grand!

Which tour are you doing? Don't be freaked out, most people on trek are single travellers too, you're all in the same boat!

stripysocks85

lizt wrote: »

Which tour are you doing? Don't be freaked out, most people on trek are single travellers too, you're all in the same boat!

Sorry only saw your message now - doing the Westerner 2 with Trek America

LizT

Nice one! I've been to most of the places on that trip. Yosemite is amazing.

stripysocks85

lizt wrote: »

Nice one! I've been to most of the places on that trip. Yosemite is amazing.

Was it really great? Do ya have to be fit?!

LizT

stripysocks85 wrote: »

Was it really great? Do ya have to be fit?!

Hahaha. In a word - no! I'm not fit at all (no exaggerations!), I'm a stone and a half lighter now than I was in Yosemite in the summer and I was able for it. I did the Panorama Trail, which is about 8 miles long. Our trek leader drove us up to Glacier Point (which takes almost an hour from the bottom of Yosemite where the shops are - but so so worth it for amazing views of the Half Dome). You hike mostly downhill and go past three sets of falls. It was really tough, my legs were like jelly like the end of it because towards the end of the hike, you're basically climbing down over rocks.

So worth it though but no matter what you do in Yosemite, you will probably enjoy it because it is simply stunning.

And the great thing about trek is if you don't want to do something (hiking etc) then there's no pressure to do it and your trek leader can probably recommend something else for you to do.

doohey

I've just come across your post & wondering how you got on with your Westerner 2 trip with Trek America? I'm 30, newly single & thinking of going on holiday on my own this summer.. Have been looking at the Trek America website & really like the sound of their Westerner 2 trip.. Would you recommend?
Thanks

Taz1

Hey guys all my friends have bailed on travel plans with me this summer so Im thinking of doing a solo trip with a group like one of the ones on trekamerica, would ya'll recommend?? The thought of going by myself scares the crap outta me but I'm so sick of my friends not wanting to do anything but a sun/booze holiday!!

Civilian_Target

I've never travelled alone as part of a tour group like that, but backpacking alone is a great experience that I'd heartily recommend. You'll meet a huge number of new people, and learn a lot about yourself too!