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Would you go travelling on your own?

  • 27-08-2013 11:35PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭


    Has anyone ever travelled by them selves? Im not talking about a day trip to Dublin. But travelling to other countries. How was it?

    Im due to go in a few weeks and im scared. I did go to England on my own and thats the furthest I ever been.

    This time im going to Australia. Thats 17200km away. There's no going back. Im a bit excited but feel so sick even thinking about it. It seemed like a great idea when booking the flights and visa and now that the time is getting closer, its not such a good an idea.


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Comments

  • Posts: 6,321 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    its brilliant travelling alone. You'll love it


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,823 ✭✭✭DublinArnie


    Say "Hi" to the other thousand irishmen just like you for me while you're down there ;).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,758 ✭✭✭✭TeddyTedson


    Never done it but don't worry about it. Think of it as an exciting adventure. You'll have a blast.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭Il Trap


    I've one year left in college after nearly a decade of being a student and I'm hitting the road next year. I've no real plan, I'm heading by myself and I'm pretty excited thinking about it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,749 ✭✭✭veryangryman


    Its ok to do a couple of times. Less stress of minding or following anyone but dead boring waiting at airports in your own company.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    I only travel alone. I couldn't hack travelling with other people, there'd be murder.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,511 ✭✭✭ArnoldJRimmer


    Yep, numerous times, and have actually moved countries for work on my own twice now. Its quite peaceful and great in that you can just do your own thing as suits. I also ended up meeting a load of new people, some good, some bad, some incredibly irritating. There were times when I felt a little lonely too though

    I don't regret any of it for a second, best of luck on your travels OP, twill be grand


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    I have travelled quiet a bit on my own and absolutely loved it. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to meet people.

    A great way to travel IMO


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,320 ✭✭✭Ace Attorney


    you will be fine, there are loads of benefits of travelling alone, You get to do whatever you want and go places in your own time, no waiting around for people or anything, enjoy it! That being said you will meet loads of irish over there and so you wont be alone for long if you choose not to be, either way enjoy it OP


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,589 ✭✭✭Awesomeness


    Best thing ever. Changed my life the first time i did it


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,677 ✭✭✭frozenfrozen


    I'm 18 and at this age my father was living in Palestine for a year. I'm yet to ever leave the country on my own but following electric picnic this weekend, next week I'll be heading off to Bestival on the isle of wight for 4 days of being incredibly drunk in a reasonably safe environment. that'll be sort of like palestine.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,299 ✭✭✭✭MadsL


    Travelling alone is a great way to experience new cultures. Perhaps you might get a chance to do that on your way to Australia. After that....my condolences ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 31,939 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    Best thing you could do.

    When I finished college (not today nor yesterday) there was a pair of us planned to go to Munich for a year to have a blast/improve our German. Long story short, car crash happened, she was injured, I thought our trip was over. My mother frogmarched me out to Dublin Airport with my one-way ticket, and told me I'd regret it if I didn't try it. And they'd send me money to come home in a few weeks if it didn't work out.

    Well, it worked out. With bells on. And I'm still not finished thanking her for what she made me do.

    Travelling in company is great, I'm not knocking it, but seriously, on your own is the way to go. You'll meet ten times the people you would've met if you were with mates, and as others have said, you can suit yourself and do what you want to do (or not do!).

    Go for it :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,963 ✭✭✭Meangadh


    I did it and LOVED it. Actually the only thing that bothers me (and I know I shouldn't let it do so) about travelling alone is the looks and comments I got/get from family and friends when talking about it. They make out like you're a loner/weirdo/saddo etc at times.

    I have loads of friends but most of them are in relationships and also I'm a teacher so obviously can only travel in peak times so understandably people want to avoid going then if they can spare money going another time. I only went for a short holiday of just over a week but I'm female and I went to a country where I don't speak the language so I kept it a short trip.

    Probably one of the best holidays I've ever had and would definitely consider it again.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,734 ✭✭✭seenitall


    It's grrrrreat, OP, you'll see. :) So many times it turns out that the stuff you're most scared of doing, is the stuff most worth your while doing. Especially with an adventure such as travelling and being on your own far away from home. I loved it, and still do.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭pale blue dot cotton


    Loved travelling, loved being on my own at times knowing feic all people around me and adapting, but I travelled with my girlfriend. I am now happy single :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,745 ✭✭✭bigron2109


    Travelled all around Oz And Thailand on my own and it was brilliant. Met people where ever i stopped so no fear of been on my own. Would highly recommend it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 231 ✭✭remsburgsgirl


    my mum is 58 and just got back from a trip alone to NZ, she has lost so much and so many in her life she has a good attitude now about wasting time being scared about living her life, if she can do it so can you :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭Russian Blue


    my mum is 58 and just got back from a trip alone to NZ, she has lost so much and so many in her life she has a good attitude now about wasting time being scared about living her life, if she can do it so can you :)

    Will your mum come with me?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 231 ✭✭remsburgsgirl


    Will your mum come with me?

    :pac: It took her two years to save up for it, are you willing to wait?


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  • Posts: 6,321 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Will your mum come with me?

    if his mam wont, Im free :)))


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    Meangadh wrote: »
    I did it and LOVED it. Actually the only thing that bothers me (and I know I shouldn't let it do so) about travelling alone is the looks and comments I got/get from family and friends when talking about it. They make out like you're a loner/weirdo/saddo etc at times.

    Pay no heed, because they're probably jealous and lack the balls to do what you've done. I've never travelled alone myself, but I can sure see the attraction of doing so.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 558 ✭✭✭bradolf pittler


    Went on a few trips around Europe alone,Mid 30's male who's friends were all babied up or just didnt have the dosh to go so had no choice really.Went to Germany,Sweden and Spain,Loved every minute of it.You'd be suprised just how friendly people can be towards solo travelers.Just go with an open mind and a smile on your face and you'll be fine.I'm actually still in contact with people that i met tru my solo travels,Great memories.
    Planning on a coast to coast trip by train across the USA next year to see the "real" america.Still in the early planning stage but its something i'll be doing for def next summer.


  • Posts: 6,321 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    id go off travelling alone in the morning if I could. family seem to get insulted tho if I mention traveling without them :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 443 ✭✭Elbaston


    Yay I did travel in to the desert for forty days and forty nights.


    Long as you have internet and tv and theres shops around you'll hardly notice.
    Skype your mammy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,495 ✭✭✭✭Billy86


    I moved to Sydney alone, about the same time some friends moved to Perth (I briefly visited them, hated it there) - and it's best thing I ever did. You rock up in a city where you know nobody at all, go to a hostel and seemingly everyone you meet becomes a friend or acquaintance of some sort, it just becomes instinctive to get on with everybody and meet loads of people you otherwise wouldn't. You are also tied down by nothing, and are free to do whatever you want, it's a huge growing experience. People get worried that others will be cold to them and they won't know anybody, but that's not the case - I put it down to the paragraph below.

    I think being Irish, this counts even more so than most countries, because one thing I noticed in Australia is that we are an awful nation for socialising with others (despite what we like to tell ourselves - most Aussies quite like the Irish, the 'they hate us' line is a myth and excuse made up by people afraid to mingle). Every single time I would bump into a few Irish people who were over together, they had almost no friends who were not Irish (barring the token Brit here or there), never ventured beyond Bondo/Coogee beach, and without fail spent every single night out in (anyone who's been to Sydney will know these, all Irish bars) The Cock & Bull, Tea Gardens, Scruffy Murphy's or PJ O'Briens. It was flat out depressing, to be honest.

    So yeah, definitely travel alone. It is guaranteed to be one of the best things you will ever do. It's like being in your own little game of GTA... only without the crime and all that! :p

    EDIT: Just got my Aussie tax back, waiting on another thing they have called superannuation and with some joy I'll be back off on my own in NZ or Canada by Halloween, yyeeoooww!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,299 ✭✭✭✭MadsL


    My advice from being on my 4th international move:

    Just rock up to everyone you meet and stick out your hand and with the biggest shiteating grin you can muster say "Hi, I'm Russian Blue, what's your name?"

    Concentrate on being a fun, outgoing and nice person, even if that is not your 'usual' personality and you'll attract similar. Try and think of others and how they are doing, try and be helpful, be positive. It will all come straight back at you.

    It's even more fun if they don't speak English. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,296 ✭✭✭Wompa1


    Depends on who you are and what you like. Moving to Australia is probably a safe bet. There's plenty of Irish over there, so for better or worse you won't be 'too far from home'. I was only there for 2 weeks for work and saw plenty of Irish on my travels.

    Due to work, I've travelled alone quite a bit. To America, England, Germany, Holland and Australia. When it's for work it sucks. You're just focused on the work, you don't get to see the place and you just feel alone.

    I moved to Arizona over a year and a half ago. I started to get homesick in the last couple of months but probably because there's been a lot going on back home and I'm 4,500 miles away and an 8 hour time difference.

    I think a big factor with whether you will enjoy yourself or not will be down to if you're seeing this as a permanent thing or not really. Most people I know who have moved to Australia went for 'work' but then proceeded to get sh1tfaced for a year and then come home and move to London or somewhere else and repeat


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭Sinfonia


    (IME) it's the tits. I wanna do it again, and I wanna be on my own doing it. And all of it: the planes, trains, buses, the hostels, the couchsurfing.

    It's all great.
    When I started off my travels on my own, I was in Montreal, I was really worried, and thought I'd end up spending the next few months totally alone (this was the first day :P ). That night I was hanging out with random people I met at a bar, and it only steamrolled from there. In fact, I met a dude at the hostel there, and then stayed at his apartment in Baton Rouge a month later.
    By the time I was in California I was pretty much just walking up to people in the hostels and saying "Hey you, let's go drinking". I didn't even think about it anymore (people who had just started travelling, and/or had been travelling with friends, were -respectfully- taken aback by my confidence, which was kind of funny, because I'm generally not that confident. Bit more now..!)
    On my own, I found I'd make myself talk to people everywhere, and it would pretty much always work out. I know that even if I had friends with me in the middle of the trip I'd have talked to much fewer people in those places.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,256 ✭✭✭Andrewf20


    You will be fine. When I travelled on my own for the 1st time 10 years ago to the west coast of the US I was a bit anxious but I found theres always people happy to help. You are not alone. Once you get going that morning you nerves should settle. Its the hanging around days before thats the worst. Its the same before an exam or a big race. Once you get into it, things should become less stressful.

    If you in Sydney for new years I might be walking past you in the street. If you stop me, asking for directions I probably wont have a clue. : )


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