Would you go travelling on your own?

Russian Blue

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.

its brilliant travelling alone. You'll love it

DublinArnie

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

TeddyTedson

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

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!

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.

The Backwards Man

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

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

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

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

Awesomeness

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Russian Blue

remsburgsgirl wrote: »

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?

remsburgsgirl

Russian Blue wrote: »

Will your mum come with me?

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

Russian Blue

Russian Blue wrote: »

Will your mum come with me?

if his mam wont, Im free ))

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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!!

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.

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

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.

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. : )

Billy86

Andrewf20 wrote: »

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. : )

If you're both in Sydney at New Years, you WILL NOT see each other. Either get a little outside the city (Rose Bay will get you a great view and far less packed - we went there) or literally begin camping around the Opera House on the morning of Dec 30th. Anything else and you'll be stuck in a literal three-mile mosh pit with no view of anything, no phone coverage, with it being almost impossible to get food, drink (even water) or access to bathrooms.

In 2011, ALL the hostels and hotels were sold out by July from Dec 23 - Jan 2. I stayed in a friends who went home for the holidays (wound up living next door to that Braxton fella from Home & Away, didn't know who he was at the time though as I never watch it, ha!).

Nothing to get stressed over though, people do drop out at the last minute so make friends with the staff in hostels and they'll let you know before anyone else. I do know a few people who slept rough for 2-3 nights, but it's not as bad as you would think - left all their belongings in hostels for €20 a day or so, slept on the beach and had access to public showers, bathrooms etc. A number of people were doing the same, so it wasn't like they were stranded alone - dozens and dozens will be sleeping (getting a late night power nap, really) from Dec 30 - Jan 2 there. Do remember it never goes under 18-20 celcius (at 3-4am, daytime you're talking 30s and up) at that time of year, and it's humid without being too oppressive.

Just a heads up!

dd972

Not another Traveller thread :rolleyes:

BeerWolf

Yup.

OnTheCouch

I travelled all over the world in my twenties, where pretty much on every occasion I journeyed alone. At times I met friends of mine in the destination countries but that was rare enough.

Obviously some clear advantages, you decide your own schedule, your budget, you will never have any added stress about falling out with people which can ruin holidays. I found that it was very difficult to organise long exotic trips away with friends, especially after the age of 21 or so, when many become far more conservative/busy/inflexible/would rather go with their partner and so on.

However, unless you're particularly gregarious or out-going (which I am not), travelling on your own can sometimes get a bit lonely. A lot of it is down to luck with who you meet when you arrive in your hostel and so on. Many people are quite welcoming to strangers in these environments, but there are also those who are not, which can make it hard, if you get stuck in a dorm with a closed group. The worst thing is when you actually start counting the hours until you can go to bed for instance, which doesn't happen often, but can occur in certain circumstances.

In addition, if something goes wrong, you have no one to share the anxiety with. Say you lost your passport, the simple fact of having a personal friend with you for support would be infinitely more reassuring than having to go through the whole process of getting it back in a strange country alone. Same with arriving at a dodgy train station late at night, if you are with one or two others, the whole experience can seem far less intimidating that it would be for a solo traveller.

So now I always try to go with people to places, even though these are usually to much closer destinations and for considerably shorter periods.

I Heart Internet

Travelling on your own is absolutely fine OP. It's liberating and often more relaxed than with someone else.

Once you get there you'll find social skills you never knew you had. You'll be chatting to people and make good friends.

I traveled for some time around Europe on my own and actually felt sorry for people travelling as couples or groups because they just stuck in there little groups and everyone thought that was what they wanted. But, when you're on your own people will chat to you and you'll have a great time.

Enjoy!

limklad

I have done both in my early years, Traveled with groups and traveled alone. I prefer to travel alone. It rare for me to travel with someone unless we are going to a wedding or an event out foreign together, but even still I like to disappear by myself to see the sights and see nature/cities town and locations without someone yapping in my ear..

Most of my holidays are full traveling holidays. When I head out of the country I do travel. Other people think I walk and drive too much. While I like to window shop and brows the goods. I am always moving to see the next thing. So much so I rarely eat in restaurants as they waste too much of my time. I eat on the go. I do not stay too long on one spot in one shop or cluster of shops unlike most women I previously travel with. Most men I previous travel with want to head to the nearest pub/bar.

So I prefer to go alone and to see the sites and do activities unless I am in a group that share the same interest.

I get bored and at times agitated when stuck in one spot when I know there is more to see. I love the freedom of moving around when traveling abroad.
I see far more and meet more local people and get their views and information than I would if I am in a group. There is always one member who spoils the trip for others which is why I prefer to travel alone. I can set or adjust my own timetable and change it without hearing the whining and complaints when plans or expectation are not been met.
I can relax and take in the atmosphere and be happy when traveling alone.

ScumLord

I nearly always travel alone, if I was waiting around for other people to go with me I'd never go anywhere.

It's also a hassle if they do come with you, you're always waiting for them to make sure they have everything they need to cross a continent just to go out for dinner.

Once you get to the place you always run into someone, if you stay at a hostel you'll have people in your face every hour of the day. It's pretty much impossible to be completely alone no matter where you go and if you don't have one of your old time friends with you talking about what they're getting up to at home you'll have time to talk to other more interesting people, like the Nazi medic I meet on a train to Prague. He told me his life story about how he lost an eye and a leg and then escaped to India to live a life of peace. I didn't really believe him he looked more like a nazi scientist. He was probably looking to turn me into some sort of nazi cyborg soldier.

tricky D

Avoids the snoring roommate trauma.

sparklyEyes111

Russian Blue wrote: »

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.

What's your plan when you get there?? Because if you're planning to do East coast and that go with a group. You'll meet tonnes of people by doing that. . Tonnes. I came on my own too to oz.. I've been all over, I still haven't properly settled! You just get used to it I too freaked out at the start but don't be worried.

biko

Once some mates went to south India and I travelled down to see them after a couple weeks to continue travelling together.
Flew in to Mumbai via Karachi and took the train down to Kerala and found them on a beach. Whole trip took about 4 days, alone, but meeting so many interesting people along the way.
Would do it again, an adventure it was!

Hoop66

Jake1 wrote: »

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

Yeah. I'd love to go travelling on my own.

The wife wouldn't have it.

Billy86

tricky D wrote: »

Avoids the snoring roommate trauma.

One of my friends that I went over to visit in Perth is such a loud snorer that he would wake himself up. Huge guy, about 6'5 and just a massive slab or person. He'd go to sleep kind of breathing loud, then you'd hear a slight crackle/ripple of a snore. Over the next 10 minutes it would build and build until it was literally as loud as someone shouting (not at, but not too far off, the top of their lungs), followed by a kind of flustery/panicked noise as he woke up... then back to sleep to repeat the cycle. Bloody annoying but bloody irritating as well - we were in a hostel at the time, and through the mattress from the bunk below I must have punched him in the back of the head 10 times a night.

Wacker The Attacker

I always prefer travelling alone.

Reventon93

I went to NZ this summer on my own, and it was my first solo trip and I was 19. The only thing i'd say to llook out for is getting searched for drugs and explosives. Brisbane was for explosives and Sydney was for both and they made everyone on their own go through those full body scanners.

Other than that the travel time is a pain. The smaller flights are fine but I think that the 14+ ones are a killer.

But once you do it, it will feel like a great accomplishment. I only know one other person who did a long journey and that was to Adelaide.

Good luck!

Tom M

I'm not sure if I would but I know a few people who have. I've huge respect for anyone who does though.

So have you or would you go travelling on your own?

LadyMayBelle

Yes. Ive gone travelling alone and would go again. I know a lot of people who do.

SweepTheLeg

There was a thread a couple of days ago about it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057025867

It's a good read!

Aglomerado

Have done and will do again. No point in waiting for other people to come with you to see the places you want to see, life is short.

rambutman

Have done a few times. Once in Mexico and twice in S.E. Asia.

best way to do it............first time i went to S.E. Asia with a friend kept getting stuck in places as he'd hooked up with local chicks.

Going solo is the only way

hoodwinked

i would, if i wanted to go somewhere and nobody else did, id go alone, i am not going to miss out on life!