[ProfessorPester]

I had my first holiday in 5 years with 3 friends to Mayrhofen for the snowbombing and loved it, no family involvement what so ever.

We were up in the mountains from 7 till 4 (it closes), but after that, we just slothing about in the Chalet doing nothing apart from playing Angry Birds, eating pizza and poker.

Since we were knackered but still had nothing to do until 10 when we go beddy bies to wake up early, i wanted to do exploring. Just look around the town really but none of my friends wanted to do that.

I think for travelling, i would be better on my own but for activites like snow-boarding it's best with friends.

I want to visit Italy (Florence and Venice), Kenya and Papua New Guinea. I just need some tips and perhaps a confidence boost on going alone, i feel like a loser wanting to alone

PNG:

I know they have quite a few violent crimes especially connected to the local gang (Raskols?) in Port Moresby which i hope to land, anyone here have an experience in PNG? I don't feel like getting mugged.

Italy:

I have been learning Italian from many sources (Busuu Innovative Language Learning for example), anyone with experience visiting both Venice and Florence and even better Rome would be great. I think Italy will be my first destination, would i be 'sticking out' if i went to Venice as it is a popular city for love struck couples.

Kenya:

I have not done much research into Kenya but i know i want to visit the zoo outside the city, i think this would be my second destination.

Any opinions on both countries would be great and highly appreciated, i have been having urges to travel but just have not found the 'right moment' which i can not describe.

I have some reading material on PNG, Kenya and Italy but i would prefer first hand experiences from fellow students my age.

[laura_ann]

Don't feel like a loser wanting to travel alone! Loads of people do it each year. Saves a lot of arguments too! I much prefer going alone on long-haul trips and staying in hostels. Usually you'll end up pairing up with someone or a group and going along together anyway. Just book a flight and get out to wherever you want to go. Once you're out there, there's nothing you can do and you have to cope :P

[rock_climber86]

i had the same reservations. None of my friends wanted to come so i went traveling alone. it was awesome. Lots of people travel alone and it is the best way to travel as you can go at your own pace


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[Mockery]

(Original post by laura_ann)
Don't feel like a loser wanting to travel alone! Loads of people do it each year. Saves a lot of arguments too! I much prefer going alone on long-haul trips and staying in hostels. Usually you'll end up pairing up with someone or a group and going along together anyway. Just book a flight and get out to wherever you want to go. Once you're out there, there's nothing you can do and you have to cope :P

Exactly what Laura said

After my next and final year of university I will be spending a good amount of time travelling, and I'd put my left nut on no one being up for joining me. Despite being on my own to begin with it should be awesome, roll on next summer!

[ProfessorPester]

Thanks for the confidence boost boys and girls, I appreciate it! I will make myself travel this year.

[sj27]

(Original post by laura_ann)
Don't feel like a loser wanting to travel alone! Loads of people do it each year. Saves a lot of arguments too! I much prefer going alone on long-haul trips and staying in hostels. Usually you'll end up pairing up with someone or a group and going along together anyway. Just book a flight and get out to wherever you want to go. Once you're out there, there's nothing you can do and you have to cope :P

THis. Tip: in hostels, be friendly and approachable. Don't sit in a corner looking sad waiting for someone to say hello! Some people might rebuff you but most will be friendly. I spent months travelling alone during a gap year, and can count on one hand the days I was actually on my own.

[Banishingboredom]

(Original post by laura_ann)
Don't feel like a loser wanting to travel alone! Loads of people do it each year. Saves a lot of arguments too! I much prefer going alone on long-haul trips and staying in hostels. Usually you'll end up pairing up with someone or a group and going along together anyway. Just book a flight and get out to wherever you want to go. Once you're out there, there's nothing you can do and you have to cope :P

Out of interest I'm about to go off travelling with some friends, just so I can preempt it, what do most arguments start over?

[standreams]

Don't wait for the right moment- there won't ever be one. Just do your research, book your ticket, and go- you'll have a great time.

Venice is full of young backpackers, particularly in summer, although it's not a cheap city. The same is true of Florence. You won't struggle to meet people there.

PNG would be a fantastic trip, I haven't been- but based on reports from people who have, I wouldn't recommend it as a first-time solo travel destination. Not many/any cheap places to stay, very few other young solo backpackers, crime in the cities, poor infrastructure means you have to take lots of (expensive) internal flights, and getting there is very expensive. A great place and one I'd love to go to, but probably a bit extreme as a destination for most first-timers.

[TruetoMyself]

Just do it OP. So many people actually want to go alone really, but are simply too worried about what others think, scared for no particuliar reason or simply think they wont have a good time by the themselves. The travel section of TSR alone should be proof enough of this...people willing to go with strangers, but not by themselves. Start with the Italian destinations as suggested, most are known to have a backpacker culture. Oh yeah and book hostels, my personal preference is the social ones.

[Picture~Perfect]

Its useful to get a good, recent guide book so that you have contact details for hotels etc and names of places to visit. Don't worry about going by yourself though, your will probably meet other people while your there and you will still have a great time

[Arianto]

Travelling alone does sound really cool, although I think just about the only problem I would think of is that, if you're backpacking especially, I'd be anxious to leave my big bag(s) somewhere, even for a few minutes, whilst on the road.

Benefits are far better though, and with the amount of people you'd be meeting, your bound to find someone else travelling on their own/a small group who you could join up with for a leg of your journey.


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[sarahsmith]

I had the best time travelling on my own around the world. It was awesome as I could link up with people for a while and then move on and meet new people. When you travel you are never truely alone and you get to travel with so many people from other countries.

Would recommend it 100%

[g36c]

lol dont listen to people who arent confident/secure enough to travel alone.

its so much better and it will change you so much, go for it!

[.Scout.]

(Original post by Banishingboredom)
Out of interest I'm about to go off travelling with some friends, just so I can preempt it, what do most arguments start over?

Ha from experience, arguements can start over the pettiest things! After spending all day, every day with the same people you will be sick of each others company.
Also, deciding on routes/what you do in the day can cause conflict. You'll just have to compromise your plans to make sure everyone is happy.
Another thing is make sure taht you all have a similar amount of money for your trip as I know that when I've travelled with friends, money can cause issues. There is always someone who doesn't bring enough and who complains about not being able to afford anything.

[ProfessorPester]

Thanks for the comments guys, what i meant by 'the right moment' is due to work. I have 12 days left and these have got to last until April next year.

Yeah Italy is definitely top of the list, i have read plenty of reading material such as the Lonely Planet guides and hopefully going to Italt will boost my vocabulary.

I'm a bit cautious about hostels though. One i like to be alone in my own room, it's more quiet and obviously privacy reasons.

Two, well sharing a room with strangers of all ages could cause some trouble.

Three, theft. I am very cautious and i can become easily suspicious, always thinking of what could happen and what i should do.

ThePussyMan has a point about PNG, i will most likely get mugged, shot or both which would really ruin my day.

[ProfessorPester]

(Original post by .Scout.)
Ha from experience, arguements can start over the pettiest things! After spending all day, every day with the same people you will be sick of each others company.
Also, deciding on routes/what you do in the day can cause conflict. You'll just have to compromise your plans to make sure everyone is happy.
Another thing is make sure taht you all have a similar amount of money for your trip as I know that when I've travelled with friends, money can cause issues. There is always someone who doesn't bring enough and who complains about not being able to afford anything.

It's true.

In Mayrhofen, we had an arguement on where to get food, which route we should go on the mountains, what is better between skiing and snow-boarding, shoud we get pissed or not, whose phone is best and who is the best on either skiiing or snowboarding.

Yeah the arguements really were petty. They weren't really 'arguements' but it did involve a lot of calling this or that 'gay' and calling a certain fun sponge in our group a 'bender' because he rather play Angry birds then get drunk.

[sj27]

(Original post by ProfessorPester)

I'm a bit cautious about hostels though. One i like to be alone in my own room, it's more quiet and obviously privacy reasons.

Two, well sharing a room with strangers of all ages could cause some trouble.

Three, theft. I am very cautious and i can become easily suspicious, always thinking of what could happen and what i should do.

Do some research into hostels. Many of the ones I stayed at had single (or double) rooms available for a little extra, but still way cheaper than hotels, and most of them had lockers for your bags (though if you have your own room this is moot anyway as you will have the only key). You can still take advantage of the common areas to meet people, and they really are a fantastic way to meet people, get tips about where to go and what to see and so on.

[ProfessorPester]

(Original post by sj27)
Do some research into hostels. Many of the ones I stayed at had single (or double) rooms available for a little extra, but still way cheaper than hotels, and most of them had lockers for your bags (though if you have your own room this is moot anyway as you will have the only key). You can still take advantage of the common areas to meet people, and they really are a fantastic way to meet people, get tips about where to go and what to see and so on.

Do hostels fall under a company like Thomas Cook?

I guess i could try, the single room with a common area sounds great.

Feels strange, staying at a hostel...guess i can't hurt to try right? If i f i don't like then i can simply find a back-up hotel i planned in advance.

I'm not sure when the right time to go Italy is, might need to check weather and make sure it isn't around holidays for kids.

[laura_ann]

(Original post by Banishingboredom)
Out of interest I'm about to go off travelling with some friends, just so I can preempt it, what do most arguments start over?

Anything silly! I started out with a friend and I ditched her along the way as after a while we just weren't getting along. As long as there's compromise in the group you'll be fine! Most arguments I've found start with something as petty as disagreements on where to go and what to do.

Don't let it put you off though! Maybe my friend and I just had back luck.

[laura_ann]

(Original post by ProfessorPester)
Do hostels fall under a company like Thomas Cook?

I guess i could try, the single room with a common area sounds great.

Feels strange, staying at a hostel...guess i can't hurt to try right? If i f i don't like then i can simply find a back-up hotel i planned in advance.

I'm not sure when the right time to go Italy is, might need to check weather and make sure it isn't around holidays for kids.

STA Travel have hostels listed on their website.