Getting anxious about going overseas alone - ridiculous but any tips really appreciated, please.

[DiscoDiver]

NC because I feel absolutely ridiculous posting this.

I've never been overseas alone.
I haven't been on holiday in a decade.

In September I'm going to Germany for a few days with work. I'm getting weirdly anxious but I can't quite place what I'm anxious about.

I think I just feel very out of practice.

I think I've taken care of the necessary practical matters. It's just actually doing it that feels like a hurdle.

Do you have any tips or advice, please?

It's not ridiculous. We all feel nervous about new experiences.

I have done a lot of solo travel. I love the freedom it give. Not having to think about anyone else. See what you want, eat what you want, sleep when you want. Try to embrace it and have fun with it.

On a work trip I would guess there will be a lot of structure to your time.

Even in a safe country like Germany as a female solo traveller I always think follow your gut. A good few times when travelling if something made me un easy I just stood into a corner shop/ similar for a few minutes. Buy something small. It could be nothing or could be something but listen to it. I'd do the same in a city at home.

It’s understandable that you might feel anxious if you haven’t travelled abroad before so stop beating yourself up. You know deep down that you’ll be fine but the lack of familiarity is what makes you nervous. The only advice I can offer (and it’s a bit cheesy) is “feel the fear and do it anyway”. Concentrate on the practicalities, know what your back-up plan is and just get on with it I’m afraid. You will be so proud of yourself afterwards and wonder what on earth you were worried about.

Just to add that I’m not unsympathetic as I’m just back from Italy alone where I unexpectedly had to navigate the Italian train system and then my flight back was delayed and eventually cancelled with sod all support from the airline. I talked to the Italian police to let me back into the country and out of the airport, I found myself a hotel room, walked there in the dark (no taxis available) and eventually managed to get rebooked on a flight home the next afternoon. It was a drama and it was exhausting but I managed it.

Thank you!

@HundredMilesAnHour I just found out the other day that work won't pay taxi fares, only public transport so I had a mini-panic about navigating the train system to/from the airport. But DH convinced me to just get a taxi/uber and swallow the money lost. So I'll resentfully do that 😅

@pontipinemum I'm actually only there for a day so not too much time wandering around solo.

Also, you might be pleasantly surprised how helpful and supportive fellow travellers and work colleagues are.

Talk to your German colleagues (and/or UK colleagues who have been out to Germany previously) and ask them for advice / any tips or just some reassurance about how things work or what to look out for.

I’ve done quite a lot of business travel overseas alone and the first time going anywhere can be nerve-wracking. But I’ve also been pleasantly surprised when engaging with other travellers/strangers on these trips. From the man who sat next to me on a work flight to Singapore (my first trip to Asia) and gave me advice about my hotel to the people I’ve met in airport lounges/shops giving me restaurant tips.

You will have a wonderful time and be so proud of yourself for doing it.

Gosh it’s a bit harsh for your company not to pay for a taxi.
Solo woman traveller, duty of care?
Id be having a word with my manager.

If they won’t bend the rule, take a taxi & swallow the cost but … don’t do anything extra for the tight sods for a while.

Don't pay the cost of a taxi yourself. Use technology - Google Maps for starters and read up on how public transport operates where you're going - then make sure you have receipts or an electronic record you can use for expenses. It's pretty easy in Germany.

Scan a copy of your passport (it must have 3 months' validity after your return date), get a GHIC card to cover you if you need medical treatment, and ask work what their travel insurance cover is, the claims phone number and policy number.

Allow plenty of time for security and getting to the gate so you're not rushing. You'll be fine.

It's not ridiculous. Your nervousness is fine and normal, you're going to be a bit nervous and do it anyway.

It's actually very unusual not to have a nervous feeling about new experiences.

They'd pay for taxis for a solo female traveller if there elevated risks but Germany's considered safe for women travelling alone so they won't pay.

I've looked up the public transport and it seems easy.
But navigating trains to and from the airport is just an added layer of stress I can do without. So I'll use taxis/ubers even though I have to pay them myself.

You're probably concerned about the unexpected. Which can happen when travelling. Believe me you'll cope with anything. Help is at the end of a phone anyway if needed. Most people in airports, train stations, restaurants and hotels speak English. Enjoy the experience and learn from it. You never know when the next Big FUN journey will be.

Make sure you have the correct adaptor for Germany and take a photo of your passport.

If you put anything in the safe in your room, think of a way of reminding yourself to get it out again before leaving.

It's Germany, the public transport from the airport will be super efficient and easy to navigate, probably with bilingual signs. Do you not take public transport much in this country or something? As a lone woman you are arguably safer on public transport than in a taxi!

My top tip is to find a nice cafe near your hotel or your office that can be your "local" for a few days. A small routine that will help you feel more at home.

I commute to work on the train in the UK, very familiar and comfortable with public transport in the UK 😬😂

God I LOVE travelling alone. It's so freeing to make your own decisions about when to queue for the flight, how to get places etc.

However there's a strange mechanism that means a few days beforehand I always wish I wasn't going. Really weird. But as soon as you get going it's a different feeling, like of course you can do it because you are doing it!

I don't have any specific advice but I just wanted to say you're not being ridiculous.

For me the taxi thing would depend on when I was arriving/departing. If during the day, fine I’d take public transport. But if after dark I would expect my company to pay for a taxi. The UK is supposedly a safe place but there are plenty of places where I have not felt safe around transport hubs or town centres even in daylight. I think sometimes these rules are made up by men who have no concept of how women have to be constantly on their guard.

I really appreciate everyone reassuring me that I'm not being ridiculous.

Where are you going in Germany?
Public transport in Germany is generally great.

Do you know where your hotel is and where the meeting is? Have you found somewhere for dinner or will you eat in the hotel?

Do you have a credit card that you can use in an emergency? That will solve most problems if they arise.

You aren’t unreasonable to be a bit nervous but remind yourself that travelling has never been easier.

All sorts of idiots travel abroad all the time, you’ll be fine!

You can use Google maps to help with public transportation, it tells you where to get on and you can follow the journey on your phone to tell you where to get off. I used it in Germany in trams, underground buses and trains last year no bother at all.

Anything you need to know can be googled! And in Germany lots and lots of people will speak English, particularly in transport hubs and offices so if you are stuck just ask.

Work will pay for taxis in specific circumstances where there's elevated risk to the traveller.

So, early/later/after-dark/antisocial arrival and departure times would warrant them paying for taxis.

My flights are within daytime/working hours so work won't pay.

Yes I would say you're safer on a busy, well used train than alone in a car with a random man who may not speak your language. Bit to be clear, both are safe. If you're getting an uber to avoid the faff then fair enough.

No you’re not being ridiculous.
Think of it as an adventure.
I would hazard a guess that lots of Germans speak English so you can ask for assistance.
Look up appropriate words and a sentence or two (for help) on Google Translate before you go and practice saying them!
You are going to be so proud of yourself!

I’m a seasoned solo traveller and I still get nervous before a trip, even if returning to familiar places! I’m sure it will be fine.

She's only going for one day, so probably no time to find a "local" cafe (good tip though)

I’d listen to a few of the Coffee Break German podcasts. They’ll be good for giving you the basics.