To ask how on earth you go about travelling solo?

[Teaandcakeat8]

I'm single and likely to be so for a long time. I really want to use this time to see more of the world (on a modest-ish bydget).

However I have absolutely no idea how to go about travelling solo!

Can I book onto a regular holiday? Is Air BnB safe? Am I missing some great single person tour operator? Feel like I'm making it more complicated than it is...

I'm 26 if it helps...

Please enlighten me

[ohdearme1958]

Barcelona is fabulous. It's in my list of places to go back to for a longer period of time. There is also Monserrat just outside of it. That's well worth a visit just for the scenery.

[TheGardenOfEdenExists]

I've travelled on own a fair bit - both city breaks and beach. Sometimes you just need to lie on a sun lounger for a while and I don't let traveling solo stop me. Stayed at some lovely 5* places with gorgeous rooms and pools. Tend to go for more 'boutique' (under 30 rooms) but I'd do that if with a friend as I can't abide big package holiday hotels.

I find the hotel, book it and fly. I get the hotel to arrange transfers. Eat out at restaurants in the evening, go for a couple of drinks and read and rest in pure peace!

[FuzzyBadger]

Ok can I ask, when you travel solo how do you dress? Do you wear makeup, have hair done etc?

This is hard to say without sounding like a twat but I used to model and have large boobs so whenever I go away alone I wear baggy clothes and look pretty rough so as to not invite attention. I was told by a lovely group of oldies in Mexico (solo trip) who played cards on the beach daily that I didn't look like I should be travelling solo and I looked like I was trying to find a husband because I was young and pretty.

I wear baggy sport clothes and a wedding ring when travel and still get lots of unwanted attention.

[UsernameHistory]

Yes, very hard to say.

Thankfully I'm not as beautiful as you obviously are Scuzzybadger but I wear comfortable clothes. I wear sensible shoes as you'll often be on your feet a lot.

I do a little research re. the culture for example, shoulders covered if visiting temples in Asia.

I like the Nike clothing (Dry Fit or something like that) in hot places.

I didn't wear a wedding ring before I was married.

I get my hair cut shorter if going somewhere hot.

[FuzzyBadger]

Thanks for the reply, Losername, much appreciated.

[UsernameHistory]

Thanks for the reply, Losername

[FuzzyBadger]

Apologies, I thought we were entering into a short segment of childish name calling for no reason whatsoever - my bad.

[Clarinet1]

Another thing you might want to try is Women Welcome Women World Wide
www.womenwelcomewomen.uk/article/home.aspx
It's a great network of women all over the world who are prepared to host other female travellers. Therefore 1)It's inexpensive 2) It's pretty safe 3) You have someone local to show you round or give you ideas 4) You really get a taste of the local culture.

[Wolpertinger]

What do I wear? Normal, practical stuff.

No makeup as I'd have to carry it, ditto hair stuff. Might pack a v tiny amount if I was going out somewhere nice. Otherwise clothes to fit in for where I was - covered shoulders for temples/churches/cultures where it's the norm, hiking stuff for hiking, generally just looking like an average tourist. And comfortable shoes.

I'm going to see the place, not focus on what I look like so I want to fit in, be practical and carry as little as possible.

Which is still how I pack now I'm no longer a solo traveller

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

Just take comfortable clothes that are weather and culturally appropriate for the places you're planning to go! There were a lot of Australians complaining they were cold in the Alps in Switzerland because they had no hats, gloves, scarfs, only had flip flops on their feet etc

Comfortable shoes are very important!