To want advice on travelling alone

[AgeOfDragons]

I’m single for really the first time in my life and had lots of plans to travel with my ex.

I’m struggling with the break up and think it probably is a good idea if I do travel and try and meet new people/make some friends. I don’t currently have any friends to travel with and I’m a young female (incase that matters for safety purposes).

Is there such a thing as like clubs or events for people to start getting out and about? I recently went to Amsterdam and really enjoyed it but would only feel safe going these kind of places in a group. Or is it simply just too weird/risky to do things alone and should I wait to find company before doing anything else.

Basically I’ve been a house mouse all my life, have no idea what I’m doing, went on holiday a few times for the first time last year and want to keep having experiences but I’m scared?

I would also be happy just attending things in cities in the UK. But I’m not naturally an extrovert so looking for something that’s intended for single/alone people to be in a group, rather than just a random concert or night out. If it exists that is!

(Can I clarify I absolutely do not want a man, I’d just like to make some friends and experience the world)

Why not book a tour? There are loads now catering to lone/ women travellers that aren't your Contiki/18-30 type thing.

Maybe start with a cruise ?

Cruises (look up passion for cruises that specialise in singles deals via their singles forum, you'll meet lots of people through it) are good for singles

This is a huge market now. Look for companies who do solo tours - I've seen some for women only. Ask them about ages, type of travel (adventure, lots of free time or completely guided), etc. Check their FB pages for photos etc to see if it's what you want.
I'd steer clear of travel companions you barely know as it can go pear shaped if you have different travel styles.

There are lots of companies such as flashpack but I'd also be inclined to look for some female only ones as you have to share a room on most if them.
Lubliana is small, safe and beautiful. Uou can fly there and extend it by visiting lake bled. Very easy to get around, tiny country chilled people.
What do you like doing? I've travelled alone loads all around the world. Ask away or PM me if you like.

There are lots of local groups around for singles to meet up, just try Googling or searching Facebook for something like "social groups for singles".

For holidays, I know someone who has done several holidays with these people and enjoyed them. There are other similar companies that you can find by just searching for single holidays.

Pre-DP I often considered those type of trips, but I'm very much an introvert and happier in my own company than in an environment that I might feel obligated to be sociable with people, so I did a lot of trips independently on my own. I've been all over, and it isn't hard. My top tip is to pick cities where there is lots going on and plenty to do, and use business-type hotels; these will not bat an eyelid at a single female guests and are often relatively cheap over weekends. Just be sensible about safety and stay in well-lit areas at night (cities are busy at night, you can go out but just stay on main roads and out of dark side street and alleys). Lots of places have museums and art galleries that are open in the evenings for something to do, you don't have to retire to your hotel and be trapped there at 6pm.

There are clubs/groups for meet ups. Have a search in your local area.

Holidays where you do or learn something will also have some single and some couples, is there anything you would like to learn? A language? Or pottery?

I've used couchsurfing to meet people to have a coffee with and be told about the local area. I've had couch surfers stay but as I have a few medical problems I don't stay.

Do a city break, Paris is a good start. On day one take a map, a notebook and a pen. Then get one of the coach tours and mark on the map places you want to go back to.

You may or may not meet someone who is also solo but you will have a plan if you don't.

Be warned, the solo travel bug gets you. I've been to Australia more than once and South America as well as loads of weekends away.

Finances and ill health have clipped my wings a bit.

For the South America trip I did put a wedding ring on but it really wasn't needed.

Have you considered a MN meetup? You could organise one.

I did the wedding ring thing in India, not really needed as far as I know but it's hard to tell.

You could consider volunteering abroad. You'll stay with a host family so a bit safer in remote locations and they'll most likely be hosting others you can get to know when there. I did this in my 20s. Volunteering was mostly mon-fri, then the volunteers would go off together at weekends to explore nearby attractions/cities.

I've travelled solo for work too, but often end up finding other lone travellers to share a cuppa/dinner with here and there, and it gets easier to strike up conversations with others the more you do it. Be bold!

Good luck & happy travels! 🍀🌍

Do you have any particular hobby or interest? You might be able to find a holiday or residential summer school based around it. There would be some kind of prearranged programme, and you would have at least one thing in common with the other people attending.

I've travelled on my own a lot.
My advice would be to research the hell out of where you want to go. Learn a bit of the language.
Make an itinery. Work out how to get from one place to another before you go.
Always have a back up plan.
Photocopy documents. At least 3 ways to get your money, in case you lose cards.
A rubber door stop, a personal alarm. Hiding places for money and documents. Wear a wedding ring.
What are your fears? Think of ways to get around them.

Don't go out for dinner at night alone if it's dodgy. Instead get up early, eat lunch out, then get back to your accommodation early evening.
If you travel alone, I've found it best to stay in hostels (most have private rooms with own bathroom, as well as dorms) with communal areas.
That way you meet lots of other people you can join in with for excursions. You all eat dinner together etc. Make sure you Pre book, and read all the reviews.
You'll find a wide range of people of all ages.
Avoid the party hostels full of kids (I am old though).
If you stay in hotels you'll be surrounded by couples, apartments, you'll never meet anyone.

I've travelled with Intrepid and Exodus with friends and solo. At least 50% of people travel by themselves. Have met a really good friend in one of these trips.

I have travelled alone but think it is easiest to have an activity or a tour in mind so you are with like minded people.

I love to scuba dive so on my last solo holiday I went and did a 6 day boat trip diving.

Also look up flash packers and intripid. Flash packers - my friend did this and still meets up with people she met and I have done a few intripid tours and love them.

I found myself in a similar position a couple of years ago and found hundreds of companies were now specialising in singles holidays however I found that they absolutely hike the prices right up!!
I decided to just book for myself and see what happens, have been to the Philippines and LA on my own and met up with a family member who lives on the other side of the world in New Orleans and am booked to fly to Nepal for 2 weeks trekking in a couple of months.
You will get talking to people with relative ease, just take the normal safety precautions outside would at home I'm not going off with strangers or getting too drunk and you'll be just fine!

Cruises are fine if you have plenty of money. There are very few single rooms on most ships and they are still pretty pricey and not far off the price for two people in a double cabin.

I always travelled alone. Stay in hostels. You will meet so many people and make friends for the day. I remember going to see Shakespeare at the Globe with Beatriz from Mexico and Sandro from Sardinia, whom I had met the day before. Lovely people whom I am still in FB contact with many years later.

I did a lot is solo travel as a young woman, it was great! The secret is staying at hostels and making friends with the other people there.

Honestly over the moon to read all this advice this morning

Feel a bit more confident that it can be done and why shouldn't i do it! I'm off to Google companies and tours, i never even thought of Hostels as a way to meet people.

Safety tips are also really appreciated as the fear is what's stopped me doing anything for years.

I loved travelling around Europe by train, staying in hostels. You meet so many people along the way! It’s easy and fun.

I cannot recommend Intrepid highly enough. I've done six trips with them as a single traveller and each has been incredible. It's a great mix of people, some solo some not, of all ages from all over and each time the group dynamic has been relaxed and fun and I've made several really good friends.

Word of caution - some of these solo/single group companies charge and absolute arm and a leg and it's far cheaper to organise your own hostelling trip and travel.

Ive done trips with exodus and intrepid (have got another intrepid one in 6 weeks time!) No single supplement to be paid unless you want a room of your own, you only share with people of the same sex. I got lucky on one trip as the other singles were either male or had paid the single room supplement so by default I had my own room, this time i'm paying the single room price as it is really cheap. Great mix of people going, all ages, some friends, some couple and many singles. You get plenty of free time to go off and explore either on your own or with others plus you get included activities, all your transport and accommodation is sorted and you have a local guide so you get a real insight into a place. Have been on tours with anything from 7-16 people. They are not cheap (depends on where you go) but it's my annual treat to myself and worth every penny. I save the weekends away and cheapy europe sun holidays for my less adventurous friends who show no interest in asia and south america!

Research how to get from airport or station to where you are going/staying.
Never arrive in a strange city at night if you can avoid it - it’s much easier & safer in daylight

I’m so grateful for the advice thank you!

I’ve been having a look and I’m a bit shell shocked at the price difference between these companies and booking everything separately But it’s definitely something worth saving up for. It worked out really expensive for Europe and cheaper for further afield (like Turkey) which baffled me a bit 😂