Travelling on your gap year when you don't have a friend to do it with?

[Withless]

Dd is taking a gap year - this was a bit of a mistake in hindsight as all of her close friends have gone this year. She been working and has some money put by. She's desperate to travel, but can't find anyone to go with. I'm happy to put some money into it, if anyone can think of a safe way for her to travel on her own.

She really wants to interrail in Scandanavia of all places - doesn't really want to do turtle patting in costa rica, but tbh that's what I'm looking at as it looks safe if you are on your own! Any other suggestions welcome 🙏

try Gap360, they’re amazing

Hiya

My daughter did plan my gap year, had an amazing time, she started on her own but has made lifelong friends. They are reasonably priced and offer lots of different experiences.

I twice went off alone on backpacking trips in my early 20s
One trip was in Eastern Europe the other in South America. In both places I easily met people to spend time with so never felt lonely or isolated. I doubt she will find a group of people to travel with she will have no problems finding people to spend a few days with to see the sights and go to the bars.

I also wasn't too thrilled about the idea of going alone but I thought that if I waited for someone to join me I would never go at all and would miss out on a great opportunity.

Why doesn't she do a ski season and then usually there are tons of people from there who will go on a trip with her. I did 5 and ended up in all sorts of corners of the world with ski season friends .

If she takes a more popular backpacking route, like around, say, Thailand, India or Australia, and stays in backpacker hostels/guest houses, she will immediately meet loads of other people to travel with, including other solo women.

Yes what about ski season job in eg Finland ?

ski seasons are pretty much out now for non EU passport holders

im on few facebook recruitment pages for ski resorts and almost all need eu passports as they won’t bother with sponsorship

Think working holiday visas in australia are now becoming more popular

I don't think this is possible after Brexit

Almost impossible since Brexit, at least in Europe sadly

Look at Camp America for next summer.

She could start with something like this as an intro then stay at the end travelling solo - she’ll have a bit of an idea of hostels etc then:

www.gap360.com/interrailing-scandinavia

Going on her own will be the best thing for her. I get as a parent it will be terrifying but how about sign her up for an initial programme where you meet people etc and see where she goes from there? In hostels etc it's easy to meet others!

One of mine did this at 18 but in South America over 8 months from South to North.

If she is using hostels they are never ever really alone - as everyone talks to each other and shares info and tips on where they have been and where they are going. Their paths then cross again.

Most trips etc are arranged via the hostel with a various individuals signing up for a group excursion. Only time my DC was alone was travelling from hostel A to hostel B and even then someone might be going in that direction. Its all incredibly social and digitally networked and we felt connected by their bi-weekly updates on insta. Another one of mine did ski seaon in Japan (Nov to March) - loved it - was mainly Aussies working in the resort and Aussie guests.

When I was a younger adult professional woman I felt less safe and more lonely on international business trips in anonymous airport hotels etc - and was probably more at risk of theft or assault than being in a hostel.

How about doing a short course in another country where she will meet other young people?

A lot further away but The Kiwi Experience is amazing for traveling alone in New Zealand. Follow them on facebook to watch out for their special offers which they do reasonably often. DS loved his time there and just wished he had stayed longer for more flexibility.

Just looked at the website - it currently 20% off the hop on hop off bus until the end of September. Tempted to book it for me to be honest 😀

Yep and I did Oz Experience similarly
was great fun, most people were there on their own

Sadly the Oz experience no longer exists (I did them both too). But lots of people get the greyhound buses up and down the East coast of Australia and stay in social hostels. DS met up with a friend for Australia so I can’t say what it would be like on your own.

Oh no! Sad face 😢

My DS did a ski season in Canada. Turned into nearly 2 years in British Columbia. He loved it.

Lots of peeps suggesting organised schemes here. DC do not need to do these things to travel. Just buy a flight ticket to Bangkok, check into a cheap guest house on the Kho San Road and meet people to travel with. It will be way more fun than some upper middle class ski season lamery. I do despair at how posh Mumsnet is sometimes.

Is this what your teen did?

She's actually found a friend to travel with and they are busy planning their itinerary! Thanks everyone for your advice.

You don't need to be posh to go to Canada. You apply for a visa, apply for a job online and off you go. Lots of young people in Canada who are mostly pretty normal, they just can't work in Europe anymore.

Presumably you did this 30 years ago? Times change. I'm not sure you even have a teen anyway, do you?