Traveling to Europe Solo..

[epic_barrels]

Hey guys,
I am teacher and just wrapped up work for the summer..I've been thinking about taking 2-3 weeks and traveling to Europe. Most of my friends have to work, married, kids..etc so I am just thinking about letting my balls hang and going solo.

I am thinking about flying into Barcelona and going through Southern France, Northern Italy and up North to Vienna, Prague..

I am on a limited budget so I am trying to do it as cheap as possible.

I think the experience would be very rewarding and eye-opening. I am a little reluctant going solo but I am a very social guy and have no troubles meeting people

For anyone who has done this, please share your experiences..

I am 31 btw

Thanks

 

[Julius_Seizeher]

You have to see Pompeii. I've never been, but that is a consuming goal of mine- I HAVE to see it. A society of living people frozen in a cast of molten lava a millenia ago...I get chills.

Somewhere on the western coast of Italy, there is an underwater cave with statues placed there by the Romans 2000 years ago. From what I understand, a unique specie of algae is prominent there and the statues glow with an eerie green light as you scuba among them. Think about it, an ancient underwater art gallery- whoa!

You have to go up into Austria as well, it gets no love but rural Austria is a pastoral, agrarian paradise that takes you back in time. And I have heard the Austrian girls to be very accomodating.

And France...there's that cathedral made of bones there that would just shatter my world completely.

 

[Shivastorm_88]

visit www.couchsurfing.com

this will turn an amazing trip into a unique trip

 

[SBW]

I am thinking about flying into Barcelona and going through Southern France, Northern Italy and up North to Vienna, Prague..

That sounds like a fantastic trip, however is 2-3 weeks enough? I often see people from the US in my country who are simply trying to see too much in too little time and end-up not seeing very much at all as they are always rushing from place to place.

You may find that slowing down and taking time to appreciate and explore the places you visit will be much more rewarding. It will also give you time to meet people and make changes and go to places/events that were not on your original itinerrary.

Also, away from the cities/main routes you may find that public transport is not as reliable as it could be. Particularly in Spain, Italy and rural france. Hitching is sadly not as popular as it was.

For travelling, have you checked out the various national and international rail cards and advance booking? eg

http://www.interrailnet.com/
http://www.seat61.com/

If you are going distance, another trick is to cover it at night and sleep on the train.

For accomodation, if you don't mind going basic there are plenty of cheap hostels all over Europe, mostly filled with younger travellers or young families. They are also good if you are on your own as you often meet-up with others in the same boat.

http://www.hostels.com/europe
http://www.hostelworld.com/

Where a national hostel org is involved, ther may be an age limit (mainly Germany/Austria) or a preference for thost under mid 20s but there are also plenty independants that take anyone of any age.

In France, there is also something called Gites (pron jeets) - which usually offers simple inexpensive bed and breakfast accomodation, or even just a bunk in a shed for a pittance.

As for your route - Some must-see/visit places that come to my mind are:

Barcelona itself.
Cadaques
Perpignan
Carcassonne
Nimes
Avignon
You could loop up into the Alps/Rhone-Alps to places like Anncey or Grenoble
Marseilles
Abtibes/Cannes/Monaco
Genoa - Milan, then up through Lombardy and the Alto-Adige into the Austrian Tyrol and Innsbruck.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Zimbabwe]

Unless you are a seriously introverted person who likes to hang out by yourself all day back home, solo travel can get very boring. Most people are in groups/pairs.

The ever-changing environment and fleeting relationships you form wears you down. At home, I have everything set up to be ultra-convenient to go about a day, and having to deal with inconvenience after inconvenience takes a toll. It's fun solving those problems at first, but after months, you really don't want to have to deal with mundane issues again.

 

[Jake_Gyllenhaal69]

Unless you are a seriously introverted person who likes to hang out by yourself all day back home, solo travel can get very boring. Most people are in groups/pairs.

The ever-changing environment and fleeting relationships you form wears you down. At home, I have everything set up to be ultra-convenient to go about a day, and having to deal with inconvenience after inconvenience takes a toll. It's fun solving those problems at first, but after months, you really don't want to have to deal with mundane issues again.

depends where you go tbh. Japan is much better spent solo than going with a group because that country is built for introverts. Now Barcelona and Italy are definitely not solo friendly lol.

 

[Travel memoir21]

depends where you go tbh. Japan is much better spent solo than going with a group because that country is built for introverts. Now Barcelona and Italy are definitely not solo friendly lol.

lol Japan… I don’t know about that. There’s still too many people and it’s overcrowded.

The perfect setting for any introvert is to be at a cafe somewhere being the only one or two people there.

 

[Jake_Gyllenhaal69]

lol Japan… I don’t know about that. There’s still too many people and it’s overcrowded.

The perfect setting for any introvert is to be at a cafe somewhere being the only one or two people there.

Most of the restaurants in Tokyo had sections for solo diners or it was really hard to fit a group of more than 2 in them vs Barcelona and Italy- unless you want to dine in fast food/cafes most of the restaurants are going to be catered towards date nights or groups. If you have been to Miami or New Orelans then think those types. Yes, the world's most populated city is crowded and has lots of people, andddd lol??

 

[Zimbabwe]

Most of the restaurants in Tokyo had sections for solo diners or it was really hard to fit a group of more than 2 in them vs Barcelona and Italy- unless you want to dine in fast food/cafes most of the restaurants are going to be catered towards date nights or groups. If you have been to Miami or New Orelans then think those types. Yes, the world's most populated city is crowded and has lots of people, andddd lol??

Never been to Tokyo but I noticed Mediterranean countries give you a really weird look if you try to dine solo, a lot suggest you just get takeaway. I've had a couple places ask if I'm waiting for anyone else to join me, and they were just surprised when I said I'm alone.

And honestly it does feel weird being the only loner while everyone else is sitting in groups.