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I don't find it that bad. You can meet a lot of people. However, it can get pretty boring at times and even dangerous depending on where you're traveling to be alone.
@Matrick
Thanks - created this thread for you since I know you wanted to travel by yourself in the other thread :)
Just kidding, how did you meet people? Was it just striking up random convos?
Haha, I appreciate the gesture ;)
Usually its pretty easy, you can meet new people in a so many ways. I guess its the easiest when you backpack through some country and hit all the hot spots for backpackers. They are usually your age anyway and you can get connected pretty easily.
If you stay in a hotel, my first advice would be to start using AirBNB. With this, your host is already your first contact into the city and he can probably show you around, so that you hit the good spots and not the tourist traps. At the beach you can always get to know people pretty easily through beach volleyball or some other activity you can use to start conversations.
Additionally I also used various online platforms, such as Internations, aSW or BoaW. Not intending to advertise for them, but they are really good to get connected with locals, so if you have access to that, make use of it.
If you're going for shorter trips (3-4 days solo), I find that it doesn't get too boring even without trying to strike up conversations with strangers. I've done a couple trips like this recently, it's not like you need company to hike, read, go to the beach, or even drink at a bar.
Haha, @Scandal , are you one of those nervous people who always has to eat with company? I remember in college it was like that for everyone. I prefer eating alone sometimes, especially when you have people that always feel that there needs to be conversation. Just shut up and let me eat and contemplate!
Never really traveled alone though, short of taking my own flights etc, which I actually like too. You meet the most interesting people in airports, bus stops, and train stations.
Alternative to AirBnB is Couchsurfing, but that can be hit or miss and you'll likely be sleeping on someone's couch.
Tips for travelling alone (Europe, North America, and Australia - never done it anywhere else):
1) Go out before/after meal rushes. Make sure you find out what time that is, it varies by country. That way you don't feel like a complete fool (if that's a problem for you), you don't piss off the owner/manager for taking up space, you get better service, and most importantly, you don't have to wait or feel rushed.
2) Find a hotel with a decent breakfast buffet (preferably free - I like free shit). It gets the first meal out of the way, and most places breakfast isn't the part of the food culture you're going to care about.
3) Lunch on the street. Food trucks/markets are a great way to get a feel for the local culture and try some bomb, cheap food. Plus it's easy and fast, leaves you more time to get on with whatever you're doing.
4) If you're in a touristy area, use a tour group. Lots of times they pass long lines and you get some human interaction if you want it.
5) If you aren't confident, you're not gonna get laid. That's not really a tip. Get your game tight. There, that's a tip.
6) If you want to meet people, aim for cheaper accommodations. They'll generally have younger people that are more open to meeting others. I'm not a big fan of hostels, but it works.
Are you talking about domestic or international travel? I've traveled pretty extensively through South America and Western Europe, both alone and in groups. I will say that both are quite enjoyable in their own way. When traveling to a place I've been before, I much prefer to travel alone because I've already seen the tourist sites and don't like to do them twice. Alone you set your own schedule and your vacation truly feels like a vacation -- sleep in as late as you want, eat wherever you want, visit the spots you want, etc. Traveling with others compels you to be productive and jam in as much as possible, which can be a good thing if you're inclined to sit in your hotel room and not venture out. It really comes down to your personality and what you want to get out of the trip. Here is my specific advice for South America and Europe.
South America Only travel alone if you are/look Hispanic and you speak Spanish comfortably (or Portuguese in the case of Brazil). If you don't, you can pull off traveling alone to very touristy countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, or Mexico (tourist areas), but I wouldn't recommend tackling the likes of Brazil or Colombia.
If this is you, I can't recommend enough that you try to find a way to befriend locals during your stay. It is really hard to get a feel for the various South American cultures if you aren't experiencing it directly. AirBnb is a great place to start. What I usually do is I make a Facebook post that I'm traveling somewhere and inevitably someone has friends that live in the country I'm visiting and those friends are willing to meet up and take me out. It really depends on your friend group but this has easily made what would have otherwise been a terrible trip into an awesome one.
Europe Europe is a lot easier to travel alone and I'd recommend it to anyone (except women for safety reasons). As mentioned above, the best way to meet people is hostels. I hate staying in them because of the noise and living conditions, but at hostels, nearly everyone is there to party and meet people. You'll easily be able to find a group of friends to do touristy stuff with, go to the beach, or hit the clubs. Depending on the hostel they usually promote social activities such as pub crawls and clubbing, and the right ones have their own bar where you can get cheap drinks and party with the other hostel guests. Hostels can also be a pretty big hookup scene and depending on the hostel, the girls can be quite hot.
Outside of hostels, another great way to meet people is tours. I've been traveling with friends and struck up conversations with folks everywhere from the bus ride over to at the refreshment stand. It doesn't take much to initiate a conversation. "Where are you from?" is pretty much my go-to introduction whenever I'm on the road and I've never been turned away.
That's a very good point. Works for everyone I think.
The advantage of traveling alone is that it's easier to eat on time, and it's easier make it to the gym on time. I'm not sure if you mean business travel or vacation; I will assume you mean vacation. In that case, if you travel with other people you will have someone to discuses whatever it is that you see.
Traveling Solo? (Originally Posted: 12/22/2009)
I just graduated and am starting IBD in the summer. I really want to travel while I have the chance, as I didn't get to do so in college. But my friends are either still in school next semester or have no money.
Everyone I've spoken to suggests traveling before starting the job, but nobody says where. Has anyone done any solo travel? Any suggestions or shared experiences will be appreciated. Thanks.
I have traveled abroad both solo and with a college buddy. If you have 1 or 2 friends who wanna backpack, then by all means, do the trip together. It's great to share an incredible life experience with close friends. But if no one is able to go on a trip this spring, I STRONGLY recommend you do one by yourself. Wandering around a given corner the world by yourself is one of the coolest adventures you will ever have in your life - it was for me, at least. Here is my ranking of long-term backpacking trips in order of priority.
1) Europe 2) Southeast Asia 3) The South Pacific 4) Latin America 5) East Asia 6) The Middle East
I went to South Africa with my sister over spring break and had an incredible time hunting animals and observing wildlife. And to Italy with my best friend this past summer and met many guys. I travelled solo when I was running away from home - went to Brussels(my wallet was stolen in a bar), Amsterdam( was mistaken for a hooker), Rome(nearly kidnapped by a drug addict), Vienna and Munich.
Can you guys post a little more detail about how you planned your trips, where you stayed, how much money you spent over how much time? I pretty much have 5 months free so I'm kinda overwhelmed with options.
I would recommend SE Asia. Travelling and living are really cheap over there and there are great things to see.
Book a return ticket to a place like Singapore or Bangkok. Once you get there you can get very cheap flights (or bus, boat, cab) to Malaysian Islands, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia etc.
Buy the Lonely Planet for a few countries, and plan your first week (transport, accommodation, etc.), then you just make it up as you go along.
all this travel talk among bankers and this thread gets less posts than one about piper jaffray?
I have done a lot of traveling around the world, both solo, with small groups, and with large groups. Personally, I have enjoyed traveling with one or two others the most. While traveling alone can be fun, if you go to a lot of different places (which I have found to be the most rewarding) you have people to talk to while you are going from place to place.
I would try and find one other person who has a little bit of money. Fly somewhere and travel all over the place spending a night or two in each location. My recs are below, along with some comments on each.
South Africa- Cape town is amazing, and you can find some pretty amazing Safaris that are reasonably priced but essentially 4 star hotels. I did a 4-day, 3 night safari that included everything (meals, lodging, 2 safaris per day and transport from Cape Town to the safari which included RT flights to Joberg) for something like $1200. Not terrible considering what I got, but not the cheapest option.
Vietnam- Dirt cheap. Pack a backpack with a day or two of clothes and some toiletries, head to Ho Chi Minh City, and you can buy ANYTHING else you need there for next to nothing. Always barter and as ridiculous as it sounds, counter offer at about 10% of what they ask, walk away and they will come after you. Never pay anything more than 25% of what they ask for. You can find hotels or hostels to stay at for next to nothing. Language barrier can be tough though. Take a bus or a cheap flight to one of the beach communities and spend a few days there. Cheap flights to Na Trang. Gorgeous with a decent nightlife. Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh city can get pretty crazy. Also, lots of places for massages both traditional and "non-traditional" if you know what I mean.
Malaysia- Gorgeous country. Take buses anywhere you want to go. I recommend spending some time in Kuala Lumpur which is the big city. Hostels are cheap, 4/5 star hotels for like 125 per night. Also some amazing beaches you can stay at and have a great time. Again, if you travel with a person or two and pile into one room, it ends up costing next to nothing. Be careful of prostitutes, they are EVERYWHERE.
Japan- Most expensive but you can still do it cheap if you are willing to be a bit adventurous. Get a JapanAir rail pass (you need to get this outside of Japan because it is only for tourists, do some research). It allows you to take the bullet trains to any location as many times as you want for a week and costs like 280. Way better than flying, trains are ALWAYS on time, clean, comfortable and not crowded. So efficient. I was there for 3 nights and saw Kobe, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nagano and Hiroshima. Stay in manga cafes overnight. A little weird but they are internet cafes that rent out their cubicles for special overnight rates (like $15) and you get a padded little room with a lockable door, a computer with unlimited internet, soda, coffee, some places have snacks and ice cream, etc. Its a bit strange, but cheap as hell and after traveling all day, you can pass out pretty much anywhere. Japan is an incredible country and somewhere everyone should visit.
Hong Kong- Only spent one night there, so I can't comment all that much, but the night life was the best I have ever experienced... ridiculous. (I don't remember much of that one night... which is usually a good sign).
China- Again, another amazing place. Went to Beijing, dirty as hell but pretty cool. Saw the great wall, forbidden city, etc. Language barrier is BADDDD though. Even in Shanghai almost NOBODY speaks English. I wouldn't recommend doing China without a tour guide.
Hope all this helps everyone... and one last piece of advice. Try the local food everywhere you go. Don't eat anywhere that you know. Eat off of street carts, eat in crappy hole in the wall restaurants, anything. Don't be afraid to try things you don't recognize. The food around the world is amazing.
Between college and starting my career I took a year to travel. All my solo travels were here in the US though, and when I went to Europe I was with college friends. Most people feel it necessary to leave the US, which of course is a great time, but do not overlook all that this country has. My most memorial trips have all been road trips across the USA, staying in cheap motels with the neon signs outside, eating in diners and meeting locals of small "off the grid" towns. There is so much culture that we have here in the States and its great to learn more about your own country. You want a real culture shock, come down to the south and even go to the deep south. You will think you are in a different world in some spots (Cajun country of Louisiana for example).
I understand this wont be for everyone, but if you dont mind the open road map out a long road trip. Get off the highways, meet real working Americans, live like the other half before you begin your life in high finance. You might even realize by the end that somethings are more important than working your life away. I know I did. Still ended up as a trader, but my hours are a ton better than what they would have been if I pursued the banking.
Anyone a member of the site "A Small World" ?
if you do europe, make sure to get an eurail pass...unlimited train travel for 1 or 2 months (depends on the pass). you can sleep on the night trains by paying a small supplement fee of 10-15euros...cheaper than a hostel, and allows you to see more places as you won't have to spend the day time in transit. buy food from the supermarket if you're really on a tight budget...that's what all the backpackers do. you'll have an amazing time...i'm jealous!
www.famoushostels.com
I would double check on getting the rail pass if your doing Europe. Most of the time it just one giant rip off and you are better buying point to point tickets or flying easyjet.
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