I'm going to Europe for October and November by myself. I'm 22 and a girl. I'm concerned about safety, but I also just don't want to be bored and lonely.
I'm going to Europe for two months this fall and my traveling partner got a new job so she can't come now. I'm very social so I'm a little turned off about going alone, plus I'm a little nervous because I'm a 22 year old girl. I speak rudimentary german and so-so spanish, and I have a few friends that will be there but they are all in school, so I think I will be on my own mostly. I'll be doing a lot in western europe hopefully, but I also really want to go into eastern europe. I'm cheap and poor so I will be hosteling it up and traveling predominately by rail, but probably hiking a fair bit. I'm no stranger to packing light, and I'm a geologist so I camp and travel a lot. Anyway I was wondering if this sounds like a disaster waiting to happen and if anyone has any advice. I'd love to hear suggestions and ideas of how/where to meet people and safety issues to consider. Thanks so much!
Reply to this Hey there,
It doesn't sound disastrous at all 😊 I wouldn't worry too much about your safety as a lone traveller. Exercise the same precautions as you would normally do if you were alone in big cities, take care of your belongings and be careful who you walk off with, etc..
As for where to meet people, if you're staying in hostels and travelling by train you will meet people. Take overnight trains whenever you can - not only does it save you on a night's accomodation, you're more likely to meet other backpackers. When camping you'll still meet people but mostly locals, especially at this time of year. I always find whether you get to mingle with the locals in a place to be a bit hit and miss, some places you do a lot and some places not at all.
If you're going to be hiking in the countryside, especially in Eastern europe, you can walk for miles and miles without meeting a single person, but I guess if you've ever done geology work you are no stranger to spending days alone with nature 😊
Have a good trip!
Reply to this Hello Stephanie 😊
I have traveled both alone and with people a lot in Europe since I was 19. You will meet lots of people along the way, especially if you stay at hostels.
I dont speak all the European languages either. You will get by because many people in Europe know how to speak at least some English.
Anyway I was wondering if this sounds like a disaster waiting to happen....
Absolutely not! Europe is not a particularly threatening place for women travellers. Many places are very safe, especially during daylight hours. I generally ask on travel sites and ask the locals how safe it is to wander around at night when I go to the various places. If it is risky at all, I dont go out alone at night.
Mel
Reply to this nah! I got a few more days and I'm walking from Scotland to Austria on my own ( and possibly beyhond)
I would say stay away from the city hostels thats usually where you get a bit more of the twerps especially from England when the football is on as they tend to stay in cheapest digs they can get sometimes and hostels are it. I'm going through all the central euro countries so if you walking around same time as me give me a email!
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