traveling abroad alone

[lovehearts]

I've got the travel bug big time! Today I just booked a holiday to the Canary Islands for 11 days all inclusive. I'm really looking forward to it, nice beaches, sunny weather, adventures. I'm going to be there on my own for the 11 days... Has anyone else went on a sunshine holiday on there own before and how did they find it? Im worried about meal times, you know sitting on my own eating my meals... but really looking forward to lying on the beaches, doing not much, maybe take some excursions and venture abit. We'll see. But its all inclusive anyway, so food and booze all paid for,,, not sure what the nightlife is like, i'll be looking for a bit of fun for sure, im spending my birthday there lol...

[MarkRae]

I'm assuming you're female and over 18...

In which case, all I can advise you is to be sensible, street-wise, and don't have unprotected sex...

[lovehearts]

haha yeah im over 18 - good answer "edit" quite funny :)

[jno]

assuming you don't want to be hassled by members of the opposite gender, take a book to read while you eat or plug in an Ipod; it seems to deter them.

If you do want them buzzing round, of course, disregard this advice.

[carlton23]

You will be bothered day-in, day-out, by `Time-Share` reps so pretend you`re dumb and ignore them, they`ll soon give up. I regretted the day I ever succumbed to their sales talk, and still get phone calls to sell after 8 years of selling mine.

[hc4361]

Where are you going?

[mollykins]

or carlton instead of ignoring them, pretend to speak ina language that they won't know, of couse that doesn't work if you're wearing something with a union jack on it.

[jno]

yes, you coud recite Australian aboriginal place names. Wagga wagga wolloomooloo nerrigundah!

[mccfluff]

i've been away for a few times on my own, meal times are fine take a book if you need to. you usually end up seeing the same people around and end up getting together for meals etc.

[smurfchops]

Don't go to the tour guide's Meet N Greet - you will get a free glass of cheap plonk and they only want to overcharge you for tours. Get a bus and do the tours on your own, go to the market, etc. Be careful walking home alone late at night, best to get a cab, it will be quite cheap out there, even with the euro you can't afford to take chances. Enjoy !!

[snags]

I've been backpacking a number of times on my own (throughout S E Asia), from anywhere between 2 and 4 months at a time, and loved it. I find having the freedom to do exactly what you want, when you want exhilarating and enjoyed deciding when I wanted to be alone and when to mix with others without having to accomodate others. As far as the eating alone thing, I never found it a problem: more often than not other lone travellers get together for meals then go off and do their own thing.

As MarkRae says above, stay sensible, safe and use common sense (even more important being a lone female) and you'll have a great time...

[MustangLady]

I so admire you, well done. I'm newly single (after 19 yrs relationship) and starting to consider how I would go about doing holidays alone. I will do it eventually, just got to find the right place for me to go. Thanks to all for the advice how to 'deter' the unwanted attention, especially at meal times. Just be sure to stay safe and don't walk in the dark in lonely out of the way places, keep to where the crowds are so to speak ! Good luck and enjoy your holiday. Oh and best wishes for your birthday while you out there (I'm probably a bit early on this!)