Have you taken a trip around Europe OR usa/canada by yourself before?

[Telstra]

If yes, where did you stay at nights?
(cheap & safe places to stay in big cities where no one stole your belongings)

 

[rareboy]

Oh wow. yes I did. First when I was 18 and then when I was 24...all through Europe.

We stayed at a variety of places.

I'd suggest hostels...I think most are pretty decent.

Otherwise, I think you need to get one of the good guides and follow their recommendations for cheap lodgings.

I've had great success with that approach as well when I was just a puppy.

 

[Telstra]

Are bath houses open 24/7?

They should, i would visit all the bath houses and sleep there ...

 

[blackbeltninja]

I did the US for several weeks when I was 28.

Stayed in hotels, cheapish ones which seemed decent. It was a trade-off - comfort for safety and location/convenience.

-d-

 

[Telstra]

sure.

I rely on Google local for reviews and it's never let me down.

What key words did you type ?

 

[Ganoderma]

check eg http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa and in particular http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=53 and all the various European and US branches.

You can easily spend weeks and weeks reading all the different postings.

I have done this kind of holidays (ie travelling by myself) to countries like Indonesia, Cape Verde Islands, Jamaica and Ghana. I always use travel guides (a book), be it LP, or Bradt or any of the other guides.

Besides that, you will definately meet fellow-travellers along the road, and can exchange ideas with them. Or travel together etc.

How about couchsurfing?

 

[Mako247]

yeah I made trips to paris france by myself
there is a site "cheapoparis" that locates cheap hotels in the city
of course there is nothing like a luxorious suite at Georges V (my fave fancy hotel)
also could check out the magazine "fromers budget travel" (omg does anyone still read magazines? - but anyways) in the back of every issue they run special fares to a variety of places (divided by area)

 

[Swellegant]

I've never gone on any trip anywhere by myself.

Kind of pathetic, if you think about it.

 

[yhtang]

I've never gone on any trip anywhere by myself.

Kind of pathetic, if you think about it.

I have travelled around Europe and USA by myself. I stayed mainly in Youth Hostels and cheap hotels. Ditto China.

I am used to travelling by myself. It takes more planning though, and I did it all before the internet became popular. This meant doing a lot of research from books and magazines in libraries during their opening hours. With internet, you can do your research at anytime so long you are in front of a computer and you have internet access, of course.

I do not think travelling solo is pathetic. I like the freedom of travelling by myself - I do not need to wait for anyone, and I do not need to hasten my sightseeing for anyone. To quote Rudyard Kipling, "He travels the fastest who travels alone."

A caveat though, anyone who travels alone needs to be vigilant because there is no support from a travelling companion.

I find I make a lot of friends - be it other travellers or locals - when I travel alone. In the few times when I travelled with others, I found myself in the exclusive company of my travelling companions and hardly made any new friends on my trip.

 

[ashonfire]

I travelled solo around Europe for about 6 months when I was 20 or so. I was totally unorganised and drunk, stayed in the cheapest hostel dorms I could find and never had anything stolen. I was always very careful with my passport and bankcard.

 

[Telstra]

When you guys move around Europe and North America,
do you use cash to buy small stuff like food, drinks ... etc or use bankcard ?

 

[palbert]

Telly, are you trying to tell us something - like get the guest room ready? - or is this just your insatiable curiosity?

I was only yesterday able to buy Tim-Tams; they'll be gone before you get here.

Have a nice excursion.

 

[Telstra]

Telly, are you trying to tell us something - like get the guest room ready? - or is this just your insatiable curiosity?

I was only yesterday able to buy Tim-Tams; they'll be gone before you get here.

Have a nice excursion.

Well, i might plan for holidays or might not who knows ...

 

[mbamike]

Back when I was gainfully employed, I would go on business trips around the US and Europe. Mostly to Germany.

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

If yes, where did you stay at nights?
(cheap & safe places to stay in big cities where no one stole your belongings)

Youth Hostels are in every big city and usually the cheapest option.

 

[MoltenRock III]

I have been in about 2/3rds of all the European countries. I myself prefer central Europe, Northern Europe, and the Adriatic vs. Western Europe. I've only had Germans ever be rude to me. I love Europe.

 

[Corny]

Are bath houses open 24/7?

They should, i would visit all the bath houses and sleep there ...

you could .. but that would limit you to the big cities. and probably sleeping in cum-stained rooms. not that you would care ... but still ... yuck.

other than that .. couchsurfing is quite popular here and basically accomodation + a local for free.

 

[frankfrank]

My answer is a resounding YES...in a typical year I spend ten to fourteen weeks traveling great distances by myself. I've driven to every Province and State and two of the three Territories of Canada, and flown to Hawaii, by myself.

 

[BiMike]

When you guys move around Europe and North America,
do you use cash to buy small stuff like food, drinks ... etc or use bankcard ?

When you arrive in another country try to ensure you have a small amount of the local currency, $ , £ or €. Then you can top up as required from ATMs using a debit card, for preference, as required. ATMs are now in virtually all towns in Europe and offer the best rate of exchange.
Travelled all over Europe usually with company but travelling solo does have some advantages in the you are more likely to meet another 'friend'

 

[voyager1994]

US and Canada - yes and I stayed in backpacker's hostels and on some occasions budget hotels.