Travelling Alone
Discussion
This year I've decided to get a few of the things done that I've always wanted to do and, somewhat predictably, this includes travelling. As I'm single and no one likes me I'll probably be going alone. I was thinking of somewhere in the USA as I've never been across the Atlantic.
So does anyone have any experience of travelling in America as a Billy-No-Mates and any advice for where to go and what to watch out for?
Oh, and the budget will probably be quite tight as well.
So does anyone have any experience of travelling in America as a Billy-No-Mates and any advice for where to go and what to watch out for?
Oh, and the budget will probably be quite tight as well.
A mate of mine traveled on his own to Mexico then up to the States. He is a bit of a loner tho' so rarely spoke to anybody and I think by the time he got to the US he had got fed up of people talking to him on buses so he rented a car and thus traveled and kept to himself.
Not the best example and he is now officially a manic depressive.
Not because of his solo journey though so all I can say that if he could do it, you can.
Saying that, it is what I should be doing.
Good luck
Not the best example and he is now officially a manic depressive.
Not because of his solo journey though so all I can say that if he could do it, you can.
Saying that, it is what I should be doing.
Good luck
recently returned from travelling with a friend- but we met a whole bunch on people travelling on the Jack Jones. Most were travelling alone because their friends circumstances meant they couldnt travel, family commitments etc...
Stick to the tourist friendly areas, and you'll find other travellers- groups and people on their own- you can join
Stick to the tourist friendly areas, and you'll find other travellers- groups and people on their own- you can join
BruceV8 said:
An idea I've had is to fly to NY then travel by Greyhound bus to LA, over a period of 2 - 3 weeks, stopping as and when. Anyone done similar?
Defo do some of it on the train. I just did Denver to San Fran on the Californian Zephr train route.Didn't like trains before but I would do another journey. Great riding through the rockies being able to watch everything whilst having a beer/wine !!
You can buy passes for 15 days or a month so worth a look. Loads of space on the train, huge seats which recline a long way with plenty of space in front of you. Some people do get a bit smelly though if they are doing a long stretch of the journey.
Travelled in America twice for five weeks each time. Once alone, once with a friend, met many more people when I was on my own. Without exception they were very friendly and helpful.
One couple I met in Cheyenne were amazing. Met the husband in a bar at about 5pm, went through the back entrance to a strip club (yes, honestly, quite an eye-opener) to pick his missus up, onto another bar, then back to their place and in the hot tub by midnight! Even tried to fix me up with a friend of the wife for the rest of the holiday!
One couple I met in Cheyenne were amazing. Met the husband in a bar at about 5pm, went through the back entrance to a strip club (yes, honestly, quite an eye-opener) to pick his missus up, onto another bar, then back to their place and in the hot tub by midnight! Even tried to fix me up with a friend of the wife for the rest of the holiday!
My friend is doing Australia, NZ and a few other places all on his own.
He's not a loner, I just don't think he could find anyone who wanted to travel for 2-3 months.
Very brave thing to do, but as he says it will force you to make friends.
From what I hear, Americans are very hospitable.
I think you'd have to be really unlucky to go travelling on your own and not make a bunch of friends.
I think you'll have a great time, and it's something I'd love to do.
He's not a loner, I just don't think he could find anyone who wanted to travel for 2-3 months.
Very brave thing to do, but as he says it will force you to make friends.
From what I hear, Americans are very hospitable.
I think you'd have to be really unlucky to go travelling on your own and not make a bunch of friends.
I think you'll have a great time, and it's something I'd love to do.
Well, a little bit of googling has revealed that a 30 day Greyhound Discovery pass costs $439 or £275 which is pretty reasonable.
Hostels seem to be the cheapest places to stay and there seems to be millions of them at $20 - 35 per night.
The biggest single expenditure is the flights. So far it seems that a flight into NY and out of LA 3 weeks later will set me back around £670 - 750.
Then there's beer money (oh and I suppose food as well). So I reckon needing around £1k for travelling and another £1k for spending for three weeks in total, unless I have wildly underestimated my living expenses.
Hostels seem to be the cheapest places to stay and there seems to be millions of them at $20 - 35 per night.
The biggest single expenditure is the flights. So far it seems that a flight into NY and out of LA 3 weeks later will set me back around £670 - 750.
Then there's beer money (oh and I suppose food as well). So I reckon needing around £1k for travelling and another £1k for spending for three weeks in total, unless I have wildly underestimated my living expenses.
I've travelled to 41 states so far, pretty much all of them on my own over the last 9 years or so.
I'm happy to answer any questions you have.... one thing I would suggest off the top of my head.
returns to NYC run about 300 quid at the moment, it should be more than possible to fly internally within the US from LAX to New York for less than $800 which would make your flight spend a whole lot less (try www.orbitz.com for the internal flight prices)
In terms of things to do in each location and on the way, what sort of things do you like to do?
Accommodation in NYC, if you're on a budget then by far the best option is www.bigapplehostel.com - I've stayed there a few times and it's great.
Travelling solo in the US is probably the best way to do it to be honest. If you're at all sociable then as a Brit you'll have a great time. The majority of folks in the US don't come into contact with Brits all that often and they love the accent.
I've experienced hospitality in the US that simply doesn't exist elsewhere.
Anyway, rather than give you random things, post up a little more detail about what you like to do and I'll dig back in the memory banks!
I'm happy to answer any questions you have.... one thing I would suggest off the top of my head.
returns to NYC run about 300 quid at the moment, it should be more than possible to fly internally within the US from LAX to New York for less than $800 which would make your flight spend a whole lot less (try www.orbitz.com for the internal flight prices)
In terms of things to do in each location and on the way, what sort of things do you like to do?
Accommodation in NYC, if you're on a budget then by far the best option is www.bigapplehostel.com - I've stayed there a few times and it's great.
Travelling solo in the US is probably the best way to do it to be honest. If you're at all sociable then as a Brit you'll have a great time. The majority of folks in the US don't come into contact with Brits all that often and they love the accent.
I've experienced hospitality in the US that simply doesn't exist elsewhere.
Anyway, rather than give you random things, post up a little more detail about what you like to do and I'll dig back in the memory banks!
Did this as a single traveller a couple of years ago, flew into NY and then used the Amtrak train to get accross to San Fran , via Chicago, Denver etc before hiring a car and using Highway 1 to get to LA, via Yosemite, Arizona etc - took about 8 weeks to do it at a reasonably leisurely pace staying in Hostels and cheap hotels. Trains 100% get my vote for this type of travel, did the same sort of thing accross India as well and just love the pace of life on trains. You can get on and off when you want on one of the flexible tickets and I never had any issue with availability, simply turn up at the station you want to leave from and get your tickets to the next stop.
The Amtrak is a great train as well, they are pretty very geared for tourists, massive seats, bars and restaurants on board and the viewing cars are fantastic the scenery on that route is mindblowing.
Take a few days at each stop to rent a car and mooch around, if your sociable you can meet plenty of people to chat to both on the train and in the cities, Americans are really hospitable and inquisitive - recomend going to the local bars and getting away from your fellow travellers in hostels as they will all talk about the same thing endlessly - were they've just been and were they're going next. Sit in a locals bar at the end of the work day and your bound to meet some characters coming off shift who will be both interested in what your doing but also interesting in themselves. I found this the best way, but if you take a book in with you and nobody is around or you dont like the look of the locals then just have a read. Works equally well if your feeling insociable.
Just get on and do it, as soon as funds allow i fully intend to do something similar again, best holiday - ever!
The Amtrak is a great train as well, they are pretty very geared for tourists, massive seats, bars and restaurants on board and the viewing cars are fantastic the scenery on that route is mindblowing.
Take a few days at each stop to rent a car and mooch around, if your sociable you can meet plenty of people to chat to both on the train and in the cities, Americans are really hospitable and inquisitive - recomend going to the local bars and getting away from your fellow travellers in hostels as they will all talk about the same thing endlessly - were they've just been and were they're going next. Sit in a locals bar at the end of the work day and your bound to meet some characters coming off shift who will be both interested in what your doing but also interesting in themselves. I found this the best way, but if you take a book in with you and nobody is around or you dont like the look of the locals then just have a read. Works equally well if your feeling insociable.
Just get on and do it, as soon as funds allow i fully intend to do something similar again, best holiday - ever!
Thanks for all the replies so far - great stuff.
As for what I want to do, all I'm interested in for this trip is to see a bit of the country, meet a few of the people and drink some of their beer. I'd like to visit a mix of touristy destinations and some ordinary towns. The idea is to get a flavour of the country.
Do you think that NY to LA in 3 weeks might be a bit frantic, without time to get to know anywhere? I could perhaps do a shorter route - say, NY to New Orleans, or New Orleans to LA, maybe.
As for what I want to do, all I'm interested in for this trip is to see a bit of the country, meet a few of the people and drink some of their beer. I'd like to visit a mix of touristy destinations and some ordinary towns. The idea is to get a flavour of the country.
Do you think that NY to LA in 3 weeks might be a bit frantic, without time to get to know anywhere? I could perhaps do a shorter route - say, NY to New Orleans, or New Orleans to LA, maybe.
have a look at an east / west across canada, far more hospitible travelling than the states in my experience. They're a very friendly and welcoming bunch the canadians.
Loads of free camping, just get a cheapy tent and sleep bag in mec on arrival if you're feeling brave and skint.
If you're feeling really brave and skint I have no doubt that you could hitch it with no problems at all. Still an accepted form of travel out there, and plenty of people doing mega miles glad for the company IME.
I think there is a train that runs from nantucket to vancouver. Loads to see on that route.
Remember, the faster you move, the more it will cost you!
Loads of free camping, just get a cheapy tent and sleep bag in mec on arrival if you're feeling brave and skint.
If you're feeling really brave and skint I have no doubt that you could hitch it with no problems at all. Still an accepted form of travel out there, and plenty of people doing mega miles glad for the company IME.
I think there is a train that runs from nantucket to vancouver. Loads to see on that route.
Remember, the faster you move, the more it will cost you!
SimonV8ster said:
It'll be a piece of piss. The Americans are very good at customer service so always very helpful, people you meet are very friendly and always seem willing to help a Brit who has come all that way to see them.
Do you like beaches/mountains/deserts/wildlife/sport/snow,etc,etc ??!!
agree. EASY!!! Just buy a flight ticket and read a guide book on the plane.Do you like beaches/mountains/deserts/wildlife/sport/snow,etc,etc ??!!
I did 6 months travelling on my own India/Malaysia/Thai/Laos/Indonesia/Aus
travelling in a country where nobody speaks your language, their alphabet is different AND their customs/traditions are different is the hard bit. America is like falling off a log.
Not done it alone, but did a fly-drive a few years ago. LA > Vegas > Death Valley > Yosemite > Sacramento > SF.
Really awesome!
Can't really help with going alone, but Yosemite would be a beautiful place to go visit. There's many walks to go on and wildlife to see. We saw a Coyote and 3 bears.
San Francisco is very nice as well. Hire a bike and cycle the Golden Gate, visit Alcatraz.
Really awesome!
Can't really help with going alone, but Yosemite would be a beautiful place to go visit. There's many walks to go on and wildlife to see. We saw a Coyote and 3 bears.
San Francisco is very nice as well. Hire a bike and cycle the Golden Gate, visit Alcatraz.
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