Has anyone ever taken a vacation by themselves to a place where you don't know anyone?

Question

If so, then where, and how was it did you meet anyone interesting?

Answer 1

I didn't know anyone when thumbing my way alone through the picturesqe cantons (provinces) of Switzerland.

Some highlights:
a. Picked up by a senior Swiss-Italian gentleman in his Rolls Royce Silver Cloud - treated me to lunch
b. Rode in the backseat of a Citroen driven by young Swiss-French couple
c. 2 Swiss-German girls showed me the quaint village-town invited me to stay the night at their apartment
d. Swiss-Italian architect drove me around in his 911 Targa and sailed the Lucerne lake in his cruiser - stayed in his luxury pad
e. Group of Lausanne guys n gals put me up for a week - cooked chinese dinner for them
f. Guest of Swiss hotel owner at the edge of Lake Lucerne (Vierwalderstattersee)
g. Japanese girl working for Geneva-based expat invited me for the night

Swiss hospitality is out of this world.

Answer 2

Yes, when I was younger I did it a lot. Of course, I lived in England and it was a safer time to travel alone. My best holiday of that sort was when I spent a week at a posh hotel "pony trekking" through the highlands of Scotland each day with some of the other guests. In the evenigs we had Scottish dancing or Mah Jong. Someone always asked me to sit with them, and I got to know the other pony trekkers. Then for the second week I went to the Edinburgh Festival and they had places where you could find a place to stay. I wound up in a home where the lady rented out two rooms. There were two other American boys there and we kicked around together. It was a lot of fun.

But times have changed. A girl travelling alone is a target for all kinds of people these days, and if you've never travelled before ( I spent six of my first twelve years of school overseas) you don't know what to look out for. Remember the girl on Aruba recently. Going off with those guys alone was a foolish thing to do. And that poor dear girl paid with her life for what was supposed to be a fun trip.

You know that current saying, "What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas"? Well, if you're planning to vacation on those terms, please don't. You are exposing yourselves to all kinds of danger.

If you want to travel where you don't know anyone, then, although it's going to sound boring to you, the first time you go, at least, take a bus or a cruise where there are people who can look out for you. Or get on the staff of a cruise ship as one of the entertainment crew. You'll meet lots of young people and you'll be making money, and you'll be having fun at the same time.

Answer 3

Yes, this past October, November and December I travelled in Australia and New Zealand, staying in hostels, and taking public transport. That's a pretty long time to be travelling alone in places where you don't know anyone. Along the way I had a serious back injury...tt was amazing...the people were so friendly, kind and helpful. Maybe if I'd been healthy I wouldn't have met such interesting people. Both New Zealand and Australia are places I'd love to go back to, but this time I'd have friends to visit.

Answer 4

I went to Belgium alone, and I truly recommend traveling by yourself. I met tons of people, and was able to do things I never would have thought of by myself - there are so many possibilities, because you can go off with a group of newly found friends one day, and then break off from the group and do your own thing the next. The freedom is unmatched. Make sure you stay in youth hostels - they're the best place to meet other travelers. The only downside of staying in a hostel is that you have to be very careful that your stuff doesn't get stolen - lock it up!!

Good luck, I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Answer 5

Yes im from NYC and i went to Virginia Beach.It was great the people were so warm and friendly.I stayed in a hotel and it was kinda scary.I didn't know anyone,met people but i didn't think of keeping them as friends because of the distance.I didn't even know if i would ever go back.Now i wish i had it was so much fun.Just be careful not to tell to many people that you came alone.There are good people everywhere but you always find a creep or two somewhere.

Answer 6

I went to San Francicso for a week and didn't know anyone. My strategy for meeting people was to stay in a hostel (I used Green Tortoise). I also found a deal on Wednesday for tickets to the Oakland A's for a dollar a piece, and I bought four. Then I found some folks at the hostel who were interested in going to a game and I brought them, my treat! Cheap and easy way to make friends.

Answer 7

I went to Kingston, Jamaica on a cruise, and had a blast, on the way there , once I got there, and on the way back. Of coarse I'm a guy, and that might have made a difference, but there were quite a few ladies traveling alone too. I guess it's what you make of it. Be outgoing. I'm still in touch with some ladies I met on the ship and on the island.

Answer 8

Nope haven't gone on vacation by my self. But with family...yes...when we were going to colorado to go and meet my dad, my grandpa, my 3 uncles, my aunt, her husband, and my 2 cousins, also my step grandma. When were on our way there we went to South Dakota...and got to see Mount Rushmore. It was pretty cool...i also got to see that structure of a house being carved out of a rock mountain...it was pretty awesome...this happened about 9-10 years ago. All I can say was cool. I didn't meet any interesting people at all...i just payed attention to what was around me in South Dakota such as the land...no one else.

Answer 9

Yes.

When I was in the Army I got 3 weeks leave (paid vacation), and decided to go through France/Holland/Germany on a rented BMW motercycle. It was glorious. Meeting new people, not being concerned about anyone else's desires for the day, night was very liberating.

I met several girls in Germany/Holland and had quite the time with them, showing me around, having fun looking at stuff only natives know about. Very cool time in my life.

The things to remember if your going to go to another country ESPECIALLY by yourself, is learn the language enough to communicate. This is essential to your good time, you see if you know how to communicate with everyone, they are much more likely to give you that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You don't have to be fluent, just conversational enough to communicate. The natives will appreciate the effort you are making and help you with their language.

Answer 10

I went to Scotland by myself and met a bunch of people. The key is to stay in places like youth hostels where everyone is a traveller so you automatically have something in common. It's very easy to strike a conversation and make friends that way. If you are worried about going alone, join a tour group.