Hi, I'm 19 y.o. female and am saving/planning for a solo backpacking trip to Europe in about two years (I'm currently finishing my AA degree and am going to save my money for a year). I'm planning on going anywhere from 3 to 9 months. ANY advice you can give me as far as safety, tips, where to go etc would be very helpful. I'm thinking about going off the beaten trail, seeing nature and pretty places, so tips on places you've been that you love would be awesome. Also if I could hear from anyone who has traveled solo, just on what it's like and ways to not get lonely or completely lost.

Thanks!

I think you'll get many replies to this, but I don't mind being the first to jump in. I'm a woman, and I've done five solo trips to Europe, and had a fantastic experience each time. My first solo trip to Europe was my first solo trip anywhere. That was when I was a very young 26-yr-old (about *cough* 20 years ago). At that time, I only knew one other female who had made that kind of trip alone. My family thought I was crazy -- so did many of my friends. When my plane took off for Paris, I wasn't sure what I'd gotten myself into, but it was a profoundly joyous experience. And life-altering, too: I caught the travel bug on that trip and have been traveling as much as possible ever since.

So, to your questions:
SAFETY: You need to be sensible and reasonably cautious, but there's no reason to be paranoid. As far as protecting your belongings and your cash goes: travel as light as you can, because fewer belongings mean fewer bags to keep track of. I prefer to have a backpack I can carry easily and then I use a shoulder bag that goes across my body to carry my wallet and camera. I also find it easy to wear both these bags at the same time, and I can always keep a hand on the shoulder bag. Others will prefer other bag combinations. A big thing to remember, especially as a novice traveler is *there's no one right way to do things*, just a way that works the best for you. A thin money belt is a good idea, for holding a credit card *when you won't be using it*, ditto for your passport. I highlighted the "when you won't be using it* because you don't want to go fishing down in your pants for things and advertising your money belt. I've seen a lot of travelers do that, and I don't really think that's the best use of your money belt. Put luggage locks on your main bag. Keep your bags where you can touch them whenever you're out and about unless there's a trusted person to watch them. There's other advice to be had, but it's readily available, and I think I'm getting away from the main thrust of your question.

Personal safety: Trust your instincts, exercise common sense, and you'll be fine. A good rule of thumb is never to walk alone at night, or anywhere that you've been warned is an unsafe area. Use locals and other travelers as resources. The staff of your hostel, guesthouse, or hotel will be able to tell you if an area is dodgy. This is being conservative, but I'd say be a little suspicious at first of any males who try to befriend you, whether traveler or local, but trust your instincts and enjoy their conversation and company if no warning bells go off. Of course, use common sense when it comes to getting really drunk with someone you don't know well, or going off alone with them, but you know what? I think most female travelers, including me, have ignored common sense in those areas without dire results.

As far as where to go and what to see, this is really a deeply personal matter. It depends on what moves you and speaks to you. I'm sure you already have some ideas 'cause you're planning this trip. Europe is full of nature and pretty places, so it's hard to know where to start with recommendations. When you've come up with a rough country-list for an itinerary, you might get better results with more country-specific posts. Like, "where's the best hiking in Germany? Or Scotland?" Or, you can search on "hiking" and "Germany" both in this forum and on the web in general. I don't want to imply that there's anything wrong with a general post -- there's not, and you're just starting to plan. It's just that specific queries and searches tend to yield better results. But you'll get better at specific queries when you've done a bit more research.

As far as finding company, trust me, in Europe, this will not be a problem at all. In most parts of Europe, hostels are the way to go. In a hostel, you'll be surrounded by other travelers, the vast majority about your age. You might not click with everyone, but you'll be meeting so many people that you're bound to bond with more strangers than you ever thought possible. It's one of the great joys of traveling.

Hi there!
Two suggestions that might help you feel confident about your trip.

"First Time Europe" in the Rough Guide series

and "Gutsy Women" by Marybeth Bond (who has done many books on women traveling...)
Both are loaded with info, tips (including safety and traveling solo),etc.
You'll love them.

Good luck!

Hi Erin,

Sounds like a great time is coming your way -- 3 to 9 months in Europe, lucky lucky.

I am not as extensively traveled as others on these boards, but when I travel it's almost always solo. Lots of solo women travelers adventuring around these days.


SAFETY
I echo mini manta on not being fearful or paranoid about danger. No reason at all for anxiety or losing sleep out of worry. But do be proactive about keeping yourself safe before and during your travelers. Do keep your common sense turned on. Do take it on yourself to ask questions and do research about the safety of places you are going to be at. This is all the more so because you are a young woman (young women are more targeted by the shady types than older women) and this is your first trip. Err on the side of caution.

- Always have a place to stay your first night if you are arriving late. You do not want to arrive in the middle of the night and find your hotel of choice closed an hour ago, or that they are full.

- Know where you are going if you are arriving late at night, and plan ahead on how you are going to get to your destination safely. i.e: Is it safe to just hail any taxi from the train station, or are some taxis known to be unsafe? Is the train station in a safe area or is it dodgy? Is the metro safe late at night?

- Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Daytime or nightime. And I don't mean be afraid, but just be a calm observer -- is that character over there giving you a weird vibe? Is someone following you while you walk to your hostel? What will you do if that's happening, what's your plan?

- Drinking: Do not get drunk unless you are with people you trust to watch your back ie. a group of girls from your hostel. Once you are drunk, your common sense is turned off, and you will not be attune to being targeted by sketchy people. You may make bad decisions like deciding to walk home through a sketchy area instead of taking a cab, or accepting open drinks from strangers. You will not be alert enough to be assertive if you need to deal with a situation. That may sound overcautious to say do not drink more than a beer or 2 if you are on your own, but just don't. If you are with people you can trust, go ahead and get plastered if you want.

- Be cautious about accepting open drinks from strangers in bars. If someone is going to buy you a drink, ask for a bottle of beer and make sure you can watch that they didn't put anything in it.

- Carry yourself assertively. Don't be afraid about hurting people's feelings if you need to end a conversation or get rid of a tout. Walk with confidence at night. These things make you look less of a target. Learn how to say "Leave me alone" in the local language.


Also, I strongly recommend taking a women's self-defense class before you go. And it's not really because I think you need it for travel, but because every woman should take such a class for life in general. But it does help with the travel, I think, especially because of the focus on non-verbal cues + communication. Helps you feel confident and not worried about dealing with situations that arise.



RECOMMENDS

I've not been through much of Europe. Of the few places I've been, I really enjoyed Ireland. Beautiful place, chatty people. It's also considered fairly female-friendly, as a country. That being said, someone tried to follow me home in Dublin once I especially loved the Aran Islands, off the west coast. Desolate, magical beauty, and Irish is still spoken around there.

I loved Amsterdam too. It's a beautiful, manageable city with a lot to offer (beyond it's reputation for legalized pot). Great architecture, great chocolate, very walkable and bike-friendly, quite progressive culturally.

Go and have a wonderful time - you are probably safer in Europe than home in the US - every 2nd weirdo isn't armed in Europe! The most dangerous thing you will probably do is cross the road in the UK- got myself run over by looking the wrong way! Get travel insurance, don't get blind drunk and apply your commonsense but not your paranoia - you will be fine!

if you go to britain conssider the english lake district, the west coast of scotland and north wales. they are all good for walking and scenery. you will meet nice people. use youth hostels.cheap and you will mix with people easily, not necessarily backpackers.lots of great cities in europe, london amsterdam paris rome florence prague berlin etc. nowhere is that far in terms of usa. flights are cheap.

generally speaking you will get very few hassles in europe. just take the usual common sense precautions.

good luck.

Thank you all, these have been really encouraging and helpful. I really appreciate it. Keep them coming! I forgot to mention that I've been to Europe once, the UK for about 3 weeks and Ireland for 2 days--the best 2 I've ever had. I'm not sure if I'll return to London, as I've already been there and I don't want to waste time/money seeing something I've seen already. I will however, be returning to Ireland and taking much more time for it. Thanks for your input again!

-Erin

I have travelled fairly extensively through Europe, usually alone and I am a female...and I love it!!

I recently went to Paris solo just for the day...and I wandered around until late-ish into the night...I already knew which area's were not the greatest to wander around in...but to be honest Paris is fairly safe all over.

I'd echo some of what has already been said...do NOT get drunk unless you're with someone that you trust and even if you're not drinking alcohol don't let someone that you don't know buy you a drink without watching them from the time that they get the drink until they hand it to you...it is so easy for someone to put something in your drink and you won't know until it's too late...so be careful. But that's just common sense.

I'd recommend that you learn just a few phrases in the local language...even "Hello", "Goodbye", "Leave me alone" and "Thank you" will do fine and should get you by...a lot of people in Europe understand English but those that don't you can get by by using a bit of sign language and pointing...LoL.

Try to get yourself a map first thing and always book ahead for your first night as someone else said...try to figure out ahead of time how to get from the Airport to your chosen hotel/hostel that way you can hopefully avoid the touts on the way out of the Airport if you look like you know where you're going.

Be aware that in some places someone will look like they are being nice by carrying your bag for you but before you know it they will ask you for a Tip...so if you don't want to pay that then make sure you are firm with them and tell them that you will carry your own bag.

I wouldn't have too many bags with you...I travel with either a Suitcase or a Backpack...and then I just have a daypack with me which I carry either on my front or down by my side...it may also be a good idea just to carry your daypack in front of you as if it were a baby...that will hopefully stop any pickpockets.

You will almost certainly meet people in Europe...it's one of the friendliest places that I've been to...other backpackers are always willing to chat in Hostels and don't be afraid to join in the conversation....even if you don't really know what they're talking about (I do that all the time!! LoL).

Take lots of piccies...but I'd recommend a digital camera as opposed to taking loads of ordinary pictures and then having to carry the films around with you to get developed when you get home...plus with a digital camera you can see what you have taken straight away and delete it if it is rubbish...

Apart from that just have a really great time...don't be afraid...relax and chill out and have a laugh...and come back and tell us all about it!!