Post: #1

Used the search couldn't find anything exclusively on this subject recently.
I am sitting here about to book my flight to Bangkok in January. I'm hesitating like a stunned cunt. I have never traveled alone and fear kind of just sunk in when I went to the credit card fill out for the ticket.
I am planning to travel 2 months alone in SE Asia, starting in Bkk then going from there. I have been overseas a few times before but I was always with a buddy or family who had a lot of our itinerary roughly planned out.

Anyone have any pointers for a first time solo trip? Any feedback appreciated.

Post: #2

I just follow Nikes slogan

Except when you see a lady boy!

Post: #3

(11-01-2012 11:37 PM)murrb Wrote:  I just follow Nikes slogan

Except when you see a lady boy!

Hahahaha

Post: #4

(11-01-2012 11:20 PM)Kdog Wrote:  Anyone have any pointers for a first time solo trip? Any feedback appreciated.

Try to have a lot of the basic comfort logistics worked out before you go, with extra time so you're not all stressed out right before you go.

You want to get some up-close experience in a new place, but it may be better to rest for a while after you get to someplace totally new like Thailand to recuperate from the long trip.

Get your first few hours planned out carefully so you are protected at your most vulnerable, tired point. How exactly will you get from airport to hotel, are they open at that time, etc.

Get at least a weeks worth of lodging lined up in a recommended place for which you've seen reviews. Don't believe the computer reservations when they send you an email confirmation, call the desk talk to a human and ask them if they see the reservation in their computer system and that there is no doubt when you get there they expect you. Find out where to get food that you know will agree with you. Make sure you have all your medication with you and get some travel medicine in case you get sick, beyond my expertise but intestinal problems are common. Have more than one debit card, keep them in separate places, Schwab ones pay all the overseas ATM fees and give you a good exchange rate.

Keep a copy of your passport so if you lose it you can bring copy to consulate. Don't bring too much expensive stuff, it causes stress. Do bring a good camera, they're only 150 now. I have pictures of Norway from 27 years ago and have never gotten back since!

Have comfortable shoes that are rugged, don't buy new ones right before you go. Have clothes that dry fast .

Don't lend money (over a couple dollars) to anyone, locals will think you are rich and there are lots of expats who are just very lazy poor planners and are used to getting others to take up the slack for them. If they can't support themselves, how do you expect them to generate EXTRA money to pay you back when they haven't been able to support themselves to begin with? Lending a couple dollars is actually good bait for users, if they don't voluntarily ( without you asking) pay you back you know they are not good candidates for long term friendship. Weeding out parasites is important. They may be useful but you want to know who you're dealing with.

Post: #5

Just enjoy yourself. Don't get too drunk when you're alone.

Post: #6

I remember my first time travelling alone. My buddy bailed out a week before, so there I was with a flight ticket to Bangkok for 5 weeks.
I too almost cancelled the whole trip, but my father told me not to be a bitch and just go!

Was the best thing I did. I meet so many interesting and cool people. Had tons of fun. Saw so many beautiful places. It was just me, "alone" (you are never really alone , you'll meet and talk to people all the time) so I had to put myself out there!
It will fill you with an confident that you can do anything, you'll learn to know yourself better, and it will give you more self esteem.
And give memories and experiences that you can't put a price on.

My best advice Kdog is; go and ALWAYS go with your gutfeelings!

-rdp

Post: #7

Travelling alone is amazing. You will have total freedom to do whatever you feel like. Also you can fuck whoever you feel like without having to worry about mates getting left behind (or your dignity).

Stay in good hostels - http://www.hostelworld.com - with a GOOD BAR. cannot recommend that more highly.

Also you're Canadian so you must like weed - there are some pretty sweet reggae bars in SE asia! Just don't try to convince chicks you just met to do shrooms with you - they may think you're a rapist (personal experience).

Post: #8

(11-02-2012 05:37 AM)Prophylaxis Wrote:  Travelling alone is amazing. You will have total freedom to do whatever you feel like. Also you can fuck whoever you feel like without having to worry about mates getting left behind (or your dignity).

Stay in good hostels - http://www.hostelworld.com - with a GOOD BAR. cannot recommend that more highly.

Also you're Canadian so you must like weed - there are some pretty sweet reggae bars in SE asia! Just don't try to convince chicks you just met to do shrooms with you - they may think you're a rapist (personal experience).

+1905

But avoid the hostels, stay in 4*-5* hotels.

Post: #9

travelling alone is magnificent, the freedom is great, do whatever the fuck you want. Just don't get too drunk/high when alone, you'll easily make friends, just game everyone

Post: #10

(11-01-2012 11:20 PM)Kdog Wrote:  Used the search couldn't find anything exclusively on this subject recently.
I am sitting here about to book my flight to Bangkok in January. I'm hesitating like a stunned cunt. I have never traveled alone and fear kind of just sunk in when I went to the credit card fill out for the ticket.
I am planning to travel 2 months alone in SE Asia, starting in Bkk then going from there. I have been overseas a few times before but I was always with a buddy or family who had a lot of our itinerary roughly planned out.

Anyone have any pointers for a first time solo trip? Any feedback appreciated.

Kdog, don't sweat it.

Watch the movie Hostel.

It should calm all your fears:





I am just playing.

Don't watch that movie.

Traveling alone is just like walking down a street in your neighborhood alone.

Only your not in your neighborhood.

Make sense?

Post: #11

Thanks for the responses guys very much appreciated. I plan to either stay in a mix of hostels and hotels but more so hotels so I can bang more locals. If I decide to stay in Bkk long term probably rent an apartment short term. My budget is about 3k-3.5k but if I have to spend more it wont be a biggie.

Post: #12

Kdog

#1 mistake is staying in a hotel. Choose an apartment over a hotel every time (only exception is if you have extremely high bank roll).

Basically choose a hostel first, if you like the area rent an apartment right next to the place you pull the most. Hipster place, biker place, high end ritzy place, Irish pub area. Whatever. Go get a place where you get results and live "right around the corner" or "right up stairs". This way you pull more and faster.

Traveling alone makes you man up. You're scared as balls, that's good, that means a higher return on your investment, make sense? The bigger the changes you overcome the stronger you are long-term.

Don't even get me started on the pussies who "need" to travel with friends. That's what women do when they go to the bathroom

Post: #13

(11-02-2012 12:03 PM)WestCoast Wrote:  Kdog

#1 mistake is staying in a hotel. Choose an apartment over a hotel every time (only exception is if you have extremely high bank roll).

Basically choose a hostel first, if you like the area rent an apartment right next to the place you pull the most. Hipster place, biker place, high end ritzy place, Irish pub area. Whatever. Go get a place where you get results and live "right around the corner" or "right up stairs". This way you pull more and faster.

Traveling alone makes you man up. You're scared as balls, that's good, that means a higher return on your investment, make sense? The bigger the changes you overcome the stronger you are long-term.

Don't even get me started on the pussies who "need" to travel with friends. That's what women do when they go to the bathroom

Yeah good call on the apartment I am looking a lot online but I heard checking the place out in person is much better to avoid deception.
Definitely had a lapse of judgement last night... going to book my ticket today. Pretty stoked.

Post: #14

The first time i went abroad alone was to Amsterdam when i was 18. I remember i was watching the beach before and Leo says a line like "and if you have to do it alone then so be it" probably doesn't sound like much but at the time it really did stoke me for about what i was going to do. That entire movie stokes me about traveling.

Post: #15

I'm considering my first solo travel outside the U.S. as well. I'm a really independent guy, but I guess the stigma around it is what gets to everyone's head. Societies view: Traveling for business? A OK. Traveling for fun? WTF why would you do that? Are you going to be ok?

Post: #16

(11-02-2012 12:16 PM)Rick91 Wrote:  The first time i went abroad alone was to Amsterdam when i was 18. I remember i was watching the beach before and Leo says a line like "and if you have to do it alone then so be it" probably doesn't sound like much but at the time it really did stoke me for about what i was going to do. That entire movie stokes me about traveling.

Ha weird you say that... I literally watched the beach on Sunday. I remember that line too. Guy takes a serious adventure.

Post: #17

(11-02-2012 12:16 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  I'm considering my first solo travel outside the U.S. as well. I'm a really independent guy, but I guess the stigma around it is what gets to everyone's head. Societies view: Traveling for business? A OK. Traveling for fun? WTF why would you do that? Are you going to be ok?

Ha exactly, because everyone is too scared to do it themselves. "Omg what would I do without my BFF". This is exactly when people start making excuses, the best one is

"I just don't think it is for me, I couldn't leave xxxx"

Really? Not even once in your life? Ever? Regardless of being 20 or 60, you can get out there once, even if its only for a week, you'll be happily surprised at how well you perform as many people get off the plane and assume they are going to be gang raped by drug lords.

Post: #18

(11-02-2012 12:20 PM)Kdog Wrote:  

(11-02-2012 12:16 PM)Rick91 Wrote:  The first time i went abroad alone was to Amsterdam when i was 18. I remember i was watching the beach before and Leo says a line like "and if you have to do it alone then so be it" probably doesn't sound like much but at the time it really did stoke me for about what i was going to do. That entire movie stokes me about traveling.

Ha weird you say that... I literally watched the beach on Sunday. I remember that line too. Guy takes a serious adventure.

But did you watch the movie Hostel?

Post: #19

the best advice i can give you as already given, but i'll second it have a place lined up where you can go once you flight lands and hang for a couple of days to adjust and get comfortable. the most stressful part of traveling is showing up in a city and not knowing the language and not knowing where you will be staying.

other then that booking the ticket is the hardest part. its stressful at first but soon liberating and very rewarding. most people who have taken trips like that in the past would do it again in a heartbeat.

Post: #20

Kdog, in my opinion the best place in the world to travel on your own is South America. The whole backpacker circuit is really well set up with cool party hostels everywhere and you can't really avoid meeting people.

In SE Asia accomodation is so cheap that many people stay in private rooms. If I were you I'd go to hostelbookers.com and scout out the destinations you're interested in and see if there is also a youth hostel that gets good reviews and has a high rating in fun/atmosphere. That way you will know it's a place where people socialize.

Another way to meet people is to sign up to some arranged tourgroups like a trek or such.

Most likely, you will probably bump into some cool people and decide to travel together for a bit.

That said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with spending a couple of days on your own. It builds character and you'll get into tons of situations that the normal traveller don't experience. It takes about a week for your brain to adapt to the new situation and after that, there's no going back. It's literally like your brain chemistry changes and you become a cool self contained mofo all of a sudden.

So stop thinking and just book your ticket. Trust me, you'll nt regret it a second.

Post: #21

Getting drunk always helps with meeting people in a party hostel.

Post: #22

If you are social and stay in a hostel you never need to travel solo.

Meet some friends, then look for an apartment.

Post: #23

I travelled alone in SE Asia and had a great time. Thousands of backpackers, impossible not to meet people.

Post: #24

Funny story, my buddy was supposed to join on a 3 week SEA tour, but bailed last minute.
Im going alone- 1 week Taiwan/ 2 weeks Thailand. Taiwan is no biggie, since I speak conversational Mandarin.

Thailand tho, im still tripping out a little. I am still debating hostel v hotel (4 star or better). Money is not an issue, but I dont like extraordinary waste. My idea of the breakdown is 6-7 days in bangkok, 3 days in chiang mai, 1-2 days in chiang rai. Still not 100% decided.

I am leaving LA 2 weeks from now.

I want to mix some sightseeing/tourism during the day w/partying at night. What would you guys recommend? Hostel or hotel for BKK? for Chiang Mai?

I know all Asia countries are heavy cash-countries. I was thinking about bringing about 3-4k cash in a moneybelt, but am unsure about the safety of that. Any advice on debit/ATM cards that will minimize fees? Tips?

Post: #25

Just be social.

Ive taken dozens of solo trips.
Any smart person can handle getting logistics down..but you're gonna have a shit time if you dont become social.

Bars and Clubs are not the places to stand around with your beer. I've done it a couple times...
Be a man and walk up to a table of people and just start talking.
The rest will come together.

Youll meet cool people and people will respect you for going out on your own.
Ive gotten more than a many nights of drinks paid for by joining groups