Solo travel

Candice, that all depends on your own comfort level and travel experience. It is a definite advantage to have some knowledge of the Spanish language.

Why not do a quick search using the box in the upper right hand corner? I recall posts about pickpocketing in Madrid and Barcelona.
IME, if you have the opportunity to travel with a Partner, that is probably the best way to go. With that said, that does not mean that I would not travel alone given the opportunity. Just exercise caution and never compromise your own safety. As a woman, you will be presented with some unique challenges. Be prepared for them.

Check out www.journeywoman.com and wanderlustandlipstick.com
There are some helpful tips posted there.

Safe Travels,

F/A

Thanks for the info! I'll check out those sites. I normally check the search for other people with the same concerns but I've been a bit emotional. My family keeps telling me that I shouldn't go alone. It makes me think they don't have faith in me. If other women travel alone with less knowledge of Spanish than I do. So if they can do it then, I must not be competent. My Aunt actually told me that I would get kidnapped and killed. I'm just upset I guess

Hi Candice,

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I'm 25 and am leaving in 10 days for a 2 1/2 month solo trip. I'm going to several countries where I don't speak a word of the language, so at least you have that advantage! :) I'm a little nervous and my mom's worried about me and wishes I was going with someone else but at the same time, understands this is what I want to do. I say, if you want to go to Spain, then go. Be careful, be observant of your surroundings and you'll be fine!

Oh Shauna, you make me feel so much better! I'm 25 too and Mom is also pretty worried. It's not just her though, my Aunts, Uncles, cousins, everyone that knows me wants me to find someone to go with. I mean, it's not like I didn't try to find someone to go with! I'm really frugal so I would've loved someone to share the hotel bill with.

The original plan was to go in September but my work schedule changed so I can't go then. I can hardly get my own schedule to work let alone get it to work with someone else's.

I travelled solo in Spain for two months when I was 22 (a few years ago). I have really limited Spanish but found Spain to be a safe, easy to navigate country, people were helpful and friendly. I was on the cautious side (wearing a money belt) and trying to be aware of my surroundings. The only "trouble" I had was a few guys catcalling. But I ignored them and kept walking. Honestly, the problems you could encounter are probably really similar to those you would come across in the States.

My advice would be: Go. Have fun. You will not regret it.

Travelling solo is one of the best things I have ever done.

Good luck!

Candice - Last year I really, really wanted to take a vacation but nobody I know had the time or money to go. The choice was go alone or not go at all. I'm independent but was not thrilled about going all by myself so I took a Rick Steves tour to Paris. I almost backed out but am so glad I didn't! It was a terrific experience and I am looking forward to going again. For your first time solo, you might want to consider something like this. There was a nice mix of single people & couples, structured time & free time. I really enjoyed it. Whatever you decide, be smart, be safe and have a wonderful trip!

I traveled alone in Spain last year and had a great time. If you use the same good sense you use traveling around San Antonio, you'll be fine.

Candice, of course your Family will have concerns about you traveling alone. It only shows how much they care about you! You are very fortunate to have so many people who care about you. Their concern doesn't mean they think that you are incapable or incompetent. Remember that.

Just be sure to call when you say you will call so you don't put them in a position of worry. A quick phone call or email really can keep them posted and not worry so much when you're abroad. (I'm 30ish and still check-in with M&D regularly.)

Maybe include them in your trip planning activities. Do some research together. Share the experience with them.

(***Edit-The key word here is YOUR planning...not that you are letting them plan for you!)

Learn as much as possible about traveling solo. Maybe even take a "practice trip" in the US to see how you liked your own company. Sounds silly but worth considering.

Here are a couple more sites I meant to post for you earlier...

www.HERmail.net

www.womenwelcomewomen.org.uk

www.voyage.gc.ca (See "Her Own Way: A Woman's Guide to Safe and Successful Travel"

I've travelled all over the world on my own, so trust me when I say no matter how poorly you might speak a language, or how petite you might be, a man can always understand "No!" if you say it like you mean it.

If a strange man tries to touch you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, don't be meek - be a complete bitch, get yourself out of his grasp and be loud to draw the attention of others. He'll back off fast.

That said, if you don't want to attract unwanted attention in the first place, don't walk down the street smiling at a strange man or group of men as you pass them. Men in some parts of the world view this as an invitation or interest on your part. Pretend you are riding a subway in a big American city - do you ever see people grinning at each other on a NYC subway?

If you are at a bar, watch over your drink and don't drink more than you can handle. If a man wants to buy you a drink, get it direct from the bartender.

Use common sense & you're fine.

Kim finally someone said what I was thinking.

Candice, you live in what I consider a scary place. The States makes me nervous. Guns everywhere,gangs,, drive by shootings, I know this doesn't happen every where every day,, but the States just seems way scarier then Spain. I don't travel alone in the States, but I have been to London and France alone.

Your parents let you drive downtown alone right?? And you do have some langauge.

PS . I would NOT include them in planning. You are a big girl, do it yourself, print out a copy of your iternerary give it to them of course, after YOU decide what you want to do .

PS , Its funny, I went to Europe with a friend when I was 23,, we were away for about 2.5 -3 months,, but this was before emails, and cell phones.. 1985.
We phoned home about three times, too blinking expensive back then.. nowadays people expect to be in touch with people back home EVERYDAY with emails etc. Even webcams,, LOL, strikes me as a bit of overkill.

Candice,

Your aunt told you that you will be kidnapped and killed in Spain and you are living in TX??? Give me a break!
I'm sorry I have to say this, but her statement is really silly.
I am amazed by that fact so many Americans are so "sacred" about Europe, when here in the US there are so many problems, really big problems with guns, drive by shootings, raps etc on daily basis. Those things really don't happen so often in Europe, expecially the use of guns. There have been some raps, but much less than here. It is true that Europe has problems with pickpockets, but this is not as bad as the possibility to be killed any time here in the US, even walking on a street, in a store, at workplace. If you use common sense, you will be fine, and nobody will pickpocket you. The most important rule : Do not walk on the streets at night and you will be just fine.

If you speak Spanish well , this is an avantage, you will be able to get what you want, but will not make you safer in my opinion.
If you scream out loud or say NO, I am sure you can do it in English and will not make any difference to a possible person who might try to harm you.
Have fun and have a safe trip!

I have traveled alone in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Honduras and Puerto Rico and in various places in Europe. Needless to say, the danger on this continent out shines the dangers in Spain. My Uncle who has lived in Spain since the 60s says he is much more likely to have something violent happen to him when he goes home to visit his family in Colombia than he is to have anything at all happen to him in Spain.

As for a cab, when you get in to the cab, lock the doors. This keeps anyone else from opening the doors. Not that this is going to happen to you, just be smart. If someone thinks they are going to pull a fast one on you, you let them know you are not going for it.

If you are almost fluent in Spanish, they will understand you. My mom sounds very American when she speaks Spanish and people have tried to act like they don't know what she is says, but they do. They just think they are going to pull one over on the Gringa. She very quickly lets them know, they are not.

GO! You sound ready to travel, even if your family is not. Good advice posted here already about checking in with your family, but set the schedule YOU feel comfortable checking in, NOT your family's schedule. I love my family to death and appreciate their similar worries about me. But, it is your vacation, your money, and your time, not theirs. It may help them to know you are responsible enough to tell them where you are going and promise a specific level of check-ins.

There's a Graffiti Wall section on solo travel also has good advice (see HERE).

I haven't travelled alone in Spain, but I did some solo travel in Italy - I'm a petite woman with dark hair and everyone thought I was Italian. Eye contact is considered a come-on there, so I made an effort not to do this. Learn the slang or informal terms for "Buzz off" and "Leave me alone buddy" and you should be a-ok.

If YOU were concerned about traveling alone, I would say sign up for a tour. I wanted to go to Rome, my mom was not too happy about me going it alone, so to appease her AND because I didn't want the headache of planning the trip, I signed up for the RS tour, which was wonderful simply because I didn't have to spend much energy planning.

But once in Rome, I had no problem splitting off from the group and going around town by myself. And I'd go back to Italy alone in a heartbeat.

I don't speak any Italian either, but I looked like I knew where I was going and what I was doing, and no one bothered me except the pushy street sellers and those you just ignore. Use common sense to stay out of any sticky situations, email your family so they know you aren't dead, and have a wonderful time.

I went to Europe by myself when I was 16 and traveled everywhere. Since then I have traveled solo all over the world. I prefer traveling by myself because you get to do what you want, when you want, for as long as you want and someone else doesn't effect your trip. The irony of going solo is that you will meet a lot of people (other travelers and locals) and it is often harder to stay 'on your own'.
I encourage all women to get out there and see that the world is like. but there are certain things that will make your trip easier. I know from my own experiences and from observing thousands of young women travelers on their own.
~ Dress modestly-it saves so much hassle
~Wear sensible shoes--in a tight spot could you run away??
~Wear a cheap wedding ring--husband is just over there-somewhere
~Be smart if you are going out 'partying' Don't get drunk! Go out at night with a group but make sure there are some reasonable individuals in the group.
~Be aware of your surroundings be alert

Destiny, are you rich,??, I just can't believe how many people on forums like this tell me of travelling alone at 15, 16, and 17... who in the heck finaces these trips?? Babysitting money... world travels,, I need to quit my dayjob.. LOL

And I am not getting the parents that send 16 yr olds ALONE to another continent,, unless they are staying with relatives and/or friends of family,, I am really perplexed , I am not trying to be mean here.
My 17 yr old son has a midnight curfew on weekends,, I guess that would be hard to enforce in Europe... LOL

Thank y'all for all the information and for the encouragement. Unfortunately, I am not always the most aware of my surroundings. But I've traveled alone to Washington, DC quite a bit for work and I was fine. I'm not planning on drinking at all and I won't be partying unless I meet people to hang out with. Even then, I don't plan on staying out late. I'm not really a partier and I think I will be trying to get sleep at night instead.

As for the family, I think I just won't discuss it with them anymore. I do need to talk to my other Aunt though because she talks with my cousin in Spain I was going to stay with. I hear that he may not want me to stay with him in May (I was supposed to go in May originally) so I said I will stay in a hotel.

I think the only thing I want more in life than this trip is a husband. I have a boyfriend here so I was thinking about getting a cheapo wedding band to fend off Spanish men. Thanks y'all so much!!!

To go with the ring make sure you can say "Felizmente Casada" if you are not interested. I found in Italy that just having a wedding band didn't really make them totally leave me alone until I actually said I was "Happily Married".

So, if you are Almost fluent before you go, you should be fluent by the time you get back. Have fun.

Last summer I walked the 500-mile Camino Frances pilgrimage trail in northern Spain. There were many solo women walkers on the trail, and I never heard of any problems. Some of them joined up with other folks while on the Way, while others kept to themselves.

The Camino is a somewhat different travel experience than, say, hanging out in a big city doing the normal travel experiences. Pilgrims (many are there for non-religious reasons) stay in albergues (pilgrim hostels) that are mainly co-ed - even the bathrooms are often shared by both genders. Also, the pilgrims tend to watch out for each other.

All that to say I think you can go it alone in Spain, provided you take the normal precautions that anyone would while on the road. Your grasp of Spanish is especially valuable. The locals like it when you speak the lingo, and being able to ask directions, get help, etc. is a big plus. And heck, nobody messes with Texas anyway (hehe)! Good luck and have fun!

In response to the above replies...
I had suggested that Candice include her Family in the planning and research as a way of connecting, to possibly help them to warm up to the idea of her travelling solo. I didn't mean to imply that they should plan for her. You can include someone in something without giving up your power.

Sometimes, IME, including your Parents in things helps them to lighten up and realize that you are a capable adult.

The suggestion was NOT an indication or assumption that she was anything other than a "Big Girl". Of course she is in charge and should make her own decisions. I would expect that for a 25 year old.

Candice - in my solo travels, I have found that I start to try to "blend in" - most especially when using public transportation. When using a bus or subway or train, try to sit near the bus driver or if that isn't possible, try to find other women to sit next to. We have to look after one another and if you are in trouble, they may be likely to help you. If you have longer journeys, grab a Spanish newspaper to "read" so you don't stand out as a tourist. Study the culture - like another response said, if eye contact is considered a "come on" by all means avoid it! If you're planning on staying in a hostel, you may find another solo traveler to pair up with if you both want to see the same thing.

Personally I enjoy solo travel. I can do what I want, when I want and for as long as I want without feeling like I'm slowing someone down. If I want to hurry through a museum, I can. If I want to spend an hour studying a painting I can.
Check the journeywoman site - lots of useful info!