Trip idea for a solo traveler. Please help.

OK, here's my $0.02 worth. Fly into Nuremberg. Purchase the 49 Euro DB Germany Pass. Base from here, travel around.

You're not in season. It's too early for Christmas Markets. The fests are done. Fasching hasn't started.

Nuremberg is a really good place to base from. You have all of the Czech Republic, Frankonia, Saxony, and Bavaria, and Tirol easily accessible by rail. Dozens of interesting towns, hundreds of museums, etc. You could even rent a car and drive if you wanted. Plus Nuremberg is just a nice town to learn, even outside the Altstadt. Go up to Furth, or Erlangen, down to Schwabisch Gmund. Take your time and walk around. Hit the same bakery 3-4 times and they'll know you. Explore side streets. Have some fun.

It's going to be wet and cold, and get dark early. Plan on finding a nice place to sit and have a beer. Share a table. See a show. Read the billboards and ask if anyone knows of a concert.

My other option is a bit different. Don't go to Europe. Go to Uruguay. It's almost European, it's warm, it's cheap, the people are friendly, and the beer is good. Sit on the beach for a couple weeks; chase a girl. Why not?

Well in Budapest that would put you here for the opening weekend of the Christmas Markets.

Its a pretty social time of the year. I am about your age, but have been single a few years more than you. I can give you a list of what I do other than the typical tourist stuff.

I would suggest where ever you go, hire some guides along the way. Sort of breaks up the newly single travel blues.

JD, if you look at Gate 1 Discovery Tours, they are quite similar to Rick Steves Tours in group size and itineraries. They also have a category "stay and explore." If you are looking for a more social and "preplanned" experience, those may be options for you.

London is always a great place to go solo. Easy transportation, lots to do, plenty of pubs and daytours/walking tours available. Airfare tends to be lower in November.

Good for you for choosing to keep traveling even if circumstances have changed. Sometimes just moving forward is a victory.

What places have you previously visited, really liked, and would like to return to? What places have you previously visited and do not have to go back to? What new places have you thought about seeing?

And if the Rick Steves tours that caught your eye were running in November, what are those tours, and where do they go?

Are you comfortable revealing where you and she were going to travel? I'd NOT go there!

It also might help to know the area of the country in which you now live. For myself living in the Inland Northwest, I'd go somewhere guaranteed to have sunshine.

Have you considered Road Scholar? On their website you can put in a date range with is not 100% but you can look thru and see if anything clicks for you. If you are not totally sold on European travel, there is one with Hiking in the Big Bend area of Texas if that appeals. There is also an Istanbul City tour, one to Prague and Budapest, etc.

https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure?startdate=11%2F2%2F2024&enddate=11%2F17%2F2024

Hey JD,

I would also recommend a gate one tour.
I did Sicily with them in February, and it was incredible…pretty sure they still do Sicily in November and it would probably be a great time to go…but they go all over.

loved the people on the tour. I went with a friend, but there were a lot of singles, or people traveling solo. We made fast friends with a guy whose husband could not travel, so he was on his own. Everyone was welcoming and inclusive.

I’ve traveled solo, and it’s fine, but not my favorite. I prefer company….

J.D.,
Miuccia has some great suggestions and is spot on about Portugal and Vienna. I have only been to Sevilla for 2 days, and briefly in Cadiz, but would go back to see Cordoba. In Portugal we only visited Porto and Lisbon, with an overnighter in Evora. Train and bus transportation were very easy and good in Portugal. We drove in Spain, but I am sure you could get all around Andalucia by public transportation fairly easily. We fell in love with Vienna, but were there in the summer back in 1974, so I am sure it is more crowded now, although it seems to be off the radar of many Americans. Of the three suggestions, I can picture a visit to Portugal best fulfilling your expectations and hopes.

Better English is spoken in Budapest than in much of the UK. Or at least I can understand the Hungarians better than I do the Britts.

J. D., what are your interests?

In November a destination shall have in- and ouside options. Since the climate drives weather with a little luck you get the "golden October" in early November. We had this a few times in last years in Berlin.

Getting in contact is easy by joining tours through quarters or museums. Another option is joining a cruise through Mediterranean Sea or on chasing Northern Lights along Norway's coast with Hurtigruten or Havila.

Already mentioned Portugal is a valid option, not only Algarve but also along the west coast - e. g. waiting for big waves in Nazaré.

Or enjoy some warm windy days on Canary Islands, e. g. on Fuerteventura ending with international Kite Festival during your travel time.

Are you a sportsman? I stiĺ use flyfishing as an excuse to travel. It's taken me to Bosnia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Scotland, England, Albania. Half fishing, half sightseeing. Also puts me at a table with people of shared interests. Wine is another theme I use.

Thank you all so very much. I have read and reread each reply in detail, made notes, and looked into some of the great ideas shared. Since posting this I have accepted an invitation to travel with a friend to visit her family in southern California (I’m in NC) and then explore the area for a while. I plan to use all the great information you provided to decide on a destination for a European trip in 2025.

Also, I appreciate the kindness and support you have shown me. It has encouraged me to be more involved in this forum to share some of my travel experiences and information.

Also take a look at Odysseys Unlimited. Very similar to RS tours but one step up.

Have a great time in SoCal.

When you start planning for 2025 put me in the D-Ticket suggestion group to spend time getting to know Germany.

Southern California in November is great, you'll like it. Two things I'll suggest outside of the L.A./San Diego metroplex; go to Death Valley, and drive up Hwy 395 from Mojave towards Lake Tahoe, at least as far as Mono Lake. Just remember the beaches will be cold, much colder than those in NC, as the current comes down from Alaska.

KGC's suggestion to go north on Hwy 395 toward Tahoe is s good one. And if you go to Death Valley you will be at the lowest point in North America. Hwy 395 takes you past Mt. Whitney, the highest elevation in the lower 48 states. Every year there is a charity run from Death Valley to the Mt. Whitney area, done in relays. Kind of interesting. Both these locations would add some days to your trip. I hope you have lots of time, there is lots to see and do. Try the Beyond Europe section if you want or need ideas for SoCal.
Have fun!

I like Rome in November, as well as south of Rome and Sicily. Southern Spain would also be nice then. Provence will be great then. All these places will be comfortable, have reasonable amounts of daylight, and lodging prices should be reasonable.

I usually start with a good place to visit at the time of year I'm traveling.