ST Alpha - "There's also the issue that I've never really traveled in my life. NYC is as big a change as I've ever made. Am I jumping ahead of myself?" (Reading a Post)

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There's also the issue that I've never really traveled in my life. NYC is as big a change as I've ever made. Am I jumping ahead of myself?

Posted by Hotkiss (aka hotkiss7348) Jun 2 '09, 12:58

I want to do a trip by myself. That's for certain.

But where to go where I will be safe doing so?

Responses:

if you travel alone, maybe it'd be good at least to choose a place where you understand the main language -- nm - marcel Jun 2, 13:04 26
- I could probably rough my way around with Spanish, more or less... -- nm - Hotkiss Jun 2, 13:06 23
  - *swoon* - con_carne Jun 2, 13:16
  - not be all 'been there done that', but i've done a lot of this. - Andie Jun 2, 13:12 20
    - also, some places in Europe are cheaper than others. Spain and Portugal are not too expensive. I expect countries like Hungary, Czech etc - Roger More Jun 2, 13:16 19
      - I was hoping to fit in a trip around $700 total including spending. That's why the Latin American countries came to mind -- nm - Hotkiss Jun 2, 13:18 15
        
        for two weeks? including airfare? that's really really really optimistic anywhere. -- nm - Andie Jun 2, 13:18 14
        
        JFK to Mexico and Peru are only $300-450 RT. I plan to stay in really cheap hostels or couchsurf, eat cheap. Still unrealistic? -- nm - Hotkiss Jun 2, 13:21 13
        
        let's do the math, that leaves you $350 for two weeks, or $25 a day. There is eating cheap, and then there is eating cheap. - loosiflu with cabin fever Jun 2, 13:30
        
        You're looking at $15 a day for a hostel dorm in Mexico ($25 for a room). It doesn't leave much margin for error -- nm - Roger More Jun 2, 13:28
        
        Pretty bloody tough to go anywhere for that little. - Subversive Jun 2, 13:27 9
        
        Excluding rent, I spend less than $500 every two weeks in NYC (food, entertainment, going out, shopping). I imagine a LA country would be a cinch. -- nm - Hotkiss Jun 2, 13:32 7
        
        but, you won't be able to *do* anything. and, you won't have a kitchen (well, some hostels do), so you need to buy food somewhere - Andie Jun 2, 13:35
        
        except, you're trying to include your lodging. -- nm - loosiflu with cabin fever Jun 2, 13:34 5
        
        If couchsurfing works out (I haven't done the search yet), it would be $0. -- nm - Hotkiss Jun 2, 13:35 4
        
        The people who are most enthusiastic about you travelling and experiencing the world are the same ones cautioning you not to do it on this small - Roger More Jun 2, 13:38 2
        
        add me to both. especially if alone, you need a better measure of protection and cushion. -- nm - b! Jun 2, 13:42
        
        so true. -- nm - Andie Jun 2, 13:39
        
        you're going to couch surf in central america? on your own? with no travel experience? - Andie Jun 2, 13:36
        
        exactly, you still have to pay for taxis, tickets, the occasional beer, and incidentals. -- nm - loosiflu with cabin fever Jun 2, 13:31
        
        yes, very much. -- nm - loosiflu with cabin fever Jun 2, 13:26
      - portugal was really cheap i remember comparatively , but that was 1999... so... Czech still is i think... -- nm - Andie Jun 2, 13:17 2
        
        Is Czech on the Euro yet? That pretty much ruins any budget travelling if they are. -- nm - Subversive Jun 2, 13:28 1
        
        No. Slovakia is though, and it's still a budget destination -- nm - Roger More Jun 2, 13:31
  - IMO it's not so much about the talking (lots of people in Europe speak english) - marcel Jun 2, 13:11
- i was about to say this too -- nm - zork Jun 2, 13:06 1
  - Yeah, though I went to Europe myself, very little English in about 50% of the countries I visited. - Subversive Jun 2, 13:07
I think you should watch Taken. -- nm - Loyola Jun 2, 13:04 5
- what i found disturbing about that movie was - prayformojo Jun 2, 13:07 3
  - hee - i just saw this sunday and i mentioned them while it was on. -- nm - Andie Jun 2, 13:16
  - I went to HS with a guy who had those. -- nm - Reagen Jun 2, 13:09
  - I never notice stuff like that. -- nm - Loyola Jun 2, 13:08
- That was my first thought when I saw Mexico and Alone -- nm - Redmond in Sin City Jun 2, 13:06
I would start of with something easier. Have you seen pictures of Western Canada in August?? -- nm - Redmond in Sin City Jun 2, 13:03 1
- It's Bee-ouuu-tiful here. -- nm - Old Antarctic Explorer Jun 2, 13:16
You'll never be 100 per cent safe anywhere, but you can minimise the risks just by being sensible. - Roger More Jun 2, 13:02
Costa Rica -- (link) - mara Jun 2, 13:01 1
- I have seen so many pictures and this place is beautiful -- nm - Redmond in Sin City Jun 2, 13:04
Nothing's ever "safe" - con_carne Jun 2, 13:01
Russia, defintely Russia.. - colin Jun 2, 13:00
i think it's *great* you want to get out and see the world on your own. - Andie Jun 2, 13:00 6
- I agree. Or if you want to do it by yourself I'd go someplace friendlier and a little easier. Europe would be a better option I think. -- nm - pmb Jun 2, 13:03 4
  - Europe is a great place! -- nm - marcel Jun 2, 13:06 3
    - But it's so damn expensive to get there and do things there. -- nm - Hotkiss Jun 2, 13:06 2
      - can you get a friend to go along? belize/honduras and even nicaragua would be fine with a friend. -- nm - Andie Jun 2, 13:07 1
        
        Most of my friends don't have jobs for the summer or would be busy that time. -- nm - Hotkiss Jun 2, 13:09
- or do one or two buddy trips first before going alone -- nm - zork Jun 2, 13:02

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There's also the issue that I've never really traveled in my life. NYC is as big a change as I've ever made. Am I jumping ahead of myself?

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