Tips on travelling alone internationally

Hi! I was researching bars and restaurants in London and came across your Bar Story review on Yelp where you said you traveled to Europe alone. I might be doing the same thing soon and was wondering do you have any advice on that. How do you meet people? What were some of the countries you went to? Do you recommend hostels?

I would be flying into France but I haven’t booked my return flight yet. I plan to do so while I’m in Europe. Will having only a one way ticket be an issue?

And what is the best and economical way to travel between western European countries?

Thanks in advance!

Cleo N., Rancho Palos Verdes, California, United States

Answer:

Hi Cleo! Yes I did travel across western Europe, mostly alone for nearly a year. I learned a lot, mostly the hard way, about how to travel like a local and save money in the process. What most people spend on a 2 week holiday lasted me 3 months during my travels!

I’ll respond in parts to make sure I answer all your questions on travelling alone internationally.

Using your phone while abroad is also something you’ll have to prepare for. I recommend you unlock your phone before you travel and purchase a prepaid SIM card in your destination countries so you can stay connected. You can communicate for free with the right apps.

Do you recommend hostels?

I didn’t stay at hostels but I do have friends who’ve stayed in hostels while travelling internationally. If you don’t mind the lack of privacy and are just looking for a place to shower and sleep, it can be ideal.

I used AirBnB because I wanted more privacy, and because I was travelling alone most of the time. Depending on the country, AirBnBs can be really affordable - in Barcelona I paid $27 USD per night and I had 3 awesome flat mates!

How do you meet people?

I never intentionally set out to meet people, but it happened organically. In Spain and Italy, it was easy. In larger cities, you may encounter the typical, closed-off, big city mentality which may make meeting people a bit tougher.

My best advice if you want to meet people is, stay off your phone. When my iPhone died on me for 2 weeks in Spain, I found that more people felt comfortable talking to me or asking where I was from because my face was not buried in my phone. Keep yourself open and approachable.

When the Italian train strike left me stranded, a group of Italians and their puppy befriended me and took me for a night out. We used iTranslate and broken English, Spanish and Italian to communicate and it was among the best, unplanned nights of my life.

I would be flying into France but I haven’t booked my return flight yet. I plan to do so maybe while I’m already in Europe. Will having a one-way ticket be an issue?

Not having a return ticket can be an issue in some countries. I found that France is less picky than the UK, for instance. Before I moved to London, the UK required either a return ticket or proof I was leaving to another destination. If you’re flying into France, be prepared to show a ticket for your onward journey.

If you’re planning each leg of your trip at the last minute like I did, then print a bank statement and bring it with you. I was asked to do this by UK Border Control before I got my UK visa. Sometimes they’ll want proof you can support yourself and can afford a ticket home.

What’s the best and economical way to travel between western European countries?

The short answer is, it depends on your destination. For destinations farther than a 3-4 hour train ride, check Kayak.com. They’re tapped into hopper airlines like Vueling and Ryanair.

If you’re not heading far, I recommend trains. The tricky part is figuring out what train system to use since each country has its own. Google the train systems in the countries you’re visiting. Then check their website for rates and instructions on how and where to purchase tickets.

For example, I used Trenitalia to hop around Italy. Tickets were usually under $40 USD and you can purchase up to the day of departure.

Good luck, enjoy your trip, and let me know if you have any follow-up questions!