Job Discussion Forums

[gordogringo]

I have backpacked the world pretty much solo.My first trip to Indonesia I booked a hostel for 5 days.Checked out after 2 as one of the waitresses in a local warung took a liking to me and had me spend the other 3 nights at her house. I have been invited to peoples homes around the world and if I was with someone those invites may not have come.I am not sure if I would advise women travelling solo to accept the invite unless it was from another woman. I know a few lunches I was invited to in S. Thailand were from older ladies looking to introduce a single guy to thier eligible daughters, granddaughters, etc. A bit awkward situation but met several nice ladies from it that I still get correspond with.

Point being if you are a bit of an extrovert solo travel can be freeing and fun. Enjoy.

[gordogringo]

[MamaOaxaca]

Good for you Dixie!
When is the trip? If you want to see off the beaten path Oaxaca, PM me and maybe we can meet up. There are so many things to do and see in Oaxaca you could easily spend a month there. Definately do some research as to what you want to see, and leave time for things to spring up as well. I find it very hard to be alone in Oaxaca City. I don't mean that it's lonely, the opposite people are always hooking up with you. Sit by yourself at one of the restuarants around the Zocalo and within ten minutes you are having a conversation with someone, be it a local, or other tourists, national or international. There are also always really friendly people at the hostels, looking for an extra person to fill the seats on some excursion or something.
Of the advice already given, I second DragonLady's be confident. I had one problem with a snokling guide in Huatulco when I was alone there once. He just would not take no for an answer. He even turned up at my hotel the next morning, luckliy the hotel manager helped me get rid of him without having to get ugly. But everywhere in the world there are people looking for an easy mark. This apply to both men and women, but women more so because we are suject to the same robberies and fraud as men, but more cases of unwanted sexual attention. Showing a lack of confidence makes you an easy mark on all those levels.

I'm sure it will be the trip of a lifetime. Enjoy!

[leslie]

Bye

[Aabra]

If you're worried about loneliness just visit some Internet cafes during your trip and post here! I promise to reply and keep you company.

[MamaOaxaca]

Leslie,

I'm actually surprised at how many people I've met travelling without a guide book. Once several years ago, my visa renewal coincided with the arrival of a new teacher, so I took her to immigration to submit her paperwork when I picked up mine. After that, I asked her if she liked to see churches. She said, sure so we stopped by Santo Domingo on the way back to the van station. Santo Domingo de Guzman, one of Oaxaca's most famous landmarks. Right on the principal tourist street. I slid into a pew while she wandered around with her jaw to the floor. After about 15 minutes she came back over to me in awe and said, "Melee, how did you find this place?" (As if it were some hidden little gem.)

How do you answer a question that like?

[lozwich]

In the last 20 years ( ) I've travelled a lot. I've also met a lot of people who poohpooh my guidebook carrying ways. Some people seem to think that it cuts down on the "autheticity" of the experience. While I never slavishly follow what the guidebook says, it is a good resource for finding out places to go that fit your interests and good hostels to stay in.

When I first went to Mexico (backpacking "alone", spent about 4 days out of 2 months completely solo) I had my guidebook and my loose plan, which got changed accordingly when something more fun turned up, or when my plans went a bit pear shaped.

I have a 7 year old Footprint guide for Colombia which is serving me well here. I don't use it so much for accommodation, but it has a lot of information about places to go without the excessive caution (or just plain omitting unsafe areas) that Lonely Planet has.

Supplement that with the backpacker's grapevine and you can't help but have an interesting time!

[danielita]

I still travel with a guide book. I have a 8 year old Let's Go! Mexico. The maps are good for finding your way around and I sometimes still use the restaurant recommendations. The way I see it, if the place is still in business 8 years later, it must have something going for it....