Travelling alone - anxious, scared even.

I'm not just talking about boozing.
I see 'em here in Seville a lot.

I'm in the same position as you. I've finally come to the conclusion that the world is probably trying to tell me something when EVERY single travel plan I've tried to make with friends and strangers, advertising for travel buddies have all gone awry. I'm just going to take the plunge by myself and am pretty scared, partly since I can be a little anti-social (not in a rude way) and quiet, and partly because I'm pretty hopeless with directions and geography!

I think I'm not going to start off with a small tour before setting off by myself.

I think it's an excellent idea for you. I'm 21 now and to be honest, I think of everything I've done in my life travelling alone has probably been the single biggest influence on boosting my (self-) confidence, openness to meeting new people, ability to think on my feet, practical problem-solving skills... Honestly, I wonder if there's any useful thing it doesn't tech you really. Oh yeah, and how to have a good time doing it!

Personally after planning wide-eyed dreamy ideas from my sitting room for like half a year, the moment I jumped on a train to Greece I was just kind of in wild shock for about an hour, wondering how I could ever have thought I would manage to travel around Eastern Europe on my own for a month. That moment will definitely come, and then it'll go away the moment you realise that doing this could well be the coolest thing you'll ever do. (Plus - not only will it turn out to actually be very surprisingly easy, for ages afterwards you'll be getting the biggest wide-eyed admiration from people - most of them will be probably be people who never considered solo travel but unlike you, never took the step. This may be slight overindulging, it's very satisfying too ;).)

A practical tip I'd definitely give is for your first while, check into a big hostel with a party reputation, recommended by Lonely Planet - a surefire way of meeting loads of fun people fast and an excellent way to celebrate your excitement of having begun a great adventure... I think you'll be surprised at how many people you meet there who're also travelling alone. After that there's always couchsurfing, smaller hostels or loads of other things, but I found a great way to ease yourself into the whole thing.

Good luck mate, let us know how you got on!
Finn

And if you mess up on something, don't bully yourself about it. Learn to laugh at it. You know; the "what's the lesson in this?" approach. And remind yourself, its a learning curve thing.

Ask owners about the packs they use and why etc.

If lost again, "have a coffee" and regroup. Take it easy and absorb.

Ask directions after saying, "Excuse me. Do you speak some English?"
Have fun/not schedules.

Thanks once again for the great response, I have been reading and will try to take it all on board. I'm enjoying your anecdotes gawkabout.

I use crutches to walk as I am paralyzed from right lower limb and I carry a backpack that is heavy (17kg). I am a Pakistani and that makes me look like a terrorist in almost all parts of the world even though I have never even held a gun :) I have recently started traveling and that too all alone.

The point I am trying to make is - be thankful of what you have and what you can do because as the years pass by you will start loosing your inner shine and a sense of adventure that keeps you going in this age. When you will get older, you will not be even interested in your own reflection in the mirror. Take this time and jump in the open waters of opportunity. You do not have to worry about your confidence because when you will get some kind of responsibility upon you, you will know what to do and how to approach and after a few years you will be sitting somewhere comfortable, sipping from a hot coffee mug and smiling and maybe even sharing your adventures and your fair share of stories that you came across with your loved ones.

The only thing you should be worried about are your travel documents like passport. Money and the visas will come secondary. Travel as light as possible and if you think you can manage without some of the stuff that you have packed in your backpack, leave it behind and you can purchase it or hire it once you need it. Try to get as many visas from your home country as possible because, sometimes its difficult to get visas on the road. Be friendly to everyone but do not trust anyone. Make sure to check your luggage before you approach any customs desk in any part of the world. Never carry someone's stuff with you. Learn to respect others and you will be respected in return. Do not freak out on small things. Carry a deck of playing cards with you as it can be one of the best ways to start a conversation. Always try to carry your documents, cards and tickets on your body hidden and learn to get rid of unwanted items which you think are important but basically you will never need or use them.

In short, have fun and you will be just fine "my friend".

Warm regards

DJ

oooh thanks!

Don't get me started!
After my shipping and Australia odd experiences (thank God for that off-the-wall schoolin'), my problem is which stories I should leave out.

Finally writing that book.

Its what taught me to stop and absorb.
And bs with locals.

The pearl is in the "oh by the way."

I backpacked by myself through London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, and Athens last year for a month. It was my first time traveling by myself.

On my first day in London, I found myself curled up in a bunk bed at the London Central Youth Hostel in the middle of the day thinking that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. Two things helped me get through it:

1. I wrote out a list of why I decided to travel. Doing this, quickly dispelled the irrationality of my fears.
2. I planned ahead. My itinerary helped me calm down knowing that I didn't have to worry about the details because it was all taken care of.

That adventure changed my life. But it took courage to do so.

I am not quite sure what the problem is with traveling alone. It is - to me - not as much fun as traveling with a friend/lover/wife - but it is by no means an occasion filled with terror.

You can build these things up to be much more than they really are. Just go and you will find that it all takes care of itself and you will - no doubt - be met with many wonderful surprises.