Solo holidays

[lavrentis]

Hello, I have come into a bit of money and was interested in booking a solo holiday.

I was thinking New York or Japan though I know it is pricey.

Are these possible on a budget of £1.2k-£1.5k, I would expect a 2* hotel but that would not bother me at all.

Any other suggestions on locations fine

[James.]

You can go pretty much anywhere with 1.2-1.5k but it depends on what you want to get out of the holiday, how long you want to go for and what your interests are... could do with a bit more info.

FYI - obviously it varies massively depending on when you go but you can get flights to Tokyo (indirect with Alitalia) for around 500-600 quid. I paid 850 quid for mine with BA but I'm going direct - much quicker and less hassle.

Flights to New York are probably around 300-400 quid. I went back in 2004 and got flights plus accommodation for £250 per person (3 nights in a 3* hotel a few blocks from the Empire State) but it's probably quite a bit more expensive now.

Skyscanner is a good website for comparing flight prices.

[lavrentis]

Thanks for the reply James, glad it is in my price range!! Ideally I'd like to stay as long as I can in Japan, obviously price would be an issue. Sorry I'm totally new to this do you think a 3* hotel for maybe a week in Tokyo is doable for that price?

Thanks for the website link i'll take a look

[Ozwin]

Id love to do this but I think a week of being by yourself would get pretty lonely. Especially in a busy place like New York/Tokyo.

[James.]

Thanks for the reply James, glad it is in my price range!! Ideally I'd like to stay as long as I can in Japan, obviously price would be an issue. Sorry I'm totally new to this do you think a 3* hotel for maybe a week in Tokyo is doable for that price?

Thanks for the website link i'll take a look

Firstly if you go to Japan you shouldn't spend all your time in Tokyo. From the research I've done (I'm going in July) there's so much to see outside of the capital.

Buy the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for Japan - although i'm against basing an entire trip on what these books say they are very useful in giving you ideas of places to visit.

For example Kyoto is the historical/cultural capital of Japan and where you'll find a lot of the famous temples and gardens. Hiroshima is meant to be well worth a visit for obvious reasons. Then depending on what you're up for there's the Japanese Alps which are great for hiking and mountain scenery plus various day trips you can do from Tokyo.

With £1,500 in your pocket I reckon you could go out there for 2 weeks or so. Just did a quick search and you can get indirect flights in October for about £550, if you're flexible on your dates you may well get something closer to £500 or less. If you stay in hostels you can meet other travellers and save money, would guess you could get a bed in a dorm for around £20 per night so around £300 for 2 weeks (look on Hostelbookers). Then you'll need a rail pass for at least 1 week which is £200. That's £1,000 for your flights, accommodation and transport. Leaves you £500 spending money for food, etc which works out at £35 a day. Sounds doable.

[isaidno]

Id love to do this but I think a week of being by yourself would get pretty lonely. Especially in a busy place like New York/Tokyo.

I went to New York by myself last summer and I wasn't bored at all. There's so much to do there. Went to watch the Metz vs the Yankees, statue of Liberty, Empire state building, time sqaure etc

[AjcW]

Hello, I have come into a bit of money and was interested in booking a solo holiday.

I was thinking New York or Japan though I know it is pricey.

Are these possible on a budget of £1.2k-£1.5k, I would expect a 2* hotel but that would not bother me at all.

Any other suggestions on locations fine

Just got back from New York... prices below based on two of us so I'd say its well in your budget.

4* Hotel for 4 nights and Flights with british airways £1600 (although it was in there sale)

I took £800 and the misses took £300... We only ran out at the last second, food is the thing you will spend all your money on in New York because its all so tempting!!

[Christoph]

This may interest you. http://www.hotukdeal...irlines-1201471

Florida, Orlando, 7 nights from £267.50 in May (flight, hotel and rental car) @ Monarch Airlines

I believe its currently spring break too? I think it is. Check hotukdeals in the travel section (here: http://www.hotukdeal...ravel/deals/hot) they have a loads of cracking deals.

[Daggers]

The first thing I'd want to do in Orlando is get out of it.

[foxfanazer]

I went to New York by myself last summer and I wasn't bored at all. There's so much to do there. Went to watch the Metz vs the Yankees, statue of Liberty, Empire state building, time sqaure etc

New york has always been my dream holiday. How much would u need for 2 weeks, and would 2 weeks be enough to do everything?

[Guest]

I went to New York by myself last summer and I wasn't bored at all. There's so much to do there. Went to watch the Metz vs the Yankees, statue of Liberty, Empire state building, time sqaure etc

I'm thinking I'd like to go there on my own this year actually and I just figured I wouldn't get bored for exactly that reason. Can imagine that 2 weeks isn't nearly enough time to do it all in either (which is how long I had planned)

[Libertine Dream]

I'm not sure if airlines are still offering deals around the olympics but I found when I just looked around in October/November times they offered cheap tickets out at the beginning of the olympics and cheap tickets back at the end. They needed to fill their flights when getting aircraft back to the required place so some were really cheap. I found that airlines native to your destination e.g Continental, AA, JAL were cheaper than our carriers.

[Ozwin]

I went to New York by myself last summer and I wasn't bored at all. There's so much to do there. Went to watch the Metz vs the Yankees, statue of Liberty, Empire state building, time sqaure etc

They're all things you'd want to share with someone else though, no?

[Houdini Logic]

Wherever you go make sure you stay in hostels - went to Asia for a while by myself and stayed in lovely hotels for pennies, but had a much better time when I started slumming it in hostels and meeting people.

Asia would always get my vote.

[Guest]

They're all things you'd want to share with someone else though, no?

Maybe, but personally if I don't have anyone to go with I've come round to the thinking that why should it stop me you know?

[isaidno]

They're all things you'd want to share with someone else though, no?

Everyone has their own preferences. When you travel on your own , you get to meet some fantastic people. Agree with Houdini, hostels are excellent. Made some great friends in Canada & Asia is so cheap

[isaidno]

New york has always been my dream holiday. How much would u need for 2 weeks, and would 2 weeks be enough to do everything?

Depends on your budget. I got a 4* hotel off of late rooms.com for £40 a night. 2 weeks would be plenty to do everything

[Ozwin]

Everyone has their own preferences. When you travel on your own , you get to meet some fantastic people. Agree with Houdini, hostels are excellent. Made some great friends in Canada & Asia is so cheap

How do you just meet other people though? Maybe I'm just so British that the thought of interacting with other people on holiday seems weird haha.

I'd love to do it though. New York at Christmas time would be my perfect holiday I reckon.

[Captain...]

I think if you are going on your own you have to decide whether you actually want to be on your own or meet other people. If you want to meet people get on the backpacker trail. You don't have to be a backpacker but stay in hostels share a form room great way to meet people. Can't imagine new York or Tokyo being very easy places to make travel buddies. Obviously if you are happy being on your lonesome for a week then it is irrelevant. I went backpacking for 10 months by myself and was barely spent more than a few hours alone even to the point of actually having to make an effort to get some peace and quiet.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

If you're worried about the 'solo' thing, stay at backpacker hostels. Not only is it cheaper but you meet great people and most of the decent hostels will run free or cheap guided tours or my favourites the pub crawl. The pub crawl is especially good if your staying in a hostel for more than a couple of days do it on the first night meet heaps of people and you will realise most of the people are solo and wish to see and do similar things.

By the way travelling solo is a hell of a lot more fun as you don't have any one bringing you down or get stuck seeing touristy things that don't interest you.

[Durnerz]

I'd rather go to Paris or Rome with that kind of money, far more culture and history to the places than NYC. Plus the people are friendlier and the excursions out of the city are more worthwhile.

[welck12]

Wherever you go make sure you stay in hostels - went to Asia for a while by myself and stayed in lovely hotels for pennies, but had a much better time when I started slumming it in hostels and meeting people.

Asia would always get my vote.

This gets my vote. You cant not meet other people who want to do similar things in hostels. I cant stand New York (i hate cities like that) but it is somewhere you need to visit if you havnt been before, so either way you cant go to far wrong

[James.]

To be honest if I were you I'd go for South America, South East Asia or India. Get a lot more for your money compared to NY or Japan. Could probably stay out there for at least a month if you're sensible. Plus they're big travellers routes so if you want to meet people you'll have absolutely no problems.

[lavrentis]

Id love to do this but I think a week of being by yourself would get pretty lonely. Especially in a busy place like New York/Tokyo.

Yeah I know what you mean but I have always wanted to go to these places and it seems not really many of my friends/family could ever afford it

Firstly if you go to Japan you shouldn't spend all your time in Tokyo. From the research I've done (I'm going in July) there's so much to see outside of the capital.

Buy the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for Japan - although i'm against basing an entire trip on what these books say they are very useful in giving you ideas of places to visit.

For example Kyoto is the historical/cultural capital of Japan and where you'll find a lot of the famous temples and gardens. Hiroshima is meant to be well worth a visit for obvious reasons. Then depending on what you're up for there's the Japanese Alps which are great for hiking and mountain scenery plus various day trips you can do from Tokyo.

With £1,500 in your pocket I reckon you could go out there for 2 weeks or so. Just did a quick search and you can get indirect flights in October for about £550, if you're flexible on your dates you may well get something closer to £500 or less. If you stay in hostels you can meet other travellers and save money, would guess you could get a bed in a dorm for around £20 per night so around £300 for 2 weeks (look on Hostelbookers). Then you'll need a rail pass for at least 1 week which is £200. That's £1,000 for your flights, accommodation and transport. Leaves you £500 spending money for food, etc which works out at £35 a day. Sounds doable.

Cheers James

Just got back from New York... prices below based on two of us so I'd say its well in your budget.

4* Hotel for 4 nights and Flights with british airways £1600 (although it was in there sale)

I took £800 and the misses took £300... We only ran out at the last second, food is the thing you will spend all your money on in New York because its all so tempting!!

Sweet thanks.

Wherever you go make sure you stay in hostels - went to Asia for a while by myself and stayed in lovely hotels for pennies, but had a much better time when I started slumming it in hostels and meeting people.

Asia would always get my vote.

I never really thought about hostels before but I guess it would be a good idea to meet people etc, maybe enjoy the places more.

I think if you are going on your own you have to decide whether you actually want to be on your own or meet other people. If you want to meet people get on the backpacker trail. You don't have to be a backpacker but stay in hostels share a form room great way to meet people. Can't imagine new York or Tokyo being very easy places to make travel buddies. Obviously if you are happy being on your lonesome for a week then it is irrelevant. I went backpacking for 10 months by myself and was barely spent more than a few hours alone even to the point of actually having to make an effort to get some peace and quiet.

Cheers, I would like to meet people definitely so I would probably stay in a hostel. I think want to go to Japan so if it is hard to find other people than I'll have to be on my bill

If you're worried about the 'solo' thing, stay at backpacker hostels. Not only is it cheaper but you meet great people and most of the decent hostels will run free or cheap guided tours or my favourites the pub crawl. The pub crawl is especially good if your staying in a hostel for more than a couple of days do it on the first night meet heaps of people and you will realise most of the people are solo and wish to see and do similar things.

By the way travelling solo is a hell of a lot more fun as you don't have any one bringing you down or get stuck seeing touristy things that don't interest you.

Cheers sounds good

I'd rather go to Paris or Rome with that kind of money, far more culture and history to the places than NYC. Plus the people are friendlier and the excursions out of the city are more worthwhile.

I have been to both before and enjoyed it but this time I want to go to Japan I think.

To be honest if I were you I'd go for South America, South East Asia or India. Get a lot more for your money compared to NY or Japan. Could probably stay out there for at least a month if you're sensible. Plus they're big travellers routes so if you want to meet people you'll have absolutely no problems.

Yeah I can see that but I have always wanted to go to Japan and this being literally the only time in a long while I could probably ever do that then I might as well. I really want to go.

Cheers for all the replies!!

[Captain...]

You could try joining http://www.couchsurfing.org/

It was initially a way to find people who would let you crash on their couch when in a city, for backpackers and hitchhikers, but has developed into more of a travelling community, once you have decided where you want to go, you could sign up, look in that city, see if there are events/meetings that week, or just post your plans and ask if anyone would be willing to show you around the city, it is all free and a bit hippyish, but everyone I have met through it has been sound, (except one annoying rich hippy, Digital SLR with a tie dye scarf for a strap. iphone tucked into her hemp trousers).