Solo holidays

[AoWW]

The mrs went off on her holidays to the States with family a few years back, ended up travelling to Singapore for a week on my own while she was away and had the most awesome time. Unbelievable place. Definitely heading back to that region next year or that after - thinking Malaysia / Indonesia.

Go to Hong Kong, it makes Singapore look ordinary.

[Zingari]

i like ordinary

[Langston]

Go to Hong Kong, it makes Singapore look ordinary.

My dad went to Hong Kong when he worked for HSBC, he pretty much said the same!

[LcFc_Smiv]

I want to go to Japan for the 'Nakasendo highway', been looking at other places around the world I'd love to visit as well. I've done Ecuador before, but that was a group of seven of us, as much as I enjoyed it, I just wanted to be myself doing it. I've got a 6 week coaching placement in North Carolina next year, figure that once that's done I have two weeks before I have to be back in uni, thinking just jump on a coach and go for it and see where I end up. I know The States are not the same as exploring Asia and South America but there's plenty I'd love to see and being by myself I'll be able to do what I want. Hope you enjoy Tokyo!!!

[Ozwin]

Anyone been New York?

I'm not going anywhere this summer so I'm thinking of maybe heading to New York for a solo break and taking it all in.

[leicsmac]

Anyone been New York?

I'm not going anywhere this summer so I'm thinking of maybe heading to New York for a solo break and taking it all in.

Four times - got a friend who lives there (worked together on a US summer camp job a few years back) so I crash with her when I go.

Truly, truly amazing city, a lot to recommend it. So much you can see and do...there's the Ellis Island ferry, seeing the Yankees play at the new stadium, visiting the little church beside Ground Zero and the site itself (very poignant), heading to the top of the Empire State or wandering around Central Park. There's a shedload more too. When you're there it's almost like you're stepping into a movie.

Also, probably the best pizza on the planet. Anywhere you get it from on Manhattan island (or Long Island) it will be world-class.

Definitely recommend. If you've got any specific questions, ask me and I'll do my best.

[Ozwin]

Four times - got a friend who lives there (worked together on a US summer camp job a few years back) so I crash with her when I go.

Truly, truly amazing city, a lot to recommend it. So much you can see and do...there's the Ellis Island ferry, seeing the Yankees play at the new stadium, visiting the little church beside Ground Zero and the site itself (very poignant), heading to the top of the Empire State or wandering around Central Park. There's a shedload more too. When you're there it's almost like you're stepping into a movie.

Also, probably the best pizza on the planet. Anywhere you get it from on Manhattan island (or Long Island) it will be world-class.

Definitely recommend. If you've got any specific questions, ask me and I'll do my best.

Tell me everything haha! I'm thinking of doing it alone, I'm sick of never having seen the world and I know it's such a cliche place to go but it's been my top destination since I've been little.

How much does it cost for a decent trip, getting all the touristy bits done? Is it a decent place to go alone? I'm quite good in my own company and I'm sure I'd have enough to do to keep me occupied anyway but still.

Any recommendations on less obvious things to do while I'm there? That pizza idea sounds great, never heard it before about NY.

I just want to go and buy loads of NY tatt and take loads of pics haha!

[leicsmac]

Tell me everything haha! I'm thinking of doing it alone, I'm sick of never having seen the world and I know it's such a cliche place to go but it's been my top destination since I've been little.

How much does it cost for a decent trip, getting all the touristy bits done? Is it a decent place to go alone? I'm quite good in my own company and I'm sure I'd have enough to do to keep me occupied anyway but still.

Any recommendations on less obvious things to do while I'm there? That pizza idea sounds great, never heard it before about NY.

I just want to go and buy loads of NY tatt and take loads of pics haha!

Well, not sure about hotel prices as I don't use one while I'm there but a quick look at Opodo shows you can get a flight/5-night hotel deal for about 800 quid, depending on the time of year...I know flight alone costs about 480/490 quid, again depending on when you book.

I'd factor in about 100 dollars a day for spendo if you want to do a lot of stuff, so total outlay would probably be about 1200 quid for you (for 5 nights/6 days).

It's fine to travel around alone, lots of people do it and it's easy to navigate. Obv there are some areas you want to steer clear of at sundown (but that's just like the Monsell, isn't it? ).

As for the less obvious stuff, if you can take the Long Island Railroad out onto Long Island and check out some of the scenery there (though you'd be better off going with someone who knows the place to do that) . Some of the houses and other stuff there is amazing, especially nearer NYC itself. Old English architecture, serious money.

There's also loads of different sports teams you can go to see play (tickets aren't massively steep from what I remember), and take a look around the University of Columbia on Manhattan if you can too (used in a lot of different films).

Seriously, there's loads to see and do there - only limited by the time you have.

[Ozwin]

Thanks for the info mate, if I could do it for £1200 I'd love it. I'm crap at looking for best prices and stuff though, I'd rather have it all done in a bundle package type thing so it's easier but I have no idea where to begin haha. I had a quick look around and even for the crap 1 and 2 star hotels it's over a grand.

Also, how'd you know I'm from the Monsell?

[lavrentis]

Come to Japan

[Bluefoxtim]

I spent 2 months in South Africa backpacking alone. Some days were great, some days were pretty bad. No coincidence that the good days involved me being with other people. There were a few times when I was literally the only person staying at the hostel. Only so long you can sit on a beach reading a book! "Wilssssonnnn"

I went to Robben Island on my own when I was in Cape Town. All these couples and groups of friends were getting onto the ferry and having their pictures taken, I walk up and photographer says "ooh the lone ranger!" May not have bothered some people, but there were some days when I felt very lonely and would have easily swapped the beach for a day in rainy Leicester.

Although having said all that, I was there for 2 months and had a lot of quiet days in-between the usual touristy stuff, 2 weeks in NY wouldn't be the same.

Don't think I'd go travelling alone again though.

[leicsmac]

Thanks for the info mate, if I could do it for £1200 I'd love it. I'm crap at looking for best prices and stuff though, I'd rather have it all done in a bundle package type thing so it's easier but I have no idea where to begin haha. I had a quick look around and even for the crap 1 and 2 star hotels it's over a grand.

Also, how'd you know I'm from the Monsell?

I didn't! Was going to put the Brauny down but then thought of Monsell as a premier example of the vibrant life that exists in our fair city and put that in. Lucky guess I guess.

Opodo.co.uk and Expedia.co.uk are probably the best places to start if you want package deals, skyscanner.com for flights alone. Also some of the airlines (British Airways and Virgin Atlantic spring to mind) often do special offers on flight + hotel deals to NYC so check out their websites too. I do think you can get something for about 850 quid depending on the time of year.

Good hunting, and stick it on here if you find anything!

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I spent 2 months in South Africa backpacking alone. Some days were great, some days were pretty bad. No coincidence that the good days involved me being with other people. There were a few times when I was literally the only person staying at the hostel. Only so long you can sit on a beach reading a book! "Wilssssonnnn"

I went to Robben Island on my own when I was in Cape Town. All these couples and groups of friends were getting onto the ferry and having their pictures taken, I walk up and photographer says "ooh the lone ranger!" May not have bothered some people, but there were some days when I felt very lonely and would have easily swapped the beach for a day in rainy Leicester.

Although having said all that, I was there for 2 months and had a lot of quiet days in-between the usual touristy stuff, 2 weeks in NY wouldn't be the same.

Don't think I'd go travelling alone again though.

Haha i felt my lonliest when i was in Leicester cos i knew fooking no one and Leicester doesn't really attract like minded tourists. There are only so many hours a day you can sit in the Walkabout smashing Pints of fosters from open to close trying to pick up Uni students.

[ronnup]

I did a solo trip to Cuba and it was amazing. You will meet other travellers if you make a bit of effort and then you'll not look back. Envious.

[Ozwin]

I didn't! Was going to put the Brauny down but then thought of Monsell as a premier example of the vibrant life that exists in our fair city and put that in. Lucky guess I guess.

Opodo.co.uk and Expedia.co.uk are probably the best places to start if you want package deals, skyscanner.com for flights alone. Also some of the airlines (British Airways and Virgin Atlantic spring to mind) often do special offers on flight + hotel deals to NYC so check out their websites too. I do think you can get something for about 850 quid depending on the time of year.

Good hunting, and stick it on here if you find anything!

£850? I'll be lucky. Best I've found so far is about £1200, without breaky haha. I'll have to hunt a bit harder.