Although I have been traveling as a child and during my school days (mostly Europe), the first travel experience where I was really bitten by the travel bug was a four-week volunteer project in Kenya in 2014. After I finished my Bachelor’s degree in April 2015 I went on a backpacking tour through Europe.
What recommendations do you have for women looking to go on a solo backpacking trip through Europe?
I’ve been to 14 countries and 21 cities on this trip, so I can’t give a recommendation for every place I’ve been to.
Kathrin is a traveler from Germany, currently living in England enjoying the wonders of the United Kingdom. Women Who Travel Solo is a weekly column that shares the stories of women’s solo travel adventures in hopes of spreading the message that traveling alone is not only safe, but wildly rewarding. Meet LaurenI'm Lauren Salisbury, a writer and solo traveler who's ventured to 40 countries and counting.
Yes! The defining trip of my youth… the post-college graduation backpacking, hitchhiking, train-taking, country-hopping, hostel-staying trip of a lifetime.
Use your time en route to a new city to memorize a few key phrases in the local language, get a general idea of sights you want to see, how to get to your hostel, and decide when you’re leaving for the next city so you can budget your time.
Practice being able to laugh at yourself and not catastrophizing inconvenience or confusion.
Pickpockets and scam artists are looking for people whose heads are buried in their fold-out maps or wading through their pockets to pull out a wad of cash. Americans tend to be stereotyped as ethnocentric, with an attitude that American culture is superior to that of other parts of the world. Along you’re journey you’ll meet many new people, make lasting memories, and learn a lot about the country.
I’ve not only learned an incredible amount about the Kenyan culture but also a lot about myself.
I got to know so many people with different backgrounds, with different personalities, and with lots of stories to tell! Of course, there were challenges but they rather helped me grow as a person than stopped me from traveling. I think your charisma can make all the difference: if you feel confident and trust in yourself people won’t make stupid comments.
She not only loves to experience different cultures, she also loves books and good stories, so blogging came as a natural consequence. Talking to the people you meet, many of whom are English-speaking and eager to answer questions, is what it’s all about. As far as what to pack in that indestructible backpack, bear in mind a hostel sink plus Woolite is your friend. And recording the friends you made, places you saw, and lessons you learned will help you savor the time in each place. When a station employee told me I wouldn’t be able to get a train out of Prague for another week, I went to another line and found there was one leaving in five minutes.
The paradox you need to be prepared for is both a feeling of great achievement and loneliness. In today’s Women Who Travel Solo, Kathrin Halbichof shares memories and tips for a solo backpacking trip through Europe. I discovered that the world has so much to offer and that I really want to see and explore as much as possible. I think I have been dreaming about this trip for years before I finally had the courage to take the leap and buy a ticket. I really loved the Mediterranean landscape in Kotor and the rich history and lively atmosphere in Budapest.
I randomly met a girl from Ottawa, Ontario at a bus stop in Croatia – sitting beside each other on the bus enjoying the beautiful Adriatic Coast, coming up with ways to pass the time. I think the “worst” part for me, personally, was that I sometimes didn’t have a lot of time for myself.
As I mentioned before, there are a lot of other backpackers as well, so most of the time you’re not even on your own. Her blog The Ambitious Bee focuses on studying and working abroad and how your career can benefit from this experience. I created Something in Her Ramblings as a place to share stories and resources with fellow women solo travelers. You may only backpack once, and you want it to stretch you and remove you from a comfort zone, so don’t backpack with your best friend. I always wanted to do a trip on my own because I wanted to do something I can be really and honestly proud of.
The hardest part of my trip was through Albania because there were only a few people speaking English – but they were still very helpful and friendly! I’m an introverted person, so I need some me-time to recharge – which can be quite difficult to get in a dorm room with 10 other travelers. You’ll share space with new mothers and businessmen as well as spontaneous adventurers like you. You don’t want to miss a train or oversleep for your tour of Vatican City on your last day in Rome. I met the nicest Greek girls while I was couchsurfing in Patras – they introduced me to the most wonderful Greek coffee shops and bars. Of course, there was the occasional catcalling – but that happened to me in Germany as well. I’m from Germany but before the trip, I’d barely seen any other country (apart from France, Italy and England). I think Europeans often forget how incredible it is that we can travel to all those countries without the need to apply for a visa.
ncG1vNJzZmirY2Ourq3ZqKWar6NjsLC5jqisrZyfp3%2BxrcKkqmiakZi4sa3CpKCnn12ptbO71KCfZp2lp7yxsYylrKCfkZyybsHKZ5%2BtpZw%3D