Beginning stages of my solo trip

[caramel0]

Hi all,

wow, what a great, helpful website!

ok, here's my deal - i am hoping to go to Europe for 2 weeks solo, then will hopefully meet my husband and/or my mother for some additional vacation time.

While I'm on my own i want to feel involved in culture. I am social worker and am so interested in cultures that are different from my own...I think i will find this by going to less westernized cities, (i'll save Italy and France for my husband!) I'm thinking of doing Sweden to Denmark to Czech Republic to Austria....I also loved the idea of going to Gimmelwalk in Switzerland, which i read about in another post....sounds like JUST the place i'm looking for!

Does my route sound too spread out for two weeks? Any ideas for other cities and interesting places to visit, so far i have the usual: stockholm, copehagen, prague, vienna.

Also, i am a 26yr old female, any place that is not safe for me to travel alone?

suggestions for the best guide book to buy? about different cities and experiences, etc?

thank you!

Carrie P

[Eagle]

Carrie, first of all, welcome! I have a few thoughts on your proposed travel plans.

It would help to have some further details on the entire trip. For example which cities do you most want to visit, where will you be going in Italy and France, what is the total length of the trip and what kind of budget are you working with? Will you be using open jaw flights? Also it would help to know where you're from?

With a short time frame of only two weeks, you'll have to plan your transportation very carefully, especially as the Scandinavian countries are a bit "distant" from the rest of Europe. Also, keep in mind that travel in those countries tends to be somewhat more expensive than other countries in Europe.

I would most certainly recommend a stop in Gimmelwald. It's a big favourite of many here! It's a very small farming village (with working farms), so there's not a lot of "tourist activities" to occupy guests. It is a good place to relax, and a wonderful home base to explore that area. The next village is Murren, and it's a classic Swiss village! It's been photographed by many travel shows. Riding the Gondolas to the Schilthorn is an interesting trip (albeit a bit pricey). That's where the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was filmed many years ago. I believe it was the world's first revolving restaurant.

Regarding safety I'll defer that question to the ladies on the Board. I've never had any problems (so far). Generally speaking it's quite safe to walk in most European cities even at night, although most cities have "dodgy" areas that probably should be avoided. It is necessary though to take some precautions against "petty crime" such as pickpockets. Wear a Money Belt and try to be aware of those around you!

You mentioned Guidebooks - that's been a somewhat contentious issue here on the Boards, as everyone has their favourites. I use the Rick Steves Guidebooks quite extensively as they work well with my travel style. Others here prefer Lonely Planet, Let's Go or others. I'd suggest going to your local Library or book store and having a look at some of the books, and see which ones appeal to you.

Good luck with your planning!

[caramel0]

Thanks for your reply Eagle.

I am going to do some more research about the towns i really want to visit...I will definitely look into Murren. Any other cities/towns i might be interested in? I am from North Carolina, plan to travel in April or May and hope to get open jaw flights - all this depending on cost and where I decide to go.

my budget is good - have been working towards this trip a long time and is not so much of an issue - although i plan to try to live as cheap as possible while i'm there. I am aware scandinavia is unfortunately so expensive.

my time frame is flexible, if i can't fit it in 2 weeks i might stay for 3, my husband isn't sure where he wants to go so we'll have to work this out too. but i don't expect to stay longer than a month (2-3 weeks on my own in eastern europe and 1 week with my husband).

My main concern is about identifying a route where I can see as much as possible in the time I have on my own - do you have any suggestions for a 2-3 week route around scandinavia or surrounding areas?

I am going to look at guidebooks today and will do my research! thanks for your help!

Carrie P

[jessus]

Hi Carrie,

Well I just finished 2 months doing "Western Europe" on my own (and I'm a 23-year-old woman), and never felt fearful of any situations. I did sometimes feel like I had to hold my wallet a bit tighter (or make sure my money belt was safely stashed in my pants)... but I never didn't feel SAFE. (The way it seems is that thieves in Europe are more likely to run from you than mug you... or something of that nature).

I'd definitely recommend Salzburg in Austria... it just seemed purely "Austrian" to me. Surrounded by mountains (the edge of the Alps), a very medieval old city centre, and a fortress on a hill that you can take the funicular up to, and get a great view of the whole thing (including the lovely Salzach River curving through the city). It's also Mozart's old home, and you can catch some really lovely classical music concerts (and you can also visit his birth house or later-life house... but I chose not to)

And.. in Vienna, I would recommend you eat the desserts. That was pretty much my main pastime in Vienna... (And not just the cliched "Sachertorte"... but really, they have so many "traditional" desserts it's ridiculous!)

Prague is a good idea if you want the non-Westernized feeling: it felt the most deliciously foreign out of all the cities I've visited (and I'm Canadian). With its sparkling architecture and very different (and unfamiliar sounding) language, it just seemed very East to me.

Guidebooks is defintiely to each their own. I personally love the Rick Steves line, because they go into loving detail about each place they pick, and even add little self-guided tours. (Not so great with hostel recommendations... but if I travelled Europe again I would take Rick Steves.. and just check the internet regularly for hostel info!)