Finding a new travel partner

[jambo101]

My 23yr old daughter and her friend have been planning for the last year an extensive trip to Europe this summer, its now getting time to book flights and make hotel reservations but my daughters friend is now having second thoughts about committing to the trip and its looking like she will back out.
My daughter is not too keen on doing this trip alone and is really disappointed at the prospect of the trip not happening or having to do it alone.
Is there some website she can use to find an alternate traveling buddy?And or if she does have to do it alone perhaps a website on safety recommendations for a 23yr old woman traveling alone in Europe.
Thanks.

[Festivito]

1. Many Universities have departments for this kind of student travel.

They have lots of good advice and little concern about what school you attend.

Traveling friends can be found while on the road, in Youth Hostels / alternative hostels, and even in the airport looking for ways into the city. That can depend on who and how one is - what can I say - there are some people I would advise to go alone and others I would not. I, happening to be a guy, traveled alone decades ago and met many refined women traveling alone. We all created and enjoined groups and had memorable times.

It's wonderful to travel. I hope your daughter can go. It's good for our world that she does. Moreso, I hope she enjoys whatever she does in life as I imagine you do to.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. I agree with the advice above

I've almost always traveled alone, and young people in particular can meet up with one another on trains or in youth hostels or B&B's.

In fact, I know from experience that traveling alone is much more pleasant and much more likely to bring you in contact with the locals than traveling with another American who doesn't like the same things you do or who acts like an ugly American. If the friend is backing out for reasons other than lack of money, it's likely that she's not a good traveler and is scared of being away from what is familiar, the type of traveler who makes a beeline for McDonald's in any foreign city.

The usual safety tips apply, the ones you would follow if you were in an unfamiliar American city. Rick Steves' guidebooks have good sections on the scams that target travelers. Keep your valuables (cards, passport, plane ticket receipts, rail passes) in a neck pouch and just small amounts of money in your purse, and keep photocopies of your passport and credit cards in your luggage.

Some travelers seem to want to call home all the time. This is just plain stupid unless you're made of money, because roaming charges, especially data roaming charges, will eat up your bank account. Barring life-and-death emergencies, there's nothing that can't be handled by e-mail.

Even the "arrived safely" message can be done by e-mail, since it will mostly likely be the middle of the night, U.S. time. For local calls in Europe, get an unlocked GSM or 3G phone and buy new SIM cards in each country. I save my budget by turning off cellular data when I'm overseas.

[cbayer]

3. I took this trip on my own at about her age.

I started in Spain, where the people were very friendly. But here is the key - I stayed in hostels. I met other people from all over the world (including lots and lots of Australians)and could travel with some of them for periods of time.

Doing this trip on my own was a life changing experience and I highly recommend. I "made" my daughter go on her own. She was anxious, but it ended up being an entirely positive experience and really built her confidence.

Women need to be confident that they can travel alone, imo. All the Lonely Planet guides have sections on safety and particularly on safety for women.

What do you think?

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. I spent three months traveling in Europe on my own when I was 22.

Bought a Eurail pass because friends had told horror stories of bad experiences hitchhiking. Used "Europe on $5 a Day" as a guide (this was a long time ago!) It was great. I met people in various places, stayed with relatives and family friends in a couple of cities, in inexpensive hotels or bed and breakfasts the rest of the time.

Because I was traveling solo, I was able to do what I wanted when I wanted. It was great. I learned a lot, met very interesting people, had some great experiences.

If your daughter has good common sense, she should be fine on her own. There were a few sticky situations, but nothing that I couldn't handle.

Years later when I did a trip with someone I knew, it was awful. She disapproved of nearly everything that I did (and vice versa). The worst part is that, unknown to me, she was taking medications that should never be taken with booze.

In addition to the Lonely Planet books mentioned above, Rick Steves' European travel skills programs offer lots of good information.

http://www.ricksteves.com/tvr/season7/episode-info/european-travel-skills.htm

Best of luck to your daughter.

[cbayer]

5. I used the $5/day book as well.

I have also had negative experiences traveling with someone else.

I went to Spain with two friends who, much to my surprise, turned out to be "ugly americans". My style is to try to learn at least a few phrases and speak quietly, if at all.

My friends would walk into places and start speaking loudly... in English. It was embarrassing.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. In its day, that book was virtually a Bible!

I later contributed some suggestions to the publisher.

[jambo101]

7. Update

Seems her friend can only get 2 weeks off work so daughter will now do 2 weeks with friend and up to an additional 4 weeks solo.
I remember when i was her age doing a 3 year trek around N.America,It never occurred to me how or if Mom and Dad were ever worried about me,,now i'm the Dad and its hard to be that removed from her life,i think worrying comes with parenthood..

[cbayer]

8. Good for her. Sounds like a great plan.

Of course you will worry, but you won't let in interfere with her trip. That's what parenting someone at this age is all about!

[RebeccaButler]

9. Bad experience

I concur traveling with stranger is quite a different experience.I had some bad experience on my last "Africa Excursion tour"!!!!

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]