Hi-I%26#39;m planning a 2 week trip to Paris, I%26#39;m 26, female and traveling alone. I like the idea of staying in hostels as it gives me the chance to meet other travelers, however I%26#39;m worried the crowd may be a little bit younger (not that I%26#39;m an old maid, just don%26#39;t want to feel like I%26#39;m back on campus.) On the other hand going home at night to a hotel alone seems a little reclusive. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
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I can%26#39;t speak from personal experience about hostels, but a friend stayed in one years ago and she had a horrible experience. It ruined her trip to Paris. They ran out of space and so she had to sleep co-ed style, among other things.
If you%26#39;re the social type, you don%26#39;t have to sit in your hotel at night. You can go out to clubs and bars and talk to people. The Latin Quarter has tons of tourists and locals, so you%26#39;re likely to meet people there. Also, depending on when you%26#39;re going, people on this forum sometimes have get-togethers in Paris. Waytogogirl is organizing some in October.
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reebs -
I vote for a hotel so that you%26#39;ll have as much privacy as you would like and not have to share facilities.
Don%26#39;t assume that you%26#39;ll be the only tourist of your age in the hotel, or even that you would have to connect with someone your own age in order to have company going out in the evening. One thing that those of us in North America have in common is that we%26#39;re not constrained by culture when it comes to approaching strangers. You may very well meet other tourists over breakfast in your hotel, or over dinner in the neighbourhood bistro, or when people watching at a sidewalk cafe. Sometimes you even meet a local, which, of course, is the very best. Just be open to conversation. In a public place it%26#39;s risk free, and who knows what great destinations you%26#39;ll learn about as a consequence.
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Hostels can be awesome; perfect for a solo traveler, in terms of meeting people and making great memories, but they can also be a nightmare.
Read a good travel book that is geared towards the slightly more hip/budget/independent traveler. I think Lonely Planet is the best. They usually have recommendations for [relatively] undiscovered deals and low cost hotels that are nearly as cheap as hostels. This %26quot;pensione%26quot; type lodging is a lot like a hostel--budget minded travelers who can deal with sharing a bathroom. Some are really thread bare, so it might not be the Ritz, (more like the Rat Trap!) but you%26#39;ll have a bed, you%26#39;ll be able to meet other travelers, and you won%26#39;t be in a room with six bunk beds full of Euro-teens...
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Reebs -
I completely understand where you%26#39;re coming from - I am a solo female traveller (37 yrs). I heartached for weeks - heck - two months - which to choose (hotel, hostel or flat). I struck hostels from my list because, like other posters have mentioned - hostels can go either way (great or really bad).
Ultimately I went with a flat in Le Marais (rue de Picardie) so that I can have amenities such as washer/dryer, bath/shower, mini-kitchen and privacy. But - as my trip time draws closer and I read more posts, I am starting to re-think my choice - is a flat too isolating for a solo traveller??? Anyone care to weigh in? What are your thoughts - should I switch to a budget hotel?? Have I chosen an %26quot;okay%26quot; or a %26quot;bad%26quot; area? (I curse these cold feet of mine!!)
Anyhoo - whatever you ultimately choose, if you are worried about not meeting people and being alone during your whole trip - forget it ... there are so many friendly people on this forum that you will certainly have a dinner or drinks date meetup planned before you leave the comfort of your laptop :o)
When are you going to Paris? I%26#39;m there 9 September to 16 September. I am going to post (separately) to see if there is any interest in a meetup during that time, sooooo - keep your eyes peeled if the date suits.
Maeryn
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