I am looking to begin a journey of travelling. I have never been on a plane, or in a different country on my own.

I have wished to travel for a very long time, however, until now this has only been a faraway dream.

Recent circumstances have pushed me to turn this dream into reality.

I am pretty 'old fashioned' as some may say.  I am more of a sightseeing and culture experiencing person and whilst I do enjoy getting together and having a few drinks, I am not keen on the hustle and bustle clubbing scenes.

I can be quite shy and out of my comfort zone when meeting new people, I do open up but at first I may become very anxious.

I am wondering whether joining a group of strangers in a country I do not know may be such a good idea.

Is there anybody here who, like me, was extremely nervous with this idea and have had a just you experience?

I am hoping to first go on a small holiday toward the end of this year (Lots of time to save up!)

Thankyou

Miss Stevie R

Welcome to you, to this world of single travel, it's great fun and lots of things to see and do. IF you have a tour in mind you can post on the editors board they should be able to tell you age range M/F ratio how many are going that sort of thing.

Every body is nervous to begin with but people get to know one another once the group is all together, do remember it does take two to have a conversation.

My first of many tours was to the States, but some people start closer to home, it's totally up to you. Have a look at what tours interest you, read up about what is on offer and then book it. I tend to go for the full on sight seeing tours busy all day, have a evening meal then to bed. So don't worry most people do NOT stay in the bars etc drinking the night away, most people want a good nights sleep before the next day of touring.

Very safe way to travel, ladies out number the men, group size can be anything from 10-40. If you go away please leave a review for others to see.

Good Luck

CIndy

I began travelling with JY in 2010 as I had a list of places I wanted to visit and felt this was the safest way if travelling. I started with China and have since visited USA twice, India twice, Croatia and Italy twice. I am off to South Africa in March and am constantly adding to my wish list.

Most people are anxious about meeting new people and gong out of their comfort zone. I almost turned back from the airport when I went on my first trip but am so glad I didn't!

Like Cindy says, pick a trip and go for it. You will meet lots of interesting people albeit that the majority will be much older than yourself.

Hope this helps

Lesley

Welcome to JY, If you like culture I recommend Italy, Pompei, Sorrento & the Bay of Naples is one of the best

I have been on and Italy's Cilento Coast and Discover Sicily are also very good.

Everyone is nervous at first but once you get to the airport and meet some of the others on your holiday you

relax as there will be some first timers like you and many more experienced JY travelers.

Where ever you choose to go you will not be disapointed.

Dave.

I wonder if you have read this

http://forum.justyou.co.uk/thread-61319.html 

The only difference is for "two years" read "five".  That was me at the start of my singe travels.  I can see a lot of you in me.  I have three tours booked for this year, making a total of 9 since I wrote that message.

Don't worry too much about where to go as a start.  The best advice I can give is look through what is available that suits your tastes, budget, interests, time available, and book.  Don't worry either that most on the tour will be older than you.  Age is just a number and we all get on very well together.  In fact being younger can be a bonus on some of the long haul "full-on" tours - more energy you see.

Just be aware that you may well get bitten - by the travel bug.

Be brave and book.

Sylvia

All I would say is that you have come to the right place if you are more of a sightseeing and culture experiencing person. I too like sightseeing and experiencing different cultures . I started travelling with Just You in 2009 and chose Jordan as my first adventure as I always wanted to see Petra. Of course, I was very nervous to start with but since then I have been on another 13 Just You holidays with 2 more booked for this year. With Just You, you travel with like minded people of all ages and experiences. Pick a destination you always wanted to visit and take the plunge and book it. You will have no regrets.

Best wishes

Jaya

As others have said most of us are nervous about what to expect on our first trip and like you I am a bit shy when it comes to meeting new people, I finally took the plunge in 2008 by going to China and am off on my 18th trip with Just You in March. The good thing is you don't have to be on your own unless you really want to be, at meal times we sit together and generally if there is no included meal the tour manager will make suggestions and we group up to go out. You would be one of the younger travellers in the group (i've been the younget on a few of the trips I've done), but don't let that put you off, age is just a number and on many of the trips I have been on its the more mature travellers that have helped to make them such memorable experiences. There are so many places out there to experience, my only regret is not starting sooner, so just find somewhere that really appeals to you and give it a go.

Tim

As others have said being slightly younger could be a bonus, you may remind some of how they felt when trying something for the first time. I find the people on these trips are open and friendly, I am one who likes to unwind with a sociable drink at the end of the day, however you are free to choose, there is no pressure and it's your holiday. Actually if you go on a sightseeing tour with the necessary early starts, late nights are not really an option! As you have never flown before negotiating the airport can be daunting, look for the JY rep or labels of other JY travellers and they will help.

Jenny

You sound rather like me! I too do not mix easily and, as I am teetotal, bars and clubbing are definitely not for me. After being widowed in my mid 60's I put off booking a holiday for a long time but I eventually plucked up courage and booked for a Nile cruise. I picked this as it was fairly short for a 'starter', had culture in spades and had a packed itinerary with as little or as much as you want to do.

I enjoyed the experience so much I am soon off on my 18th JY holiday ranging from New Zealand to Alaska to Peru and Iceland and thoroughly enjoyed them all.

So, go for it perhaps a short interesting one to you - you will not regret it.

I completely understand where you are coming from. You actually sound a lot like me as well.  I very much prefer taking in the culture than the clubbing scene, though I do like to have a drink or two or three, sometimes in the evening. 

It took me about five years to pluck up the courage of going on a solo holiday. I'm 32 and having gone on my first solo holiday last September my only regret is not doing it sooner, as there are so many places that I want to see and explore, that I could have done with those five years. 

I did the same as you looking for a short short haul and I escaped to Sardinia with JY in September, and had a really good and relaxing time. I found that I was able to mingle when I wanted or sit on the balcony or laze by the pool doing my own thing. The main thing was that I was not eating on my own - which was the primary thing holding me back for five years.        

Now I have done it I have two tours booked for this year - Athens & Corinth Coast in May, and Discover Sicily in September, and instead of being anxious, nervous and excited I am now just excited. I cannot wait to see some of ancient Greece and having a nose to see what Etna is doing (hopefully she is sleeping), and I am saving for my first ever long haul experience in 2018 which I have narrowed down to either India or China.     

I suggest that you just go for it. Don't worry about the ages of other travelers, whilst a large portion will be considerably older you'll find there is a wide range, and everyone is a) interested in the place your going, b) a solo traveler who is or has gone through the same thing. 

For a first short haul, I reckon any of the Italian, Greek, Spanish or Croatian destinations would have all the sights to see. Madeira also is a very beautiful friendly island to visit with its very own unique culture and climate.     

Chris

Welcome to the Community!

I agree with DaveJB - if you are looking for a short haul to dip your toes into solo travel, Pompeii and Sorrento is a perfect choice. There are plenty of interesting things to see and do but with just one, very centrally located and family run, hotel. If you put 'Pompeii' in the search function at the top right of the page, you'll find loads of reviews, hints and tips from other JYers who have done the trip and (like me!) thoroughly recommend it.

Don't worry too much about the age range because that is all part of the JY experience and the fun. Different people bring different things to the table. I've been travelling with JY for almost 10 years and have just turned 50 but one of my favourite experiences (on the Canadian Rockies/Rocky Mountaineer tour) was an afternoon spent Orca watching with an amazing lady called Christine who was in her mid-80s (but never flagged once during the whole tour) and was a retired journalist and war correspondent. A fascinating and very gutsy lady. You'll meet all sorts on a JY Tour but everybody has one thing in common - we are all on holiday and having an adventure!

Happy to help if you've got any questions - if you spot a tour you like the sound of, there is bound to be someone on the Community who can give you their thoughts on it.

All the best

Mandy

I echo what everyone else has said.  In 2005 I was feeling exactly like you are right now.

I first dipped my toe into the water of JY holidays by playing it safe with a holiday to Tuscany, another good starter holiday, after that there was no stopping me, it's been mostly long haul ever since.

I have had many great holidays with JY so it's hard to pick one to recommend, but, if culture and sightseeing is what you want, when you feel confident enough the Spirit of India holiday would probably be a good bet, you'll get lots of sightseeing and culture on that one.

The reason I picked that holiday over all the rest is, with all the hustle, bustle and noise that goes on around you I found an air of excitement I have not quite found anywhere else, not everyones cup of tea I know, but I loved it.

Go for it, and good luck with whatever you choose.

Avocet

My first JY holiday was to Monet's Garden in 2014 and I loved the feeling of liberation that suddenly the world was my oyster and I could go anywhere I wanted to knowing I had company when I wanted it.

Since then I have done 8 JY holidays, 2 with other companies and have 3 JY holidays booked for this year.  Be warned it is addictive.

It is natural to be nervous first time but look out for JY luggage tags at the airport and you will have found new friends before you get on the plane.

Enjoy.

I am new to this too, my name is Melanie and I'm 39. I'm looking to book my 40th next year, I have my heart set on the Rockies Spectacular Tour. I've travelled on my own before and quite enjoyed it, but I went to a place that I'm very familiar with so didn't really stretch myself in terms of meeting new people and going on cultural tours or just simply trying things that I've never done before.

I've spent the past couple of weeks looking around for guided holidays suitable for my age bracket or thereabouts, this one appears to be the most comprehensive and I do like the idea of a "community forum".

I'm sure I will be nervous once I've booked but totally excited too, a year to save for me!

Good luck with deciding on what holiday you would like to try.

Mel x

P.S. Is anyone else considering booking the Rockie Tour in Feb 2018? And are there any fellow geordies on here?