How do I get over my fear of traveling alone? I'm turning 25 next month, and even though I've traveled before, it's always been with my family. I've always wanted to go to New York, and it feels like the perfect time since I've got some extra money and free time. The thing is, the few people I asked to come with me aren't really interested. I'm just wondering will it be super lonely walking around the city and eating alone? Anyone here have advice or been in a similar situation

i have the opposite problem. i love traveling alone, because there are things i know i want to do and will be on schedule to do that i can't count on participants to be 100% cooperative in.

i don't know how to plan a trip around other people, basically. i love traveling alone. that's how the best memories are made between you and the place you're traveling to. if you go with others, the trip becomes more about you and them rather than the place itself. i promise you if you take the plunge you'll make more lasting memories with the environment than if you went with others.

>>33200887 (OP)
>fear of travelling alone
Read up on the place you're planning to visit, including other people's reviews. Plan your itinerary. I'm a Euro who visited NYC on a budget in the 90s. I stayed at a YHA hostel that was a crowded dormitory (there are much nicer ones elsewhere in the world). Make sure you have a water bottle in order to stay hydrated (this was in the Spring). Constantly approached by beggars (I never felt in danger but maybe I should have). Nowadays I have very different ideas about places to visit for adventure and the means to do so.

>>33201219
>Nowadays I have very different ideas about places to visit for adventure and the means to do so.
Not OP but, care to elaborate? I'm not traveling atm I'm just curious.

Dude, I live in NYC right now and I promise you it's not worth visiting anymore. Since 2021 thanks to Biden the city has been flooded with millions of South Americans who are likely illegal and they've taken over almost every single neighborhood so the culture of every neighborhood is gone. Brighton Beach was entirely Russian 5 years ago and now go to the boardwalk every single person will be Hispanic. Greenpoint used to be Polish now it's entirely Hispanic. The old Italian neighborhoods, Hispanic. Even the formerly fucking Hispanic neighborhoods are now a different type of Hispanic, we used to have Puerto Ricans and Dominicians here for Hispanics and that was it. Now Washington Heights, all South Americans. With millions of new people everywhere the price of everything including food and hotels are way up too. And since COVID the idea that NYC never sleeps is gone pretty much everything closes at night now too. Nothing to see here nowadays.

>>33200887 (OP)
New York is cool and a hellscape at the same time. I recommend the High Line, it has tons of insane views.
> I'm just wondering will it be super lonely walking around the city and eating alone?
Not really, but you want to have a plan. Don't just walk around aimlessly, look up NYC attractions and go to a bunch of them.
NYC also has 30+ social events everyday so you can always find like-minded people if you wanted to.

>>33200887 (OP)
I've traveled alone 4 times (2 months, 1 month, and 2 x 1 week), and I've had some mixed feelings about it. If you're very sociable and have an easy time meeting new people, you can have a ton of fun meeting locals and fellow travelers. If you're very antisocial and really like your alone time, you'll have a good time being alone with your thoughts. I've found that I'm somewhere in the middle, where I get bored and lonely after a few days of not talking to anyone, but am not sociable enough to meet people at the places I go to.

I mostly enjoy sightseeing, so unlike the other anon, I like to walk around without much of a plan. I also found the introspection to be cathartic at times.

Eating alone isn't that bad; typically, I'd eat something basic for breakfast and lunch and go to a bar or restaurant for dinner. I'll usually sit at the bar if there is one and make small talk with the bartender. Even in my city, I occasionally go to restaurants alone to study.

The biggest problem was getting lonely and homesick on my 2 month trip (and I almost cut it short because of it), but it was in part because I left at a time when things were going really well for me at home.