Hi All, I am travelling alone for the first time for fun (have done it for work) to Prague in sept. Anyone tips or suggestions?

Anyone alse going in mid-september?

My only minor hang up is eating dinner alone. I have done it many times, but don't love it.

It has its pluses and minuses. I suppose it depends on whether you typically can have fun by yourself when you're NOT traveling. If you're the type that always has friends around or gets bored/lonely otherwise, you'll probably hate it. On the other hand, if you sometimes enjoy the solitude, solo travel can be very enjoyable. I've taken a few solo pleasure trips (including Prague once, funny enough) and the best parts for me are the opportunity to do exactly what I want with the day and not follow anyone else's schedule. Also, there are certain activites I enjoy, like walking, peoplewatching and photography, which are great to do on your own.

I've got many years of primarily solo business travel, so the dining alone thing no longer fazes me. If you don't like it, I love going to local markets when traveling, so sometimes I'll dine in a park (weather permitting) with a camera, or in the hotel room, with a good book.

Agree that traveling solo has pluses and minuses. I love the see what I want to see when I want to see it. The worst is eating so agree there. I'd look for casual restaurants and make sure to take something to read like a travel guide. Sometimes, I don't want the hassle so I go someplace fast foody or quick.

I went to Prague solo in the middle of a cold winter and loved it. Have a great trip.

I love travelling solo- it's great for people-watching, and (depending on how outgoing you are, and languages obviously help too) you have more chances to get to know locals (normally I am not that interested in meeting other tourists- kind of misses the point).

For eating solo in PRG, try going to a pub, where the service is informal and where many people will only be drinking. The food won't be exquisite, but Czech cuisine is reasonably basic anyway...which is a good thing, because it's easy to get it right.

I also enjoy travelling solo- I love not having to follow anyone else's schedule and just do my own thing. I like practicing my photography skills on my solo trips, since I'm not holding anyone else up if I decide to take lots of photos of something. I also like walking around the city and watch the locals go through their day.

As for eating alone, I like to take a good novel with me and find a quiet resturant somewhere to enjoy a good meal and read.

I travel solo a lot. Occasionally I've met someone worth spending some time with - once, when an urchin threw up between us in the corridor of a train from Casablanca to Rabat - but more often not. A few suggestions:

1. Read up a bit on the place. Have at least a general plan: Pick some specific things you'd like to do and when you think you'd like to do them.

2. Weather and your physical condition permitting, go for a longish walk to get an idea of the city.

3. Bring a book to read during meals and so on.

4. Get Internet access to keep up with FlyerTalk.

5. Leave before you get bored, not after. If you have a trans-oceanic reservation that's still a few days off, take a train to somewhere. (For example: from Prague, not that boredom there is likely, Vienna is within easy range.)

6. Even if you don't speak the language, remember that the people you deal with basically have the same objective you do. For example, you want to buy a bus ticket; they want to sell a bus ticket. It will all work out.

7. Stay loose, be flexible.

8. Have fun!

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.51 Beta (Microsoft Windows; PPC; Opera Mobi/1718; U; en))

Efrem... I agree with you on all points except keeping up with FT part...

I travel alone almost all the time. The hardest thing for me is the psychological barrier to start talking to people.

Overall I love travelling as a temporary local and mostly travel alone precisely for scheduling reasons mentioned above...and because most friends have a harder time deciding 'book now think later'

I love travelling and eating solo. Eating solo is great because I can have a tasting menu without involving others and I can quietly enjoy the food instead of talking. Social dinners are great but not always great for the pure enjoyment of the food.

If you really don't like eating by yourself in a restaurant, just get yourself a room service.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I do a lot of solo travel and I really enjoy it for the most part. I can see what I want to see and spend extra time photographing something I like without worrying about holding someone else up.

However for the most part I dis-like eating alone because I am a social person. That said it can be nice because I can go to the restaurants I want to go to and not worry about picking a place someone else won't like or find too expensive.

Depending on your personality try eating at a bar / pub and strike up a conversation with someone. I have had some great meals with people I just started talking to.

Have fun!!

Thank you all for your great suggestions!

I will definately take a good book. I love the pub, picnic and bringing a good novel ideas. I will also make sure I keep up with flyer talk!

I am very excited to have found you guys.

Thank you!

P.S. Several people suggested Prague as a good city for non-coupled travelers, it is reassuring that several of you solo travelers have been there,too.

sorry - double post

^ One of the most valuable tips above IMHO is the “bring a book for eating” one. I travel alone a lot and therefore spend lots of time alone in restaurants. And I hate just sitting there and looking around doing nothing while I wait for my food.

But instead of a book I generally bring a magazine (Time, The Economist, etc.). A magazine is easier to put on the table next to your plate and read while eating (having both hands free). With a book I always need one hand just to keep it open. (And also, if I drop some sauce, I’d rather drop it on a magazine that I will throw away anyway... )

You can have a big breakfast, and therefore, a late lunch, which can also be substantial. Hence, you can just have a snack for dinner, like a sandwich or something -- take away that you can eat in your room, a park, etc.

Central Prague is likely to be pretty crowded, especially with tourists.

I've been to Prague once. One thing that might be good there for a solo traveler is to take the walking tour of the city. I did this and had wonderful conversations with the guide --there were only about 6 of us on the tour. My guide was a young college student and such individuals may have helpful tips on things to do in and out of Prague.

Eating at pubs is a great idea, as is eating once or twice in the hotel (if you are staying at a hotel that has a restaurant). When I have traveled alone I try to find a restaurant or pub that is not packed; if I feel comfortable there I may go back--why not if the food is good, etc?

Prague is also a great place for concerts--all over the place and these can provide occasions that interrupt the sense of "aloneness" that sometimes creeps up.

I travel alone a lot and really enjoy it, and Prague is a great place for a solo
traveller. The walking tour is an excellent idea. Both pubs and restaurants
are fine - take a small phrase book (and amuse the locals). I also like to take a notebook and pen to dinner
with me, as novels tend to take me into their world and away from what is
probably the very interesting place that I am actually physically in at that moment. Writing a description of the room and the food and the other diners
might seem trivial at the time but it's nice to look back on.