Comments on: The Gutsy Girl’s Guide To Drinking Alone http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:29:11 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ellana http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-95928 ellana Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:05:07 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-95928 Sorry but i would rather drink at home when at least i know my surroundings and great to unwind once a week when i am not working Sorry but i would rather drink at home when at least i know my surroundings and great to unwind once a week when i am not working

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]]> By: John M. http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-94604 John M. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:53:08 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-94604 I'm not sure if this was intended to be directed towards males at all. Nevertheless, I thought it was quite unbiased and well-written. Keep up the good work. :) I’m not sure if this was intended to be directed towards males at all. Nevertheless, I thought it was quite unbiased and well-written. Keep up the good work. :)

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]]> By: Amanda is a traveling photographer http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-92737 Amanda is a traveling photographer Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:00:50 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-92737 I very rarely go to a bar alone, but when I do, I don't hesitate to ask people cliche tourist questions. If you are new to a place and haven't researched a lot beforehand, it's ok to ask about where people like to eat, good beaches nearby ect. That kind of stuff gets a conversation going and some locals ( if they seem cold, just leave them alone ) will give you a lot of great tips. Debbie: If you aren't finding the vibe at one place, ask about others from the bartender. As a former bartender myself, I was happy to give advice and travel tips too. You can ask the staff where to find an older crowd if the crowd or bar isn't quite what you are after. I very rarely go to a bar alone, but when I do, I don’t hesitate to ask people cliche tourist questions. If you are new to a place and haven’t researched a lot beforehand, it’s ok to ask about where people like to eat, good beaches nearby ect. That kind of stuff gets a conversation going and some locals ( if they seem cold, just leave them alone ) will give you a lot of great tips.

Debbie: If you aren’t finding the vibe at one place, ask about others from the bartender. As a former bartender myself, I was happy to give advice and travel tips too. You can ask the staff where to find an older crowd if the crowd or bar isn’t quite what you are after.

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]]> By: Debbie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-92659 Debbie Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:25:32 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-92659 My girlfriends and I (some married, some single, some attached) travel alot together. We love to go out but find when we get to a city we have a hard time finding a bar that has our age group (40+). We don't want to "hook up" however, we would like to have a night out and talk with other men or women and dance should it be that kind of club. We buy books, go on line etc. but we always seem to end up where the average age is 25. Any suggestions? My girlfriends and I (some married, some single, some attached) travel alot together. We love to go out but find when we get to a city we have a hard time finding a bar that has our age group (40+). We don’t want to “hook up” however, we would like to have a night out and talk with other men or women and dance should it be that kind of club. We buy books, go on line etc. but we always seem to end up where the average age is 25.

Any suggestions?

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]]> By: Shreya http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-91353 Shreya Thu, 14 May 2009 21:44:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-91353 Very nice, I'm all for gutsy solo women travelers! Going to be one in another couple of weeks :D Very nice, I’m all for gutsy solo women travelers! Going to be one in another couple of weeks :D

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]]> By: jilly http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-88442 jilly Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:20:01 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-88442 I LOVE this article. Here's how I drink alone, but not really: (1) Aim for watering hole, not loungey club. Do this enough and the difference will be obvious. If you find yourself in a loungey-club and awkwardly alone as people cluster and ignore you, feel free to pretend like your "friend" had to bail and head out after the first drink. I like to case a bar a little bit before I post up - don't move in too fast. (2) Dress girl-next-door casual (in most parts of the world) - avoid cleavage but a little polish ensures people know you're there. Look like someone interesting that you would want to talk to. (3) Be a little whip smart. If you want to avoid getting hit on, don't giggle endlessly at jokes - throw a couple back. Hold your own. Be a little challenging, in a fun way. (4) Learn how to order something respectable. What makes a statement will differ by location. Deliver that first order more as a statement than a question and follow it with a little smile. [But please note: don't confuse respectable with pretentious] (5) Like the idea of being alone and think of it in your head as mysterious and badass. This will come through when people see you sitting there, in your posture and mannerisms, and they'll be curious. Watch the tv, but also acknowledge others in the room. If you look too absorbed in any one thing people will leave you alone. Looking around is a sign you'd like to be talked to. When you get particularly brazen, you start to become the person who talks to other people alone because you recognize what you're doing in others. And as soon as you have two, the ball is rolling. (6) Bartenders may do this every night and being the person who makes the shift a little less dull will put you in esteem. The best ones are keen students of humanity and usually like to talk about what they've seen in their tenure. If the bartender is cold to your well placed compliment about the establishment, savy drink order, and general coolness - pick a new bar or locate someone else to talk to. (7) When in doubt, know a trick, possibly involving fire. I LOVE this article. Here’s how I drink alone, but not really:

(1) Aim for watering hole, not loungey club. Do this enough and the difference will be obvious. If you find yourself in a loungey-club and awkwardly alone as people cluster and ignore you, feel free to pretend like your “friend” had to bail and head out after the first drink. I like to case a bar a little bit before I post up – don’t move in too fast.

(2) Dress girl-next-door casual (in most parts of the world) – avoid cleavage but a little polish ensures people know you’re there. Look like someone interesting that you would want to talk to.

(3) Be a little whip smart. If you want to avoid getting hit on, don’t giggle endlessly at jokes – throw a couple back. Hold your own. Be a little challenging, in a fun way.

(4) Learn how to order something respectable. What makes a statement will differ by location. Deliver that first order more as a statement than a question and follow it with a little smile. [But please note: don't confuse respectable with pretentious]

(5) Like the idea of being alone and think of it in your head as mysterious and badass. This will come through when people see you sitting there, in your posture and mannerisms, and they’ll be curious.

Watch the tv, but also acknowledge others in the room. If you look too absorbed in any one thing people will leave you alone. Looking around is a sign you’d like to be talked to. When you get particularly brazen, you start to become the person who talks to other people alone because you recognize what you’re doing in others. And as soon as you have two, the ball is rolling.

(6) Bartenders may do this every night and being the person who makes the shift a little less dull will put you in esteem. The best ones are keen students of humanity and usually like to talk about what they’ve seen in their tenure. If the bartender is cold to your well placed compliment about the establishment, savy drink order, and general coolness – pick a new bar or locate someone else to talk to.

(7) When in doubt, know a trick, possibly involving fire.

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]]> By: Reannon http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-88223 Reannon Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:06:53 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-88223 I always ask for drink reccomendations...Not just from the bartender but from the people sitting around me. That's usually the best conversation starter. Something like: "That looks good. What are you drinking?" I think the live music is a good suggestion, that way you're in the bar for something other than drinking. Otherwise, I worry that if people see me drinking by myself (and in the afternoon no less), they'll think I'm an alcoholic. I always ask for drink reccomendations…Not just from the bartender but from the people sitting around me. That's usually the best conversation starter. Something like: "That looks good. What are you drinking?" I think the live music is a good suggestion, that way you're in the bar for something other than drinking. Otherwise, I worry that if people see me drinking by myself (and in the afternoon no less), they'll think I'm an alcoholic.

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]]> By: how to Say “One More Beer, Please” in 50 Different Languages http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-70440 how to Say “One More Beer, Please” in 50 Different Languages Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:12:58 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-70440 [...] Check out Matador’s highly scientific rankings of the world’s Top 10 Rooftop Bars, and Top 10 Local Parties for ideas on where to get your international drink on. Flying solo? Read the Gutsy Girl’s Guide to Drinking Alone. [...] [...] Check out Matador’s highly scientific rankings of the world’s Top 10 Rooftop Bars, and Top 10 Local Parties for ideas on where to get your international drink on. Flying solo? Read the Gutsy Girl’s Guide to Drinking Alone. [...]

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]]> By: Andrea Kirkby http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-63829 Andrea Kirkby Fri, 02 May 2008 12:14:36 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-63829 One thing solo girls need to find is a way of discouraging the sleazy guy who won't let you alone. Your suggestion of sitting near the bartender, I think, is a good one. Most bartenders can recognise what's going on very quickly and discourage it if they can see you're not happy. Another thing I've sometimes done, if going into a not very full bar, is make sure to say hello to *everyone* there with a big smile, and then go and sit alone - that seems to discourage anyone from hitting on you. But I'd love some more tips... Oh yes, I loved the 'microbrew' tip. If the bar person isn't interested in microbrews, I reckon you're in the wrong pub :-) One thing solo girls need to find is a way of discouraging the sleazy guy who won’t let you alone.

Your suggestion of sitting near the bartender, I think, is a good one. Most bartenders can recognise what’s going on very quickly and discourage it if they can see you’re not happy.

Another thing I’ve sometimes done, if going into a not very full bar, is make sure to say hello to *everyone* there with a big smile, and then go and sit alone – that seems to discourage anyone from hitting on you.

But I’d love some more tips…

Oh yes, I loved the ‘microbrew’ tip. If the bar person isn’t interested in microbrews, I reckon you’re in the wrong pub :-)

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]]> By: Eva http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/25/the-gutsy-girls-guide-to-drinking-alone/comment-page-1/#comment-62616 Eva Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:52:16 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=543#comment-62616 Hey Terry, great question. My safety rules are pretty much exactly the same at home and abroad: Keep my drink in sight at all times, don't get so drunk I can't find my way home, and always have enough cash for a taxi. The drinking in the afternoon bit, as much as I may have joked about it, is a means of staying safe as well. Daylight is a pretty good safety net. I don't mean to be too flippant, because there are plenty of potential bad situations out there, but I honestly don't believe that bars are any more dangerous for solo female travelers than anywhere else we might find ourselves - sometimes a busy local pub might even be safer. Hey Terry, great question.

My safety rules are pretty much exactly the same at home and abroad: Keep my drink in sight at all times, don’t get so drunk I can’t find my way home, and always have enough cash for a taxi.

The drinking in the afternoon bit, as much as I may have joked about it, is a means of staying safe as well. Daylight is a pretty good safety net.

I don’t mean to be too flippant, because there are plenty of potential bad situations out there, but I honestly don’t believe that bars are any more dangerous for solo female travelers than anywhere else we might find ourselves – sometimes a busy local pub might even be safer.

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