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03-01-2010, 07:23 PM
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#1
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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How do I go about backpacking in the UK alone?
I'm sorry, this message might be completely obnoxious haha but I really need some advice!
Fall of next year I'll be starting pre-med school -______- thus ending my free time permanently until 2021, so I really really want to go backpacking for a month of so in the UK (mostly England where my friend lives).
Factors:
1) I want to go ALONE
2) I'll be 17 because my birthday is at the beginning of the school year
3) I will be an emancipated minor
So my questions are:
1) Do places rent cars to minors even if they are legally responsible for themselves?
2) Do hostels/hotels rent to those under 18?
3) What papers/permits will I need to have/carry?
4) Safety tips for a young lass with mad skills in street smarts?
5) Anything else!
Thank you!!!! (:
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03-01-2010, 08:15 PM
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#2
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The " ... " queen of TP!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ontario
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So my questions are:
1) Do places rent cars to minors even if they are legally responsible for themselves?
No. It's hard enough to rent a car if you're under 25, let alone 17!
2) Do hostels/hotels rent to those under 18?
Yes, you'll be fine. Some places require you to be at least 18, but I don't think anywhere ever actually checked for me when I backpacked europe at 17...pretty sure I just lied and said I was older on the questionnaire...
3) What papers/permits will I need to have/carry?
passport. Pretty sure if you're just going for a month or under you'll be fine. UK Immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel. Make sure you have a place lined up to stay when you land though! They're fickle about that....
4) Safety tips for a young lass with mad skills in street smarts?
if you've got mad street smart skills you should be fine...just use your head
__________________
~Laura
GO CANADA!!!!
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-James Dean
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03-02-2010, 04:01 AM
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#3
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Teesside - England
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Not much to add to that other than....
i'd recommend the megabus to get around (google it). It's really cheap and convenient.
Be careful in areas of London late at night...typical big city rules apply really.
You've not much chance of getting a car to rent to be truthful.
If you need any advice on places to go and see send me a message 
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03-02-2010, 04:58 AM
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#4
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Tpunk Senior Moderators
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Columbia, MD
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Buses and trains can be crazy cheap, in England at least. Train tickets to London from Oxford can be as low as 8 GBP round trip. I'm going to Bath this weekend, I think, and it's only 11 GBP round trip from Oxford. And those are prices that aren't including a youth or student rail pass, which would also be pretty convenient.
Check out nationalrail.co.uk and nationalexpress.co.uk For bus fares, look for funfares, where your ticket is limited to a specific bus at a specific time, but it's sometimes up to half of the price. I got funfare tickets to Stansted airport and paid 14 GBP round trip instead of the 25+ some friends were paying.
__________________
Reminiscing about: Brazil, Canada, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, USA
Living In: Belfast, Northern Ireland 
Next up!
Poland (February!) 
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03-02-2010, 02:18 PM
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#5
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 108
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All i can say about traveling in the UK is that you should not buy train tickets at the train station right before you travel. it is a great way to blow alot of money in a hurry. plan ahead and get a pass, you will be more than happy that you did.
i took a train from Poole to London, on august 1st of 2009 and it cost me 60 pounds. ridiculous!
but that was just showing up and grabbing a ticket 5 min before it left.
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04-20-2020, 06:57 AM
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#6
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Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 16
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Quote:
So my questions are:
1) Do places rent cars to minors even if they are legally responsible for themselves?
No. It's hard enough to rent a car if you're under 25, let alone 17!
2) Do hostels/hotels rent to those under 18?
Yes, you'll be fine. Some places require you to be at least 18, but I don't think anywhere ever actually checked for me when I backpacked europe at 17...pretty sure I just lied and said I was older on the questionnaire...
3) What papers/permits will I need to have/carry?
passport. Pretty sure if you're just going for a month or under you'll be fine. UK Immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel. Make sure you have a place lined up to stay when you land though! They're fickle about that....
4) Safety tips for a young lass with mad skills in street smarts?
if you've got mad street smart skills you should be fine...just use your head
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You're pretty organized.
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