(I know this might not be the place to post so please delete if not allowed)
I'm planning my first backpacking trip/first trip ever out of Canada/first solo trip of my life. I know there is a lot to take in and I'm putting a big weight on my shoulders being so fresh to all of this but I was wondering if I could get any suggestions on where I should travel/ Any advice for a person like me who's never really traveled in my life? I was thinking a month -2 months either in the areas of South America, South East Asia or Europe starting in early September. Like I said I'm very open to travel anywhere in the world right now I'm just unsure of where, when & how long. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated:)

I'd start in Europe. It's a good introduction to travel - most everyone speaks English, the food isn't so different that you'll have any issues there, easy access to good medical help if you need it, streamlined travel between destinations. It's just a good place for someone new to it all to get their travel feet wet.

watch the documentary "A Map for Saturday" some awesome ideas on it and it's amazing !

Europe is great, but what is your budget? That will help determine destinations.

I agree that Europe is a good starter location (but generally expensive). I'm 2/3 of the way through a 10 week Europe trip myself (and have also done 5.5 weeks in Asia); feel free to message me if you have any 1-on-1 questions

I would also suggest Europe as a good starting point. I backpacked Europe for 2 months by myself in 2008 and had a blast! It was easy to meet people to travel with and there so many amazing places to check out!

Southeast Asia if you want to get more value for your travel dollar.

SE Asia is very friendly, generally safe, and inexpensive. I have done two solo trips here and love the culture, the people, the food, and the history and natural environment. Lots of info on travel blogs and sites like www.travelfish.org and trip advisor and Lonely Planet.
TRAVELFISH.ORG
Travelfish: The independent travel guide for Southeast Asia.

1st time then definately Europe.

My first trip was to Thailand. It was a great introduction. I actually found that more people spoke English in Thailand than in many places in Europe (Greece, Italy, France) and it was very friendly and safe feeling. SE Asia costs about 1/8 of a trip to Europe so its nice that way too! I recommend putting less on your back though. A 35L pack is perfect - it means you can get to a new city and wander around comfortably without needing to rush off angry and flustered to the closest hostel to the train station (aka the most expensive and crappiest one!). I should add that I have always travelled solo, and Thailand was better for that too

As of the moment my budget would be around 5-7k & thank you soo much for the feedback everyone it's greatly appreciated:)

What would you like to see. Would you like to party or try out all the exotic things they got to offer. I've travelled to most USA Canada SE Asian Japan and currently in eastern Europe. All this places have something different to offer.

I agree with SE Asia. If you don't have a knack for languages or haven't done any study then it will be the easiest place to get around. I travelled there when I was 20 for 3 months. It's cheaper than Europe and has breathtaking sights. Sth America, which I've also been to, is extremely difficult if you don't know any spanish. English isn't high on their priorities even in capital cities except in Chile, Argentina and Brazil. For your budget, first trip I'd definitely recommend not going to Europe or Sth America.

I agree that is also depends on what you're looking for. And, coming from someone who is nearing the 2 month mark, expect to get exhausted and frustrated and just generally "done" with travelling at least once during your trip. This is normal. Just know it's coming and give yourself a few "off" days / don't plan to do something EVERYDAY. If you think of it in terms of: how often do you go out all day, everyday while you're at home with no time off? It can be utterly exhausting if you don't give yourself some time off every week or two.

That budget would be good for SE Asia. The dollar would go a long way. I spent about 4 thousand on a 4 month trip to Hong Kong Macau Singapore Thailand Laos Vietnam Cambodia Malaysia and Japan it could have been cheaper but I splurge in Japan staying at hotels on some nights

Australia is another great option although on the more expensive end. It has a well equipped backpacker trail and tons of young people looking to party.. In saying this Europe was my first solo backpacking trip

Southeast Asia for sure. I ve been to Asia many times and it is cheap and also safe/ Go to Bangkok and go to Khao San road and you can talk to thousands of other backpackers and they ll fill you in on where to go and what to watch out for, The four sons hotel is a good place to stay for a few days and its about 15 dollars a night

I also suggest to get a lonely planet south east Asia on a budget. Just plan the first couple trips and travel by ear. Will eventually meet other travellers heading your direction. Also do you motorbike?

Plenty of people speak English in Southeast Asia....unless you go way off the beaten track. There are no greater safety concerns than one finds in Europe. The food can be as exotic or 'familiar' as you want it to be. People are friendly and getting around is easy. Working in the travel business I can tell you that more young people head to Southeast Asia than Europe these days when heading abroad for the first time. Don't get me wrong... Europe is AMAZING.... but I would still steer you the other way.

i recommend a smaller pack too, many people make the mistake of overpacking. the best pack i found was osprey farpoint 40, it has great reviews. me and bf each have one

South America!! I just got back from 6 months. It was my first solo trip like this and it was amazing. It's such a good mix of history, culture, adventure, nature, and good times. Your budget should last you 2 to 3 months there easy. Hit me up if you have any questions!

I'm definetly gonna try for Southeast Asia or South America, I'm not really looking to travel just to party like I'm on a vacation, I mean don't get me wrong I love to have fun and there will be nights I wanna go out but what I'm mainly looking to do is experience ones country and all they have to offer from the beautiful landscapes and views to the exotic foods and religion and get a understanding of life beyond the Canadian culture. With all the feedback I'm getting I'm certain SouthEast Asia or South America is the perfect destination for myself. I really do appreciate everyone's insight to all of this and I'm definitely gonna be putting some thought into everyones suggestions, thanx a million:)

Dude, this is an intensely personal question to farm out to strangers. Any part of the world is good for a first time trip, it all depends on your preferences, fears, passions, etc. SE Asia is great and generally very easy, but still fundamentally different than north American culture. What are you trying to accomplish with this trip? Do you want to check off a list of sights? Party on a beach? Central America is a good option also for the newbie. Do some personal inventory, maybe a bit of research, then get back to us.

I'd love to do Prague to Istanbul. Prague, Vienna, Budhapest, then head south maybe go to greece then I just really want to see Istanbul, kinda out of the way but Hagia Sophia is on my wish list... Less partying with drunk american\australian tourists but meh.

Europe is good and generally safe. But expensive. SE Asia is also good and considerably cheaper than Europe. Language needn't be a barrier in either continent. Countries in SE Asia where English is really not a problem include Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong and Singapore, although the last two places can be expensive. Furthermore, don't go to Singapore for a taste of Asia; it's not really representative of SE Asia. SE Asia and Europe are two entirely different experiences. If it's your first trip outside of Canada, go for the non-western experience of SE Asia. You won't regret it. Happy Trails!

Eastern Europe can also be very budget friendly and has amazing culture and history. Consider places like Croatia, Bosnia or Hungary. I just returned from 3 weeks travelling solo around Turkey and it was amazing, so much to see and do, and very easy to get around on the extensive bus network throughout the country.

Done all three, Southeast Asia is by far the mot beautiful, relaxing and most bang for your buck. Pm me if you have additional questions

turkey is amazing and very easy to travel.

Thailand!!!

First time traveling, I'd suggest a small group tour just to get your feet wet. Do so for the first 2 weeks and then go on your own. SEA is cheap but it is a culture shock for a newbies. Europe is expensive but easy to travel and easy to adjust to. Central America might be a good place to start (like Costa Rica).

I agree with Marshall - book a tour with G or Intrepid and spend a few weeks touring and meeting other people in your group who will tell you about other places to see in the region, then continue your journey on your own, or perhaps with one or few people that you met on your tour. I suggest mixing it up as it's a gentle introduction to foreign travel, while still retaining your independence during most of the time away.

Ok having done all three, if you insist on doing one of those three regions and solo, I would recommend Southeast Asia, starting with Thailand. Really, really recommend starting with Thailand, as opposed to one of the other countries in SE Asia. It's a wonderful place (I've been there 5 times!) and it is generally safe and easy to navigate. Second choice would be Europe, and would say do not start with South America. Europe is nice but it's not as set up for tourists as Thailand is so you'll have to do a lot of figuring stuff out which might be frustrating/a challenge/overwhelming since you are new to travel. South America, even more so than Europe, and without English speakers everywhere. But I agree with advice to do a tour with G or Intrepid for your first time traveling. Or at least go down to the USA for a short trip to practice being on your own, figuring stuff out, etc. Agree with recommendation for a good backpack (I recently upgraded to the Osprey Farpoint 40 and it's wonderful, so much better than my old backpack!). Also would suggest staying in hostels as it's a great way to save money and meet other travelers from all over the world. You are going to have an amazing adventure! Just do a little research and be prepared for the inevitable frustration/overwhelm/loneliness that you may periodically feel. That's normal and doesn't mean you should go home or fail at traveling. I'm excited for you! here's to a life of travel!

If you speak any French, Spanish is quite easy to pick up.
SE Asia is cheap. Central America and the northern parts of South America are inexpensive. Think CA and Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, etc.
It really depends on what you are looking for, and how far you want to stretch your dollar.

My boyfriend and I will be going to Central America for two months in the fall (our first backpacking trip). We chose it because of the cultural diversity and wildlife. It all depends what your looking to get out of the trip!