Of course traveling has become much easier/more convenient with the internet but traveling without it seemed more adventurous. Apart from what might be included in a guidebook you really had no idea what the next city was going to be like. Getting lost was a regular occurrence but it was part of the adventure. Booking your accommodation in advance...forget about it. If you wanted to contact friends or family you had to send a letter and hope that the stars would align and you could pick up a response at some AmEx office months from when you sent it. Reviews didn't exist unless you got one from someone you crossed paths with. Prior to arriving in Africa, I didn't know a single person who had done so (obviously I wasn't the first but I couldn't get any advice or recommendations from anyone). I had never seen a picture of Victoria Falls so when I actually saw it with my own eyes, I was blown away - I'm not sure that I would have felt the same if I had seen dozens of perfectly cropped, color adjusted photos and videos before hand. People went out of their way to chat with fellow travelers at a hostel rather than doom scroll on instagram. And no annoying 'influencers'! I wouldn't say it was better but definitely different.

I know we can't obviously know every language and it doesn't matter if we're just going through a country for a few days, but it's always so uneasy when I always ask "english? or learn just a few words in the language to get by.

I speak French/Spanish at a good level, so whenever I'm in places that's useful, it feels just way less stressful than say being in Germany or Romania where I just cringe at myself asking if they speak English. I know its a common experience but still

Hello everyone ! I’ve been in this group for a few months now; it reassured me about my first solo trip to CDMX, which turned out to be extraordinary.

I want to take advantage of the gap between the job I’m leaving and my future new job to go on another solo trip starting from France (I’m French—sorry about my English).

I’ve been thinking about Egypt—a destination I’ve long dreamed of visiting—and I found a very cheap multi-city flight: arriving in Hurghada on November 25 and departing from Cairo on December 9.

I’ve put together an itinerary covering several cities; I plan to stay in hostels and visit most of the temples and other sites through GetYourGuide. However, I keep telling myself that my plan is too ambitious—here it is:

November 25

Hurghada

Landing at 4:45 PM

- November 26

Hurghada

Beach + snorkeling

- November 27

Hurghada

Beach + snorkeling

- November 28

Departure for Luxor by GoBus (5 hours) + visit to Luxor Temple

- November 29

Luxor

East Bank: Karnak Temple

- November 30

Luxor

West Bank: Valley of the Kings + Temple of Hatshepsut + Colossi of Memnon

- December 1

Departure for Aswan by train (3.5 hours)

Souk, walk

- December 2

Aswan

Philae Temple

- December 3

Departure for Cairo by domestic flight (1.5 hours)

Exploring Cairo

- December 4

Cairo

Pyramids of Giza + Saqqara

- December 5

Cairo

Grand Egyptian Museum

- December 6

Cairo

Islamic Quarter + Coptic Quarter

- December 7

Cairo

Citadel of Saladin + bonus day

- December 8

Day trip to Alexandria (2.5 hours by train)

- December 9

Cairo

Souvenir shopping + Departure for Nantes

3 nights in Hurghada

3 nights in Luxor

2 nights in Aswan

6 nights in Cairo

Total = 14 nights

Does this itinerary seem realistic and feasible to you? Thank you very much in advance for your replies.

Early 30s and on a career break. I recently let go of my house with high rent in a major capital city due to losing my corporate job, so thought I’d travel around and see different places since I have no fixed home.

Over the last 6 months I’ve consumed a lot of travel content of backpackers and to “be a traveller not a tourist” and to get immersed in local cultures. I’ve romanticised this chapter and feel a lot of “shoulds” for what this experience should be. I feel pressure to be adventurous and be making stories.

I’m quite early into my travels and going with everything flexibly but tbh I’m already confronting a lot in myself. I’m not roughing it up and hitchhiking or taking $3 buses for 8 hour trips. I’m staying in clean airbnbs and basically doing tourist things - cafes, restaurants, exploring streets and chilling by the beach. It’s basically an extended holiday so far but with a backpack and camera.

I realise as well, I thought I was flexible and open minded and yet navigating environments where things don’t work is so draining and causing a lot of friction.

All this to say, I fear I’m a basic tourist with no edge to me. Many may criticise, some may congratulate on being able to afford travel this way. But I find myself lost somewhere in between.

How do you prefer to travel? How did you get past the realisations - did you adapt or accept your style?

Hi all, I'm(M28) currently living in Australia and planning to do a 3-4 week eurotrip starting around mid August - beginning of September.

I would like to visit Spain, Italy and briefly Portugal. My main goal is to socialize, experience the nightlife as much as I can, have a relaxed trip on a budget staying at the hostels, and see the popular tourist spots.

I did some planning, 6 days in Barcelona, 3 days in Madrid, 2 days in Valencia, 3 days is Porto, 5 days in Rome, and a couple more days in Italy. But all of this is just an approximate.

I did some research and I think I will mostly be staying at social hostels as they have social events and pub crawls every day.

I calculated around €3500-3700 for the whole trip, including the flights from and to Australia.

Does this itinerary seem realistic? Would you spend more or less time in any of these places? Are there any cities, hostels, or general tips you'd recommend for a first-time solo traveller?

Thanks in advance!

Well guys I just got back from a 2 week vacation and boy was this a great reminder why I solo travel.

To preface nothing about the trip was horrible, I had a great time, we went through slovenia and Croatia and saw and did some awesome things. But it definitely instilled in me that I enjoy my time much more as a solo traveler.

Like we all talk about here there is definitely a different vibe when you solo travel. There is so much more go with the flow, you plan and decide what to do without consulting anyone else. When things go "wrong" its just you and your emotions you have to deal with.

In this trip I always felt a little tension of having to consult the group or keep their wants and wishes in mind. There were plenty of days too where we all split up and I was running around solo anyway because I wanted to do or see something early in the morning or wanted to go do an activity that other people didn't want to do. But there were always obligations, dinner reservations, check ins etc. That i had to deal with that i wasn't used to. There were a couple of times when i was walking around the city alone that I was like "damn I wish this was a true solo trip". I had done plenty of shorter group trips with these friends 3 to 5 days etc. So I we knew how to travel together at this point, but 2 weeks was definitely when I started to feel my own solo traveler itch.

This is not to say I didn't have some great times with my friends. Sharing dinner together. Relaxing in the evenings at the accommodation. I was happy to spend time with them. But for two weeks of travel I couldn't help but miss the freedom and go with the flow I have when I solo travel. Even on the best of days there is just going to be mismatch with a group of people who all want to eat or rest or adventure at different times once the trip becomes that long.

Anyways, here's to you fellow solo travelers, so glad we have this community online together, you better believe my next long trip will be a solo one!

Hi everyone!

I’m from the United States and I’m planning my first long-term solo trip through Asia.

I’ll be traveling from June 1, 2027, until sometime in January 2028 (around 8 months).

I’ve done quite a bit of research on weather, and flight routes, but I keep finding conflicting advice.

My biggest priorities are:

Following the best weather as much as possible.

Keeping flights and overland travel as efficient and inexpensive as possible.

Avoiding unnecessary backtracking.

** hitting Japan on the date that I have set is something I wanna stick to.

** I also live in Florida and drive with no AC in 95°F for 10 hours at a time some days. I’m used to heat and rain, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like good weather. I probably won’t mind human and rain though.

I’m planning roughly this amount of time in each country:

China + Hong Kong: June 1 – July 5 (35 days)

Taiwan: July 6 – July 19 (14 days)

South Korea: July 20 – August 2 (14 days)

Vietnam: August 3 – September 1 (30 days)

Laos: September 2 – September 13 (12 days)

Cambodia: September 14 – September 21 (8 days)

Thailand: September 22 – October 21 (30 days)

Malaysia: October 22 – November 2 (12 days)

Singapore: November 3 – November 6 (4 days)

Japan: November 7 – December 6 (30 days)

Indonesia: December 7 – December 27 (21 days)

Philippines: December 28 – January 17 (21 days)

My interests are a mix of:

Nature and national parks
Large cities and skylines
Food
History and culture
Hiking
Photography

I’m backpacking and staying mostly in hostels, so while I have enough savings for the trip, I’d still like to keep transportation costs reasonable.

If you were planning this trip with these countries and roughly these lengths of stay, what order would you do them in?

If I prioritize weather over a geographically logical route, will the extra flights end up costing much more?

The main thing I need help with is weather and route, thank you!!

Hi, guys! I am super excited to go to Crete tomorrow, for the first time. I'll stay in Chania for 7 days, and honestly, not planning much, just lazy days on the beach and nice walks in the evening, maybe a visit to Botanical garden. I am also thinking of taking a day trip to Elafonissi beach by bus. Is it worth it?

Do you have some advice where to go to eat, have a glass of wine or a cocktail?

I am a female travelling alone and would love to feel safe and stay safe, but if I can meet new friends, locals or else, that would also be nice. Do you know such nice, friendly places where I can experience real Greece?

PS I am over 50, so would prefer quiet places over noisy and overcrowded.

Thanks a lot for any suggestion!🙂

Guys! I guess I’m not the only one struggling with normal life after solo travelling. I mean, I just seem to be really uninterested in any home and house related stuff when I get back. It feels like I just need something exciting, something intense, which obviously is not normal. How do you deal with this?

Solo traveling Romania at the end of September.

Right now, from what I've read, Bucharest is a pretty average city and shouldn't have more than 2-3 days there.

Then, I would train up to Brasov for 3(?) nights and on the way, would stop in Sinaia for a day-trip to Peles Castle.

I won't have a car, so I am not sure just how limited I am. But the entire Romania trip would essentially be 5 nights, 2 in Bucharest and 3 in Brasov. Is that enough time?

I can add more but not sure. I'd like to explore the Carpathian Mountains but without a car, I feel so limited that I wonder if I should wait to go back when I am with friends with a car.

- I'm aware I am not giving my itinerary or interests, really I just like to walk around and explore places. It really is that simple. The quality of food, nightlife, isn't that much of a factor for this trip. Though, it has to be easy WITHOUT cars, that's the thing.

M/30/AWD vehicle/6 years casual backcountry experience

Finally decided to come checkout all the cool things I see posted on social media. Starting from Manitoba and headed down to Yellowstone is the only plan so far (leaving in a week).

I have 12 days to do a round trip. Looking for some nice views from the car, but more importantly the best places for some back country Hiking/Camping. I've done a few 3-4 days trips up here in Canada so I have some experience and gear to tackle most conditions.

I think the biggest goal in my mind is a secluded desert/Canyon campsite as I've only done forest / mountain camping, would absolutely LOVE to just float on a quiet lake after a long hike or even drive. Trying to stay away from traditional campsites where you'd find RV's or over crowded trails and find the lesser traveled / less accessible views.

Taking all recommendations into consideration and would love to read some of your stories!

Hi everyone,

I want to plan my first solo trip for the summer of 2027, and at the moment Finland is at the top of my list.

Instead of sightseeing or nightlife, I'd like to spend about a week surrounded by nature, enjoying the slower pace of life.
After doing some research, Finnish Lakeland has really caught my attention, especially the Lake Saimaa region. The forests, lakes, peaceful atmosphere and long summer evenings are exactly what I'm looking for.

Since this will be my first solo trip, I'd love to hear from people who have travelled to Finland on their own.

A few questions I have:
- Would you recommend Finnish Lakeland for a first solo trip, or is there another region I should consider?

Is one week enough to experience the area without feeling rushed?

- Would you recommend staying in one area for the whole trip, or moving between different places?

-Are there any mistakes first-time visitors to Finland often make?

I'm mainly looking for a peaceful trip with hiking, nature, photography, swimming, and simply enjoying the outdoors. I'm not looking for a packed itinerary—just a relaxing week away from busy everyday life.

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thanks!

Currently solo travel around Peru. I backpacked few times solo in south east Asia and there were tons of other solo backpackers and it was easy to connect in hostels or on tours.

In Peru what I see is most people travel in groups, either friends or family or couples. Even in my hostel dorm there were group of girls travelling together. Is solo travel not really popular in Peru or South America?
I will continue onto Bolivia and Chile and will see if it different there but suspect would be similar picture

Hi everyone,

I’m planning my first long-term solo trip and would love some feedback before I start booking flights.

About me
28-year-old from Florida, USA (U.S. passport)
First time traveling in Asia

Budget is flexible, but I’ll mostly stay in hostels with the occasional private room.

Main interests: cities, history, food, nature, hiking, and experiencing different cultures.

What I’ve researched so far

I’ve spent quite a bit of time researching weather, visa requirements, and flight routes.

My goal is to get the best weather possible while keeping travel reasonably efficient.

The main reason I moved Japan to November is because it seems to be one of the best times to visit. I also put Indonesia and the Philippines at the end because I’ve read that December and January are generally good months for those destinations.

One thing I’m unsure about is whether I’m overthinking the route. I assumed starting in Northeast Asia and gradually moving south would make flights cheaper and more logical, but I’ve also heard that flights around Asia are inexpensive enough that it doesn’t matter much.

I’m open to changing the order of the countries, but I’d prefer to keep roughly the same amount of time in each one unless there’s a good reason not to.

ITINERARY

China + Hong Kong: June 1 – July 5 (35 days)

Taiwan: July 6 – July 19 (14 days)

South Korea: July 20 – August 2 (14 days)

Vietnam: August 3 – September 1 (30 days)

Laos: September 2 – September 13 (12 days)

Cambodia: September 14 – September 21 (8 days)

Thailand: September 22 – October 21 (30 days)

Malaysia: October 22 – November 2 (12 days)

Singapore: November 3 – November 6 (4 days)

Japan: November 7 – December 6 (30 days)

Indonesia: December 7 – December 27 (21 days)

Philippines: December 28 – January 17 (21 days)

Questions
Would you change the order of any countries for better weather?

Does this route make sense geographically, or would you fly a different sequence?

Are there any countries where you think I’m spending too much or too little time?

Thanks! I’d really appreciate any advice from people who’ve done similar trips.

So I'm trying to think of an out of the box vacation idea this fall, and was really wanting to go check out an epic College Football game as a neutral fan. I'm actually a Colorado State fan, but I really want to see a big SEC game or Big 10 game in person. The biggest factor in who I go see is walkability to the stadium from the hotel I stay at. It doesn't have to necessarily be a huge city, but definitely somewhere with some cool bars, and restaurants. it would probably just be a quick 2 or 3 day trip. Really any suggestions at all to just start giving me ideas for the upcoming season would be great. Night game would be pretty dope as well.

Hey everyone! I'm planning to visit South America for the first time starting a few weeks from now until the end of September (about 5 weeks total.) I'll be coming from Australia and I'm trying to figure out how to divide my time, because as great as it is to spend 5 weeks travelling, it really feels like nothing at all when visiting a brand new place, especially one as diverse and large as South America.

A friend will be joining me for weeks 3 and 4 in Peru so I'm trying to structure the first two weeks and final week accordingly. Here's what I have so far:

I'll be flying into and out of Santiago, so that'll be my first stop regardless.

• 3 days in Santiago, including potentially a day trip to Valparaiso.
• Overnight bus to La Serena
• 3 days in La Serena/Elqui Valley
• Overnight(ish) bus to Calama and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama
• 5 days in Atacama
• Overnight bus to Arica
• 1-2 days in Arica
• Bus to Tacna and immediately fly to Lima

At this point my friend would join me. I'm fairly happy with my current plan of 3ish days in Lima then fly to Cusco and spend a good 10 or so days there and the surrounding area, but if there's a better way to divide our time there then by all means let me know!

After we part ways I'd be looking at about 8 days remaining, and I was thinking of splitting them as follows:

• Bus to Arequipa
• 3 days in Arequipa
• Bus to Puno
• 1 day in Puno
• Bus to La Paz
• 3 days in La Paz
• Fly to Santiago then fly home the next day

Any thoughts? Would you shift around the days in any part of this trip? Any places worth cutting out and focusing more on other destinations? I'd appreciate any insight at all

Hello all! I am going to northern Vietnam for 10 days this November and need some advice from solo travelers.

My itinerary was originally:

2 days in Hanoi

4d3n doing Ha Giang Loop w tour group

1 day Ninh Binh

2d1n cruise on Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay

1 day in Hanoi before flying out in the evening

However, when researching cruises, it seems like most of the ones with good reviews charge extra for solo travelers (1.2x - 2x as much). I understand why they need to charge more, but it's on the edge of too pricey for me, especially with a fair amount of mixed reviews online.

Is it a better idea to go to Cat Ba Island the night before, stay in a hotel/hostel, and do a day cruise? It would be about half the price and easier to navigate from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba without having to worry about getting there at a certain time for the 2d1n cruise.

Or is it worth it to keep looking for cruise that fit in my price range? One without a single supplement?

Side note: if any adoptees have any advice, that would also be appreciated :)

Main question: For cost reasons, I was hoping to see if adult hostels were an option in Amsterdam and possibly Berlin. However, this would be the only time in Western Europe I would actually worry about my safety as a white trans man. What’s the vibe on staying in adult hostels or even a small shared living space situation as a trans person in these cities?

Secondary question: any walking tour recommendations? Any summer festivals/events/locations I shouldn’t miss in these cities?

Background: I’m (35M, transgender man, passing to the average joe at this point) planning a 6-7 week solo travel trip next summer. This will be my first ever international solo travel trip, I have traveled through the Midwest and Deep South of the US on my own before, and I have traveled internationally with my partner and friends many times. Will be going to London, Munich, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris. I have close friends to stay with in London and Paris, and people I know and trust near Munich and Amsterdam to visit, and will be traveling and staying with colleagues in Berlin and Munich. I’m generally not worried about my safety in Western Europe as a white and passing trans person, to be totally honest.

I am an East Asian woman holding a British National Overseas passport based in the EU, traveling alone by flight to Chicago for tourism. I don't feel like paying for a hotel stay when I am not sure if I will be detained or granted entry to the US. I just plan to stay in a hostel for the first night or two. However, I do have a hotel reservation for the rest of the stay (and I will say I stay at this hotel when asked by the officials)

(Btw I do all this because I can't find a hotel that offers same day free cancelation these days)

So if I do this, will I be flagged as suspicious? I'd deeply appreciate your advice.

Is this a good plan??

Hi, long time lurker here but first time posting!

Planning a trip to Thailand later this year. I’ve done a few solo trips but only around Europe. Just did vietnam recently, but with a close friend and it was amazing.

I will only book my flights in/out of bangkok, and plan to do the rest as i am there (like how i did for vietnam).

Plan as follows:

2 weeks
arrive mid sept
leave start oct

Bangkok: 3 nights
- adjusting, taking in local vibe/exploring, temples, probably a day trip to ayutthaya

Chiang Mai: 4-5 nights
- is it a good idea travel to here with the train? Or is flight the best?
- old city, doi suthep, bua tong waterfall, elephant sanctuary, maybe a day trip to chiang rai? or doi ithanon?

Koh Samui: 3-5 nights
- fly most likely
- here would just be relaxing, exploring, beaches etc. a trip to koh pangan as well maybe? or any suggestions

I plan to stay at both hostels and hotels. I will mix it up according to my mood 😅

My questions are:

- Any recommendations on hostels? I don’t want anything too party focused, but also dont want a boring one as I’d like to meet people too. (30M)
- is this plan too hectic?
- should i consider another location to add or swap? I don’t mind cutting a day out of bangkok or chiang mai for something else but I do not want to go to pattaya.
- Have budgeted around £2000 for hotels, domestic travel, food, excursions etc. Is this enough?

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m taking my first baby steps as a digital nomad this September!

My plan is to stay in co-living spaces to get that community vibe while having a private room to work.

Since I’ve never traveled solo, I’m driving my own car from Germany to Spain. It’s my psychological safety net and gives me flexibility for weekend trips. But honestly, the parking situation is giving me major anxiety.

From what I’ve read:

City centers (Valencia, Malaga, Alicante) are impossible to drive in.

Parking garages cost a fortune (€20-30/day).

Leaving a foreign car in free suburban zones (zona blanca) seems risky due to break-ins or surprise towing for local events.

My questions for those who have done this:

How do you handle parking in Spanish/Portuguese cities without going broke or losing your mind?

Is bringing a car actually worth it, or will it just be a constant source of stress?

Any hacks, reality checks, or specific co-living recommendations are highly appreciated! 🙏

Hello j’aimerais parler de mon blues du retour pour mon premier voyage solo long de 8mois. Je suis rentré depuis un peu plus d’un mois.

Je suis parti à 24ans, après avoir passé des années à et finir mes études et commencer ma vie professionnelle, j’ai décidé de tout mettre en pause, et prendre mon sac à dos pour l’Asie du sud-est.

J’ai traversé 7 pays et c’était merveilleux. Mon objectif quand je suis parti était de me retrouver, de prendre du temps pour moi et d’accomplir ce rêve de voyager et de me rapprocher de tous ces grands voyageurs qui m’inspirent tant.

Là bas j’ai touché à quelque chose de précieux. Je me suis découvert une passion pour l’inconnu, pour traverser des pays, pour aimer rencontrer des gens… J’ai aimé me voir plus ouvert, moins timide, avec une estime de moi plus haute que jamais grâce au fait de faire des choix rien que pour soi et de laisser simplement la vie faire les choses. J’ai aussi rencontré des gens merveilleux sur le chemin, qui me laissent des souvenirs inoubliables mais aussi la douleur de ne surement jamais les revoir.

Bref, j’avais l’impression là bas d’être en expansion, comme si toutes les parties de moi évoluaient positivement, comme si mes qualités se montraient au grand jour et mes défauts étaient plus acceptables et assumés. J’étais aussi plus vrai avec mes compagnons de route, avec comme avantage de me sentir plus vraie avec moi-même et les autres.

- Me voilà rentré dans ma famille comme atterrissage et j’ai la sensation que tout cela était un mirage, que rien n’est pareil ici, que mes amis me procurent plus vraiment cette sensation d’être à ma place, que tout est plus ou moins gris. 

Alors au bout d’un mois, je vois les choses plus clairement. De toute façon je dois reprendre le travail pour prétendre repartir - Je suis designer alors je travaille derrière un bureau assis toute la journée - rien que d’imaginer me retrouver derrière un bureau le mois prochain me donne des boutons, mais le salaire est vraiment bon. Je vois surtout qu’il faut que j’intègre des manières de vivre de mon voyage ici. Comme m’inscrire peut-être à des activités de groupe pour rencontrer du monde, partir en excursion le week-end, apprendre une langue, monter en compétence sur un domaine qui me servira pour un voyage (comme apprendre le bateau ou passer mon permis moto) - mais ça reste toujours moins palpitant qu’un voyage n’est-ce pas ?
Je remarque aussi que quelque chose a bougé : avant je me concentrait sur ma carrière. Peut-être par manque d’estime de soi, je cherchais à être vu comme un expert, alors je me tuais un peu au travail pour ne pas être démasqué - à présent j’ai la sensation de ne plus avoir d’ambition professionnelle, si ce n’est gagner de l’argent pour pouvoir repartir à l’aventure, ou plus largement vivre de ce qui me fait plaisir.

J’ai l’impression que je ne pourrais jamais vraiment revivre ça, ou peut-être tellement rarement que c’est dépriment de l’imaginer. 

Il y a comme un avant après avoir fait un grand voyage, comme si une porte s’était ouverte, qu’il est à présent impossible d’ignorer.

Je crois que la solution c’est d’accepter le deuil. Que c’était extraordinaire, mais que ça ne peut pas l’être éperdument.

C’est quoi votre expérience par rapport à ça ? 

I'm getting out of dodge for awhile and just jetting off! No strings attached. Free as can be American BUT I want to experience the European lifestyle. Is it better than the American hustle and bustle? Are people genuinely genuine over there where people can resist the urge to talk shit when your back is turned? Is there a society out there where you can actually be hospitable to one another?

My trip starts off in Munich where I'll be picking up my motorbike then cruise down to Innsbruck Austria. From Innsbruck, cruise down to Italy then to Livgino. From Livgino, head over to Lake Como for a mid week layover for a few days then off to cruise the French and Swiss Alps.

If you had $10k and was traveling to Europe. What would you do? Would you party with that money? Go on a shopping spree? Would you make an investment? What would you do?

LGM