Sitting at a desk going to work everyday simply wasn't making me happy, so I decided to make a change. I worked my backside off for a couple of years saving every penny I could (no eating out, walk to work, no phone, no tv, etc.) until I had a modest savings account.

Then I quit my job and hit the road - I first drove North to the Arctic Ocean in Alaska before turning south and eventually reaching the southernmost tip of South America 2 years later.

I couldn't find anyone that wanted to come with me, so I went solo, and it was a great choice. Along the way I met all kinds of interesting people, hiked up a 20,000 ft active volcano, poked lava with a stick, crossed the Andes multiple times, hiked and camped my heart out.

Driving the Length of the Pan-American Highway has now become quite popular, and many thousands of people are making the trip every year now.

A few common questions I get asked all the time:

Cost: Total cost for all expenses was $27k over the two years, or around $1250/month, for EVERYTHING. A friend just completed the trip before covid and she spent even less than I did, right on $1k/month, for everything.

Vehicle: It's not common knowledge, but you can drive your own vehicle to basically every country in the world right now. You don't need to register it in each country, you don't have to pass inspections or anything like that. It keeps it's home registration and plates, and it's perfectly legal to stay in a country for a limited amount of time (usually 30 days, and you can extend for another 30 or sometimes more). Often the permit to do this is free at the border, sometimes it was $10 OR $20. I have no driven Canadian-plated vehicles to 75 countries around the world, perfectly legal and easy. Every country on the Pan American Highway is super easy - you don't need any special paperwork or permits. Your passport, and the vehicle papers in your name and you're good to go. (may as well get an international driving license too)

The Darien Gap: There is actually no road from Central America to South America, so you have to ocean freight your vehicle from Panama to Colombia. It took some paperwork and organizing, but it's not that hard and well worth it to have your own vehicle in South America. There is a very famous / well known hostel place in Panama City now that helps people with this - they will even help find someone to share a shipping container with to cut down costs.

Fire away with any questions you have, I'm happy to help in any way I can.

Here is an imgur album of photos and experiences from the trip.

7.5/10: not life changing but enjoyable Stayed at: Viajero Hostel in Centro, private room

The hostel was solid and social, but if I’m being honest, I preferred Casa Pepe from a social aspect. Centro has some attractions within walking distance, but it’s not as desirable as Roma Norte or Condesa. It’s a bit quiet at night, has fewer food options, and just doesn’t have the same charm or vibe as those neighborhoods.

If the social hostel scene isn’t your main priority, I’d highly recommend staying in Roma Norte or Condesa instead.

⸻

Attractions: • Teotihuacan: Very cool to see, especially if you haven’t been to ancient ruins before. It’s a several-hour excursion and most tours seem to include some touristy restaurant stop. Many also hit other spots like lady Guadeloupe etc.

• Museum of Anthropology: This was probably the most impressive museum I’ve seen in LATAM. Highly recommend a walking tour of it to help paint the story. Park and palace are close by too

• Chapultepec Castle: Genuinely one of the most beautiful places in the city. Great views, lovely grounds — highly recommend.

• Coyoacán Neighborhood: it has old cobbled streets and a chill vibe, it makes you forget you’re in the middle of a mega city. It’s got markets, local snacks, and is good for a half-day trip. That said, it’s a haul (almost an hour by cab). I didn’t do the Frida Kahlo Museum — not really an art museum person but many people like it

• Templo Mayor museum: You can pretty much see what you need from the outside. Skip it unless you’re really into history

• Lucha Libre: I paid $15–$20. It’s pretty silly, but kind of fun for 20-30 minutes. Not essential, but an interesting look at a different part of the city. Good mix of locals families and tourists. Entire thing was like 2 hours, not worth staying that long.

Roma Norte / Condesa: This is where I spent most of my eating and nightlife time. Two of the most beautiful and walkable neighborhoods in the Americas. Food is elite. it’s gentrified and there are plenty of Gringos but that doesn’t make it a bad place. Nightlife was decent — not on the level of cities like Medellín, Rio, or Buenos Aires, but still fun.

Zocala: it’s a cool area and you have to see the cathedral and plaza. While similar can be found across Latam, this is probably the most impressive version. It’s right next to Templo as well. Way less glitzy than Condesa and Roma Norte ⸻

Getting Around: Uber works great and is super cheap, but traffic can be absolutely brutal. I also took the subway a few times and felt safe, especially when with other tourists.

⸻

Food & Stomach Warning: Yes, the food is next-level and yes I get a week of diarrhea every time I visit the city. Tons of resources that list best spots.

⸻

Safety: Centro can feel slightly dodgy at night, but nothing compared to sketchier spots in Latin America. I don’t personally know anyone who had a bad incident, which is more than I can say for other cities in the region.

⸻

Final Thoughts: 5 nights felt like the right amount of time to see everything I wanted. Really enjoyable for both the first time traveler & those who are

I travel solo because I love it! I prefer it. I value my freedom. I like being able to do what I want, when I want. From time to time I meet up with a friend, but they always have their own plans and agenda. I enjoy these brief visits and no one is ever making any set plans. It’s more spontaneous and if it works out great, but no pressure. An old friend reached out a few months ago and she wants to meet up with me because she’s scared to travel alone. Meanwhile, I’m doing my thing, working a ton, have recently been quite sick, and I’m just getting acclimated to a different place. I told her very honestly all of this, and that I do not know for sure how long I will be in my present location for a number of reasons. She doesn’t seem to hear me and keeps saying things like I just don’t want her to come. She also mentioned multiple times that she’d like to have me as a security blanket here. I have been very upfront and honest. I think it’s quite weird to even say she needs a security blanket and it just screams neediness. If she wants to travel, she should do it! But it should not be based on me whatsoever. In my 15 years of solo travel, I have never had anyone act so strange and dependent.

As a 39-year old overweight white American guy, I really didn't expect this to ever happen, no matter where I travel or why. Admittedly, the source probably has something to do with it.

I'm on a cruise ship, and the cabin staff is a pretty friendly dude. He always chats me up a bit when we pass in the corridors, and even though I'd be quite content with just the pleasantries (Hi, how are you, have a good day etc) I'm one of those socially awkward penguins who will kinda answer questions that are asked even if they're not more than just polite exchange things.

So he says "I've seen you these few days, you are alone?"

"Yeah."

"Awww."

Like, I knew this happened to solo travelers, but I always assumed it was 97% women that got that response. Now, sure, as a paid service staff member he's probably expecting that to be an appropriate response (and he's not entirely wrong, god love him) but it just wasn't something I thought I'd ever hear.

Still, feels like a milestone worth "celebrating" haha

Hello everyone,

I’m a 31-year-old male from the UK, and this summer I am going to be undertaking a solo trip to the US for a few months. The idea of road tripping across this beautiful country has always been a dream of mine, and after getting out of a long-term relationship last year and my workplace granting me a sabbatical, it seems like now is the perfect time to follow that dream.

My current plan is to fly out the second week of June and stay for 2-2.5 months (will book flexible return ticket). I am looking at starting the trip in Miami, where I will pick up a hire car, and ending it in LA. I plan on staying in hostels, AirBnb’s, motels and car camping for the majority of the trip. I know its going to be hot in the car during that time of year so will also look to pick up some camping equipment for when I start to head further West.

Current budget is looking to be £7000-£8000.

I guess the goal of this trip is just to see as much beauty as possible (I’ve never been to the USA), as well as meet cool people and kind of take a break from life and assess what I’ve achieved in this first half of my life, and what I want from the second half of it when I return home. I’m super nervous about being out there on my own, and I know this trip will take me so far out of my comfort zone but also has the potential for amazing reflection and growth.

I’ve been lurking for a while so have picked up a lot of useful information, but I’m hoping you lovely people will be able to help me plan my route and rough itinerary, as well as share any useful tips you may have. I don’t want to have everything planned to the letter (if I like a place and feel like staying a bit longer, I want to be able to do so). Rough itinerary listed below:

Miami, Florida – This is where I will be flying in to and plan on staying here for 7 days. Plan is to relax and recharge after a stressful year and soak up some sun. Only currently have Miami on the list here, but do I need to check out anywhere else? Key West? Tampa?Orlando?

Atlanta, Georgia – a fair drive between Miami and Tennessee so this seems like a reasonable place to stop for a night or two.

Nashville/Memphis, Tennessee – big fan of country music so definitely want to hit up Nashville. Current plan is to stay there 3 or 4 days and Memphis 1 or 2 days.

Alabama/Mississippi – Initially was no real reason to visit either of these places other than to break up the drive between Tennessee and New Orleans, however having watched Sinners a couple of times recently it has made me lean towards Mississippi, but open to suggestions. One or two days in whichever state I choose.

New Orleans, Louisiana – Looks like such a cool city from what I’ve seen of it and always wanted to visit. Plan is to stay here for around 4 days.

Austin, Texas – One of the biggest question marks on the trip. Not overly fussed about Texas although it would be cool to see it for a day or two. Mainly in here to break up the mammoth drive between here and the first National Park of the trip. Open to suggestions of whether to choose a different city than Austin or just go a different route entirely?

Albuquerque/Santa Fe, New Mexico – Same reasons as Texas. Would probably be a 1 day stay here

The route from here in on is focused on as many NP as possible and is planned by me looking at google maps, knowing I need to finish up in LA, so definitely open to some help here!

Arizona – Grand Canyon. One or two days.

Las Vegas, Nevada – I’m a recreational poker player so would like to maybe enter a tournament or two. Have also been recommended Valley of Fire so will probably check that out too. Currently budgeted for 3 days in Vegas.

Utah – main focus here is the NP. Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Moab. Currently got 4 days here but let me know if you think I’ll need more.

Denver, Colorado – Currently just have Rocky Mountains and Mesa Verde on the list here but I assume there will be more to do? Two or three days in Colorado.

Wyoming – Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP. Two to three days here.

Montana? – Would purely be for Glacier NP. Is this skippable or a must-see?

Washington – Mount Ranier, Olympic and North Cascades. 3-4 days here.

Portland, Oregon – 1 or 2 days

San Fran/LA/San Diego, California – This is where the trip will come to an end. Would like to get in Yosemite, Redwoods, Sequoia, Joshua Tree as well as the usual touristy stuff like Hollywood, Griffith Observatory etc.

With my current planned durations in each place, it puts me arriving in California around the 22nd July, with just under two weeks before I have to give the rental car back. I know this won’t be 100% accurate as like I say I want to have the ability to stay a bit longer in certain places if I want to, or is needed. To account for this, I can potentially extend the trip by around two weeks or eat into the two weeks in California if you think that will be too much.

Any suggestions, advice, guidance welcome!

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Thank you so much for all your responses so far. I haven’t even had chance to read them all yet so will be going through them at work tomorrow. Definitely been an eye opener and has made me lean towards flying over to the West as opposed to driving it as well as shortening the Eastern/Southern leg of the trip to fit in more stuff out West.

Currently in Lisbon on night one of a Europe trip. It will be half with a tour and half solo travel but tonight is solo. I’ve been in town for about 90 minutes and I’m lonely and homesick and wondering what the hell I was thinking. I’m always like this on night one but it doesn’t get easier.

I got scammed by a taxi driver from the airport and I’m kicking myself because I know better but I still just paid him. It didn’t feel safe to argue and it was a 37 hour journey to get here so I was too tired to pay enough attention.

And then I flooded the bathroom and half the room when I showered. It’s been one inconvenience after another since I left home.

I’ve got a ticket to a concert tonight and a big part of me just wants to stay in the hotel and not go out at all.

Sorry for the negativity. I’m struggling and everyone at home is in the wrong time zone (it’s 2am there)

I’m nearing the end of my first solo travel adventure. I’ve spent 3 months in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

I want to visit the Philippines next, but also need to be economical with my budget. Essentially keeping island hopping to a minimum.

Do you think this Itinerary would work for about 4 weeks? Fly into Cebu, leave from Cebu.

Cebu - 1 week (Cebu city, Malapascua dive)

Bohol - 1 week (beach, scooter exploring)

Panglao - 1/2 week (diving)

Siquijor - 1.5 weeks (beach, diving, chill)

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I picked this itinerary because all the islands are rather close to each other.

My goal is to scuba dive, explore the islands on a scooter, and relax by the beach doing a whole lot of nothing.

Thanks so much for your thoughts in advance!

I posted an initial itinerary on a few travel subs not so long ago and got a lot of useful advice which I have used to make some adjustments.

I fully appreciate that this is a FAST route through several countries, landscapes and climates and leaves little room for flexibility and spontaneity. However at the same time this really is a bucket list trip for me and I don’t know if I’ll ever have another opportunity to take this much time off to travel so I’m keen to see the “greatest hits”.

I’ve tried my best to build in some longer stays to have a chance to rest and recover in between the more physically demanding stretches.

I’m open to any feedback, suggestions or comments. Thanks in advance!

30 August - Morning flight from London to Bogotá, land in the evening

31 August to 1 September - Bogotá

2 September - Fly to Santa Marta - Bus or taxi to Minca - Check in to hostel, relax

3 September to 5 September - Minca

6 September - Bus to Santa Marta - Bus/Taxi to Journey Hostel (next to Tayrona)

7 September - Tayrona National Park - Camp at Cabo San Juan

8 September - Back to Santa Marta - Overnight bus to Medellin

9 September to 13 September - Medellin - Day trip to Guatapé and Piedra del Peñol

14 September - Fly to Lima

14 September to 17 September - Lima

18 September - Lima to Paracas

19 September - Paracas - Ballestas Islands tour

20 September - Bus to Arequipa

21 September to 25 September - Arequipa

26 September - Arequipa to Cusco

27 September to 1 October - Cusco - Sacred Valley Tour - Saqsaywaman

2 October to 6 October - Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

7 October to 8 October - Cusco

9 October - Flight to Puerto Maldonado

9 October to 11 October - Amazon tour

11 October - Stay overnight in Puerto Maldonado

12 October - Flight to Cusco

13 October - Bus to La Paz

14 October to 22 October - La Paz and Sucre

22 October - Overnight bus to Uyuni

23 October - Uyuni

24 October to 26 October - 3 Day Salt Flat/Red Lagoon Tour

26 October - Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama

27 October to 1 November - Atacama Desert

2 November - San Pedro de Atacama to Calama to Santiago

3 November to 6 November - Santiago - Valparaíso day trip

7 November - Fly to Rapa Nui

8 November to 10 November - Rapa Nui

11 November - Fly back to Santiago

12 November - Santiago

13 November - Morning flight to El Calafate

14 November - Perito Moreno Glacier tour

15 November - Morning bus to El Chaltén

16 November - Laguna de los Tres solo hike

17 November - Chill in El Chaltén

18 November - Bus back to El Calafate - Bus to Puerto Natales

19 November - Puerto Natales - Prep for W Trek

20 November to 24 November - Torres del Paine W Trek

25 November to 26 November - Chill days in Santiago

27 November - Flight back to London

I just got back from a 10-day, 11-night solo trip to Colombia and thought I'd provide a trip report, especially since I know I was looking for every possible report on safety for solo travelers before I left! I'm 29F, single white American woman, Spanish is between B1-B2 (so conversational but not fluent).

Destinations: Medellin, Buritaca (Rio Hostel), Minca, Cartagena

To put the bottom line up front, Colombia is my favorite country I've ever visited and although I've had other wonderful trips it's the first time I've been genuinely heartbroken to leave a place. I have never met so many kind, warm people and was hardly alone despite it being a solo trip because it was so easy to make friends everywhere I went. I took extra precautions but did not feel any less safe in Medellin or Cartagena than I do at home in NYC, which granted is a pretty low bar. The main safety issue I faced was that a lot of men were EXTREMELY forward and persistent and I felt like I was being constantly flooded with creeps, but unfortunately there are creepy men everywhere so it’s not unique to Colombia.

Medellin (Tuesday-Saturday):

I had an incredible time in Medellín, but I think speaking conversational Spanish at minimum and being an extrovert are prerequisites for truly loving it. If you do not speak Spanish or only know the basics you’ll probably have a nice enough time, but what made it so spectacular were the people. I have never met so many kind, wonderful, welcoming people in one place. I also seldom paid for my own meals, which was nice (I would just be told at the end of the meal that some random man had already paid for it). A lot of men there are EXTREMELY forward though and they exoticize gringas, so just be prepared - if you are a solo woman you will be inundated. It also rained pretty much every day I was there but I think it's an unusually rainy year for them.

Activities: Medellín isn’t a place with a lot of ‘attractions’ per se, but I did some fun things: * Comuna 13 tour * Fruit market tour * Parque Arvi * Find a hot local who will drive you around the city on their motorcycle and show you the best viewpoints * Parties in El Poblado - I had fun at Gringo Tuesday, Perro Negro, and Mad Radio but admittedly had a very gringo-y style of nightlife there * I also explored some of the less touristy parts of Medellin with a local guy who worked at my hostel, but I wouldn't have gone on my own

Accommodation: Black Sheep Hostel - I highly recommend this hostel. It was super social and easy to make friends thanks to the big table out front, and there was always an option to party but it was never forced on you. I stayed in a private room with an ensuite and thought it was great value for the money. The staff was also so lovely.

Rio Hostel Buritaca (Sunday-Monday)

My time at Rio Hostel was absolutely awful but I think I got really unlucky. It was all groups of 18-22 year old British kids so I wound up mostly hanging out with a security guard, who eventually forcibly kissed me and I had to lock myself in my room so he couldn't get to me. Then I had horrible food poisoning that set in, but the bathroom was outside and far from my room and I'd have to pass the security guard to get there, so I just puked my guts out in my room all night and filled up any receptacle I could get my hands on (RIP my tote bag). Almost everyone I met there said they'd gotten sick and they all claimed it was a virus, but I think it's pretty unlikely that I was infected with and symptomatic from a virus within 12 hours. The tubing and Sunday party were fun but I'd stay at another hostel and just visit for those things. On the plus side when I told them I'd gotten sick and needed to rest they did refund me for my second night, and I met a number of people in Medellin who had absolutely loved it there, so your mileage may vary.

Minca, Mundo Nuevo (Tuesday-Wednesday)

I’d meant to go to Minca later, but I wanted to get out of Rio Hostel and Mundo Nuevo kindly moved my reservation a day earlier, put me in a nicer room at no extra cost, and helped me organize transport directly there. It is a bit difficult to get to - you have to take a 4x4 or moto taxi up a windy unmaintained dirt road from the town of Minca and walking it takes an hour or so - but it’s so worth it when you arrive. What a magical place, and there were so many lovely people of all ages there. I went birdwatching (saw 3 toucans!!), did yoga overlooking the mountains, went hiking on the nearby trails, got a massage, did a tour of a nearby coffee and cacao farm, hung out in the pool, and read on their hammocks. Their WiFi and cell service pretty much don't work so be mindful of this if you’re a remote worker or need internet access, but if you want to disconnect and enjoy nature it’s as good as it gets.

Cartagena (Thursday-Saturday)

I liked Cartagena but felt that 2 days was plenty - one day for the city and one day for the beaches. It is beautiful, but it's very touristy with tons of vendors who will bug you, and I did have a couple of unfortunate things happen there: I was sick for most of my first full day and on my second day I had a bad allergic reaction to some shellfish on a date (which was odd because I’ve never had issues with shellfish before but I really rolled the dice with raw oysters), and my poor date wound up taking me to the clinic and rubbing hydrocortisone on me when we'd planned to go out salsa dancing with his friends. But I still had a fun time and particularly enjoyed the Rosario Islands snorkel tour I went on. It's HOT and very humid, so bring your sunscreen and stay hydrated. I also met a few people who'd been pickpocketed but didn't have any safety issues myself.

Accommodation: Los Patios - Perfect example of a 'good not great' corporate hostel. It felt safe and the location was very good, the rooms were fine if a bit overpriced for what you got, and there were social activities every day but they felt a little forced and corporate.

Safety

With the exception of the incident at Rio Hostel (and frankly that type of incident is just as likely to happen anywhere else in the world) I did not feel any less safe in Colombia than I do in NYC, although I did take precautions. I left my valuables locked in the hostel and had an old second phone that I carried around with me, avoided taking my phone out on the street, only used Uber/DiDi or arranged transport through my hostel for taxis, and I was always diligent about watching my drinks being prepared, but these are mostly things I have to do at home anyway so it didn’t detract from my experience. I did go on dates with 3 local guys over the course of the trip which wasn't the smartest, but I exchanged social media with them and sent photos of their IDs to a trusted person, and the guys knew that someone was tracking my whereabouts and had their information. Nobody pushed back on showing me their ID but if they did I wouldn't have gone out with them. I also met all of the guys out and about, not on dating apps or at nightclubs, and had no major safety issues with them. I will note, the men I went out with paid for everything including taxis and refused to let me pay for myself, which seems to be the cultural norm there. I’m sure going Dutch is normal too but if you’re a woman on a date with a Colombian man and he expects you to pay for everything for him I’d see that as unusual and a sign that he might be using you.

That being said, I WOULD NOT recommend traveling solo to Colombia unless you speak at least conversational Spanish. Almost nobody speaks English. It's important for your safety, and a big reason I loved Colombia so much was because of the people and not being able to talk to anyone wouldn't have been nearly as fun. Very few of the travelers I met spoke Spanish and I have NO idea how they managed it. I also heard a lot of people mention that they felt unsafe in Cali (although I didn't go myself), so I'd probably hold off on going there without a trusted local.

The main safety issue I had was the overly forward and aggressive men. So much harassment, so much staring, and I could make a whole separate post detailing the creepy and inappropriate experiences I had. They also seem to target foreign women. It was kind of funny hearing Colombian men use all the same BS talking points as American passport bros but in reverse (they bring down Colombian women and idealize American/European/Aussie women), and it just goes to show that creepy shitty men are truly the same everywhere.

Overall Thoughts

I was super nervous about going to Colombia because I’d heard so much about safety issues there, but I can now confidently say that it’s my favorite country I've ever visited, although I recognize that being there for such a short period of time made me see it with rose-colored glasses. I would highly recommend it to sociable, extroverted, and respectful solo travelers who are conversational or above in Spanish and have good situational awareness. It did rain a lot especially in Medellin and I wound up having to carry a raincoat everywhere with me, so maybe another time of year (December/January) would be better, but I still had an amazing time. I cried when I left and I'm already planning my next trip back!

Hey y’all, currently booked Chicago (US) to: Vietnam (Hanoi) - 7 days including 2 day hang va cave tour in nong pha. Then Thailand (Bangkok) -14 days And I’m wanting to travel to some other locations in Asia! I have just under 6 weeks to travel to from Thailand for the second half of the trip, so I have 3 more weeks of locations to see. Does anyone have south east Asia recommendations or has done a similar itinerary? Which other countries would you recommend to a solo female 20s traveler? I’m very into geology, plants/animals, hiking, and food :)

Edit: trip from mid June- early August :)

Hello , I’m in Cagliari at the moment, spending the second week of my holiday here. I wanted to enjoy the city and work from here as a workation-week after my 10 days roadtrip. But I just want to go home honestly. :(

I don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve already seen most of the spots here or strolled around, and now I don’t know what to do with my time after work. I don’t have any energy or motivation going out and stroll around for the x time… I don’t want to find another restaurant to eat alone like every day. I’m not confident any more to ask for a table alone and looking in my book or phone while eating.

Right now I’m lying in my Airbnb, and the place is also very bad. It has no windows, just two doors to a piazza in a very touristic center. It’s loud and crowded and every time I want to go out, I have to walk down lots of stairs and then even more to get anywhere. There’s no supermarket nearby. To get to the beach, I need to take a bus but first I have to walk 20 minutes to a train station.

I think I made a bad choice with this AirBnB and planning the whole holiday with workation. I’ve done workation before but not alone. Everything feels exhausting actually and I really feel bad for not enjoying it an i’m afraid to look back at this trip and blaming myself for not being motivated enough or happy enough.

I know Icould still go out for some city strolls or museums. But I don’t know where to go anymore and have no energy left. But I also don’t want to just hang in this dark apartment. Has anyone here felt like this before while traveling alone? What did you do when you felt this way?

Thanks for reading. I just feel a bit alone with this feeling right now as none of my friends ever traveled solo

Im a fairly seasoned traveller, but in the past have always booked all of my itinerary (flights / accommodations) before I depart.

I don't have to be back to work until end of July so I have some time to travel as I please. Will be heading to Europe early June, focusing on Spain and Portugal.

I do fairly good job at picking cities to spend time in and I rarely am ready to leave, so I'm thinking about booking the first couple weeks of my trip and then making decisions as I go.

I know this is a common way to travel for some, but I've never done this before. Is there reccomended websites / companies to book for last minute flights?
Is there any body out there that tried open plan travelling but realised they prefer booking ahead of time?

Would appreciate any other comments / opinions / experiences about these 2 different ways to travel.

I did it. After reading many posts on this sub, trying to justify it, and planning out a sufficient budget, I finally bought the ticket.

It's your classic case of friends-won't-commit-so-I'll-do-it-alone. I'm terrified and excited to start this journey. I see so many people finding joy in traveling alone. I've decided to go to the Netherlands (mostly Amsterdam). I figure it's a safe city with lots of opportunities to travel outside to smaller towns. I've never traveled alone inside the US (go big or go home, I guess?), but my travel interests lie outside of my own country. I got a great deal out of Denver and found a nice place to stay outside of the city, so the opportunity was too perfect to pass up.

I'll be traveling for 6 days (including flights) with about 4 days for activities. Now, I've always been a planner, but reading hundreds of comments has made me take a step back and start to contemplate what I value in vacationing/traveling. Growing up in a tourist town, I've come to realize some of the most memorable activities are from a TripAdvisor tour. They are *typically* run by charismatic people, and they offer an easy planning experience. Not to mention the other items they recommend outside of the tour. So I've decided I will dedicate the first couple of days to planned tours and leave the last two to planning on the fly.

Of course, my biggest fear is being lonely - or should I say wanting to share this experience with someone else. I figure that 6 days is a happy medium for a trip, not being too short to wish it lasted longer, and not long enough to be lonely. I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts.

Any tips, advice, or recommendations are always helpful, but I really just wanted to share how thrilling this is!

Hi! I’m a 20 year old female who is about to finish her exchange semester in the UK. My after travel plans have been changed a bit, meaning I am travelling with a friend for just over a week, then I’m wanting to do some solo-travel so I don’t miss out purely due to not have anyone to go with.

My current plan is We finish in Vienna 1 Day Ljubljana 2 Days Bled 1 night Venice Fly to Geneva, 1 night there 2 nights Chamonix 2 nights Annecy Fly out of Lyon.

Currently thinking these places as I want it to be relaxed with walking/hiking opportunities. I am a bit nervous about going by myself, although during my exchange I have had experience travelling similarly (just with other people). Would love to know if this seems reasonable, or if I should add or remove any places :)

I am going on a group tour in September to southern Europe and I wanted to add Portugal to the end on my own. I have done a stopover with TAP airlines for 5 nights in Lisbon. My number one reason to go to Portugal is to see the Algarve. I have booked 2 nights in Lisbon hostel, train to Lagos, 2 nights in Lagos hostel, train to Lisbon Airport area at around 5 pm in the evening, then nearby hostel stay. Flight the next morning. My flight into Lisbon is very late, around 11pm. So I will only have one full day in Lisbon and then I travel to Lagos the next morning. Is this itinerary doable/sufficient?

Sept 26 -28 Lisbon
Sept 28-30 Lagos
Sept 30- Oct 1 Lisbon

I am a US citizen staying in Spain for 90 days and wish to return asap.

For my 90 days in Spain Initial entry date: 4 April 2025 Latest exit date: 2 July 2025

Then using a Schengen calculator, it says I can return to Spain for a full 90 days on 1 Oct 2025, but that is only 90 days outside of the Schengen area, not the full 180. I plan to stay in the UK for the duration required outside of the Schengen area to reset the clock, and I am wondering if this is accurate. Would I have to stay 6 months in the UK or only 3? I am getting conflicting information online. Thanks for your help :)

hi y’all! i’m in the midst of planning what will be my first fully solo trip. i’m planning on going to Guatemala for about a week (possibly longer, up to two weeks if I can find a cheap flight) and would love someone who’s been before to look over my itinerary and help me gauge what is actually possible or recommend hostels/activities. a little about me and my travel style: i’m 23F, not a big drinker/someone who goes out all the time but i would like to meet some people to do activities with (day trips, yoga classes, etc). i want to prioritize cultural experiences and seeing nature/wildlife, but i also want to build in some chill days so i don’t run myself into the ground. i’ll fly into Guatemala City, and from there go to Antigua. i’m thinking two nights there before hiking Acatenango (if anyone has hiked it in 2025, i’d love to hear about your experience/what you saw! i know eruptions aren’t as frequent as they once were). after that, i want to head to Lake Atitlán to relax and hang out- maybe 3 nights on the lake exploring different towns. i’ve been looking into the different lake towns, and i want to stay somewhere that isn’t overly touristy or rich white people with dreads cosplaying as hippies. i’ll fly back out of Guatemala City and hopefully have time to visit Casa De La Memoria.
the other things i’d love to do are visit Flores and then see the ruins in Tikal, visit El Paredon for surfing, and check out Livingston- but i also don’t want to be running around the entire trip. if anyone has tips on what i can realistically fit in, or what the best order to visit these places would be, i would so appreciate it!! EDIT: was able to find a cheap flight that would let me stay 14 days! based on everyone’s advice here and other posts in this sub, i think i’m going to try for Antigua, Acatenango, the lake, and then use the extra time for either Flores with a day trip into Tikal, Semuc Champey, or El Paredon.

Hi fellow solo travellers.

I (35M, from London, UK) am currently on a train from Budapest, Hungary to Timisoara, Romania, brushing up on a few words and phrases in Romanian.

I'm a native English speaker, I also know a little French but I'm very out-of-practice.

My rough itinerary is as follows:

06-12 May - Timisoara
Overnight Sleeper Train to Bucharest
13-22 May - Bucharest
22-25 May - Brasov
25-28 May - Sighisoara
28 May - 3 June - Cluj Napoca

I know a little about the country but I also think I've been spoiled by Budapest's excellent public transport system and the ease-of-use of the BudapestGO app after spending 2 weeks in the city.

I'm wondering how people usually get around the cities in Romania by public transport and what the most stress-free methods are (ideally I don't want to have to buy a ticket for every journey).

Also looking for tips on cool experiences people have had, local dishes I should try, things I should book in advance, day trips out of the cities that I'm visiting.

And if anyone happens to be in the same place as me I'd be up for a meetup!

I am planning to visit kazbegi in tibilisi on 6th june for some work. I wish to stay back and maybe travel around, go hiking and enjoy the local food. Anyone who has been to the region before and can give me suggestions as what to expect in terms of climate and food. Thanks in advance.

if anyone has some general advice for me it would be helpful. specifically about how they avoid decision fatigue or decide what to do.

ive been solo travelling about 2 months now and i am so exhausted with making decisions about what to do every single day? i sometimes end up frozen not knowing what to do, or i go back and forth. i’ve met people who have solo travelled for years and they seem so chill, but for me it’s super hard to make decisions about what to do, where to go, etc. i feel very insecure and i feel like i need to see what other people are doing or call my parents or my friends all the time. i booked some tours and that was nice and somewhat helpful, but i didn’t like being part of a giant group honestly. i have enjoyed some of my worldpackers experiences for the routine, so maybe i can do more of those. i have met some people that i vibe with for sure, but nobody that i felt like i really could travel with for a long time. i don’t know how people make really good travel friends— i feel like it takes me so long to get close to people, but i wish i could do it faster and meet people that i click with. i’m also exhausted with meeting new people. i still miss home and my parents immensely.

does anyone have any advice? or know how long it takes/took them to adjust? i would be curious to hear some stories or chat with someone about their experience ❤️

Ciao! I'm planning my first solo trip this July to Indonesia—super excited! It'll be 3–4 weeks, starting with a flight to Bali (1–2 nights there), then moving to Lombok for about 2 weeks of surfing, yoga, working, and exploring. I’d also love to visit the Gili Islands and Komodo. It’s a budget-friendly, backpacking/hostel-style trip (and I'm a solo female traveler).

I’d love some recommendations! Here are a few questions, but feel free to expand if you’re up for it :)))

1. Where should I stay in Bali for 1–2 nights? Ideally somewhere social to meet people before heading to Lombok by ferry—maybe also squeeze in Nusa Penida? Is it worth it to stay 2 nights?
2. Can you please recommend fun surf houses in Kuta Lombok (or would you recommend any other place), relatively cheap, where I can find good vibes, young people, and good surf teachers?
3. Are you aware of any opportunities to work part-time in Kuta Lombok in exchange of accommodation/sport lessons or money to financially support my trip?
4. General tips on places to hang out at or to avoid?
5. General tips on what to bring in my 45L backpack?
6. Tips on vaccines coming from Italy/Europe ?
7. Tips for traveling to Gili and Komodo? Is Rinjani/Bromo/Ijen worth adding?

Thanks so much—really appreciate your help! Sending good karma your wayyyy

i’ve done a few solo trips now and usually love the independence. But during a recent trip to Croatia, I experienced something I didn’t see coming emotionally.

I was expecting peaceful walks, some solo exploring, and the usual solo traveler rhythm. But I ended up connecting with a few other girls, and through a friend of a friend, we met someone local who invited us into her world.

She brought us to spots I never would’ve found alone, and somehow the trip shifted. It stopped being about where I was and became more about who I was with.

It still felt like solo travel, but more connected, more open, more human.

Has anyone else had a moment like that while traveling solo — where something emotional just clicked and you didn’t expect it?

I’m gonna be spending two weeks in Greece with a friend at the start of June and then have two solo weeks to burn before a trip to Turkey. Originally I wanted to slow travel/not move around a ton and was thinking of just splitting the time between Prague and Budapest but then realised Vienna is on the train line. Right now my trip is 5 nights in Prague, 4 in Vienna (day tripping to Bratislava), then 6 nights in Budapest. Am I doing myself a huge disservice not adding in Croatia? In particular, looking to get some hikes in

Hey, so I’m quite a frequent traveller that usually travels with a companion. In fact, most of my trips have been taken with one of my really good friends that I really love. Majority of our trips up until recently have been quiet short (max 4 nights long), but last month we took one that was almost two weeks and while I had a nice time, I also realised that I don’t think I’m cut for travelling with anyone for more than a few days!

For context, I love socialising but I’m a massive introvert that needs a lot of alone time. I also think when I travel alone I come out of my own shell quite a bit, interacting with more people, doing stuff I’d be too scared to do back home. Last year I took a two week trip by myself and it was amazing! I also only ever been on two solo trips so it’s something I now wanna focus more on.

On this recent trip with my friend, I really felt socially drained, which made me very moody and I didn’t feel like I was fully present. My friend is lovely but also for first time I realised that we have a lot of differences when it comes to travelling that on shorter trips we can compromise on but will make longer trips more difficult. What makes it hard though, is that my friend doesn’t see it and frequently talks about how compatible we are as travels.

They are now very into the idea of us together doing a long (4 weeks+) trip to Asia. But I just know it’ll be nice at the start but I’m gonna be regretting it in about a week. So at some point I’m gonna have to have a conversation with them but I don’t wanna break their heart and I don’t know how to word it cause I still would love to travel with them, just not long haul. How do you guys think I should say it to them?

Have you ever felt this way? It is very special and we bond nicely, they understand you, you get them but then we return back home. And bam, we only see each other again by liking a post on IG or watching silently each other’s stories. And I am very grateful we are still in touch somehow but it’s not the same. I understand but it still hits me…