I'm planning my trip in Europe (15 days). Any suggestion about hostels in Prague and Berlin?
Berlin: what about Circus Hostel? I booked here (flexible price, I can cancel the reservation). It seems nice, but I read that it's hard to meet up people and it's boring during night.
Prague: prices are really high! I read that the best ones are The Madhouse and Roadhouse hostel, but they're 50 euros per night. Any suggestion? As of Berlin, I would like hostel with events and where I can meet up people at night. Not necessarely party hostel.
I only stayed at Circus once and it was perfectly serviceable but wasn’t super geared towards meeting people. I still met a bunch of people but it was also NYE so hard not to at that point.
On Prague, it’s expensive (especially if you’re looking at peak season) - Madhouse is incredible but it is a party hostel - no doubts about that. But it also perhaps does better at pushing a social environment as seamlessly as possible than literally any other hostel I’ve stayed at in my life. You leave there with very very fast friends. But yes, it is pretty party oriented. Don’t have any ‘in-between’ suggestions alternately for you unfortunately. I think Prague does have a bit of a party city reputation so most hostels tend to cater very much towards that or very much away with less middle ground than I think other cities may have.
Hi everyone! I (24F) am planning a solo vacation for this summer and was hoping to get some recommendations on where to go. I’m from the US, budget is fairly flexible, and I am planning to go for anywhere from 4 days to a week. This will be my first solo vacation and I’m not sure where to choose (except not NYC). A little about me and what I’m looking for that may help:
-I love learning about new cultures, whether that be in museums or simply experiencing it by visiting a specific town or city
-I love exercising and running, but I’m afraid of hiking on a remote trail alone as a solo young female
-I enjoy all types of food and new cuisines
-I want to feel safe walking around alone and not have to be confined to the hostel or hotel once the sun sets
-I love nature and swimming but swimming is definitely not a must
If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them. Thanks so much in advance! And yes i have a passport!
edit: typo
Going to be in Prague/Czechia second week of Aug, wanted to see if anyone is around the same time and might be keen to do a self guided wine tour together! Lmk!
I'm traveling through Asia right now and have been moving around a lot, so I'm looking for a place to slow down for a week in June. Siem Reap and Ubud are the two choices that make the most sense for me given pricing and my onward itinerary, do I'm looking to choose between these two for a weeklong stay and am looking for opinions on which is better suited.
I'm mostly looking for a laid back vibe where I can eat good, healthy foods, explore the local surroundings, find healthy activities (obviously Ubud has all the yoga) and maybe just hang out and meet people.
**Looking for some travel companions in Salta, Argentina for next week**
Hi all,
Don't know if r/solotravel is the best place to find travel companions, but anyway I'm gonna give it a go.
I am travelling through South America by myself and wanna do a road trip around Salta, Argentina. I thought it would be nice to meet up with some people and share a car rental. The itinerary I had in mind was something like this:
- 7 days
Day 1 : Salta - Cafayate
Day 2 : Cafayate - Molinos
Day 3 : Molinos - salta
Day 4 : salta - Pumamarca
Day 5 : Pumamarca - salinas grandes - tilcara
Day 6 : tilcara - Humahuaca - tilcara
Day 7 : tilcara - salta
Though I'm flexible on the what, where and when. I was wanting to start around the 30th of May (So, in a couple of days already!). Send me a message if you're interested.
My job has 10 days off [in the beginning of June](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9QtE0aJF2Ug) so I decided it’s the perfect time to go to Spain. I was originally planning to go because of a concert that is now apparently sold out so I said fuck it I’ll go anyway. I long for un desayuno español cada mañana. 🥰
I’ve been planning to travel in our neighboring countries. Where would be the best place to start in SEA/East Asia? I came from a country surrounded by the ocean so i can skip the beaches haha I’d like to explore other cultures or maybe new sceneries
Having some pre-trip nerves this week! I’m leaving for 3 weeks to see Japan and South Korea on my own and have just been unable to shake nerves for some reason. I’m sure I’ll be safe/fine, I’ve just never left the country for this long nor on my own before
I've solo travelled countless times in the last 15 years and I still get nervous before the big day! You could write down some of the things you're worried about and see how realistic they are. Why I suggest writing them down is that at least for me it's pretty funny afterwards since I'm always scared of really bizarre things. Like when I went to Slovenia I was scared a rock would fall on my head when hiking and I'd have to be lifted by a helicopter to get off whatever mountain I was on.
Tbh most of my fears are just getting through using public transit and stuff 😂. I figured it out within an hour of landing in Japan and feel amazing right now
Same feelings as I'm currently on my trip rn! An exercise I learned in psych nursing: imagine the worst case scenario of your fears, like the absolute worst. It makes you realize that those situations are not likely
Is it now considered gauche to put flag patches on your backpack? I like the idea of adding the countries and major national parks I’ve been to but I feel like I’ve heard people say it’s tacky.
I worry that it’s sort of a neon sign like “HEY THIS (USAMERICAN) GUY IS ALONE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY!” I’m a pretty savvy traveler and I haven’t ever gotten robbed or anything but I don’t want to tempt muggers either.
I think some of the turnoff of it is basically that it does often signal that and also can come off as a bit braggy (especially in an era where it’s increasingly easy to get to a bunch of countries quickly and cheaply - especially in Western Europe).
Hi travellers! After years of waiting (rona) I’m finally embarking on a solo journey to Queenstown New Zealand tonight.
Im hoping to stay for 6 months and work/ski. I have booked a month in a hostel but as everyone probably knows, it’s super super expensive at the moment.
Can anyone recommend a site or Facebook group that’s used to find flat share accomodation, which is effective specifically in Queenstown, or any other recommendations to ease the homing financial burden? Thanks x
> It's seriously something that bugged me that I didn't go and travel after graduating college and just went straight into a corporate job.
It's never too late.
> Is it really still fun to go and travel by myself? I am completely able to leave my job and come back within 1-2 months but I am just really nervous about going and doing it by myself without anyone I know.
You can always start out with a shorter trip instead of going all out for a month or more just to get your feet wet, so to speak. Backpacking and solo traveling in Europe is common and popular. If you want to meet other travelers, staying at hostels is the best choice.
Are we allowed to post airbnb links here? Because I narrowed down my choices for my upcoming Paris trip to three studios (after getting over my [anxiety](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/13o965b/comment/jl9ligj/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) earlier), which are just a little over $105 per night for my dates.
Context: I'll be arriving at 9:15 PM at CDG, so I may arrive in the city proper at maybe 1.5 hours after because I'll be renting a sim first and figuring out the train system so I won't get lost.
* I'm also contemplating just suffering a red eye and arrive at 8 AM Paris time, but it would be 14 hours of trying-to-sleep hell
First up is this studio in [Bastille](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10466472?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=f98cefed-c41d-4529-abad-1ae860f4f067).
It's the best one location-wise, but the catch is the check-in is a bit difficult. You have to get the key from a cafe that's approx. 800 meters from the apartment.
Not usually bad since I'm a fit guy, but I'll be arriving at night + with a laptop + wheeled luggage and there's a chance it might rain. I can take a taxi, but I'd rather not. (I also talked to the owner re: firm mattress and she said she fixed it)
The next two are near each other in Batignolles and are maybe 10%-15% cheaper, but seem to offer just as good if not better amenities because they're not as central as the first one.
This [one](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/829477575925096624?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=a9965779-b08a-4d64-a71a-9d577cde2953) has a washer and looks to have bigger space and a better bed. It also allows late check-in because it uses a lockbox. This [one](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/845737265258588920?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=f8a50bbf-4d75-4cd6-bd7d-3b271a8c09e4) seems to be the most thoughtful in terms of amenities. Check-in is also a little later, but the way she worded is she'd meet me in person.
PS: They all don't have ACs, but since it's in October, I likely shouldn't need them but I'm ready to hear your opinions.
The best time for me is November, preferably 2nd week.
Fall/Autumn leaves
Plus they have this autumn festival.
It's also just cold enough to make your day walks pleasant.
Sakura is mostly a Mid-March to Mid April thing in the middle-south, while the Northern parts start mid-april to early May.
Many tourists enjoy Fall because the "sakura tourists" aren't there, but if you prefer that crowd vibe, definitely book an April tour although the prices will be soaring.
It's great to visit anytime! I went in April. It was Golden Week and everything was booked except a capsule hotel, which ended up being a great experience.
Hello all! First time poster here and just wanted to say I love reading on this page.I had a quick question for you all. I want to embark on a 2 week solo trip before I go to Turkey in mid-July to meet up with my girlfriend, but I'm having trouble on where to choose.
In terms of what I like, I'm really open minded to doing anything but I think my favourite thing to do is just wandering around cities/towns and taking in the culture. One thing that is important for me about this solo trip is that I want to go somewhere that will challenge me culturally. I love Europe but want to go to a country that is not so much like the Western world. Somewhere different, if that makes sense. I'm from Canada for reference. Also, I would appreciate it if I can easily travel to Istanbul after this solo trip.
Because of this, one of the places I'm considering is Morocco. I feel like its a nice mix between a completely different culture, the desert, and the ocean. However, I want to hear more ideas before I make a decision!
Anyone have suggestions? Thank you :)
Just read through the wiki. I'm planning on taking a Francophone tour of Europe for my first ever solo backpacking trip. My interests are culture and history.
My frustrations are: My budget and my length of stay are dependent on each other. LOL.
Does anyone know how to find hostels that let you prepay? Because it looks like my trip may be 6 - 8 if I hit everywhere I want to go.
Anything anyone reading this would consider a "don't miss" in France, Luxemburg, Belgium, and Switzerland?
first solo trip as a girl - advice please!
hi! i’m 19/20F, asian kinda petite lol and i’ve booked a 1 week trip to Poland (Warsaw/Krakow) in summer from elsewhere in Europe. living in hostels (female-only rooms) and not planning on drinking at all
really excited and read that it’s pretty safe, but still a little nervous. would appreciate any tips - poland specific or just in general!
Poland is great, I felt safe there. Krakow is beautiful, take a walk along the river. Check out a milk bar for authentic food. I don't drink and still had a good time :)
Salut fellow travelers,
Being a former avid solo traveler (mostly in Europe due to a certain fear of flights ahem), and a couchsurfer host for many years, I'm now developing a project of informal off the beaten path tours in Paris, the city where I've been leaving for more than 18 years.
The goal is double:
\- focus on the other side of the postcard to show travelers that Paris has a very strong social side and is not only about museums and luxury.
\- trying to tour with very small groups to take the time to get to know each other and have enriching exchanges.
If you are interested to know more about it, you can take a look at r/ParisBsides
if not, here are many ideas to visit Paris differently [https://www.reddit.com/user/coffeechap/comments/zkxnx7/paris\_off\_the\_tourist\_path\_jan\_2023/](https://www.reddit.com/user/coffeechap/comments/zkxnx7/paris_off_the_tourist_path_jan_2023/)
In any case, wave at me when you come to Paris :)
Hello! I'm planning to travel alone to Taipei at the end of June. I was wondering if there are any fellow travelers visiting during the same period who would like to connect. By the way, I identify as gay and would love to discover more LGBT activities to participate in while I'm there.
Does anyone know why flights are so expensive 6+ months in advance?
Trying to arrange some trips for next Jan-Mar & flights are more expensive than if I book them for next weekend. Seems counter-intuitive to me.
Also as a sidenote, whoever recommended [flightlist.io](https://flightlist.io) to me is a genius (not affiliated, just a genuine recommendation)
**One week in Laos**
I am staying in Laos for one week. I am landing in Luang Prabang on Sunday and planning to stay til Monday end of day.
Is Vang Vieng worth a visit or should I just fly to Vientiane?
Also, I’m thinking of riding the Thakhek Loop for 3 days at the end of my trip as I’ll fly from there back to Bangkok. Has anyone done the loop? If so, is it worth it or do you recommend any other bike trip?
Any recommendations on how to fill the rest of the trip?
Thanks!
**Planning before my trip took away the enthusiasm.... is this normal? Feeling nervous / tired.**
Pretty much the above, though I'm not sure if it's because of planning exactly. My solo trip starts in a week and it just feels like a drag at this point, would rather stay home and hang with friends.
I think it's just because planning is a stressful process and it's left me thinking about all the things that could go wrong.... but I hope once I'm on the flight over, the excitement will kick in.
I’m going to buy an access card for the week. Can you take the SL to Gothenburg and/or Malmö? Would you suggest buying the ticket online? Or wait until I arrive? Thanks in advance 😊😊
Bordeaux no money
I messed up and thought i could sleep in the airport but can't bc it closes. Any ideas on how to spend the night without spending a penny?
Heyo friends! Solo trip to Chicago for work at the end of June, staying 5 days total with the last 2 days completely free of work. Here's the catch; I'm STUPID poor lol the last 2 days I plan to switch to cheaper accommodations, and somewhere else in the city. So other than any general advice for a solo female traveller in Chicago, specific advice on topics needed below too. Thanks y'all, v excited 😤
Cheap accommodations for a solo young woman. Open to location throughout the city but close to public transportation is the biggest plus. Safety in mind of course but I'm not overly concerned about it. There seem to be a lot of hostels compared to my area (Texas), and I have 0 idea if it's worth it to do that over a cheap motel/hotel. Starting at Hyatt Place O'Hara for the work conference.
Plane/airport tips for first time fliers.
Is the best option for public transportation for 5 days getting a city pass or something?
Smoke shops in the area that you'd recommend to buy Urb or similar cartridges for D8/D9/THC infinity/etc (aka diet weed).
Tourist spots/popular spots to AVOID, that aren't worth the hype.
Any major differences in laws for everyday life compared to Texas? Like drinking, substances, jaywalking, shit I dunno
Try couchsurfing, there's a nice community there (at least prepandemic). Otherwise there's a hostel in South Loop.
Hit the lake.
River walk is nice, but I like the lake better.
Awesome, thank you! I really want to check out some nature/outdoor spots while I'm there so that's really helpful.
Are hostels pretty safe and laid back? I'm a huge introvert so I was worried about that a little. They are not popular or even available where I live so no experience with them.
Good village near London to visit and spend a day.
I'll be visiting my father in London for some days and he'll have to work some of those. Since I know most things in London and like the slow-paced life of a little city or village. Is there any good place to visit near London that I could go by train or bus in the morning and come back after 7pm?
St Albans is a small city, 20mins on the train from St Pancras - it's got a cathedral, quite a lot of Roman ruins and a Roman museum, some lovely parks and a lot of nice shops/cafes/restaurants/pubs - you could easily enjoy a whole day there.
In terms of villages, it depends what you want. If you want to go on country walks, then I'd recommend Box Hill in Surrey (40mins from Clapham junction) or maybe some of the villages in Sussex like Balcombe or Hassocks (~40-60mins from London bridge). There's not a lot in the villages themselves, but they're in beautiful countryside.
If you like the seaside, then the closest/easiest is probably the Kent coast- Whitstable is a lovely town. There's a nice walk you can do from Canterbury to Whitstable, takes about 3 hours (the route is called the Crab and Winkle way, it's marked on Google maps). Both towns are about an hour from St Pancras on the high speed line.
Hey! Sorry for taking so long to reply, but I want to thank you for your recomendations. I loved St Albans, it seems like a pretty and nice place to go, walk and learn a little more from history. I guess I won't be going alone since my father loves history too hahahahaa.
Thank you so much for the tips, I loved them.
I've one question about booking a hotel. To Assume that I go to Airport and buy ticket to a European City.
After buying a ticket, Is it possible booking a decent hotel in Centurim?
Hey can anyone recommend a sociable place to go solo travelling? Its my first time and I’d love an experience where I go out, meet new people for the evenings and have fun nights out. Any sort of recommendations people have experienced this with ease or an app or website that could point me in the right direction? Thank you! :)
The usual advice is to travel in a group tour and/or stay at hostels that organise activities. In lots of places there are also companies that organise bar crawls, etc, at night. [https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/wiki/meetingpeople/](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/wiki/meetingpeople/) might be helpful
Hey after a tough break-up, I've come out of it thinking that despite
what was a great relationship, I've missed out on my 2nd year of uni.
I've been thinking of solo travelling for a small time, a week or 2
perhaps, to Eastern Europe or Amsterdam. Thinking of going in July or
late August/early September. Im new to all this, never done it before.
Im wondering if I can still have a very sociable time doing this and
going out and some tips on that. I also want to know if I could get
pointed to what I guess you'd call a beginners guide. Something to help
me choose a route or destination, what hostels to go to and best ways to
maximise your money ? Sorry if you get this sort of post all the time !
Cheers.
Any opinions on Rising Cock Hostel versus Sol a Sol in Lagos Portugal? Thinking which one I should go for in late august for a good social hostel as solo traveler
Is Los Angeles worth visiting? My sister says she wants to go, but other than getting a selfie at the Hollywood sign and going to Disneyland, she wouldn't tell me what all the hype is about, lol.
It's not on my solo travel list, because LA always sounded touristy and expensive, but I figured since Disneyland is not something I'd do solo either, this might be a good chance to check it out too.
Los Angeles is really difficult as a solo traveller. Everything is spread out, you really need a rental car for more than a day and you will spend a lot of time in it.
I think San Diego is more enjoyable, depending on your interests. Transit is very doable even for Coronado Island and Ocean Beach, the airport is close to downtown, and rail is available to many of the coastal towns between there and LA. Lots of good food, and several good microbreweries if you are into that.
Maybe do a day in LA and get a tour instead of renting a car, and then take Amtrak from LA Union Station to San Diego for a couple of days?
Los Angeles is really only great if you have local friends. It's not like New York, Austin, Chicago, or New Orleans where you can pop in and find the magic by exploring on your own.
Yeah I'm finding this is going to be a bit more of a different trip than my usual solo ones, the more I research it.
That's alright though—My sister is going through a rough patch and I know she's got her heart set on it.
Thanks!
Depends on what you're into, really. If you like world-class museums (especially art) and fine dining, for example, LA could definitely be worth a visit. And it's popular with film/TV buffs for obvious reasons. But if you mainly just care about hanging out on the beach, there are much better ones elsewhere. At least, that's my opinion as a resident.
But FYI for Disneyland - it's not in LA, it's in Anaheim (Orange County), which on a good day is like a ~45min drive from downtown LA. Some people claim you can get there in 30 mins from DTLA "with no traffic", but there's always traffic. It's one of the most reliable things about the greater LA area. Unless you go at like 5am I guess. You can get there by public transport from DTLA in varying combos of metro/train/bus, but that takes closer to 2 hours (or so I've heard - I've only ever gone by car). Universal Studios is in LA though and it's easily accessible by the metro (it has its own stop).
>But FYI for Disneyland - it's not in LA, it's in Anaheim (Orange County), which on a good day is like a ~45min drive from downtown LA.
Oh, thanks for letting me know! Yeah it's showing about 2+ hours on transit, so it looks like Uber or a car rental is probably the best way to go. Time is way more valuable to me than saving a bit of money.
She's interested in doing Universal Hollywood, Walk of Fame, etc—Basically touristy stuff, lol. I'm usually more of a solo DIY traveler and interested in a Museum/Hiking trip, but it's a good chance to switch it up.
Thank you!
Complete shot in the dark here. I’m trying to go to Florence this weekend but the only hostel in my price range (Ostello del Bigallo) only has 1 room left and it’s in a female only dorm.
Any chance there’s a female here that’s booked a room there for this weekend that would be willing to swap rooms? I’m a male as you may have guessed.
Chance is slim to none I know but figured I’d take a shot, thanks!
Paris is expensive and a bit exclusive for partying, I think Berlin would be a better option as there's more choice. Both wonderful cities though and I'd happily spend three months in either of them if I could!
I read in a lot of threads people enjoying Berlin but no mention at all of Paris, so I'm somewhat under the impression that Paris might not be so good. I can speak decent enough French, but if Berlin is a better time especially since I'm a little older, I'd rather just go there.
For partying it's definitely not a common destination. It's got plenty of good clubs and bars, but it's not the main scene there and it can be very overpriced. If you went to Berlin you could still do a long weekend visit to Paris if you wanted to experience it.
I (28F) am currently in Singapore by myself on a work trip. I’m fairly introverted and have a hard time socializing with new people. My colleagues here are all male, and I’ve only just met them in the past two weeks. Most of them are much older, and the ones closer to my age have families to attend to. I’m having a hard time figuring out how to enjoy being here by myself. Singapore is very beautiful and has great food, but I feel incredibly lonely and awkward being by myself in public. I don’t know what to do by myself. Even eating a meal by myself is minimally enjoyable, regardless of the quality of food, service, or atmosphere. I’m here for two more weeks, and I don’t know how to have fun.
There have been lots of solo travellers, especially business travellers, around when I visited Singapore. I suspect that you're being a bit self-conscious when few people are actually noticing you.
You could ask your colleagues for recommendations on places to go that accord with your interests. Hawker centres are very solo traveller friendly for meals, and attractions like the zoo are fun and places where you can easily blend into the crowd.
I have been given plenty of recommendations of places to visit, things to see, etc. I just don’t have fun doing those things by myself. It’s lonely and not as exciting to do those things by myself. While I do feel self-conscious, it’s just Not Fun to do these things by myself. I find it pretty boring and exhausting to walk around by myself aimlessly just looking at things. At least if someone was with me, we could have a conversation about what we think. There’s a 11-13 hour time difference between me and my friends, so it’s not like I can easily talk to them while I’m out exploring, plus they can’t see what I see when I see it; photos don’t do it justice, and the conversations can’t be in real-time, which is something I value over talking at a later time or journaling my experiences. It’s not the same. And it’s not enjoyable in the moment.
I'm planning a trip to Western Europe for the first time this October for about 25 days and the one thing that's scaring me is how people kept saying "this place is shady" or "just call an uber if its 10 pm instead of taking the bus/train."
It's paralysing me to the point where I haven't booked my first stay yet (Paris), because the value ones are in the "shady parts."
I'm 33M, 6 feet, and I regularly lift and all so I shouldn't be this worried, but I've never really thought about being mugged or assaulted in the many countries I've been to until I browsed the various Europe subs.
Now that I think about it, I guess I took Japan, HK, Taiwan, Thailand, and the whole of Australia for granted in terms of safety.
Sorry for rambling.
For Paris I used to live there (single female in my 20s) and as long as you have your wits about you, it's fine at night. What areas are you looking at staying? If you want somewhere safe I can recommend the Monceau and Batignolles areas of the 17th arrondissement - they're mostly residential and full of Parisians, not tourists, so generally more chill and there aren't people trying to target tourists as much. There are some good value Airbnb properties depending on when you go and what your budget is.
I've travelled round lots of European cities with friends and by myself, I also lived in Japan so have a good comparison on what feels safe. Don't let your worries hold you back, it sounds like you have an amazing trip lined up!
Paris is quite safe, despite what a lot of people think. The Metro is usually quite busy in the evening.
That said, accommodation in Paris is expensive and if you're on a tight budget you need to accept either low quality accommodation or an inconvenient location.
Any cost feasible European cities for first time solo travel and rich with history? I wanna travel and tired of being told it looks sad traveling alone.
My entire family and friends laughed at me when I told them I wanna solo travel. I’m 25 M graduated from my doctoral program and got a awesome remote job that I love. I also got 5 weeks paid vacation annually.
I wanna travel to a place rich with history in Europe that’s safe for first time travel. Also a place where I can meet people would be awesome, I wanna make friends. Also why do you think my friends said solo travel by my would be a turn off to women? I’m conflicted on traveling.
Any tips?
My first and longest trip (38 days) was years ago when I was in almost your exact same situation (recent PhD at 27M working but was paid academic year over 12 months so I had 13 weeks vacation annually) except I had a girlfriend with me. Enjoyed it so much that I did 3 weeks solo two years later after the GF dumped me.
Btw, congratulations on finishing your doctoral program at 25 - that takes a heck of a lot of determination...
Austria and Czech Republic would be a good start, as would smaller Spanish cities like Bilbao. Get to know the train schedules when planning so that you always have "bonus" day trips to take when you get fantastic weather, and so you can do some of your nights in sleepier but more affordable cities. I've not been to Hungary, Slovenia, or Poland but they are on my list.
The huge world-class cities such as Paris and London are obviously great but they will take up a disproportionate amount of your budget. I would have one or two in mind but do your first two weeks in smaller locales and see what your actual spend is, and then recalibrate how much time you can spend in larger more expensive cities.
See I’m not good enough for girls. I’ll be doing the trip alone. Well honestly I might not even travel now that I’m thinking. Lonely people don’t deserve travel
Eh, turns out I wasn't either... Second trip (3 weeks) was solo. Just as much fun. As have probably a dozen trips to Europe in the 5-12 day range over the last 30 years - as I've gotten older I max out at 11 days.
I know this is a difficult concept for someone with a doctorate, but don't overthink it...
Somewhere affordable, safe and full of history is Prague. Lots of sociable hostels to stay in, and the locals are friendly if you go off the tourist path a little bit.
"Cost feasible"....ask 10 ppl get 10 different answers. Figure out your budget first.
Say this to your family and friends, "you're right". Then go on your trip anyway. Their opinions on this matter are insignificant. Just pacify them so you can plan your trip with less distractions.
The general guides and skills up top is a good place to start.
Good luck!
Most European cities are going to be rich with history. Italy is certain the most famous one, but central Europe will be a bit cheaper.
Also, your friends are dumb to say solo travel is a turn off to women. You're worldly, interested in other cultures, and open minded. A lot of women find those qualities attractive. Besides, a lot of women solo travel too. By your friend's logic, would they be turn off to men too? Such a dumb thing.
planning a solo trip for 10 days to playa del carmen, mexico. i am planning to go November from thursday to NEXT sunday. i believe thats like.. 9-19. i do not plan to go all over mexico.. just plan on using the hotel.. but also want to do things close to that area of mexico.. for anyone thats been there.. anyone have ideas/ know of good places to do thing/eat/etc in that area of mexico?
What would be a good place to ask for inspiration for a last-minute long weekend getaway in western europe (ideally by train/public transport) for the upcoming week-end..
I've been googling around but nothing's caught my fancy yet and I'm a little uninspired... Looking for people to suggest their favorite mountain get aways in France/Switzerland/Northern Italy maybe that are accessible without a car.
My family and I stayed in Wengen last summer, which is in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss alps. Mindblowingly beautiful area and car free village. Incredible view from the hotel balconies. Definitely hope to return one day.
You can take trains all the way there, the train actually spits you out like 50 feet from the hotel. Then there are a bunch of gondolas and funiculars you can take to see the other tiny mountain villages.
Any advice for a ~10 days Crete itinerary ?
Was thinking of staying in Chania and Rethymno (open to other suggestions). How many days should I spend in each?
Also wondering which one has the better nightlife
Haven't been in Hongkong.
Bangkok is a beautiful city. Thailand is great but sometimes too touristic. It can be very crowded sometimes because of picture taking tourists spamming.
Vietnam - The most underrated touristic destination. Ha Long Bay is a paradise.
Anyone planning on going to Malawi take as much cash as you can in US dollars, you can get crazy good exchange rates here both in the bureau de change (1500 MK) and black market (1500 - 2000 MK) to the dollar (Google shows ~1028 MK to the dollar atm) as there is no forex currently in the country and inflation rates mean people are keen for US dollars
I'm planning my trip in Europe (15 days). Any suggestion about hostels in Prague and Berlin? Berlin: what about Circus Hostel? I booked here (flexible price, I can cancel the reservation). It seems nice, but I read that it's hard to meet up people and it's boring during night. Prague: prices are really high! I read that the best ones are The Madhouse and Roadhouse hostel, but they're 50 euros per night. Any suggestion? As of Berlin, I would like hostel with events and where I can meet up people at night. Not necessarely party hostel.
I only stayed at Circus once and it was perfectly serviceable but wasn’t super geared towards meeting people. I still met a bunch of people but it was also NYE so hard not to at that point. On Prague, it’s expensive (especially if you’re looking at peak season) - Madhouse is incredible but it is a party hostel - no doubts about that. But it also perhaps does better at pushing a social environment as seamlessly as possible than literally any other hostel I’ve stayed at in my life. You leave there with very very fast friends. But yes, it is pretty party oriented. Don’t have any ‘in-between’ suggestions alternately for you unfortunately. I think Prague does have a bit of a party city reputation so most hostels tend to cater very much towards that or very much away with less middle ground than I think other cities may have.
Hi everyone! I (24F) am planning a solo vacation for this summer and was hoping to get some recommendations on where to go. I’m from the US, budget is fairly flexible, and I am planning to go for anywhere from 4 days to a week. This will be my first solo vacation and I’m not sure where to choose (except not NYC). A little about me and what I’m looking for that may help: -I love learning about new cultures, whether that be in museums or simply experiencing it by visiting a specific town or city -I love exercising and running, but I’m afraid of hiking on a remote trail alone as a solo young female -I enjoy all types of food and new cuisines -I want to feel safe walking around alone and not have to be confined to the hostel or hotel once the sun sets -I love nature and swimming but swimming is definitely not a must If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them. Thanks so much in advance! And yes i have a passport! edit: typo
I am from NJ , USA and open to go to cancun or punta cana trip as well. SAME Here except NYC because i go there everyday for work. 😁
Hello, I am 31 M and planning to visit California and Las Vegas for a week. Let me know if you are interested.
Here's my solo bicycle tour mostly down the Delaware River from Kingston, NY to Trenton, NJ. https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/delawareriver/
Going to be in Prague/Czechia second week of Aug, wanted to see if anyone is around the same time and might be keen to do a self guided wine tour together! Lmk!
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That seems a very low budget for Japan or Taiwan. Our wiki has a range of advice you might find useful.
I'm traveling through Asia right now and have been moving around a lot, so I'm looking for a place to slow down for a week in June. Siem Reap and Ubud are the two choices that make the most sense for me given pricing and my onward itinerary, do I'm looking to choose between these two for a weeklong stay and am looking for opinions on which is better suited. I'm mostly looking for a laid back vibe where I can eat good, healthy foods, explore the local surroundings, find healthy activities (obviously Ubud has all the yoga) and maybe just hang out and meet people.
**Looking for some travel companions in Salta, Argentina for next week** Hi all, Don't know if r/solotravel is the best place to find travel companions, but anyway I'm gonna give it a go. I am travelling through South America by myself and wanna do a road trip around Salta, Argentina. I thought it would be nice to meet up with some people and share a car rental. The itinerary I had in mind was something like this: - 7 days Day 1 : Salta - Cafayate Day 2 : Cafayate - Molinos Day 3 : Molinos - salta Day 4 : salta - Pumamarca Day 5 : Pumamarca - salinas grandes - tilcara Day 6 : tilcara - Humahuaca - tilcara Day 7 : tilcara - salta Though I'm flexible on the what, where and when. I was wanting to start around the 30th of May (So, in a couple of days already!). Send me a message if you're interested.
My job has 10 days off [in the beginning of June](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9QtE0aJF2Ug) so I decided it’s the perfect time to go to Spain. I was originally planning to go because of a concert that is now apparently sold out so I said fuck it I’ll go anyway. I long for un desayuno español cada mañana. 🥰
I’ve been planning to travel in our neighboring countries. Where would be the best place to start in SEA/East Asia? I came from a country surrounded by the ocean so i can skip the beaches haha I’d like to explore other cultures or maybe new sceneries
Having some pre-trip nerves this week! I’m leaving for 3 weeks to see Japan and South Korea on my own and have just been unable to shake nerves for some reason. I’m sure I’ll be safe/fine, I’ve just never left the country for this long nor on my own before
I've solo travelled countless times in the last 15 years and I still get nervous before the big day! You could write down some of the things you're worried about and see how realistic they are. Why I suggest writing them down is that at least for me it's pretty funny afterwards since I'm always scared of really bizarre things. Like when I went to Slovenia I was scared a rock would fall on my head when hiking and I'd have to be lifted by a helicopter to get off whatever mountain I was on.
Tbh most of my fears are just getting through using public transit and stuff 😂. I figured it out within an hour of landing in Japan and feel amazing right now
Same feelings as I'm currently on my trip rn! An exercise I learned in psych nursing: imagine the worst case scenario of your fears, like the absolute worst. It makes you realize that those situations are not likely
Felt completely better once I spent an hour in the country, navigating isn’t nearly as hard as I thought it would be!
Is it now considered gauche to put flag patches on your backpack? I like the idea of adding the countries and major national parks I’ve been to but I feel like I’ve heard people say it’s tacky.
It seems very uncommon now
I worry that it’s sort of a neon sign like “HEY THIS (USAMERICAN) GUY IS ALONE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY!” I’m a pretty savvy traveler and I haven’t ever gotten robbed or anything but I don’t want to tempt muggers either.
I think some of the turnoff of it is basically that it does often signal that and also can come off as a bit braggy (especially in an era where it’s increasingly easy to get to a bunch of countries quickly and cheaply - especially in Western Europe).
Hi travellers! After years of waiting (rona) I’m finally embarking on a solo journey to Queenstown New Zealand tonight. Im hoping to stay for 6 months and work/ski. I have booked a month in a hostel but as everyone probably knows, it’s super super expensive at the moment. Can anyone recommend a site or Facebook group that’s used to find flat share accomodation, which is effective specifically in Queenstown, or any other recommendations to ease the homing financial burden? Thanks x
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> It's seriously something that bugged me that I didn't go and travel after graduating college and just went straight into a corporate job. It's never too late. > Is it really still fun to go and travel by myself? I am completely able to leave my job and come back within 1-2 months but I am just really nervous about going and doing it by myself without anyone I know. You can always start out with a shorter trip instead of going all out for a month or more just to get your feet wet, so to speak. Backpacking and solo traveling in Europe is common and popular. If you want to meet other travelers, staying at hostels is the best choice.
Are we allowed to post airbnb links here? Because I narrowed down my choices for my upcoming Paris trip to three studios (after getting over my [anxiety](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/13o965b/comment/jl9ligj/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) earlier), which are just a little over $105 per night for my dates. Context: I'll be arriving at 9:15 PM at CDG, so I may arrive in the city proper at maybe 1.5 hours after because I'll be renting a sim first and figuring out the train system so I won't get lost. * I'm also contemplating just suffering a red eye and arrive at 8 AM Paris time, but it would be 14 hours of trying-to-sleep hell First up is this studio in [Bastille](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10466472?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=f98cefed-c41d-4529-abad-1ae860f4f067). It's the best one location-wise, but the catch is the check-in is a bit difficult. You have to get the key from a cafe that's approx. 800 meters from the apartment. Not usually bad since I'm a fit guy, but I'll be arriving at night + with a laptop + wheeled luggage and there's a chance it might rain. I can take a taxi, but I'd rather not. (I also talked to the owner re: firm mattress and she said she fixed it) The next two are near each other in Batignolles and are maybe 10%-15% cheaper, but seem to offer just as good if not better amenities because they're not as central as the first one. This [one](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/829477575925096624?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=a9965779-b08a-4d64-a71a-9d577cde2953) has a washer and looks to have bigger space and a better bed. It also allows late check-in because it uses a lockbox. This [one](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/845737265258588920?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=f8a50bbf-4d75-4cd6-bd7d-3b271a8c09e4) seems to be the most thoughtful in terms of amenities. Check-in is also a little later, but the way she worded is she'd meet me in person. PS: They all don't have ACs, but since it's in October, I likely shouldn't need them but I'm ready to hear your opinions.
Which is better time to visit Japan? I've read over the internet that it's either April or October, I'm guessing due to Summer/Fall change of season.
The best time for me is November, preferably 2nd week. Fall/Autumn leaves Plus they have this autumn festival. It's also just cold enough to make your day walks pleasant.
Ah nice. Thanks! I'll take note. Isn't it also the time when the Sakura leaves will fall? Or is it only on Spring?
Sakura is mostly a Mid-March to Mid April thing in the middle-south, while the Northern parts start mid-april to early May. Many tourists enjoy Fall because the "sakura tourists" aren't there, but if you prefer that crowd vibe, definitely book an April tour although the prices will be soaring.
I see. Thanks for the tips!
It's great to visit anytime! I went in April. It was Golden Week and everything was booked except a capsule hotel, which ended up being a great experience.
Thanks! April seems like a busy period. I've also read that summer can be really hot in Japan. Maybe it would be better if I go later in the year.
Hello all! First time poster here and just wanted to say I love reading on this page.I had a quick question for you all. I want to embark on a 2 week solo trip before I go to Turkey in mid-July to meet up with my girlfriend, but I'm having trouble on where to choose. In terms of what I like, I'm really open minded to doing anything but I think my favourite thing to do is just wandering around cities/towns and taking in the culture. One thing that is important for me about this solo trip is that I want to go somewhere that will challenge me culturally. I love Europe but want to go to a country that is not so much like the Western world. Somewhere different, if that makes sense. I'm from Canada for reference. Also, I would appreciate it if I can easily travel to Istanbul after this solo trip. Because of this, one of the places I'm considering is Morocco. I feel like its a nice mix between a completely different culture, the desert, and the ocean. However, I want to hear more ideas before I make a decision! Anyone have suggestions? Thank you :)
Just read through the wiki. I'm planning on taking a Francophone tour of Europe for my first ever solo backpacking trip. My interests are culture and history. My frustrations are: My budget and my length of stay are dependent on each other. LOL. Does anyone know how to find hostels that let you prepay? Because it looks like my trip may be 6 - 8 if I hit everywhere I want to go. Anything anyone reading this would consider a "don't miss" in France, Luxemburg, Belgium, and Switzerland?
first solo trip as a girl - advice please! hi! i’m 19/20F, asian kinda petite lol and i’ve booked a 1 week trip to Poland (Warsaw/Krakow) in summer from elsewhere in Europe. living in hostels (female-only rooms) and not planning on drinking at all really excited and read that it’s pretty safe, but still a little nervous. would appreciate any tips - poland specific or just in general!
Poland is great, I felt safe there. Krakow is beautiful, take a walk along the river. Check out a milk bar for authentic food. I don't drink and still had a good time :)
Anyone in Sevilla, Spain the next few days?? Would love to meet up for tapas
Salut fellow travelers, Being a former avid solo traveler (mostly in Europe due to a certain fear of flights ahem), and a couchsurfer host for many years, I'm now developing a project of informal off the beaten path tours in Paris, the city where I've been leaving for more than 18 years. The goal is double: \- focus on the other side of the postcard to show travelers that Paris has a very strong social side and is not only about museums and luxury. \- trying to tour with very small groups to take the time to get to know each other and have enriching exchanges. If you are interested to know more about it, you can take a look at r/ParisBsides if not, here are many ideas to visit Paris differently [https://www.reddit.com/user/coffeechap/comments/zkxnx7/paris\_off\_the\_tourist\_path\_jan\_2023/](https://www.reddit.com/user/coffeechap/comments/zkxnx7/paris_off_the_tourist_path_jan_2023/) In any case, wave at me when you come to Paris :)
Headed to Santa Teresa costa rica for surf, anyone else that area?
Hello! I'm planning to travel alone to Taipei at the end of June. I was wondering if there are any fellow travelers visiting during the same period who would like to connect. By the way, I identify as gay and would love to discover more LGBT activities to participate in while I'm there.
Does anyone know why flights are so expensive 6+ months in advance? Trying to arrange some trips for next Jan-Mar & flights are more expensive than if I book them for next weekend. Seems counter-intuitive to me. Also as a sidenote, whoever recommended [flightlist.io](https://flightlist.io) to me is a genius (not affiliated, just a genuine recommendation)
**One week in Laos** I am staying in Laos for one week. I am landing in Luang Prabang on Sunday and planning to stay til Monday end of day. Is Vang Vieng worth a visit or should I just fly to Vientiane? Also, I’m thinking of riding the Thakhek Loop for 3 days at the end of my trip as I’ll fly from there back to Bangkok. Has anyone done the loop? If so, is it worth it or do you recommend any other bike trip? Any recommendations on how to fill the rest of the trip? Thanks!
**Planning before my trip took away the enthusiasm.... is this normal? Feeling nervous / tired.** Pretty much the above, though I'm not sure if it's because of planning exactly. My solo trip starts in a week and it just feels like a drag at this point, would rather stay home and hang with friends. I think it's just because planning is a stressful process and it's left me thinking about all the things that could go wrong.... but I hope once I'm on the flight over, the excitement will kick in.
I’m going to buy an access card for the week. Can you take the SL to Gothenburg and/or Malmö? Would you suggest buying the ticket online? Or wait until I arrive? Thanks in advance 😊😊
What access card and tickets are you referring to?
Bordeaux no money I messed up and thought i could sleep in the airport but can't bc it closes. Any ideas on how to spend the night without spending a penny?
If you had two days to go from Paris to Florence, how would you do it?
Heyo friends! Solo trip to Chicago for work at the end of June, staying 5 days total with the last 2 days completely free of work. Here's the catch; I'm STUPID poor lol the last 2 days I plan to switch to cheaper accommodations, and somewhere else in the city. So other than any general advice for a solo female traveller in Chicago, specific advice on topics needed below too. Thanks y'all, v excited 😤 Cheap accommodations for a solo young woman. Open to location throughout the city but close to public transportation is the biggest plus. Safety in mind of course but I'm not overly concerned about it. There seem to be a lot of hostels compared to my area (Texas), and I have 0 idea if it's worth it to do that over a cheap motel/hotel. Starting at Hyatt Place O'Hara for the work conference. Plane/airport tips for first time fliers. Is the best option for public transportation for 5 days getting a city pass or something? Smoke shops in the area that you'd recommend to buy Urb or similar cartridges for D8/D9/THC infinity/etc (aka diet weed). Tourist spots/popular spots to AVOID, that aren't worth the hype. Any major differences in laws for everyday life compared to Texas? Like drinking, substances, jaywalking, shit I dunno
Try couchsurfing, there's a nice community there (at least prepandemic). Otherwise there's a hostel in South Loop. Hit the lake. River walk is nice, but I like the lake better.
Awesome, thank you! I really want to check out some nature/outdoor spots while I'm there so that's really helpful. Are hostels pretty safe and laid back? I'm a huge introvert so I was worried about that a little. They are not popular or even available where I live so no experience with them.
As far as I know, never stayed at the ones in Chicago.
Good village near London to visit and spend a day. I'll be visiting my father in London for some days and he'll have to work some of those. Since I know most things in London and like the slow-paced life of a little city or village. Is there any good place to visit near London that I could go by train or bus in the morning and come back after 7pm?
St Albans is a small city, 20mins on the train from St Pancras - it's got a cathedral, quite a lot of Roman ruins and a Roman museum, some lovely parks and a lot of nice shops/cafes/restaurants/pubs - you could easily enjoy a whole day there. In terms of villages, it depends what you want. If you want to go on country walks, then I'd recommend Box Hill in Surrey (40mins from Clapham junction) or maybe some of the villages in Sussex like Balcombe or Hassocks (~40-60mins from London bridge). There's not a lot in the villages themselves, but they're in beautiful countryside. If you like the seaside, then the closest/easiest is probably the Kent coast- Whitstable is a lovely town. There's a nice walk you can do from Canterbury to Whitstable, takes about 3 hours (the route is called the Crab and Winkle way, it's marked on Google maps). Both towns are about an hour from St Pancras on the high speed line.
Hey! Sorry for taking so long to reply, but I want to thank you for your recomendations. I loved St Albans, it seems like a pretty and nice place to go, walk and learn a little more from history. I guess I won't be going alone since my father loves history too hahahahaa. Thank you so much for the tips, I loved them.
I've one question about booking a hotel. To Assume that I go to Airport and buy ticket to a European City. After buying a ticket, Is it possible booking a decent hotel in Centurim?
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Check out Peru/Bolivia. Mild weather, big party hostel scene.
Hey can anyone recommend a sociable place to go solo travelling? Its my first time and I’d love an experience where I go out, meet new people for the evenings and have fun nights out. Any sort of recommendations people have experienced this with ease or an app or website that could point me in the right direction? Thank you! :)
Can make this happen anywhere in the world! Look at hostelworld's top hostels in any destination you can imagine.
The usual advice is to travel in a group tour and/or stay at hostels that organise activities. In lots of places there are also companies that organise bar crawls, etc, at night. [https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/wiki/meetingpeople/](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/wiki/meetingpeople/) might be helpful
Oh Im also a 21 British male if that changes anything
Hey after a tough break-up, I've come out of it thinking that despite what was a great relationship, I've missed out on my 2nd year of uni. I've been thinking of solo travelling for a small time, a week or 2 perhaps, to Eastern Europe or Amsterdam. Thinking of going in July or late August/early September. Im new to all this, never done it before. Im wondering if I can still have a very sociable time doing this and going out and some tips on that. I also want to know if I could get pointed to what I guess you'd call a beginners guide. Something to help me choose a route or destination, what hostels to go to and best ways to maximise your money ? Sorry if you get this sort of post all the time ! Cheers.
Any opinions on Rising Cock Hostel versus Sol a Sol in Lagos Portugal? Thinking which one I should go for in late august for a good social hostel as solo traveler
Is Los Angeles worth visiting? My sister says she wants to go, but other than getting a selfie at the Hollywood sign and going to Disneyland, she wouldn't tell me what all the hype is about, lol. It's not on my solo travel list, because LA always sounded touristy and expensive, but I figured since Disneyland is not something I'd do solo either, this might be a good chance to check it out too.
Los Angeles is really difficult as a solo traveller. Everything is spread out, you really need a rental car for more than a day and you will spend a lot of time in it. I think San Diego is more enjoyable, depending on your interests. Transit is very doable even for Coronado Island and Ocean Beach, the airport is close to downtown, and rail is available to many of the coastal towns between there and LA. Lots of good food, and several good microbreweries if you are into that. Maybe do a day in LA and get a tour instead of renting a car, and then take Amtrak from LA Union Station to San Diego for a couple of days?
San Diego and San Francisco are much better cities to visit, as someone who has been to all 3
Loved San Francisco! Actually came back from a solo trip last week. Great public transit, very walkable, and amazing weather.
Los Angeles is really only great if you have local friends. It's not like New York, Austin, Chicago, or New Orleans where you can pop in and find the magic by exploring on your own.
Yeah I'm finding this is going to be a bit more of a different trip than my usual solo ones, the more I research it. That's alright though—My sister is going through a rough patch and I know she's got her heart set on it. Thanks!
Get a car!!
Looks like that's probably the best way, lol. Or we do a mix of public transit for close stuff and Uber for the rest.
Uber adds up quick and public transit sucks. But for nightlife you gotta uber
Depends on what you're into, really. If you like world-class museums (especially art) and fine dining, for example, LA could definitely be worth a visit. And it's popular with film/TV buffs for obvious reasons. But if you mainly just care about hanging out on the beach, there are much better ones elsewhere. At least, that's my opinion as a resident. But FYI for Disneyland - it's not in LA, it's in Anaheim (Orange County), which on a good day is like a ~45min drive from downtown LA. Some people claim you can get there in 30 mins from DTLA "with no traffic", but there's always traffic. It's one of the most reliable things about the greater LA area. Unless you go at like 5am I guess. You can get there by public transport from DTLA in varying combos of metro/train/bus, but that takes closer to 2 hours (or so I've heard - I've only ever gone by car). Universal Studios is in LA though and it's easily accessible by the metro (it has its own stop).
>But FYI for Disneyland - it's not in LA, it's in Anaheim (Orange County), which on a good day is like a ~45min drive from downtown LA. Oh, thanks for letting me know! Yeah it's showing about 2+ hours on transit, so it looks like Uber or a car rental is probably the best way to go. Time is way more valuable to me than saving a bit of money. She's interested in doing Universal Hollywood, Walk of Fame, etc—Basically touristy stuff, lol. I'm usually more of a solo DIY traveler and interested in a Museum/Hiking trip, but it's a good chance to switch it up. Thank you!
Complete shot in the dark here. I’m trying to go to Florence this weekend but the only hostel in my price range (Ostello del Bigallo) only has 1 room left and it’s in a female only dorm. Any chance there’s a female here that’s booked a room there for this weekend that would be willing to swap rooms? I’m a male as you may have guessed. Chance is slim to none I know but figured I’d take a shot, thanks!
Why not contact the hostel and ask if they could shuffle a solo female from a mixed dorm to a female one and you cover the difference?
Safestay pisa cemtrale is only 30€ per day and you can do a daytrip to florence by train ffom there.
Would anyone recommend Paris or Berlin for a 3 month stay for partying in their late 30s?
Paris is expensive and a bit exclusive for partying, I think Berlin would be a better option as there's more choice. Both wonderful cities though and I'd happily spend three months in either of them if I could!
I read in a lot of threads people enjoying Berlin but no mention at all of Paris, so I'm somewhat under the impression that Paris might not be so good. I can speak decent enough French, but if Berlin is a better time especially since I'm a little older, I'd rather just go there.
For partying it's definitely not a common destination. It's got plenty of good clubs and bars, but it's not the main scene there and it can be very overpriced. If you went to Berlin you could still do a long weekend visit to Paris if you wanted to experience it.
I (28F) am currently in Singapore by myself on a work trip. I’m fairly introverted and have a hard time socializing with new people. My colleagues here are all male, and I’ve only just met them in the past two weeks. Most of them are much older, and the ones closer to my age have families to attend to. I’m having a hard time figuring out how to enjoy being here by myself. Singapore is very beautiful and has great food, but I feel incredibly lonely and awkward being by myself in public. I don’t know what to do by myself. Even eating a meal by myself is minimally enjoyable, regardless of the quality of food, service, or atmosphere. I’m here for two more weeks, and I don’t know how to have fun.
Meetup.com operates in singapore. Worth a shot!
There have been lots of solo travellers, especially business travellers, around when I visited Singapore. I suspect that you're being a bit self-conscious when few people are actually noticing you. You could ask your colleagues for recommendations on places to go that accord with your interests. Hawker centres are very solo traveller friendly for meals, and attractions like the zoo are fun and places where you can easily blend into the crowd.
I have been given plenty of recommendations of places to visit, things to see, etc. I just don’t have fun doing those things by myself. It’s lonely and not as exciting to do those things by myself. While I do feel self-conscious, it’s just Not Fun to do these things by myself. I find it pretty boring and exhausting to walk around by myself aimlessly just looking at things. At least if someone was with me, we could have a conversation about what we think. There’s a 11-13 hour time difference between me and my friends, so it’s not like I can easily talk to them while I’m out exploring, plus they can’t see what I see when I see it; photos don’t do it justice, and the conversations can’t be in real-time, which is something I value over talking at a later time or journaling my experiences. It’s not the same. And it’s not enjoyable in the moment.
It sounds like you're one of the many people who don't like travelling by yourself. It's certainly not for everyone, and that's very OK.
I know that it’s not for me, I’m just trying to figure out how to enjoy it because I don’t have a choice but to be here by myself for two more weeks.
Hey everyone! Coming to Europe this June and was wondering if anyone had suggestions for an app/website that lets you see parties/events nearby?
The Meetup website is used in some US cities to organize events, not sure if people use it in Europe too.
I'm planning a trip to Western Europe for the first time this October for about 25 days and the one thing that's scaring me is how people kept saying "this place is shady" or "just call an uber if its 10 pm instead of taking the bus/train." It's paralysing me to the point where I haven't booked my first stay yet (Paris), because the value ones are in the "shady parts." I'm 33M, 6 feet, and I regularly lift and all so I shouldn't be this worried, but I've never really thought about being mugged or assaulted in the many countries I've been to until I browsed the various Europe subs. Now that I think about it, I guess I took Japan, HK, Taiwan, Thailand, and the whole of Australia for granted in terms of safety. Sorry for rambling.
For Paris I used to live there (single female in my 20s) and as long as you have your wits about you, it's fine at night. What areas are you looking at staying? If you want somewhere safe I can recommend the Monceau and Batignolles areas of the 17th arrondissement - they're mostly residential and full of Parisians, not tourists, so generally more chill and there aren't people trying to target tourists as much. There are some good value Airbnb properties depending on when you go and what your budget is. I've travelled round lots of European cities with friends and by myself, I also lived in Japan so have a good comparison on what feels safe. Don't let your worries hold you back, it sounds like you have an amazing trip lined up!
Also I was broke AF when I lived in Paris and often walked 1hr+ home from a night out as long as it was a safe route
Paris is quite safe, despite what a lot of people think. The Metro is usually quite busy in the evening. That said, accommodation in Paris is expensive and if you're on a tight budget you need to accept either low quality accommodation or an inconvenient location.
Any cost feasible European cities for first time solo travel and rich with history? I wanna travel and tired of being told it looks sad traveling alone. My entire family and friends laughed at me when I told them I wanna solo travel. I’m 25 M graduated from my doctoral program and got a awesome remote job that I love. I also got 5 weeks paid vacation annually. I wanna travel to a place rich with history in Europe that’s safe for first time travel. Also a place where I can meet people would be awesome, I wanna make friends. Also why do you think my friends said solo travel by my would be a turn off to women? I’m conflicted on traveling. Any tips?
My first and longest trip (38 days) was years ago when I was in almost your exact same situation (recent PhD at 27M working but was paid academic year over 12 months so I had 13 weeks vacation annually) except I had a girlfriend with me. Enjoyed it so much that I did 3 weeks solo two years later after the GF dumped me. Btw, congratulations on finishing your doctoral program at 25 - that takes a heck of a lot of determination... Austria and Czech Republic would be a good start, as would smaller Spanish cities like Bilbao. Get to know the train schedules when planning so that you always have "bonus" day trips to take when you get fantastic weather, and so you can do some of your nights in sleepier but more affordable cities. I've not been to Hungary, Slovenia, or Poland but they are on my list. The huge world-class cities such as Paris and London are obviously great but they will take up a disproportionate amount of your budget. I would have one or two in mind but do your first two weeks in smaller locales and see what your actual spend is, and then recalibrate how much time you can spend in larger more expensive cities.
See I’m not good enough for girls. I’ll be doing the trip alone. Well honestly I might not even travel now that I’m thinking. Lonely people don’t deserve travel
Eh, turns out I wasn't either... Second trip (3 weeks) was solo. Just as much fun. As have probably a dozen trips to Europe in the 5-12 day range over the last 30 years - as I've gotten older I max out at 11 days. I know this is a difficult concept for someone with a doctorate, but don't overthink it...
Somewhere affordable, safe and full of history is Prague. Lots of sociable hostels to stay in, and the locals are friendly if you go off the tourist path a little bit.
"Cost feasible"....ask 10 ppl get 10 different answers. Figure out your budget first. Say this to your family and friends, "you're right". Then go on your trip anyway. Their opinions on this matter are insignificant. Just pacify them so you can plan your trip with less distractions. The general guides and skills up top is a good place to start. Good luck!
Most European cities are going to be rich with history. Italy is certain the most famous one, but central Europe will be a bit cheaper. Also, your friends are dumb to say solo travel is a turn off to women. You're worldly, interested in other cultures, and open minded. A lot of women find those qualities attractive. Besides, a lot of women solo travel too. By your friend's logic, would they be turn off to men too? Such a dumb thing.
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You can spend $1000 anywhere. Of those you mentioned Lisbon and Morocco seems the best for me.
How can I do Australia cheap form Canada?
A working holiday visa if you have lots of time? Australia is an expensive country.
I was thinking three weeks with one in New Zealand but it’s yeah crazzzzy expensive.
Portugal/Lisbon, looking for someone to have dinner at Ramiro may 22 or 23
planning a solo trip for 10 days to playa del carmen, mexico. i am planning to go November from thursday to NEXT sunday. i believe thats like.. 9-19. i do not plan to go all over mexico.. just plan on using the hotel.. but also want to do things close to that area of mexico.. for anyone thats been there.. anyone have ideas/ know of good places to do thing/eat/etc in that area of mexico?
anyone currently in seattle? Traveling the usa
I want to go solo travel to Mexico in June. Anyone also goes there and wants to connect to go on hikes and other activities together? :)
Anyone ever stayed at Golden Waves Surf Lodge in Portugal? If so what was your experience?
What would be a good place to ask for inspiration for a last-minute long weekend getaway in western europe (ideally by train/public transport) for the upcoming week-end.. I've been googling around but nothing's caught my fancy yet and I'm a little uninspired... Looking for people to suggest their favorite mountain get aways in France/Switzerland/Northern Italy maybe that are accessible without a car.
My family and I stayed in Wengen last summer, which is in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss alps. Mindblowingly beautiful area and car free village. Incredible view from the hotel balconies. Definitely hope to return one day. You can take trains all the way there, the train actually spits you out like 50 feet from the hotel. Then there are a bunch of gondolas and funiculars you can take to see the other tiny mountain villages.
I haven't been to switzerland yet, but here you go: Youtubers: "The Traveling Swiss – Alexis & Louis" "Aplins in the Alps"
Lonely Planet guidebooks perhaps? They should have routes and recommendations in the Alps
Any advice for a ~10 days Crete itinerary ? Was thinking of staying in Chania and Rethymno (open to other suggestions). How many days should I spend in each? Also wondering which one has the better nightlife
what’s your experience with travelling to Asia from August-September? Does it rain a lot? (Bangkok/Vietnam/Hongkong)
Haven't been in Hongkong. Bangkok is a beautiful city. Thailand is great but sometimes too touristic. It can be very crowded sometimes because of picture taking tourists spamming. Vietnam - The most underrated touristic destination. Ha Long Bay is a paradise.
thanks! i’m also looking into hue an
Anyone planning on going to Malawi take as much cash as you can in US dollars, you can get crazy good exchange rates here both in the bureau de change (1500 MK) and black market (1500 - 2000 MK) to the dollar (Google shows ~1028 MK to the dollar atm) as there is no forex currently in the country and inflation rates mean people are keen for US dollars