I got an IUD a week ago and have been bleeding ever since. Google says it could be 3-6 months of this.

I’m planning on backpacking SE Asia for 6-10 months starting end of November. I usually use tampons but I’ve heard those aren’t commonly found in a lot of Asian countries. Should I look into getting a menstrual cup? I’m concerned about trying to sanitize it while I’m staying in hostels.

Pads are an option but I can’t swim with those. Should I just stock up on tampons in advance and save them for swim days and use pads otherwise?

I recently went to Guatemala for a solo trip to hike Acatenango- it was an overnight hike. Hard, but doable, worth the views, and a great way to meet a group of travelers.

I am looking for a similar adventure. Likely in central or South America only because I live in Texas, and flights there are cheap and quick relative to other areas of the world. But open to anywhere that would be reasonable for a 1 week trip.

Somewhere safe (28F), that involves an adventure of sorts- hiking is what I love. But I also want somewhere with a great culture that I can also explore. Mountains AND an ocean would be killer.

Budget is maybe $1,000-$1,500 total.

Hello! ສະບາຍດີ! Xin chào! I wanted to share my experience from my first solo trip. I spent 7 weeks in Vietnam and Laos.

Budget

I budgeted $2500 USD and ended up spending $2700 USD. I could have probably saved about $200-$300 if I had thought ahead a little bit more (booked a few flights last minute; would still do again due to the length of the trip but maybe could’ve booked earlier) and if I didn't make a few mistakes (I got got a few times, oh well)

My biggest categories for spending were Activities (which I include costs for things like museums, attractions, day trips, overnight trekking trips, etc.), Flights (which can certainly be avoided; I just gave up on buses), Shopping, and Food/Meals.

My daily budget was $50 USD and in the end I averaged $54 USD per day. I used the app TravelSpend which was SO helpful. I highly recommend.

Trip Length

7 weeks (Sept 11-Oct 30)

~4 weeks in Vietnam, ~3 Weeks in Laos

Destinations

In Vietnam my route was: Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An - Hue - Phong Nha - Ninh Binh - Hanoi - Cat Ba - Ha Giang Loop - Hanoi

In Laos my route was: Luang Prabang - Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng - Vientiane

Accommodation

I used Hostel World the whole trip to book which was super easy. Granted I think I was there before the high season but I would book a bed only one or two days before arriving. Ceapest beds for dorm rooms were usually between $4 and $9 USD.

Vietnam Hostels (and Rating): HCMC: Saigon Rooftops Hostel (10/10); Hoi An: Mad Monkey (7/10), iHome Hoi An (9/10); Hue: New World Hotel (9.5/10); Phong Nha: Central Backpackers Hostel (10/10); Ninh Binh: The Banana Tree Hostel (9.5/10); Hanoi: The One Hostel (8/10), Hanoi Oldtown Nomad Hostel (6/10), Hanoi Central Backpackers (9/10); Cat Ba: The One Hostel (8/10); Ha Giang Loop: Mama's Homestay (9/10)

Laos Hostels (and Rating): Luang Prabang: Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel (11/10); Nong Khiaw: DK-Camping and ATV Adventure (9/10) (I booked my homestay through Sabou, who manages this tour company and stayed in one of his bungalows); Vang Vieng: Chill House (8/10), Mad Monkey (8/10); Vientiane: Funky Monkey Hostel (2/10, avoid this place)

Top Activities

Ha Giang Loop (Ha Giang, Vietnam): Definitely a peak moment on this trip. I did 4 days, 3 nights with Mama's Homestay (around $200 USD) and had the time of my life. I had an easyrider (local driver) and saw some of the most breathtaking views I had ever seen before. It was like you turn a corner and see the most beautiful thing ever think that nothing can top it, then you turn the next corner and its even better. The food was amazing and the homestays throughout the trip were nice. The drivers are absolutely rockstars. They are so kind and welcoming and just totally enhance the trip. I also had a great group that I was placed with. The happy water stays flowing as well.

Paramotoring (Vang Vieng, Laos): Sunrise paramotoring ($100 USD) was not something I thought I would do on my trip but it was definitely a highlight. Soaring above Vang Vieng and the blanket of clouds so that the mountain tops just barely are peaking above. Insane views and such a cool experience.

Trekking in Nong Khiaw, Laos: I did a one day tour ($30) and a 2 day overnight tour ($40) here. Nong Khiaw is definitely an up and coming spot for eco-tourism. It feels like an authentic experience and you really get a good look at the rural parts of Laos. The one day tour was great and I got to see some rice fields, a water fall, a cave, a lookout point, and take a boat ride. The 2 day overnight was the highlight though. You hike up a mountain and arrive at the top as the sun is setting and get breathtaking views. Then you learn to make some Laotian food, sleep under the stars, and wake up to a beautiful sunrise. Highly recommend getting up to Nong Khiaw; about a 4 hour bus ride from Luang Prabang. I stayed at a homestay with the nicest family and learned lots about Laotian food and culture.

Day cruise (Cat Ba/Ha Long Bay, Vietnam): A day cruise ($25) that leaves from Cat Ba and shows you the beauty of Ha Long Bay. The insane rock formations and blue ass water make for stunning views everywhere. Swimming, kayaking, feeding monkeys, and soaking up the sun.

Hai Van Pass, Vietnam: I spent $15 to rent a scooter in Hoi An to drive to Hue via the Hai Van Pass. It was my first time ever driving a scooter and it was so fun! As you drive up and over the mountain you can make stops at these awesome coffee shops that overlook the pass and make for stunning views. After the mountain you can drive through some cool fishing villages and get a look at what Vietnam looks like outside of the tourist areas like Hoi An or Da Nang. Some parts of the highway were definitely not as fun when driving alongside semi-trucks, but this was still super worth it. Even if you don't drive yourself it is still a great ride (you can book an easyrider). The company I rented the scooter from gave me recommendations for places to stop and shuttled my big bag to Hue. I highly recommend renting a scooter at some point in your time in Vietnam!

What Went Right

• I met so many amazing people staying in hostels and going on tours. Even though this was a solo trip, I never really was alone. I even traveled with some people for 2-3 weeks! I made some life long friends :)
• I took it slow. I initially planned to only spend 2 weeks in Vietnam (which now sounds like crazy talk). I could have absolutely spent the whole 7 weeks there. I really learned to embrace the solo traveler/backpacker mindset of taking things slow, not planning too far in advance, and going with the flow. I ended up spending nearly 11 days in Luang Prabang. It can be so easy to get stuck somewhere and I would totally say to allow yourself to get stuck if you really connect with a place or people!
• I am pretty happy with my spending. Definitely could have cut some costs but to be honest I thought I was going to blow my budget by a lot more than $200 so I'll take it!
• Moved hostels if I felt like I needed a change or didn't like something at the current one. Only book for 1 or 2 nights at a time and extend if you want to (not sure if this works in the high season)

What Went Wrong

• Definitely got taken advantage of a few times. Always ask prices before you start anything (this includes taking taxis/tuk tuks/scooters, going on an impromptu tour, etc.) and don't be afraid to be stern or walk away.
• Weather was a barrier a few times. Didn't do much research beforehand on when I was arriving, which was near the end of the rainy season. Was confronted with Supertyphoon Yagi and a couple other storms.
• Wish I didn't fly as much. I flew from HCMC to Hoi An to make it in time for a full moon/harvest festival which I don't regret however I did skip Dalat which I want to go back to. Flew from Hanoi to Luang Prabang to avoid a 25 hour bus ride (if you have taken that ride I salute you, my body could not handle that). And flew from Vientiane to HCMC since I booked roundtrip to/from HCMC. Those flights are cheap-ish but they add up. I would try to avoid them.

Recommendations

My favorite stops were Hoi An, Phong Nha, Ha Giang, Luang Prabang, and Nong Khiaw. Highly recommend you really spend some time in Laos; many people told me you can do Laos in less than 2 weeks, which you can, but I think it is so worth spending some more time there (I didn't even scrape the south!).

I learned a lot through solo travel. It was such a positive experience overall but there are definitely difficult moments where you feel alone, homesick, tired, or just not 100% and that is okay. For me, the first week was a huge adjustment and I considered going home early so many times; try and stick it out. It is worth it. But also make sure to take care of yourself first and foremost.

Recommendations are just that! Everybody has different perspectives, mindsets, desires, goals, opinions...try to not get absorbed into other people's opinions on things and give everything a try! Ultimately, you'll have an experience that will be unique to you.

Final Verdict:

I feel like I've said a lot and there is so much more to say! I had such an amazing time in Vietnam and Laos and am counting down the days until I get to go back. The people in both those countries are so kind and welcoming. Their countries are full of rich culture and history, delicious food, and amazing experiences. Solo travel was such a life changing experience and I think everyone should try it at least once if they can!

If you're headed to either country I am happy to share more recs!

Thank you, cảm ơn, ຂອບໃຈ! Safe travels, du lịch an toàn, ເດີນທາງປອດໄພ!

Hello solotravellers.

After a long time of searching for holiday destinations, I finally decided to go on a trip to South Africa. I have never been to SA or continent of Africa in general and my brain is about to explode due to so many possibilities and combinations to do this trip so I thought I ask for help from fellow solotravellers.

First of all I have done fair amount of solo trips so I feel comfortable doing this on my own. However I like to meet people and socialize along the way. I don't have a set budget but I like to get the best value for money. I am not in search of a luxury safari experience, I want to experience the wilderness as it is meant to be so I am more than happy to stay in a budget tent as long as I can share memories around the campfire with other solo travellers or travellers in general.

Outline is as follows:

Dates: 9th-23rd of December

3-4 days of safari in Kruger

4 days of Garden Route

6 days of Cape Town.

My main worry is safari in Kruger because there is so many possibilities and I am overwhelmed by them. The more I look into it, the more complicated it gets so your help would be greatly appreciated.

My first question is, does it matter if I start from Kruger or CPT in terms of the joy I get from this trip? at first I was thinking of doing the CPT part first then Kruger but it turns out if I do the trip hometown-JNB &JNB-CPT&CPT-hometown I save around $100 compared to starting from CPT. So I consider starting from Kruger.

Secondly, I am still not sure if I should buy a complete Safari package (accommodation, game drives, transportation etc.) or book them individually. Most of the Safari packages I checked online have accommodation outside of the park but I would prefer to stay inside the park to get the full experience. The ones with in-park accommodation are over my budget.

So here is the outline of what I planned so far:

After I fly to JNB from hometown, I plan to take a flight to Skukuza or Nelspruit airport. I assume that transportation from the airport to my rest camp would be challenging and pricey, eventhough I prefer having guided tours inside the park, I consider renting a car from the airport and drive to my accommodation (unless it is not safe to drive in daytime?). As for the accommodation I am looking into Lower Sabie Rest Camp as they have more affordable options but I dont know how animal population is around this camp, so I am open to suggestions.

First day (maybe also the second day) I am planning to do guided tour that I book at my camp so I get a bit of insight of the park, animals, hotspots etc. Then I self drive for the next 2 days to get the best of both worlds. Then I drop off the car and take a flight to CPT.

I am sorry for the long post but I hope you take a moment to share your opinion and suggestions about my trip.

Thank you very much in advance.

Hey,

I’m going for the first time to SA, I’d appreciate any advice and if you could take a look at my schedule. I’m going in the middle of January til middle of February, after I’ll fly to Sri Lanka.

Cape town 3 nights Mossel 3 nights Wilderness 3 nights Tsitsikamma 3 nights Amakhala 3 nights Umhlanga 1 night Drakensberg Mountains 4 nights Valley Lodge 3 nights St Lucia 3 nights Durban 3 nights

What I want is: wildlife and nature

Not necessarily looking for advice because I know the decision is up to me, just feeling sad because I feel like I’m not going to be able to do everything I want in life, there’s so much I want to do.

In August I went to Thailand and Bali by myself and it was AMAZING. I met a girl in her early 20s who was spending 6 months traveling in Asia and planned on teaching English also. This was something I totally would have done at her age I just didn’t have the money. I am in school until next August 2025, but once I graduate I’d love to do the same. I’ll be 29 going on 30 by that time and I also feel like I really need to seriously start finding a partner if I want to have children someday. I’m in NYC and people here tend to settle down a little later but it’s also very tough here dating in your 30s. I just wish I had more time. I’ve been dating and who knows, maybe I’ll find that person by the time I graduate school and I’ll have my answer. I’m worried I’ll turn 35, 40 still single, and regretting I didn’t take this trip. Again I’m not sure if advice would work in this situation but if you are someone who feels similar or have been in a similar situation I’d appreciate some insight ❤️

Long story short, I have language exchange friends from Colombia whom I met online and have known for a while. When I mentioned I’d be visiting Colombia, they kindly offered to show me around and give me a ride, which was really exciting. As we discussed my itinerary, they suggested accompanying me on a road trip to my next destination instead of flying (a six-hour drive). I love spontaneous trips like this, and I’ve never done a road trip in another country, so I eagerly agreed. However, I now feel a bit uneasy, as I’m very used to traveling on my own.

Of course, the best part about solo travel is the flexibility and only being responsible for myself. When I travel with others, I tend to prioritize their happiness, often by following whatever they want to do and disregard my own.

On one hand, I think this could be a great opportunity to learn how to travel with someone else while not feeling responsible for their emotional well-being. On the other hand, I worry that I might not enjoy the trip as much as I would if I were doing it solo.

If you have any advise for me, please kindly let me know what you think!

I'm a bit in a nostalgic mood recently and have been wanting to go back to Vilnius, where I went on exchange about 2 years ago. After trying (and failing) to plan a trip to Vilnius with friends, I've just decided to go there by myself in mid-December for 5 days.

I'm a 24M and have not solo traveled before (except the exchange, but it’s not the same). I still know some people in the city, but they, of course, also have their own obligations. I love history, reading, art, nature, people-watching, music, nightlife, being social, meeting new people, and just soaking in a place. What do you recommend?

Of course, I already know a fair bit about the city and will probably also be going to places I liked before, but some help from people with experience solo traveling and/or who know Vilnius wouldn’t hurt. What tips do you have for me?

Hey fellow travelers and backpackers!

I’m planning a solo trip to Borneo in April 2025, staying for 2-3 weeks. My focus is on exploring the incredible wildlife, hiking, and immersing myself in the local culture and cuisine. Originally, I had my sights set on popular experiences like hiking Mount Kinabalu, but I’ve noticed that many of the well-known activities can be quite expensive.

Since I'm traveling on a budget, I’d love to hear your advice on how to make the most of Borneo without breaking the bank. Specifically, I’m interested in visiting places like the Danum Valley (staying in budget-friendly hostels or lodges), Gunung Mulu, and Bako National Park. Do you have any affordable recommendations for these areas?

Also, if you have any tips on hidden gems or less touristy spots where I can see plenty of wildlife and get a deeper understanding of Borneo’s people and culture, I’d be so grateful. How far in advance should I be planning and booking these experiences?

Thanks so much for your help and advice—looking forward to hearing your insights!

Cheers!

Hi solo travel community! I’m on a long solo travel right now, entering month 4 (though at this point time has long since stopped making sense). You may also remember me from writing about Angkor Wat last month.

I arrived from Cambodia into Ho Chi Minh City by bus on a stormy day, but I was a bit charmed by my introduction to Vietnam. I spoke to a Vietnamese woman on the bus who gave me a bunch of recommendations, and I was looking forward to giving them a try.

Saigon reminded me of Bangkok in many ways, but whereas I never felt connected to Bangkok, I felt like HCMC had more of a personality to me. For example, the most touristy street, Bui Vien, was the spitting image of Khao San road in Bangkok, but whereas Khao San road felt gross and I hated every moment I was on it, on Bui Vien I found myself thinking it was kind of cool and interesting. That being said, I’m not much of a partier, and prefer being “off the beaten track”, so I didn’t spend much time there.

I spent most of my time in Saigon reading in cafes, eating some nice and cheap Michelin listed restaurants, going to the gym, and just “living my life”. To me this is where Saigon excelled — not with touristy things to do, but with creature comforts and livability.

The one exception to that is the war museum. I went to the presidential palace too, which while cool, is skippable. The war museum however is definitely not skippable. It’s intense, it’s powerful, and it’s a must visit if you’re in the city. It’s near the same level of intensity as the Hiroshima museum — and has similarly frightening images of those unfortunate enough to have to deal with the consequences afterwards. Seeing the effects of the chemical warfare, and reading the stories of American brutality made me feel very self conscious of myself as an American in that space. That is, until I saw a couple of French guys doing an army salute with smiles in front of a US Army helicopter outside for photos. The utter disrespect of that just really took me aback. Be respectful people, is it that hard?

The two main tourist day trips near Ho Chi Minh City are tunnels from the Vietnam war, and day trips to the Mekong Delta. As for the tunnels, they sounded very touristy and the idea of shooting AK47s there just rubbed me the wrong way. I like history, but I don’t need to go there to learn about it. Going to the war museum definitely validated that thought. For the Mekong Delta, what I was told is that it’s the countryside, there’s a slower pace of life, it’s nice to see this unique region of Vietnam. I decided that instead of doing a day trip, why not just head there on my own and stay a couple nights?

To be continued..

hey guys! so i’ve been really wanting to travel and see the world for a while now since i went to Bali in 2022 and i’ve been hoping to go see a lot of Europe next year but i don’t have anyone to travel with unfortunately. i’m not sure if solo travelling will be right for me since i’m 19, neurodivergent and can experience some pretty severe anxiety and overwhelm if i get into any sort of trouble, especially when i’m in an unfamiliar environment; but i’m not sure i have any other option but to solo travel because i so badly want to get out there and see the world.

so i was thinking about signing up for one of those 18-30 yr olds group trips where like a bunch of solo travellers and small groups travel together, but the trips with all of the places i would like to see only stay at each place for a day, maybe 2. the hostels you stay in are usually not great and i know the part of travelling the world is to go see the sights and it’s not about where you stay, but i live in a low class house already and i rarely get the chance the travel so when i do go on a holiday, i like to stay in a decent place. i’m not saying it has to be extravagant, but i would prefer not to stay somewhere that needs TLC or is dirty. and then on top of that the prices for these planned group trips (that i’ve seen at least) are so much more expensive than if you were to pay to do all of this yourself.

i’ve briefly researched about staying at just really social hostels or party hostels but i’m still worried that even then there is a chance that most days of my trip i would still end up exploring on my own because it isn’t guaranteed that you meet and connect with people in these hostels and i’m just not sure i would actually be totally safe completely on my own if i were to get into some sort of trouble or was having a problem. so i think meeting other tourists around my age to explore with is probably essential for me if i want to travel.

i’m just looking for advice. maybe if you have any hostels/group trips or any programs that would help me out and cater to what i’m looking for to be able to travel that would be greatly appreciated. the places i’m thinking of travelling to first is definitely Greece; top 3 choices Santorini, Paros & Rhodes, Greece. then i’m hoping Italy; i can’t scale it down to top 3 but my favourites are Amalfi Coast (Positano), Lake Como, Venice, Capri, Sicily, Puglio.. there are so many😭 and to end the trip i’m thinking of staying in St. Julians, Malta since it’s right next to Italy and Malta is high up on my bucket list places to travel too. in the future maybe 2026/27 i’m thinking my next trip would be most likely Spain and France.

i know i listed a lot of places and a trip with all of those places i listed in Greece and Italy would be expensive, but i’m prepared to save up for a while for this trip and even then i’m just looking for recommendations and advice on these places because they’re my top picks, in the end i might not go to all of them but it is handy to know information about these places for future travel plans. sorry this is a long ass post, i really would appreciate your guys’ input. thanks ☺️

I did couchsrufing a lot of times and also, the couchsurf Hangouts, where you just meet up couchsurfers to look around the area, but not sleept at their place. Anyways Long story short, a guy met up with me and showed me a street in the city.

1. he paid for my food even though I told him I will pay for myself
2. He called me cute too many times and said he like my smile
3. asked me too much about my dating life
4. said he only dates women who are not from his country he is living at
5. touched my arms/ hand way too much

So these are no major bad things, but I felt very uncomfortable and uneasy. I don’t want to be mean but I don’t know what to write at his reference, if I even should leave one.

What would you do?

Should I write him personalmy first?

I will be out there for a short artist residency (2 weeks) but want to spend a minimum of 10-14 additional days traveling elsewhere (or finding good places to enjoy within the region of the residency). This would be next fall, 2025.

Ive solo traveled before but never been to Europe and I’m overwhelmed by the multitude of choices. So I’d love to hear from people here what they enjoyed/what they would suggest based on the following:

• Love art, would certainly want to see museums or even contemporary galleries
• Not a huge partier, but I’ll certainly go out at least once or twice over my trip if I can
• Water views or opportunities for going to the beach, river cruising, boat riding, ferries, etc
• Diverse cultural areas are a huge huge plus for me (I am an early 30s Black American)

Doesn’t need to be an overly touristy city/region, though I don’t mind it. I’m working on my French starting today! So hopefully at least I’ll be conversational? By then.

Any advice would be so lovely. So far other than a few days in Paris (what neighborhoods? I haven’t even gotten that far), and finding a lovely town on the beach in Spain, I don’t have many ideas. Because the residency is in eastern France I’m also considering a couple days in Luxembourg or maybe Switzerland?

Thank you in advance!

hi! I (21F) am planning my first solo trip ever for 2025 mid june to early july (13 days) as a graduation gift to myself and i've chosen to explore Austria for the beautiful scenery, rich culture, billy joel, and because i heard its one of the more safer places to travel alone (fingers crossed its true!).

based on rudimentary research and my interests, the cities that call to me are Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck, but i want to keep it three places just so i can really take the time to explore and relax on my own terms. heres my current rough itinerary:

- 3 nights in Vienna

- 3 nights in Salzburg

- 3 nights in Graz OR Innsbruck

- back to Vienna for 3 more nights

i'm pretty set on Salzburg, as well as starting and ending the trip in Vienna since thats what best for me cost-wise for when i fly back home, however, i'm flip flopping on whether i should switch Graz with Innsbruck. from what i've seen, Innsbruck is more known for its winter activities so i'm not sure it would be worth it to visit in the summer months. i know there's tons of hikes i could do, but since its my first solo trip i'm just a little wary of hiking alone in a foreign country. on the other hand, i've read that Graz has a good night life which would suit the purposes of this trip pretty well, but i'm not sure if that would still apply in early july, especially since i'd be visiting in the middle of the week rather than a weekend.

so for those who've been to either, should i spend my time in graz or innsbruck? or, is there an overlooked option that i should consider? also, does this seem like enough/too much time in each city? and finally, any must see attractions?

any and all advice would be really appreciated!!!

What do you think about this planning? Is anything missing or should I remove something?

Day 1 Sigiriya.

Day 2 After breakfast visit Sigiriya rock fortress. Thereafter visit Local village to experience a local village and authentic Sri Lankan lunch

3 After breakfast, you will visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and participate in a monkey-watching activity with a local expert.

After that, around 04.00pm visit lake view points at Sigiriya area by Tuk Tuk.

4 early in the morning, climb up Pidurangala Rock. At the top, enjoy a tasty local breakfast while watching the sunrise and taking in the view lof Sigiriya Rock nearby.

After that, you will be taken for an afternoon jeep safari in Minneriya National Park.

5Early morning proceed to Sigiriya area for a hot air balloon ride

After that, Sunset boat ride with a cocktail and a flutist onboard followed by snacks at a village house

6 After Breakfast proceed to Kandy

On your way you will visit Dambulla Cave temple and Matale Spice Garden.

Check in to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.

7.Early Morning Trekking at Udawatta Forest.

Return to the hotel and relax until the evening:

8. 25th Feb

Visit the temple of the tooth in the evening, followed by a night food walk in the city.

9 After breakfast, proceed to Matale for trekking in the Knuckles Mountains.

10 After breakfast visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden. After that visit Kandy city tour. 2 of 6

Day 11 After breakfast Proceed to Nuwaraeliya by train

Dqy 12 After breakfast, visit the Gregory Park and city walk include Tea factory.

Day 13 An early morning visit to Horton Plains National Park.

Day 14 After breakfast Proceed to Yala. On your way visit rawana waterfall and nine arch bridge

Day 15 After breakfast morning hours leisure at the hotel

After that you will be taken for do evening jeep safari at Yala national park

Day16

After breakfast, visit the Gregory Park and city walk include Tea factory.

Day 17 An early morning visit to Horton Plains National Park.

Day 18 Yala

On your way visit rawana waterfall and nine arch bridge

Day 19

After that you will be taken for do evening jeep safari at Yala national park

After that, evening visit Kiri vehera temple and Katharagama Dewalaya

Day 20 Eary morning, you will be taken for bird watching safari at Bundala National Park.

21 After breakfast Proceed to Tangalle.

After breakfast, visit the turtle conservation project.

I am travelling to Ecuador, specifically the Amazon rain forest in two weeks. I am a British citizen, living in the USA on a work visa. I am under the impression I do not need a visa, as I am visiting for under 90 days.

There is some conflicting information online as to whether I need a criminal record certificate. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Also, any other things I should know in terms of vaccs/docs. This is my first time solo travelling so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance :)

Traveling solo pushes me to be comfortable being out of my comfort zone, and it opens me to have amazing experiences, big and small. Waiting for the owner for a possible room in Istanbul, I just sat downstairs on a bench and chatted with Erkes for 20 minutes using Google translate. It was so fun and crazy (I wish I could post the photo of us!). She had a traditional scarf, and I would guess she was about 70 years old. She’s lived in an apartment down the alley for 50 years, has relatives all over Turkey, she said her family is tribal. Tribal! She’s had relatives here the last week, there’s two left, and she’s been making lots of meals for them, she’s really enjoyed it. We both gave each other a pleasant goodbye, sharing the hope of seeing each other again soon. Can there be anything cooler than that?

TLDR: Is renting a motorbike in Hanoi worth it? (safety and efficiency wise)

Hi, I'm (20s F) planning a solo trip to Hanoi for end of the year. For context, I drive a motorcycle everyday and am quite experienced driving even in the mountains (Bali).

I'm more worried about the higher traffic areas as I've seen videos of riders and they seem much more rushed than in Bali (which have more traffic jams but slower drivers?). Crossing the street as pedestrians also seems harder. Do you think it's easy/safe for riders to adjust? Is it actually just about the same as in Bali?

Another question is parking, is it easy to find parking spots for your motorcycle? Is Grab far more convenient after all?

Also any day trip (maybe on motorbike?) from Hanoi you all can recommend? I have trips to Sa Pa and Ninh Binh planned already, so none of those.

PS Any tips, even on accommodations/activities are welcome. Would love activities that force me to be more social.

Thank you in advance!!

Flying into Las Vegas currently we speak from Connecticut. Renting at enterprise a 4wd SUV hoping to car camp as much as possible even if the weather is a bit on the colder side. Never have done this before hoping to stay safe and unbothered while sleeping. I bought window covers for the side windows hopefully do some of a trick. And packed layers. Plan is to hike at Zion on Thursday and Friday. Open to all things and applied for the angels landing lottery. After Fridays last hike and back to the car I’d like to drive towards Death Valley. Spend the night there and then explore Death Valley on Saturday. After exploring there I’d like to drive to the sequoia national forest. Spend Sunday there. If I still have it in me and am alive still. I would drive to Joshua tree and visit there and spend Monday there, then at the end of the day drive towards Las Vegas and the airport. I have to drop off the rental car and I have to fly at 11 am. Doable? I don’t mind long drives the biggest struggle I have will be finding places to sleep safely. I’ll do air Bnb if I really have to but would prefer to not and just sleep in the car. 28 y/o male. Yes I’ll show up at the airport 2 hours early to not miss anything.

I’m a 21F and have been to Europe during winter and done the sight seating or cathedrals - however I would love to go to the beaches and perhaps do a sail Croatia but I can’t actually swim haha.

Has anyone done this? Also I’d love to hike in Slovenia or even Poland but I don’t want to do this alone. I can’t find any day trip hikes (not looking for grade 4 hikes)

I’m debating whether to save this trip for when I’m 25 but I still might not have people to go with then.

If you were me what would you do?

My current plan

Amsterdam (3 nights) Berlin (3-4 nights) Warsaw (2 nights?) Krakow (3 nights) Wroclaw (2/3 nights) Innsbruck (3 nights) Salzburg (2 nights)

Hallstat? Munich?

I also would like to visit lake bled in Slovenia and Croatia as well.

I’ve been to Spain but would love to go to Malaga (walk Camino del Rey) and Ibiza and possibly Barcelona again (day trips to Girona, stiges, Montserrat).

Decided to leave off Sevilla and Valencia as geographically difficult

I know these are way too many places and should probably save for another trip but I’m just so keen!!

I know geographically skipping Czech and Hungary doesn’t make sense but I’m not super keen on them (wouldn’t mind seeing buda/prague one day though) just looking to get away from sight seeing and more nature! My motives for Germany and Poland are nature/historical!

Fly into Lisbon Nov 6 immediately go to Sesimbra for a couple days and go diving.

Nov 9-14 go to Lagos an explore the town and Algarve region hit the beaches do some hiking.

Nov14-22 head to Malaga more beach and and city exploring.

Nov 22-25 fly to Ibiza or Barcelona for the weekend

Nov 25 fly back to Lisbon go to Uefa champions league game and explore the area and do day trips Sinatra, Evora among others until Dec 4 when I fly home

Budget for the month is 3k could push it higher if necessary. Will be trying to get everywhere via public transport as I will not be renting a vehicle. Plan to stay mostly in hostels. Wondering if those areas are worth giving that long to or if I should choose other towns or just do a lot of city jumping and make it all the way to Barcelona by the end. My goal is just to see and do some of the musts of the area and spend a good amount of time at the beach.

Hey everyone! I (23 M) booked my flights from SF to Bangkok today and I have an itinerary in mind but any advice or tips would be appreciated. I leave San Francisco on Jan 3 and land Jan 5 at 10am. I will be returning to the states Jan 20 so I have about 2 weeks in Thailand. It's my first time in SEA so I want to cram in as much as possible. I typically stay at social/party hostels when I travel and I love to walk around aimlessly in cities/nature and check out historic sites during the day. At night I like to go out to bars and party with other people from my hostels.

So far this is my plan (I havent booked any hostels or flights within Thailand yet):

- Jan 5 to Jan 7: Bangkok

- Jan 7 to Jan 10: Chiang Mai

- Jan 10 - Jan 13: Krabi

- Jan 13 - Jan 16: Koh Phi Phi

- Jan 16 - Jan 18: Phuket

- Jan 18 - Jan 20: Bangkok

Is this realistic? Should I be spending more time in some of these places and less in others (or scrap one and go somewhere else)? Also, if any of you have hostel recommendations that host social events, tours, parties, pub crawls and are easy to meet others at that would be amazing!!

Thank you in advance

Hi all!

Seeking advice and recommendations from people who have solo travelled to MX beach locations.

I've decided on Mexico and have done a tonne of research on a number of locations.

Some info about me and what I’m looking for I’m 30F. This will be my first time travelling solo for a week, l've done a couple days in Turkey. I've travelled quite a bit in my days, I did study abroad program in Malaysia, visited Thailand and Singapore whilst I was there so I've seen some beautiful beaches. I’ve decided I need a solo trip because I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out and uninspired in my corporate job, I also live in London so the weather is a bummer so I really want a ‘reset’ type of trip and to come away feeling inspired.

Looking for somewhere walkable, chill, with great beaches for some reset time, opportunities to socialise with digital nomads/travellers, and that has awesome food! Important things, looking for somewhere that isn't too difficult to get to as it's my first time travelling, somewhere safe and not heavily overrun with tourists although I don’t mind tourists - I would like somewhere I can immerse myself in culture.

Some of the areas l've been looking at are San pancho, puerto escondido, sayulita, Isla mujeres and holbox.

I’m leaning towards Isla Mujeres, due to the stunning beaches, it’s easy to get to, safety seems good also.

I’m seeking advice from solo travellers who have visited Isla Mujeres, what were the pros and cons? Is 7 days too long? As well as hotel recommendations, my budget max £80-90 p/night. Aiming for November for a week if that's helpful.

If you have visited any of the other locations and you rate them higher for a solo chill, authentic (but not boring) trip, would be open to hear why!

Hi all, hoping to do a solo backpacking trip next year from early August to Mid December.

It’s the only time frame I can realistically go and I just wanted some advice about how to best travel through the continent whilst hitting the best climate of each place.

I want to visit (in no particular order and with some places I’d love to see) Brazil (Rio), Argentina (watch a Pumas rugby game), Patagonia, Chile, Peru (Inca trail, Machu Picchu) and Colombia.

I’m not sure the best way to hit all the above but if anyone could advise the best route and best weather it’d be really appreciated

(Flying from LDN GW)

If there’s anything else which is a must do please let me know and I understand you can’t control the weather so I’m happy to take on realistic criticism

Thanks very much

Hey guys I’m planning on going to agadir for 5 days solo traveling looking for some good waves and relax and meet some people doing the same. Do you know if it is common to see backpackers there and if it is a good place to relax and surf?

Hey all! I'm planning a solo trip to Colombia for this December and would love some feedback on my itinerary! I will be traveling as a solo female (27) but based on what I've read it seems like I should be fine safety wise as long as I stay careful.

This is one of the more complex trips I think I've ever planned! Colombia is larger than I expected, I'm used to being able to take last minute busses places but the busses take so much time here that I'm opting for flights instead. That locks my itinerary down way more than I'm used to, so I would really appreciate your feedback so that I don't accidentally get myself stuck somewhere I don't want to be because all my flights are already booked.

Historically, I've mostly solo traveled in South East Asia and I have also done one trip to Costa Rica. I speak Spanish well enough to have conversations with locals, though not perfectly we get by with ease. :) I'm traditionally not a city person and prefer nature. Since this is a solo trip, I am interested in spending some time in some more interesting cities to explore. I do enjoy some museums. Ideally, my goals for the trip are to hike, surf, scuba, and (maybe, not required) try to learn some salsa. Strong believer that vibes matter as much as the activities do!

Day 1 - Arrive to Medellin late night, stay in hotel near the airport (I can also arrive to Bogota but thought maybe Medellin was a nicer city and doing both seems tough from my itinerary?)

Days 2-3 Explore Medellin. Maybe: Memory House Muesum, Comuna 13, Salsa lesson, Chiva, Parque Arvi. Day trip to Guatape

Days 4-7 Flight to Los Andres. Scuba trip. Thinking of staying on Los Andres and then day trip to Providencia at some point. Admittedly, I've not done much research on this but know it's recommended and could be a nice dive spot.

Day 8 Flight to Santa Marta and explore: Public Market and Quinta de San Pedro

Days 9-12 4 Day Lost City Trek

Days 13-15 Tayrona Parque. Also haven't researched the details but wanted to spend a day hiking, see Cabo San Juan and I heard there may be some good dive spots here as well. I recently read that perhaps this is overrated.

Days 16-17 Stay in Costeno to relax and surf

Day 18 Check out Palomino and Surf

Day 19 Minca: waterfalls, hikes, swimming (maybe need 2 days?)

Day 20 Travel to Cartegena, Explore: Old Walled City, Castillo San Felipe, Palacio de Inquisicion

Day 21 - See the Pink Sea

Day 22 - Early morning flight

So that's the rough itinerary I have. I would really love your feedback if there's something I should change or maybe add? Hopefully I've provided enough information to make that easy! Really can't thank y'all enough, if this was a trip where I could be more flexible and just wing it, I'm not sure I would be posting. But since it's more set in stone, I'm excited to hear if I've made any planning errors. Especially since the majority of my trip is in the Santa Marta area and I hadn't really expected that!

**Quick edit: when I say I haven't done much research i mean I don't have all the logistics sorted. I've read over 50 articles and watched a ton of videos at this point to gather a ton of info and recommendations about all of Colombia. I prefer loose itineraries in general so I can go with what feels right in the moment.

Hi everyone!

I'm planning a solo trip to the Northeast USA and hoping to visit Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. I have around two weeks to explore! Last year, I did a similar trip in California with a friend, where we hit SF, LA, San Diego, and Las Vegas, and it was awesome.

I'm a huge fan of American sports, so I like to time my trips around the NBA and NFL seasons. Since I’m wrapping up my degree in early December, I thought I’d make a visit to the East Coast around mid-December and be back just before New Year’s.

Here’s my rough plan:

• 2 Days in Boston: Start in Boston, aiming to catch a Celtics game.
• 7 Days in NYC: Travel to NYC, hopefully catching both Jets and Knicks games.
• 1-2 Days in Philadelphia: Head to Philly and see an Eagles game.
• 1-2 Days in Washington, DC: Finish up in DC before flying home.

Beyond sports, I’m also into historical and cultural sites, like museums or similar spots, as well as the usual tourist highlights, since this will be my first time on the East Coast.

So, my questions are: Is this plan realistic? And is mid-December a good time for a Northeast trip, or would I be better off at a different time? Any feedback or tips would be super appreciated!

Hi there,

I will be a solo 23yo female travelling from Feb to May 2025 throughout Asia. I haven't booked yet so everything is still possible to change, but I am most likely going to fly into Singapore and fly home from Kuala Lumpur. I'm from Melbourne, Australia.

I'm pretty set on the first month and a bit of the itinerary (up until the end of the tour). So here's what I'm planning so far (open to any and all suggestions):

• Fly into Singapore and spend 6 nights there.
• Next, head to Bangkok for 5 nights.
• After this, I will have a 26-day tour across Cambodia and Vietnam from South to North.
• The tour finishes in Hanoi.

This is where I start to question everything and really need your help... My initial plan below...

• I will spend 1 extra night in Hanoi before travelling to Laos.
• Spend 9 nights in Laos then head to Chiang Rai for 4 nights.
• Next, head to Chiang Mai for 8 nights.
• After that, 7 nights in Phuket.
• 5 nights in Langkawi.
• 4 nights in Penang.
• 5 nights in Kuala Lumpur.

I will probably look to mix between flights and public transportation to go between cities. Recommendations on this welcome.

I would love to have your help and advice with:

• Where am I spending too long?
• What am I missing that I should see?
• Should I re-order any of the cities for better efficiency?
• What's the best way to get between these cities?
• Any other helpful advice you may have for me!

This is going to be my first solo trip planned for Asia, as I've previously only done pre-organised group trips (to Bali, Malaysian Borneo and Shanghai in Asia) in Asia, and have solo travelled for a few weeks in the West Coast of the USA.

Thanks so much in advance!!

Heading to Jordan in April 2025. This is my rough itinerary as of now...I will be renting a car during the trip. I wish I had a couple more days on the ground in Jordan, and I know this is a bit rushed, but any thoughts on this itinerary? Anything I should add/subtract?

Day 1- Doha to Amman (arrive 1230pm)- rest of the day/night in Amman

Day 2- Amman (drive to Petra late afternoon w/ a stop at Kerak or Madaba?)

Day 3- Petra

Day 4- Petra to Aqaba in the morning- rest of day/night in Aqaba

Day 5- Aqaba to Wadi Rum in morning- rest of day/night in Wadi Rum

Day 6- Wadi Rum to Dead Sea- rest of day/night at Dead Sea

Day 7- Dead Sea to Jerash/Aljoun then to Amman late afternoon for flight home at 2am

Accommodations as of now are:

Amman- W Amman

Petra- Petra Boutique Hotel

Aqaba- Kempinski Hotel Aqaba

Wadi Rum- Wadi Rum Nomads OR Beyond Wadi Rum

Dead Sea- Hilton Dead Sea

EDIT: SEE COMMENTS FOR REVISED ITINERARY

Looks like I will be in Rhodes for my birthday whilst solo traveling. I was thinking of finding a nice restaurant and having a good scotch.

Those of you who have been away for your birthday, what did you end up doing?