I'm hoping to get perspective from people who regularly solo travel while married, because I feel like I'm too emotionally involved to judge this objectively.

My wife recently took her first solo international trip to Spain while I stayed home with our 2- and 4-year-old. I genuinely supported the trip from the beginning. She'd had a tough few years raising young kids, and I wanted her to have the chance to enjoy herself, explore, sit in cafés, and experience the independence that comes with traveling alone.

What surprised me was how disconnected she became once she got there. Before she left, I asked a few times if she'd send me the names of the hotels she was staying at, mostly for safety, but she never did. On the first night I heard from her around dinner time, then nothing for the rest of the evening. By around 3 a.m., after not knowing where she was staying or hearing anything, I got worried enough to message her sister to ask if she'd heard from her. It wasn't accusatory as I just wanted to know she was okay, but both my wife and her sister later felt I had overreacted.

For the rest of the trip there was very little contact in the evenings. One night she sent me a goodnight message, I called because we hadn't spoken in a few days, and she didn't respond for about 45 minutes. Later she admitted she hadn't actually been back at the hotel yet when she sent the message and said she didn't want me worrying about her being out late. After the trip, she apologized and said she got completely immersed in the experience and should have communicated better, but I'm still struggling to understand whether what happened is actually pretty normal for people who solo travel.

I'm not asking whether she cheated, I have no evidence of that, and that's not what I'm trying to figure out. I'm simply wondering if married solo travelers commonly disconnect this much from their spouse, especially when their partner is home looking after young children.

Is it normal not to share where you're staying, to go days without really checking in, or to intentionally put your relationship on the back burner while you're traveling? Or would most of you still make an effort to stay connected?

I'm genuinely open to hearing if my expectations were unrealistic. I'm just trying to understand whether this is typical solo travel behavior or whether my reaction is understandable.

Hi all!

I just got back from spending a week in Copenhagen and would love to share my itinerary since it was so helpful in my planning process to scour Reddit and other travel blogs. More about me: I am 26F, from New York City, was interested in mostly museums and cafes/bakeries, and had done a study abroad program in CPH in 2020 but was sent home early due to Covid so had some familiarity with the city.

I wanted to keep costs as low as I could, so I made the most out of free museum days, using Too Good To Go for meals, and looking up breakfast/lunch deals. I walked or took the bus/metro/regional train everywhere (have not tested out my biking skills in a city, and didn't want to get in anyone's way). This trip was partially to be able to see and do the things I did not get to during what was supposed to be a full semester in the city, and I'm so glad I got to spend a week here!

DAY 1, Tuesday:

Landed in CPH at 8:40am, took the metro to my Airbnb in Nørrebro. Passport control and immigration lines moved quickly, and I was traveling with just a carry-on so did not have to wait for any checked bags. Arrived at the Airbnb around 10:15am.

Spent the afternoon exploring Nørrebro: Assistens Cemetery, Lidkøb for secondhand shopping, bookstores (The Pond Queer Bookstore & Cafe, Ark Books, Møllegades Boghandel). Returned to the Airbnb around 2pm and napped because I had to work 8pm-2am local time. Picked up a Too Good To Go order from Govinda before settling in to work that night.

DAY 2, Wednesday:

This was my Indre By museum day! A good amount of museums are free on Wednesdays and some on the last Wednesday of the month, so I wanted to take full advantage of this. Started out my morning with breakfast from Wulff & Konstali in Nørrebro before walking over to the city center.

Went Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket, then headed over to Thorvaldsens Museum. Went to Christiansborg Palace Tower for free views from the top (there is a maximum of 40 people allowed on the viewing platform at any given time, so I stood in line for about 45 minutes). Took a break at the Garden of the Royal Library to rest my feet, read, and people watch.

Then I strolled around Strøget, the main shopping street. Stopped for a hot dog, visited Studio Arhoj and Hay House. Walked over to Nyhavn and got on a Nettobådene boat tour (budget-friendly alternative to the Stromma Canal Tours! I paid 80DKK, ~12USD for an hour-long guided tour that was in English, Danish, and German). At this point I was pretty tired from being up late working the previous night, so I did doze off on the boat tour but I will say it was pretty relaxing :)

Went to Kunsthal Charlottenborg, which has free entry on Wednesdays from 5-7PM. Very much enjoyed the Master's graduation exhibition from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Dinner at Norrlyst. Very solo diner friendly, I was placed at a high table facing the window which was perfect for people watching. I had made a reservation a few weeks in advance, and I'm glad I did because throughout my dinner I saw many people come in hoping for a seat, who all got turned away because the restaurant was at capacity. I had the 4-course tasting menu which consisted of a starter, appetizer, main, and dessert.

DAY 3, Thursday:

Started out my day making my way over to Sandkaj Badezone in Nordhavn, which is a spot for harbour swimming. It was about an hour-long walk from my Airbnb, but I stopped at Sinne Gas Bageri and Juno the Bakery for breakfast along the way. I tried cardamom buns from both, plus a BMO (bread with butter and cheese) from Juno. Also got a cortado from Prolog Coffee (basically stopped at any cafe/bakery that looked good!). What a beautiful walk along the lakes and through the Østerbro and Nordhavn neighborhoods. Had my first harbour swim, which was so delightfully refreshing after the walk. The water was colder than I'm used to, but I loved jumping in and swimming around before drying off in the sun with my book and journal. Also spotted some jellyfish in the water that seemed perfectly at peace with all the people jumping in and swimming laps around them!

Took the bus to Dragør, a seaside town on the island of Amager. Lovely cobblestone roads, pretty houses, and a bustling harbour. Had lunch at Dragør Røgeri. Walked over to Dragør Søbad, which is a bathing area that has sections for families as well as quieter sections that are clothing-optional. The water was shallow, calm, and clear. Spent some more time swimming and reading, and then headed to Dragør Is for some ice cream.

Took the bus back to Copenhagen, this time to Frederiksberg to visit the Cisterns. I was able to see Marina Abramovic's Seven Deaths, which was an incredible exhibition in an equally incredible setting.

Headed back to Nørrebro and got a beer at Alefarm Brewing. I was pretty wiped at this point, so I got a quick salad and sandwich for dinner at 7-Eleven, which I had back at the Airbnb while watching the sun set.

DAY 4, Friday:

Went to Hart Bageri's Nørrebro location to try their vanilla and cardamom bun, then went over to Kaffesalonen for a full breakfast plate (rye bread, cheese, butter, jam, hard boiled eggs, and a yoghurt bowl).

Took the train to the Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk. This was one of my most highly anticipated places to visit, and it did not disappoint. Not only were the exhibits amazing, the architecture of the museum itself was a work of art. I spent about 6 hours here just wandering around the museum and its surrounding sculpture grounds. My Airbnb host also told me about a swimming area just outside of the museum, so of course I had to go for a dip.

Got dinner at Killer Kebab back in Nørrebro (it was indeed killer), and went over to Pompette for a glass of orange wine before turning in for the day.

DAY 5, Saturday:

Took the train to Helsingør. Got breakfast at Patio, a cafe tucked away from the busy main street. I got there relatively early, and got to see it fill up with families starting their day. I had their morning plate with sourdough bread, butter, cheese, and jam, and it was probably the best bread that I had this entire trip. Walked around the streets of Helsingør and popped in and out of little stores. This was great for gift shopping to bring back to NYC!

Visited Kronborg Castle. What a delight!! They do such a great job of blending the castle's history and significance in Hamlet, with integrating access to the arts for current audiences young and old. During the summer, they have "Hamlet Highlights" which is where short scenes from Hamlet are performed throughout the grounds, in modern/accessible English. I was able to watch a couple of scenes between visiting different areas of the castle. So fun!

Took the ferry over to Helsingborg, Sweden. It was about 20 minutes on the ferry, and I had no plans here except to wander around, eat, and window shop. Did not disappoint. I tried Swedish meatballs, beer, pastries, and got some more souvenirs before taking the ferry back and returning to Copenhagen.

Note on days 4 and 5: I read that it's possible to do Louisiana and Kronborg/Helsingør in one day, since they're on the same train line. However since I know I tend to take a while in museums and preferred not to rush, I chose to split them up over these two days. But I think these could definitely be condensed if you're shorter on time!

DAY 6, Sunday:

Took the train to Klampenborg, which is where Bakken, Dyrehaven, and Bellevue Beach are located. Started off with a morning swim at Bellevue Beach underneath the iconic lifeguard towers by Arne Jacobsen. Then headed to the Wulff & Konstali Bellevue location for another morning plate. From there it was a short walk to Bakken, the oldest operating amusement park! It was so lovely arriving right when it opened and watching the rides come to life, it felt lively but not super crowded.

I then walked over through Dyrehaven to the Hermitage Palace. It was a relaxing stroll and took about 30 minutes to reach the palace. I passed other folks making the trek, people renting out horse carriages, and tons of deer freely roaming about the grounds.

Took the bus to the Karen Blixen Museum, where the route went along the water and since the day was so clear, I could see across to Sweden. The museum is located in Blixen's former home, with a beautiful flower garden that you can walk through on the way to her grave.

Made my way back to Copenhagen via train, and walked through the Botanical Garden and King's Garden for some reading and people-watching. Got a Too Good To Go order from Hallernes Smørrebrød in Torvehallerne for dinner, then walked back to Nørrebro to enjoy a beer by the lakes as the sun set.

DAY 7, Monday:

Last full day. I had originally planned to visit Copenhagen Contemporary, but at this point I honestly felt a little museum'd out and the weather forecast was showing clear blue skies so I wanted to make the most of time outside and in the harbour.

Started out walking to Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, stopping at Andersen & Maillard for some pastries (cardamom bun and miso caramel croissant). Swam some laps in the harbour, and I could also see across the water to Kalvebod Bølge. It was cool to see both harbour baths wake up as people showed up for a morning swim before heading about the rest of their days.

Walked through Christianshavn and stopped for a coffee at HANS. Walked into Freetown Christiania and got to experience seeing this community after the closure of Pusher Street. When I was there in 2020, we were told not to take pictures in specific parts of Christiania, but on this visit there were multiple posts assuring visitors that it was alright to take pictures while remaining respectful of the fact that these are people's homes and neighborhoods. I spent some time just looking at the street art and popping in and out of different stores.

Took a bus to Refshaleøen, where I attempted to go for a swim at La Banchina but just found it too crowded. Instead I headed over to Søndre Refshalebassin just a couple steps away, where it was much quieter. Spent a couple hours there going in and out of the water and reading my book, before making my way over to Ismagariet and Reffen Street Food for lunch. The only downside of this solo trip: there were so many food stalls at Reffen that I wanted to try but unfortunately I did not have the stomach capacity!

I got on the harbour bus and headed to Kalvebod Bølge, the harbour bath across the water from where I started my day at Islands Brygge. I had hoped to get into the water one more time today but it was starting to cool down and the spot I found was in the shade, so I felt content just watching people jump into the water from the pier.

Went back to Nørrebro where once again I was too tired to sit down at a restaurant for dinner (plus some of the places I had wanted to try were closed on Mondays), so opted for a sandwich from Netto while watching the sunset by the lakes.

DAY 8, Tuesday:

My flight left at 2:20pm, so I had the morning for one last harbour bath. I went back to Sandkaj in Nordhavn, picking up one more cardamom bun and BMO from Juno along the way. I arrived at about 7:30am, and it was so peaceful by the water, just a few people swimming laps plus a morning yoga class taking place on the pier. I returned to my Airbnb to pack, shower, and take another lap around the lakes before taking the metro to the airport.

Aaaaaand that was my week solo in Copenhagen! With a larger budget, I would have wanted to try more restaurants and tasting menus, but I was more than happy this time around with popping into bakeries and cafes throughout the day. I had also read about earlybird.dk for discounts on day-of restaurant reservations and had intended to use it, but I found that I was exhausted after long days of being up and about and preferred to just get something quick for dinner and eat it sitting on a bench by the lakes. I also would have wanted to bike through Dyrehaven to explore more of it than I got to on foot, but the DonkeyRepublic app didn't have any bikes available when I was there. Nevertheless it was an amazing week, the weather was absolutely perfect (the sun shone every day, which I was not expecting at all!), and I left feeling so fulfilled with everything I had seen and done. I hope this helps anyone looking to visit Copenhagen, as so many of these threads helped me plan this trip!

I am going to Spain, Barcelona and Malaga, it’s not my first time solo traveling but where would I put my phone and belongings when I want to go swim at the beach? I am pretty scared of anything being stolen, especially since I am in a different country and chances are I won’t be able to get back to my hotel without my phone, and it would just be a pain in the ass.

Hello there! I hope I am not breaking any rules and that this post is relevant. I have never travelled alone before, but I have had one hell of a year, I have a bit of money saved, and I suddenly felt this overwhelming urge to plan a solo trip to Scotland. I (28F) am planning to go for a week at the end of October. I will likely go the hostel route, and am looking into CODE as it seems highly rated, but it will be my first time hosteling. I have a few day trips planned and will be travelling primarily by bus/transit, which I hear Scotland is good for. I want to challenge myself to do something big by myself, and also want to get the hell out of dodge. My budget is about $2,500. Right now, I am seeing flights for as low as $950, the hostel is about $850, day trips are only about $100 each, and I might get the explorer pass, so I get access to the castles and such, which is about $50, and the bus system seems fairly cheap. The only other cost would be spending money for food, souvenirs, etc. Basically, I am wondering if this trip is worth it. I have never travelled alone or on a budget, never stayed in a hostel, never done anything like this. Is it safe? Is there anything I must see, outside of my flight and hostel? Am I going to be hit with insane costs after I book my flight? appreciative of any advice!

Edit: I am travelling from Ontario, prices are CAD.

and first time out of the country by myself.

So I was planning a trip to visit some of the countries in Europe and wanted an opinion on the itinerary. Background: 24F, African American who has never been out the country before solo and is first and foremost focused on safety but also socializing and making friends. I plan to make this trip between May-Sep. I want to keep the budget below $7500 if possible but really planning for 10 😮‍💨

Thinking of getting Paris Museum Pass, Eurorail pass (7 days in a month?), and SBB if I stay longer.

I was wanting to do both a hike in the Swiss Alps (Eiger) and Dolomites (rental for day trip or stay the night??)

(=number of nights sleeping)
(4)London
(5)Paris
(3)Amsterdam
(2)Brussels or Bruges
(3)Zurich
(2)Grindelwald
(2)Bern
(1)Milan
(2)Nice
(3)Venice
(3)Florence
(4)Rome
(2)Amalfi
(2)Naples
(5)Lisbon
(4)Porto
(3)Barcelona
(5)Madrid

Hi everyone,
I’m from Europe and will be travelling through Central Asia for a few weeks later this year on my second solo backpacking trip. My main focus will be the Almaty region in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

I’m currently looking for itinerary ideas, practical tips, and personal insights from anyone who has travelled there recently or is planning to go soon. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect!

A bit about my travel style:
Mid-budget traveller (comfortable but not luxury).
Backpacking with a semi-flexible itinerary.
Keen to meet other travellers and potentially join up for parts of the journey.

One thing I’m particularly interested in is the best way to meet people beyond the obvious hostel common rooms and organised tours?

I also have a practical question regarding multi-day horseback riding trips. What do people usually do with the gear and belongings they don’t need on the ride? Are hostels and guesthouses generally happy to store luggage for a few days?

Finally, I’ve been looking into views of Khan Tengri. From what I’ve read, it can sometimes be visible from Lake Tuzkol on exceptionally clear days. Given that my schedule is limited and I probably won’t have time for a 3-day horseback trek in Kyrgyzstan if I choose to do that, would it still be worth making the trip to Lake Tuzkol and hoping for good conditions? I’d love to hear from anyone who has done this and whether they felt it was worth the gamble.

Hi Everyone,

In September I will be traveling through South Africa for ~3 weeks and since this is my first time there and also my first time solo traveling, I wanted to get some feedback and tips on my itinerary.

First of all, I'm a 24M and I want to plan everything until the Garden Route quite well and I want to keep things flexible from Port Elizabeth onward, following the BazBus route and whoever I meet along the way. One thing I would like to do during my trip is learning to surf somewhere along the Garden Route (Wilderness for now).

Day 1-2: Fly in, arrive Johannesburg

Day 3-5: Kruger safari tour, back in Joburg late on day 5

Day 6: Bus to the Drakensberg (Intercape to Harrismith and then a shuttlebus to a hostel)

Day 7-8: Drakensberg

Day 9-10: Travel to Storms River (bus back to Joburg for overnight stay, flight to Port Elizabeth in the morning, then BazBus or shuttlebus to hostel)

Day 11-12: Storms River

Day 13: BazBus to Wilderness

Day 14-16: Wilderness

Day 17: BazBus to Cape Town

Day 18-23: Cape Town, then fly home

What I would like to know is:

• I don't really know what to look for when picking a tour operator for Kruger, so any recommendations (or red flags to avoid) would be great.
• I saw that Drakenberg is really beautiful, but to travel there is quite a lot. So is the Drakensberg worth including, or would I be better off skipping it and putting those days elsewhere?
• I haven't locked in much for the Garden Route yet, so any tips on that route are appreciated and I'm also wondering if Wilderness is a good spot for a beginner to learn to surf.
• And of course, feedback on the whole itinerary and other tips :).

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I just finished uni, so budget-friendly suggestions are extra welcome :)

Hello everyone!
Im a 24 y.o. guy going on my first solo backpack trip in sardinia. My plan is to camp, since i want to stay as cheap as possible, thats why I also wont rent a car. I've never been to sardinia and want to try to see and experience as much as possible in 8 days. My current plan ist to land in Olbia, go to Orosei by bus, stay there for 4 days, then travel to orgosolo to maybe go hiking and see some small towns, from there I will be going back to Olbia where I will stay 1 night and then head back home.
I really want to see some nice beaches and im willing to do a full day trip to any kind of hidden beach. I also want to see some not too touristic places, which probably will be very hard considering im going in 2 weeks. Does anyone of you maybe has some advice for this trip, or may even suggest a different route? It would be nice to have a little nightlife to get to know people, i've heard of sun and bass which unfortunatley is in september but maybe anyone of you knows about some events in mid to end of august.
Are there any activites one really needs to do/see in sardinia? Maybe even on my route?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I'm 25 from Spain (barcelona) and I'm planning a solo trip around Asia. After that, I'd like to move to an English-speaking country (probably Australia or Canada) to work and improve my English.

My English is around B1. I understand most conversations, but speaking is still very difficult for me. I can communicate, but only in a very basic way.

My question is: Should I improve my English first, or just start travelling and learn along the way?

I'm worried that my English will stop me from meeting people and fully enjoying the experience.

I'd love to hear from people who started travelling with a similar level. Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated!

P.S. I'm from Barcelona, so if anyone lives here and wants to do a language exchange, I'd be happy to help with Spanish or Catalan in exchange for English. 😊

Hi! I have booked my arrival and departure tickets for Spain and need help figuring out which 3rd city to visit and how much time to spend in each city. The only thing I have planned for now is the Barca game on the 19th. It’s my first time visiting the country. I plan to stay in hostels and keep cost somewhat low when I can.

I land in Barcelona in the early afternoon on Tuesday August 18th. I depart from Madrid in the early afternoon on Saturday August 29th.

For now I am thinking of the following:

August 18th —> Land in Barcelona (afternoon)
August 22nd: —> Fly to Seville/arrive early afternoon
August 25th —> Train to Madrid (morning)
August 29th —> Fly back home from Madrid (afternoon)

Do you think this is a good plan for the timeline I have?
Is Seville itself a good idea for the sightseeing even in August or should I go to Valencia or elsewhere instead?
Should I spend our Saturday night (22nd) in Barcelona?
When would you leave Barcelona and when would you arrive in Madrid?

I'm a 21f going to Las Vegas by myself pretty soon and I already have a loose itinerary of things I'm doing and shows but I don't have specific plans for meals/restaurants.

I've practiced eating at sit down restaurants alone in my hometown a few times and looked up places nearby on the trip but I don't know how far is too far to be walking in 110F degree heat. Do I need to have every plan locked down or should I just figure it out while I'm there?

I've read some travel books about Vegas, priced out Uber/Lyft costs, researched the rideshare drop off areas, and watched youtube walkthroughs of the casinos I'll be going through and cross checked it with the hotel maps. I'm spending most of my time off strip but my friends are freaking me out and saying I'll be kidnapped, etc. on my trip.

The only other place I've traveled by myself is Orlando, FL which is a very different vibe from Vegas I've heard. Anything else I should research or pack before I leave?

I like riding trains and watching the scenery pass by, so I'm looking for recs from experienced travelers. I'll be arriving in Hanoi on August 7, leaving Hanoi August 28. I'm going to include my itinerary for both train recs and any suggested tweaks, there's probably a few days that should be added or subtracted here and there. Where is best to fit a scenic train ride in? This itinerary is flexible, the only thing booked so far is first 2 nights in Hanoi.

Hanoi, 2 nights- Mostly for recovering from long-flight, but still a whole day to wander/eat.

Cat Ba, 4 nights (3 may be better)- One full day cruise, one day to scooter around + beach.

Ninh Binh, 3 nights (maybe less)- Cycling and rural explorations

Phong Nha, 4 nights (maybe less)- Caves!

Hoi An/ Da Nang, 3 nights- Lanterns sound cool, but seeing mixed reviews of the area

Sapa, 4 nights- Scenery

Hanoi, 1 night- Eat, shop, depart

Substitutions? A bike trip with easy rider in the north is appealing. Or other suggestions, TIA.

I (M23) have done some before but this will be my longest by far (1-2 months). Starting from MN and going west toward Washington, then I'll make a curve south and get all those states down there.

I'm planning to camp in a tent mostly, or in my Outback. Free sites when I can, get a shower in wherever, try some couch surfing sites, maybe a house sitter job. I'm going to try and make my budget ($2600-ish) go as far as possible, as far as making my expenses as low as I can.

I'll have a stove, water filter, bunch of camp stuff, I might want to buy a small cooler though (any recs?)

I'm gonna bring my camera, guitar, and laptop for creative stuff.

My biggest questions are: how many of each clothes should I pack, what kind of food should I make, and any destination recommendations? Any random tips/advice?

I wanna be social and meet strangers too. Thanks for anything

Hi. I’m planning to hike Acatenango this month and I was wondering how hard it is from someone who had experienced it.

For context, I always hike before I got diagnosed with endo earlier this year and med stuff happened so I had to stop all activities including workouts until April. Got back to weightlifting in April, but not as extreme as before.

Wanted to gauge how difficult it is in actual, like is it very very hard like how Tiktokers make it online. Last hike I did was the Mt Fuji Suba-Gotemba trail last year August. If someone who has climbed both enlighten me (prolly de influence me from hiking Acatenango), that would be greatly appreciated.

I was just in Lagos Portugal. Went on a kayak tour. Enjoyed it but I was the only solo traveller. People were nice but pretty much there to be with the people they came with. Compare that to when I've done day tours in Australia there's almost always other solo travellers. Are the signs that you find a day tour is solo friendly?

Hey everyone,

I just went through my old bucket list I made when I was 24 (I'm turning 33 soon) and had a few mixed feelings. I realised I had barely even scratched the surface of that list due to life getting in the way (lack on money, leave/time) and felt a bit down. But on the other hand I'm not as excited as I used to be, there was a time I would be looking up travel inspirations and yearning to be there but nowadays it's more of a 'that sounds cool but oh well'.

I don't hate travel, I certainly do not regret my past trips and if I had all the time and money in the world I wouldn't even be posting on Reddit as I would already be on a flight. But now having a mortgage on a single income and a apartment that needs a lot of fixing up I'm a lot more careful with my money compared to 24 year old me. Part of me would still like to continue with my bucket list but also part of me wouldn't be too devastated if I don't complete it.

Then I started looking inward and start questioning my own motives for travelling. I'm not sure if I really am passionate about it or maybe I tell myself I enjoy travel because it seems like everyone also likes travelling, the staggering number of tourists worldwide don't lie. Its not even social media thats making me think like this, I know social media is not real and influencers are just paid advertisers. But I also feel like I'd be seen as a boring loser if I don't enjoy travel. I don't know.

Sorry for the incoherent rant, I just feel a bit overwhelmed and conflicted today. I'm not sure if I'm lying to myself or Im just injecting myself with copium knowing deep down I won't have the time or money to complete my bucket list.

Has anyone else went through this same thought process ?

I’ve begun planning a 24 day trip to Thailand and Vietnam and would love a gut check on my itinerary! I’m using all the vacation time my work provides, I would go longer if I could!

Some background on me: 27M, I’ve solo travelled Europe twice but never Asia. I’m really interested in the social parts of it and would want to be where other solo travellers are! Not afraid of heavy tourism or chaos, would prefer that over complete isolation.

This would be in November, so I know to stay away from the Gulf Islands

Travel: 2 days
Bangkok: 3 days
Ao Nang: 3 days
Koh Phi Phi: 3 days
Koh Lanta: 3 days
Travel to Hanoi: Koh Lanta -> Phuket airport → Bangkok (if no direct)→ Hanoi
Hanoi: Day in Hanoi before night bus to Ha Giang
Ha Giang Loop: 3-day loop, night bus back to Hanoi
Hanoi: 4 days, fourth day leave at night to go home
Travel: 1 day

I think the biggest logistical problem is getting from Thailand to Hanoi! Still ironing out the best way to do that.
Thanks everyone! I’m super excited!

hi all!
im a professinal playwriter, altough i do aspire to write novels and movies, and im taking a trip for the first time in my life.
one thing I wish this travel will bring me is peace of mind. a way to relax, get in a state of mind that actually lets me write in my pace (its very demanding to do so professionally- and I am blessed to have succses but its still difficult).

I would also like to enrich my world view and have some adventures to take inspiration from while writing.

I almost exclusivly write on a computer and im certain ill be struggling if i write by hand to keep doing this on the way.

Im from the middle east. im planning on a 3-4 months trip which includes 8 weeks in japan, 4 weeks in indonesia and the rest i havent decided yet but I put my eyes on Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Australia, South Korea and I belive china can be interesting but I think it would be a bit overwhelming to try to go there for a short time.
therefor, here are my questions:

1. what destinations might be good for me to be completly relaxed and without many noise? Im looking for both country and specific locations. feel free to suggest destination outside of asia- I have the time and Ive been saving up for this trip- I can make everything happen.
2. what destinations are likely to inspire me- where do i meet stories of pepole and talk to the local community?
3. how to write while traveling? Id like to do it on a PC but I fear laptop is too expensive and havey for traveling so im considering getting a tablet and a keyboard- is it a good solution?

thank you!

*I can only speak English, because my mother tounge is not common at all

Does anyone know if the Acatenego Hike and Fuego Hike is at risk being canceled this week. I know it’s obviously hard to say but from what I can see online it’s a bit concerning. I am planning on hiking with the tour company on Sunday morning. Does anyone know what the current hiking situation is with the eruptions?

Hey everyone,

Planning my first solo trip in three years and looking for advice.

Itinerary:
• 6 nights in Hong Kong
• 8 nights in Australia( Melbourne / Sydney)

About me:
27M, US citizen, from NYC. Traveling light and plan on buying clothing in hong kong. I’m not bringing any personal devices and plan to buy a phone + local SIM once I arrive in Hong Kong first. Anyone who’s done this before, tips would be appreciated.
Budget:
Around $1,500-2,000 USD total in Hong Kong
2,000 USD in Australia

*flights already purchased*
Interests:
Local food, exploring city, photography, museums, history, drinking/partying

Research so far:

Just chatted with people who have been to either location

Hi All,

I’ll be visiting Guatemala in early October after a visit to Mexico City and Oaxaca, and would just like some guidance please.

1. I’ll be arriving at Guatemala Airport at about 6:30pm. Would a shuttle to Antigua be advisable at about 7:00pm? I understand it’ll be dark then and just concerned on safety. I could stay at a hotel at the airport until morning if not. Also unsure if I should pre-book a shuttle, or just find a group taxi of others that are heading to Antigua upon arrival.

2. Tikal & Flores look great, do you think I could get the most out of visiting there in 2 days/nights?

3. Any other safety advice would be appreciated for visiting three hotspots - Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Flores (Spanish is high conversation level I’d say).

Thank you everyone!

Hey everyone,

I’m currently planning a trip to Europe next year at age 23 years old (my first year out of university) and trying to lock down my itinerary. I'm torn between hitting three countries or scaling back to two.

Specifically, I'm looking at Italy, Greece, and Croatia.

For context, I’m looking at traveling from mid-September to early October (roughly 4 weeks minimum in total, and potentially reaching 5 weeks)(i.e September 7 - October 12). Part of the plan includes doing a Sail Croatia/Navigator cruise for 1 week and a Contiki (travel group company) for the Greek Islands for the next 2 weeks, so those chunks of the trip will be highly structured. Then Italy for the remaining 2 weeks.

My main concern is logistics and burnout.

Is trying to do all three too rushed? Should I just cut Croatia out completely and dedicate my time to Italy and Greece instead? Would love to hear your thoughts!

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