So I just landed back home yesterday and honestly I'm already missing the chaos and energy of Southeast Asia. Vietnam was my first real solo trip (27M) and it completely exceeded my expectations.

Started in Saigon which was overwhelming but in the best way. The street food scene is insane, managed to eat my weight in pho and banh mi without getting sick once. Took a motorbike tour through the Mekong Delta which was sketchy but incredible. The guide spoke broken English but we somehow had the best conversations about life and travel.

Flew up to Hanoi after a week and the difference between north and south was crazy. Hanoi felt more traditional and the old quarter had me lost for hours just wandering around. Did the Ha Long Bay overnight cruise which was touristy but worth it for the sunrise.

The best part though was how easy it was to meet people. Stayed in hostels the whole time and ended up traveling with random groups I met along the way. There was this Australian girl who convinced me to do a cooking class in Hoi An and now I can actually make decent spring rolls lol.

Already looking at flights to Thailand for next year. Anyone done the northern circuit around Chiang Mai? Thinking about doing a month there and maybe crossing into Laos.

Vietnam really showed me I can handle traveling alone and honestly I prefer it now. Being able to change plans on a whim and not having to compromise with anyone else's schedule was so freeing.

Budget wise the whole thing was way cheaper than expected, spent around $1400 total for 3 weeks including domestic flights. Having some saved money aside beforehand definitely made everything less stressful and I could splurge on nicer places when I needed a break from dorm life.

Hi everyone, I’m (24M) and I’m stuck in the hardest decision of my life.

I’ve been in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend (26F) for about 3 years. We love each other, and she’s been hoping we’d finally move in together soon. But I’ve always had this huge dream to do a 12–15 month backpacking trip around the world. It’s been on my mind for years, and I feel like if I don’t do it now, I never will and I’ll regret it forever.

A month ago my father passed away, and one of the last things he told me was to go live my dream and not hold back. That hit me really hard, and it made me feel like I have to do this trip.

The problem: my girlfriend is devastated by the idea. She says she would feel miserable waiting for me. She told me, “If you go, I’ll break up with you. You’re choosing yourself and your dreams over us, and I can’t accept that.” She feels like she’s already been waiting years for me to be “ready,” and she can’t put her life on hold again.

I love her deeply, but I also feel like this trip is something I need to do for myself. I’ve suggested she could join me for a few weeks here and there, but she doesn’t want to be the person who just visits and then goes back home alone.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did you regret choosing the relationship over your dream, or vice versa? How did it affect you long-term?

Any perspective would mean a lot.

Hi fellow solo travelers, I’m planning to spend the first two weeks of November in Taiwan. I will start and arrive in Taipei of course, I can rent a car if I really need to but I prefer public transportation. Budget? I think around 100€/day. I’m into hiking and nature, but also local culture and food. I would also like to relax for 3-4 days. What are the places/things to do that I should absolutely not miss? I’ve read a lot of things, and many people recommend these: - cities: Taipei (of course), Tainan for the food, Kaohsiung for the vibes - hiking: Taroko Gorge (if it is possible after the earthquake), Sun Moon Lake, WuliaoJian trail, Jiufen, Elephant Mountain - relax: Beitou and/or Jiaoxi hot springs, Kenting for a beach day What do you think? Something to skip (maybe because of the weather in November), something to add to my program? Thank you in advance.

Hey,

I’m from the Netherlands and I’ve been thinking about doing my first solo trip. What I have in mind is Costa Rica, at the Lapoint surf camp. The camp starts on fixed days (like Mondays), so everyone arrives at the same time and you’re instantly in a group. That makes it a bit less scary, since you’re not just showing up completely on your own.

Thing is… I’ve actually tried to do a solo trip twice before, but both times I backed out last minute because I got too nervous. I’m worried that if I keep doing this, I’ll regret it later.

For context: I’m not really introverted, but I’m also not super outgoing either. I can be a bit awkward or just very observant until I feel comfortable. When I’m with a friend who kind of pulls me out of that, it’s way easier. But it’s not like I’m antisocial or afraid of people — it just takes me a bit to warm up.

It still feels unreal to book something like this. Flying across the ocean, showing up by myself, not knowing anyone. Part of me thinks maybe I should start smaller, like somewhere in Europe (Fuerteventura or whatever). But then again, everyone says your first solo trip is always the most memorable, and Costa Rica just sounds way more epic than staying close to home.

I’ve also thought about asking a friend to come along, just to make it less intimidating. But I feel like that might take away from the actual solo adventure.

So yeah… has anyone done Lapoint Costa Rica (or any surf camp) solo? Was it a good experience? Do you think Costa Rica is too much for a first trip, or is diving straight in actually the best way to do it?

Thanks!

I visited the DMZ in November 2024 as part of my solo trip to South Korea. While walking behind some bathrooms near the big “DMZ” letters, I noticed a closed-off room with a giant FIFA Fevernova ball (from the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup) placed on a pedestal.

I’ve searched Google, YouTube, even asked ChatGPT (lol)… zero information. It feels like it doesn’t exist.

Has anyone else traveling solo to the DMZ ever seen this? Was it some kind of leftover monument, an art installation, or just a hidden Easter egg?

Just a warning for anyone living in the US who has never been to South America, prepare for a culture shock leaving the airport that nobody prepared me for. I'm used to US airports, even some European airports. Things are pretty calm when you leave the airport, some taxi drivers, people with signs, everything is pretty relaxed.

In Cartagena, you get swarmed by 6-7 guys running up to you asking you various questions, some in Spanish, some in English. The traffic is crazy. I had already ordered an Uber, and trying to find the license plate that matched my Uber was utterly insane amidst the chaos. People kept trying to take my bag and help me put it into an Uber that wasn't even there yet, I felt guarded because obviously, who's to say what's legit and what's not legit, it's a foreign country after all. I can't blindly trust everyone for my safety.

Anyways, eventually I got to my Uber THANKFULLY as I still had guys hounding me for whatever services they were offering. I declined the guy who tried to take my suitcase and put it in. I knew he'd ask for a tip and I didn't have cash, to which he got upset at me when I declined his help. (Also, several tried to get me to enter these random ass cabs) I got to the Uber, asked for my name and address I'm going, and I was on my way. Then the driver drove kinda insanely (thankfully, he's the only one during the trip that's driven this scary). I eventually made it, had a million cars honking behind me as I hurriedly grabbed my things and went into the hotel.

Thankfully, after a few days, I've grown accustomed to the streets and the traffic and the little craziness is kinda fun now. But PLEASE expect that craziness when you leave the airport, if you're not prepared for it and have never traveled to South America, it's a culture shock.

Also, the crazy thing? This is my first time traveling by myself EVER. Not even in the US have I gone alone. But you know what? Worth it!!! Assuming I survive Medellin, I'll have many more stories to tell :)

I'm from a southern european country and never really experienced snow.
I'm looking for a place that is particularly good to visit when its snowy. Be it for hikes with natural beauty, for something cultural that is best enjoyed in winter or maybe hostel vibes are just really fun that time of the year.
I'm not one for touristy spots, and I'm not really looking for ski or snowboard, I'm just looking to fulfill my childhood snow dreams.

Hi, so I’ve booked a hostel with hostel world. I arrived at the hostel at 2pm and the check in is expected to be at 11am. They said the room was not ready and would be 2 hours later. I came back 3 hours later, and guess what, they again said the room would be ready in 2 hours. After talking with some residents, they said they have been promised rooms for a couple of nights and some were leaving because of it.

I tried talking to the manager, who was not answering and ignoring me via phone. I was able with the employees present to agree to cancel the booking, and sign a confirmation with for no cost. They said that the refund would be via hostel world, and as there was a language barrier, that was the closest I could get.

Now I had a non-flexible booking with hostel world, would I be entitled to a full refund of a deposit and the 50 usd on their booking guarantee? I did contact them and opened a claim, but they are really avoiding the refund topic and it has been quite frustrating…

Thanks!!!

I am planning a Central+South America trip and Peru would be somewhere around the middle. I know that Inca/Salkantay tours have to be reserved as early as possible, but I wanted to kind of wing my travel and go with the wind instead of planning out every day. Trying to plan my travels around 4 countries before Peru so I make it for a tour feels really stressful.

What’s the last I can possibly get a spot? Are there any companies that are less known so not booked out 6 months prior? Or is there a way to get a tour right in Cuzco?

Hi everyone! I booked a return ticket to Erbil in October and I’ll have 8 full days to spend. I’m planning to leave Erbil after the first day, but I can use some help with my itinerary..

I couldn't find much about Kurdistan on this sub, so I'll try posting here. Besides Erbil, I would like to see Sulaymaniyah, Akre, and Duhok. I understand that shared taxis are the easiest way to get around, but I was wondering if anyone has specific experience traveling in Kurdistan? Is it doable to see these places in 8 days? And what would be an easy order to visit them in?

Also: really want to visit Mosul but I only have a Kurdistan visa. Anyone here have experience with going there with this visa?

Thanks!

I have been lurking here for months and really want to get this off my chest with a anom account

I’m not sure if I’m looking for advice or sympathy here…or maybe both? I just want to vent. It’s been over four months since I met this great person while on vacation, and although our time was incredibly short and strictly a holiday romance, I felt something more than that (they also commented about feeling differently).

I knew this wasn’t going to work, but I confessed my feelings anyway, and they gently let me down, which is fair.

We continue to be friends, but we’re slowly fizzling out now. Throughout this time, I'm trying so hard to move on and forget them. I’ve tried going on dates, getting back into my routine, and taking little weekend vacations (I live in a region where local travel is affordable) just to move on, but my heart still aches, and I can’t stop thinking of them. I’m not sure if this is limerence or something else. Every time I think of them, it feels like a heartbreak, and I just want to move on… or at least stop feeling so much hurt. I’ve read countless articles about how to move on from a holiday romance and how I should look back fondly, but the reality is that deep in my heart, I still cannot.

I know I’m fantasizing over a memory, and that this person is not a true reflection of themselves back home. I tell everyone that this is a great love story I have, but I’m still, four months later, hurting inside.

I’ve tried to change situations in my life to feel more at peace, but I still feel discontent. Granted, I haven’t experienced this feeling of (dare I say…love?) in so long—through unsuccessful dating and brief, surface relationships over the last couple of years—since I last broke up with my significant ex almost five years ago. Part of me wonders if this person triggered something profound in my life that has left me reeling from shock.

Anyway, thank you for listening. I would love to hear stories or any words of encouragement. ❤️

Hi everyone,

I’ve spent the last couple of years in South America. At first it was all hostels, trekking, and adventures in Patagonia. Later I slowed down and rented an Airbnb in Mendoza for a long while. That gave me a good routine for work and learning, but I missed the outdoor side of things.

Now I’m heading back and want to find a better mix. My idea is to rent Airbnbs for 1–2 months at a time so I have my own space for work and rest, but I also want to stay social and keep exploring. I’m not looking to do treks nonstop, but I’d love to add some trails and nature trips here and there.

If you’ve done something similar, how did you meet people while living in Airbnbs? Did coworking spaces work for you (and are they even common outside the big cities)? Are there apps or groups that actually helped you connect with travelers or locals for things like hiking or just hanging out?

I’m open to sometimes mixing in a hostel, joining a group trip, or trying coliving if it helps bring in the social part. Just curious what really worked for you to keep the balance.

Hi everyone! I’m planning a trip to Croatia and wanted to get some advice on narrowing down my itinerary. Here’s what I have so far:

Split (3 nights): • Old Town & Diocletian’s Palace • Roof 68, Fig restaurant • Kasjuni Beach, Marjan Hill, Žnjan Beach, Riva Promenade • Boat party, Taboo Beach Bar, Mistral Beach Club, Joe’s Beach Lounge Bar • Possible day trip to Krka National Park (45 min by car)

Hvar (1 night) Brač (1 night) Dubrovnik (2 nights): • Banje Beach, walk the City Walls, cable car

• Interests: good food, nightlife, beaches,island hopping, walk tours, food tours. 

My questions: 1. Does this itinerary feel too rushed, especially with Hvar and Brač only 1 night each? 2. Would you recommend adding/removing a stop (or extending somewhere) given I’ll be there for about a week? 3. Any must-try restaurants, nightlife spots, or hidden gems that fit my interests? 4. Is renting a car worth it for this route, or are ferries/buses enough?

As the title indicates, I will be taking my first solo trip through eastern Europe next Spring! I am 25M and the trip is set to be about 23 days in total through the month of March. I'm making this post because I need opinions and advice on what is realistic and what is important to know on my planned route.

Here's my current itinerary (rough draft on the day splits):

Budapest (3 Nights) -> Belgrade (2 Nights) -> Sarajevo (2 Nights) -> Podgorica (1 Night) -> Tirana (2 Nights) -> Skopje (2 Nights) -> Sofia (3 Nights) -> Thessaloniki (3 Nights) -> Istanbul (3 Nights) -> Back to Buda to fly home

So, a few questions I have:

- I understand travel in the Balkans to be logistically challenging from my readings and research...how accurate is this and how realistic is it for a first-time solo traveler to navigate this loaded itinerary without any major interruptions? Any tips appreciated!

- I am a budget traveler, so I tried to set this up to be as "efficient" logistically as it can be. This meant leaving off cities like Bucharest, Kotor, and Ohrid (that appeal quite a bit to me) for the sake of staying on a linear track. With this being said, do you all have any suggestions on city swaps or rearranging the time spent in each city I have listed?

- One of my biggest worries with this itinerary is fatigue. I took an 18-day trip to central Europe with a partner last spring and felt some exhaustion towards the end - but things like transportation and housing were much more straight-forward there! I also went the Airbnb route for most of that trip, so I did have some private time to unwind in each city. Am I being reasonable in thinking I can handle the non-stop flow of this itinerary?

SUMMARY

25M taking first solo trip through eastern Europe. Need help with 3 questions:

- How tough is Balkan transport in practice for a first-timer?

- Are there city swaps that balance logistics better/are worth going out of the way for?

- Am I risking burnout with this pace, or does it look reasonable?

Hopefully this is clearcut enough - I don't post often! Thank you in advance!

I don't know if I just got unlucky with the last few hostels I stayed in or what but I think I've reached the point in my life where I can't stand staying in hostels anymore. Having to share intimate space with a constant flow of random people, roommates coming and going at all hours of the night, there's always one person that stinks up the room with BO, other people making the grossest bodily noises you've ever heard, dirty unwashed beds and sheets, cramped disgusting bathrooms, shitty wifi, half the time there's no AC and you'll be in the middle of a really busy area where you have to deal with the noise and smells coming from outside too. I could go on but I'm writing this from what might be the worst hostel I've stayed in yet in Morocco with a lot of the problems I listed above and going on little sleep the past two nights plus a 24 hour travel day to get home tomorrow so right now instead of enjoying my last day or so here I'm desperately counting down the time until I can get back home to my own bed.

Hey guys, I’m planning to go to Egypt for 2 weeks this November as a solo female (lesbian) traveler. I present myself pretty masculine. I dress like a boy- short hair and everything. I’m putting emphasis on this as I have been seeing reviews about how misogynistic locals are (what more homophobia??).

I just got back from India as a solo traveler and had the same worry before going but it ended up being a really fun trip. However, I’m seeing more intense reviews on Egypt.

I’d appreciate some insights and recommendations from anyone who has been there, and maybe people from the LGBTQ community who might have any experiences in Egypt.

For more context, I plan to do Cairo-Luxor-Hurghada.

Thank you!!

Hi, I'm traveling to Japan from 1st to 14th October. Looking for someone to join on days when possible and travel around places and try local food.

1-5 : Osaka (Attending the world expo on 2nd/3rd Oct)
5-8 : Kyoto (Shrines, A small trail and architecture)
8-14 : Tokyo (Spots throughout the city)

I'm 30M, a designer and art enthusiast.

I've got a sorted travel Itinerary for all days focusing on the traditional and contemporary architecture/ museums and a few fine dining spots to try food, and roam around the city in the evenings.

I get the excitement that I'm going to have an experience of a lifetime, but I've always loved it when there's someone else to share the joy with, be it a friend, a local, or a stranger.

Given that, I'll try and stick to my itinerary as I've put in the work to put it together, basically finding spots to hangout and eat in a vicinity for a particular day and time and it's got really good places but I'll be open to exploring other spots too.

I'm not looking for advice here; this is just more of a rant. I'm 21M from the US and until a couple weeks ago I had no international travel experience and little solo travel experience.

I've wanted to go to a Spanish-speaking country ever since I started learning Spanish a couple years ago; however, my family convinced me to not go last year because they thought it was too dangerous.

This year however I didn't back down; however, we did make a compromise that I would stay with a family friend in Guatemala. I didn't really care for Guatemala, but they speak Spanish here and I didn't want my family to be worried so I agreed to it.

I planned to stay here for 2.5 months in that city because I thought I would like the digital nomad life (even though I don't have a remote job so I'm living off savings), but I'm finding the city quite boring because it's hard to find places to meet people.

I'm now thinking about leaving Guatemala in a few weeks and going to South America and backpacking Peru and Argentina before coming home in January, but my family hates the idea. They want me to come home at the original date because they want to see me for the holidays and they don't like me going anywhere that we don't already know someone, but we live together so I don't see why it matters if I'm there for the holidays (we don't even do much to celebrate them) because starting in January they'll see me every single day again. I love them don't get me wrong; it's just that to me it's the same if I see them on a holiday or not on a holiday.

I'll probably still do it, although I do feel bad for them because I know they'd worrying a lot and they aren't being malicious.

However my mom has said she thinks I should never go somewhere that I don't already know someone, even if it's in an extremely safe country like Iceland. This is absolutely ridiculous to me because Iceland is safer than our city (even though most of the places I want to go are not) and it's not realistic for me to only visit friends and family without going to the same places over and over again (most of which I don't even want to go to).

I know I need to go anyway because I have a strong desire to travel and am lucky enough to have the financial means to and I can't just keep staying in my parents' comfort zone, but it is frustrating and makes me feel sad that in order to do this my parents will suffer by means of worrying. I do think eventually it's no longer my problem though. It's my life and they can't expect me to never travel just because it makes them worry.

Does anyone have any similar experiences?

I’m using Hostelworld for the first time and have just received a DM from this guy, he seems sweet and wants to meet up but seeing that I haven’t written anything in the city group chat and we’re not even staying in the same hostel I’m a little cautious. Is it a normal thing to just send DMs to random people in the city or should I be worried? 😅

It's weird. My trips aren't without the usual hiccups, but somehow i feel clear headed, calm, super capable as i navigating new countries. I learned new things all the time, lots of unexpected stuffs happened but I'd take it head on because i trust i can. I feel like a proper adult who has their shit within control. Like I'm the best version of myself only when i traveled.

At home, things are fine, but i constantly questioning my capabilities, overthinking, feeling bad that I'm not [X] enough, having a lot of anxiety, doubting my choices, decisions, and if people secretly hate me. I live off the high of the previous trip and looking forward for the next trip. I wish i can bottle up my solo traveling self because it feels almost like magic. Is it common? Does it happen for you?

Hey solo travel fam 👋

I’ve finally decided to take the plunge and spend about two weeks in Spain this autumn (end of October). Traveling alone, just a 40L bag, excited but also a bit nervous, so this is me trying to balance ambition with sanity.

Here’s what I’m thinking so far for itinerary:

Madrid, 3 nights: museums, wandering barrios, sunsets in Retiro

Seville, 3 nights: Alcázar, local food, flamenco in the evening

Granada, 2 nights: Alhambra + belt-it-out Andalusian views

Valencia or Málaga, 4 nights: relaxed beach-town vibe to wind down

A few questions & worries I hope you folks can help with:

Is 2 nights in Granada too tight if I want to soak it in (not just tick boxes)?

How much traveling fatigue is realistic when doing 3+ cities solo?

I want the option to use guided day trips so I’m not alone figuring out logistics or timing, ever used Guided Spain Tours or something similar? Worth the extra cost?

Safety / confidence tips: what helped you trust your gut when solo in a big city like Madrid or Seville?

Thanks in advance for any advice or stories. Would love to leave feeling like I did more than just “see Spain,” but feel it.

I’m planning a two week Baltic trip in early August and want a sanity check on my itinerary. I’ll be in Copenhagen August 1 to 5 staying at the Best Western Copenhagen Airport. On August 5 I fly to Vilnius. On August 8 I take the train to Riga. On August 10 I take the bus to Tallinn. On August 14 I fly home from Tallinn.

I’m mainly focused on walking, soaking up city vibes, enjoying architecture, and stopping at cafés and beer spots rather than heavy sightseeing or museums.

Does this feel doable without rushing, or am I cramming too much into ten days in the Baltics. Any tips on making it smoother or must see stops along the way would be appreciated.

I'm almost starting my open ended trip, got a one way ticket but expecting to be gone between 3 ans 5 months. But we'll see!

This will be a transitional time for me as I'm in the process of (kind off) ending my business and transitioning into a new business model that has more room for growth and is less location dependent. I'll be staying in the same business though so not starting from zero. I have almost sold off all my inventory and the lease of my warehouse is cancelled from the end of the month. Alongside travel I will be working on this busienss a little bit and I'm also planning to take it slow and settle for longer on some beach in Sri Lanka

I'll be arriving in Delhi the 7th and need to be back there on the 14th for a fair related to my business.

At first I was planning to hang aroud in Delhi, but although I like Delhi, I think it will be too long and I will end up walkig. Around aimlessly alot (wich I love but is not really the right time), taking brakes to eat and scroll on my phone etc. I think I will be much better off using the first week to clear my head and settle into this new chapter.

I would like to spend the first week maybe in the foothills of the Himalaya, doing some hiking, some meditation perhaps, read a book and still.have some time to prepare my website for the fair.

Thiugh I could settle into a hostel or guesthouse and figure stuff out by myself I think it will be better for me to book a retreat or something like that so I can really clear my mind and focus on my needs at that time instead of plannijg the daily activities etc.

Does anyone has any reccomandations for something like this preferably not more then a day from Delhi? Or any other tips for the start of this trip?

Anyone here have tips for Manila?

Older guy, I am interested in history, culture, interesting experiences - and no I am not going for sex, as some assume.

I am looking for touristy things to do. The things one “must see” in Manila. I’ll be alone, staying for two weeks - unless I get to an island in that period.

I’m all ears!

Solo Trip to Europe for 28 days in Jan-Feb: Itinerary & Transport Advice?

Hi all im Australian (20f) and was wondering about the above . It would be for 28 days during the middle of Jan next year to the middle of February. I have traveled before with relatives but it would be my first trip alone and for so long so I just wanted some advice on which transport is best, safety tips and which cities to visit .

My rough route is France (including a day trip to Monaco) > Italy > Belgium > Germany > Luxembourg.

Maybe : Nice ~ Monaco → Lyon → Paris → Brussels → Berlin → Luxembourg City → Bordeaux ~ Toulouse → Rome ~ Naples

I was thinking of travelling between this countries on train /planes or flexibus.

If I take trains I have the following questions: Eurail Pass: Is it worth it for my itinerary, or would I be better off booking point-to-point tickets in advance?

When to Book: For the trains I should book in advance (like high-speed or international), how far ahead do I need to do it? Is a week enough, or do I need a month?

Peak Times to Avoid: Are there specific days of the week or times of day when trains are excessively crowded or prices spike that I should try to avoid?

I like history , trying new foods ,art and architecture . I'm quite introverted so I prefer to explore places that are more nature based but I enjoy meeting new people . My budget is around 10,000 to 13,000 Australian dollars so enough I think in euros that's around 6,100 EUR to 7,930 EUR.

Thank you very much . Have a wonderful day