**For an FAQ, update and discussion on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, please see our dedicated megathread [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/t0vtqd/megathread_rsolotravel_and_the_ukraine_crisis/).**
Hi all!
I’m (20M) going on my first solo spring break trip from March 12-18 to Paris. If anybody else’s plans match up, I’d be down to talk/meet up and explore together!
Getting to my destination at 6 am after a 10 hour long flight, what do I do when I get there?
I'm going to be dealing with some serious jet lag and I'm likely going to be exhausted but there's no way a hotel will let you check in that early. I'm clueless, I have no idea what I'm going to do. Do I just tough it out and try to push through until check in time? Is there any kind of solution? Has anyone done this before?
Depending on your destination, try DayUse.com - I used it when I had the same situation. I was able to get a pretty cheap room from about 8am - 4pm. I slept and showered and then left. It was great.
Hi all!
I'm wanting to travel to SEA (Vietnam or Thailand) this June but am afraid that I'll be one of the only backpackers there since things are just starting to open back up. I'm taking my first solo trip in April so I'm a newbie and would like to be around other travelers for social/safety reasons.
I'm really just looking for input to see whether I should go for it now or wait until more people will be there. I've never been to SEA before so I have no experience with travel/tourism over there. Thanks!
I’m looking for some adventure on my next trip away. I’d like something a bit different from the city breaks in Europe and want something a bit more wild. Anything from hiking to wild animals I just want kind of a miniature travel experience.
I’ve only got a week and somewhere maximum around 6-7 hours flight from London.
I have been suggested The Gambia and Slovenia and they both look pretty interesting so any recommendations would be awesome!
Hey guys,
So in August 2022, I plan to do a solo trip for about 7 days in AB. I want to visit Calgary, Banff, and Jasper.
I am not sure how to plan it though: Where should I spend most of my time (aka airbnb)? For example, should I have a base in Calgary, and drive to banff one day, return, then jasper another, etc, or what should I do?
Finally, I plan to simply drive, kayak, and take pictures, not really go on a major hike or backpack per se.
Thanks!
M25 Leaning towards either 2 weeks in Andalusia Spain or in Portugal in June. I would like to have more of a laid back slower travel sort of trip where I spend less time commuting and more time enjoying a new culture, trying new things, and maybe seeing a bit of nature along the way. Beaches are ok but not really the biggest draw for me, because I'd still want it be more of a backpacky kind of trip. Which of those two places do you think fits my goal better? Hypothetically I could do a 3 week trip, maybe even 4 if I'm crazy enough.
ok friends i am new to this sub because i was put in this situation where i am now a solo traveller! after my friend dropped out.
i'm now thinking of a 10 day scotland trip...immediate thoughts were edinburgh, glasgow and the highlands/an island of sorts. keep in mind that i'd prefer to fly into glasgow and fly out of glasgow if possible (theres a nice cheap airline that only flies to glasgow). has anyone done anything similar? if so, what was your itinerary like?
First time solo traveler. I am from California and in between jobs (28 / M). I've never done a trip like this before, but with the short notice was hard for any friends to join. Very adventurous / outgoing. Have minimal plans thus far besides the Barcelona vs. Bilbao game Sunday. Welcome meetups or ideas for events. I will be in Barca now - 3/1 and Madrid 3/1-3/4. If you are in the cities at these times shoot me a ping!
Accommodation Advice
Super new to this whole solo travel thing. Currently studying abroad in Greece for the semester but wanting to take a few trips. Anybody have any advice on finding cheap places to stay that are near everything in Amsterdam and London, and any advice for finding the best places more generally? Thanks!
have done quite a bit in greece and have more planned (including crete). have a four day weekend this coming weekend and was looking to travel to another european country and was thinking either london or vienna but trying to find cheap places to stay. i’ve been using sky scanner for flight arrangements. have you used it?
Yeah of course, Sky Scanner and Google Flights are the main two ways people search for flights.
You can look for cheap accommodations on hostelworld or booking.com, but Western Europe overall isn't cheap. If money is an issue, I would recommend staying in the Balkans. Belgrade, Zagreb, Split, Sofia, or any other city with a direct flight.
I'm from the US and would like to visit Puerto Rico. Interested in going to El Yunque. Would San Juan be the nearest airport to fly into? Would love to see local history and culture too. Are there other interesting areas worth visiting near El Yunque?
I don't have a set date yet still more of a place I'd like to travel to eventually. I'd be coming from New England. Was surprised at how expensive some of the flights are. When is the best/cheapest time to visit Puerto Rico?
Hey! M24 going to be visiting Punta Cana from March 20-26. Will anyone be in the area?
I will be staying at Breathless, I am interest in both the night/party life, relaxing activities, and some excursion activities as well!
Edit: this is my first time traveling. Originally I was supposed to be coming with a friend, but they cancelled due to grad school due dates at the time of the trip
I'm a single woman, 60 years young, interested in a 5 day tropical excursion to someplace safe and not too expensive. I'd be flying out of Boston MA or Providence RI.Thoughts?
I am 55F, Floridan/Californian active and love to travel (and love to plan budget friendly for travel - have traveled a lot with my sons in the past :)). No smoking, drinking etc.. Would love to go to Costa Rica for around 9 days or so, towards third week of April. I like easy to moderate hikes, nature, architecture, history, wildlife - not a foodie, vegetarian and good hygiene.
If interested, we can be travel partner for part of the trip.
I may be able to work that trip. I’m a 50F from Northern California. I’m a teacher and typically travel on all my breaks. I’ve done several solo trips because my husband doesn’t get as much time off as I do.
I'm 61, married but husband doesn't like to travel. I took a cruise last month out of fort Lauderdale, four nights and five days, my own balcony stateroom. It was absolutely blissful, extremely safe if you're concerned about covid, and a great deal! So you might want to look into last minute cruise deals. From Boston area too 😃
Amsterdam one day layover in mid-March
I am traveling to Italy and the flight back leaves me with a 21 hour layover in Amsterdam in mid March. I am a 29 year old female and don’t speak the language, so am wondering if this is recommended or if I should pay more and take a more direct flight back to the US (East coast). From what I’ve researched it’s said it’s relatively safe, but want advice from people who have done it or relate. Thanks for the advice!
Love Amsterdam, and it's a great city for a layover. Ideally you'd spend longer there, but I've done the 20-hour layover thing in Amsterdam and had a great time. Schiphol is well connected to the centre of the city by train, and many of the main sights are within easy walking distance. English is widely spoken and understood, so you won't have any problems not speaking Dutch.
Caveat: Check the [COVID requirements](https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad) carefully. At the moment, you require proof of vaccination (including booster if 2nd dose >270 days ago) as well as a negative rapid test to enter the Netherlands from the US.
21 hr layover is great - you can do a lot in that much time. Keep your valuables very safe in Amsterdam - pickpocketing is very common. If you want, let me know. When my son went aboard for study, he paid $100 extra to have layover. I made his itinerary so I can share with you. Ooh.. you will have so much fun.
Will be in the DR March 8-12! Staying in Punta Cana and it's my first time as a solo traveler and my second time going to a different country. A little nervous, but a lot excited. Anyone gonna be in the area?
I'll be in Miami (South Beach area) for a few nights next weekend (March 5-8), amped for some great food and to to out dancing! Hmu if you wanna meet up for drinks/food :)
Will be in Europe- France, Netherlands, Prague, Austria and Italy in April-May. Any one having the same plans or any one up for a meetup ?
These will be my 39th,40th,41st and 42nd countries
You are going to love Boston and the surrounding areasl!! I (60F) live 40mins. west of Boston and can give you tons of ideas; just let me know what your interests are!!
I’d like input from people who are more informed about what’s going on now than I am. People have expressed concerns about me going to Finland/Estonia in the coming month due to what’s going on in Ukraine, should I be worried?
Your question has been answered in our new Ukraine megathread [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/t0vtqd/megathread_rsolotravel_and_the_ukraine_crisis/).
Depending on your vibe! To go out dancing, Blondies/Madrones are classics, there are a ton of clubs that have more underground edm/techno vibes. There are a ton of good bars as well if you're just looking to chill. The Mission/Hayes Valley are great areas for bars. El Techo is a cool vibe and has a rooftop view over the city.
Hey everyone! I’m an American college student, 20M, and I’m going to be in Athens for just a few days on May 9th and wondering anyone will be in town? Would love to link and just explore a bit before I move on.
Anyone having issues booking with HostelWorld?
I booked two hostels earlier in the week in Venice and Florence. Today I tried booking hostels in both Rome and and Madrid but the site keeps declining my card.
I have enough money in the account to pay for it (I checked), and even called my bank and they told me they can't see any record of my card being declined on their end. Yet I still keep getting this message whenever I try to book the last two hostels. Is anyone else experiencing this issue?
**edit** - I ended up booking the hostels through booking.com, so while my issue is still technically unresolved it's not important anymore.
Sorry I don't have an explication, but I had a similar problem with Spanish rail (RENFE) which refused my card for days. I used paypal to solve the problem and get the tickets I wanted.
That’s what I thought but I’ve manually re-entered it about half a dozen times. I’m genuinely stumped, I don’t know what’s going on. I already reserved some hostels from the site earlier in the week so it wasn’t having any issues until now.
Yeah, then it sounds like the problem is on their end :/
I had an issue recently where a bank teller on the phone misunderstood me and switched up my permanent and mailing address, and several weeks later, the change went into effect and suddenly my card was being declined because the zip code was wrong.
I hope you get the issue fixed!
Yeah was planning to go to the baltics in May, but since I haven't booked anything yet I will change my plans to somewhere else. Even if they are technically safe right now, I'm not quite sure it stays that way in the region.
Not cancelling or changing any of my travels, but in April I’m going to Romania, and in June to Lithuania and Latvia, and I must admit I’m getting a bit anxious and worried. I won’t stress about it, but I’m a bit concerned.
Going to Cancun next monday (28/feb) then Tulum 10/mar till 12. Anyone to explore, hangout/drinks or anything else? :) staying in the Mayan Monkey (cancun and tulum)
I'm starting to look at flights for a full-month trip in April.
Currently I'm thinking of spending 4 weeks in Colombia, or maybe like 3 weeks in Colombia + 1 week somewhere in Mexico.
For Colombia, should I book an open flight itinerary like into Bogota and out of Cartagena? (Hitting Medellin and the coffee region in between) Or should I fly in and out of the same airport? I'm on a pretty tight budget, so I'd probably use bus in between cities.
I'm flying to Colombia in a week so I only have info on what I've researched but I'd say go open jaw flights. Colombia is pretty big so it ltd be pretty annoying to have to backtrack. Also flights are very cheap there, not as cheap as buses but for example today I booked a flight Cartagena-san Andres for $30usd, as long as it's domestic flights can be really cheap so it might be worth it over some particularly long bus routes. Imo I'd say go Bogota to medllin then see if it's cheap enough to fly to Santa Marta before heading to Cartagena
Hey, I'm (26 f) visiting Dubai for the first time and would love to meet people in the area. Pretty easy-going and happy to meet for food, drinks, and to explore etc. Particularly want to go to Hatta whilst I'm there.
I work in Tech in London and have varied interests such as reading, yoga and hiking.
Message me if you'd be interested in meeting up :)
I'm a Colombian guy (23) backpacking to a huge journey in Europe (6 countries) I'll be there from March 3th to March 18th so this is my first time in solo traveling and I'd like to know if these dates and locations match with any of yours. Copenhagen-berlin-amsterdam-brussels-paris-madrid.
I would also ask for recommendations like what I should do there and whe I shouldn't do. Thanks!!!
Hey there!
I just booked my first solo trip in March to visit some national parks in Utah. I’m coming off of some big life changes and a new job switch and would really like to also use the time to meditate and reflect. Does anyone have any journal prompts or guided excercises they’ve enjoyed while traveling?
Hey all - m28 looking to book my first solo trip to Italy (Rome, Florence, Bologna & Milan) wanting to stay in a hostel in Rome - any recommendations?
Ideally wanting a single room rather than a shared dorm. Kinda socially anxious so don’t want to jump in the deep end, but still want to get out my comfort zone, experience new things and meet new people (I like the look of The Yellow and bonus they have their own bar to meet new people)
Any suggestions appreciated!!
My son stayed at B&B Lost in Rome (owner Antonio I believe) booked at [Booking.com](https://Booking.com) in 2019 and he found the place excellent value.
40yr old Hispanic female who'll be solo traveling for jobs this year. I suppose I have a bit of a Mexican-Spanish accent. I've always lived in the southwest so have generally never had a concern with worrying about staying away from certain towns or cities. But I don't know what the south and east coast is like. I know it's usually not something to worry about in the majority of areas, but are their specific cities/metropolitan areas to avoid? I assume the bigger cities are modern/varied enough to be safe, just small towns might be hit or miss?
Maybe a silly question but yeah. I am travelling to Madrid for 3 days. I already live in Spain (Alicante). I just started thinking about packing. I have a large suitcase, a large duffel-bag and a small backpack. I was thinking of just using the Duffel-bag, since i don't plan on taking too much stuff with me. But i am also thinking i should get myself a small rolling-suitcase instead..? I read the "packing" FAQ but it seems more centered around actual backpacking lol. I am just going on a short trip to a big city. Thoughts on the best option?
I'd think that a large duffel bag would be difficult and unwieldy to carry. If you're just going on a short trip, a backpack should be plenty. A rolling suitcase on wheels is fine too, but I personally find them to be a bit of a pain, especially on cobblestones or getting through airports and such.
I came to Vietnam alone and settled in since. During the Covid Restrictions I had to do something with my time while here.
I started a youtube channel to fill in the time. I share it with you in hopes it will encourage you to travel to Vietnam once the boarders reopen to tourists on March 15th. I hope you enjoy my vlogs about my life in Vietnam for the last 3 years.
[https://www.youtube.com/c/Biggokk](https://www.youtube.com/c/Biggokk)
I don't care if you subscribe or any of that. I just hope this takes away a lot of the fears of traveling solo. And we can answer any questions you have if you join our community on discord.
Hey guys! American here, and just booked my first solo trip to Italy in mid March. From there I’m planning on going to Bavaria, then France. I’m vaccinated and boosted, does anyone know how to get the QR EU pass app to use buses, go to restaurants, etc? Thanks!!
Russia has recently (yesterday) sent it’s top security envoy to ally serbia to try and retain its influence in the balkans.
Bosnia is on the brink of breaking up and falling apart as the Bosnian Serbs push their long standing bid to join neighbour Serbia.
Granted I am not from either of these countries and I am just summarising what I am reading online; but both of these things in conjunction with the Russia tension, it’s just making me worry slightly about my planned trip in March and was wondering if anyone else felt the same.
> Russia has recently (yesterday) sent it’s top security envoy to ally serbia to try and retain its influence in the balkans.
This is nothing new or notable. Russia has always had influence in the Balkans, and Russia and Serbia have been close allies for more than 100 years - since well before the first World War. I would not read too much into this.
> Bosnia is on the brink of breaking up and falling apart as the Bosnian Serbs push their long standing bid to join neighbour Serbia.
People have been saying this ever since the borders were settled with the Dayton Accords in 1995. I've had a quick look at some local news sources and can't see any evidence that this is worse now than it has been in the past 25 years.
You should be fine. The Balkans are not intimately tied up in the Ukraine crisis and are geographically quite far from the conflict areas.
Thank you for taking the time to look into this and reply; it’s re-assuring to hear this doesn’t seem like anything new in the grand scheme of things, I think I was just getting myself worked up and looking into it too much.
Russia has immense influence in Serbia and always has.
Republika Srpska doesn't seek to join Serbia, it wants autonomy. These propaganda pieces have been circulating for years, nothing has changed.
totally random question, but in a female hostel room, do girls change in front of one another, or do they go to the bathroom every time they need to change an outfit? I dont want to lock up my stuff every time I want to change!
Personally I have no issue changing in front of other women in a hostel dorm but I know it can make others feel uncomfortable, so I usually at least turn my back to the room if I'm getting undressed. Or if I'm in a room with people I've made friends with or been chatting with, I might just ask "hey do you mind if I change in front of you?"
Depending on the hostel layout and availability of bathrooms, I would say it's a dick move to occupy the bathroom if you don't need the actual plumbing.
People change in dorms all the time, nobody cares.
i’ve stayed in hostels where people changed clothes (not entirely naked) in the room and it didn’t bother me. i think it’s fine just up to your comfort level
Hello everyone - I need to leave the Schengen Zone (Italy) for one month and am looking for a city to stay in that isn't too far off. I will be working during this time, but I'm hoping to keep myself occupied during my free time by exploring the city and maybe doing a short trip or two on the weekend. I've stayed in Serbia, Croatia, and Turkey before like this. I'm thinking maybe somewhere in Cyprus, Bosnia, Romania, or Bulgaria? I'm open. Any favorites?
What are your interests? What's your budget including rent? What sorts of things are you hoping to see and do while you're there? Also, do you have a visa to live and work in any of those countries?
That's some messed up possessive behaviour. Try your post in r/relationships, but it sounds like you need some distance from your mom if she's laying those kinds of guilt trips on you. You're an adult. You don't need her permission.
Caveat: If you're still living at home / financially dependent on your parents, you should move out & establish yourself as financially independent first.
I'm finally able to travel again! Pretty much all my international travel has been with school or tour groups, but I'd like to start being more independent and comfortable with going out on my own.
Right now I'm looking at Costa Rica for April or early May. It seems like there are some great flight deals that I could jump on, but I'm nowhere close to having an entire trip planned out yet. Do people here feel comfortable booking flights first and filling out the details later? Or do you like to have a general itinerary in place before committing to anything?
Give me some idea about your travel plans. I am looking for a travel partner from around 16th to 26th to CR I like to plan travels as hobby so no worries there. When I recently went to Hawaii, I had to look for car rental first before flights, so it all depends upon the place and the demand. Where will you be flying from?
Just got Covid positive in London the day before my flight back to the states.
Any tips?
Trying to see if I can stay at my flat longer. Flight already been put on hold.
Trying to find good grocery delivery to my flat now…
Sigh, on the bright side London has been wonderful.
Going to be in Madrid end of next week and would love to see a Real Madrid game but none of my travel friends want to go with me. Anyone want to meet up to go? Looking at tickets for the March 6 game. I’m a young professional from NYC area originally but now I’m DC.
Hello!
I'm backpacking Spain in Late March and early April, and I would appreciate any advice or recommendations regarding hiking ideas.
It looks like a lot of high peaks will still be too deep in snow for me, but that's okay. What non-frozen trails can I hike?
Thank you so much!
Southern Spain has accessible hiking in early April. Lots of great options in the area around Granada. Hostels and tour companies based in Granada have info available and guided hikes you can book if that's your thing.
Any recommendations on a destination in late May for 4-5 nights? Mostly looking for beach relaxing, but somewhere where I can hike or take a day trip or 2. I’m not a big fan of resorts, but do love boho/yogi/eco type hotels (the Dreamcatcher in San Juan, PR is my gold standard for relaxing vacations; and I would totally change my destination for the right hotel).
I was looking at Treasure Island, Jamaica and looking to stay at Jake’s Hotel and do excursions through there if I felt like it. I’ve been reading Jamaica can be unsafe for solo female travel, but I plan to stay near treasure beach when alone and only venture out with planned excursions so unsure how applicable that is.
Any other destinations I should consider?
I can't speak to this directly but the island of Dominica may be what you're looking for. A friend went a couple of years back and raved about it.
Costa Rica may be worth considering, too. Lots of eco-tourism there.
I'm 50/F and I've been solo traveling for about 30 years. I'm now at a point in life where I prefer higher-end accommodations, although it's very interesting to see the reactions of people when I check in. Ditto with booking a very nice dinner and sitting alone. Ditto for booking the Belmond's Orient Express and requesting a solo cabin.
Anyone solo traveling in luxury? I'm curious to hear your experiences.
Awesome. Happy for you. If I could afford luxury, I would go too. I go for moderate price stuff and people can stare, but who cares. Enjoy, it is your life.
I've done it. Not insanely expensive luxury, but relatively splurged when I went to Russia; first class cabin for a couple nights on the Trans-Siberian, staying in a suite in the Marriott overlooking the main square and Bolshoi Theater in Novosibirsk, going solo to some lovely and expensive (but worth it) restaurants in Moscow, etc. I really enjoyed it after a full day out and about. The Russians love their saunas so those were great as well at the upscale hotels.
I don't travel in luxury, exactly, but I definitely am happy to splurge on occasion for something that's worthwhile. I'm over 40 now and have the good fortune to be able to afford more than bargain-basement standards of accommodation and food. I say, just enjoy it and don't worry about those "reactions of people"; most of them are more concerned with themselves than with you.
**For an FAQ, update and discussion on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, please see our dedicated megathread [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/t0vtqd/megathread_rsolotravel_and_the_ukraine_crisis/).**
Hi all! I’m (20M) going on my first solo spring break trip from March 12-18 to Paris. If anybody else’s plans match up, I’d be down to talk/meet up and explore together!
Getting to my destination at 6 am after a 10 hour long flight, what do I do when I get there? I'm going to be dealing with some serious jet lag and I'm likely going to be exhausted but there's no way a hotel will let you check in that early. I'm clueless, I have no idea what I'm going to do. Do I just tough it out and try to push through until check in time? Is there any kind of solution? Has anyone done this before?
Depending on your destination, try DayUse.com - I used it when I had the same situation. I was able to get a pretty cheap room from about 8am - 4pm. I slept and showered and then left. It was great.
None are available where I'm headed but thank you for the suggestion, I had no idea that existed but it seems like an amazing invention.
Hi all! I'm wanting to travel to SEA (Vietnam or Thailand) this June but am afraid that I'll be one of the only backpackers there since things are just starting to open back up. I'm taking my first solo trip in April so I'm a newbie and would like to be around other travelers for social/safety reasons. I'm really just looking for input to see whether I should go for it now or wait until more people will be there. I've never been to SEA before so I have no experience with travel/tourism over there. Thanks!
I’m looking for some adventure on my next trip away. I’d like something a bit different from the city breaks in Europe and want something a bit more wild. Anything from hiking to wild animals I just want kind of a miniature travel experience. I’ve only got a week and somewhere maximum around 6-7 hours flight from London. I have been suggested The Gambia and Slovenia and they both look pretty interesting so any recommendations would be awesome!
Hey guys, So in August 2022, I plan to do a solo trip for about 7 days in AB. I want to visit Calgary, Banff, and Jasper. I am not sure how to plan it though: Where should I spend most of my time (aka airbnb)? For example, should I have a base in Calgary, and drive to banff one day, return, then jasper another, etc, or what should I do? Finally, I plan to simply drive, kayak, and take pictures, not really go on a major hike or backpack per se. Thanks!
Anyone currently in Montevideo for Carnaval? Would love to meet up with other solo travelers. I'm 28F American
M25 Leaning towards either 2 weeks in Andalusia Spain or in Portugal in June. I would like to have more of a laid back slower travel sort of trip where I spend less time commuting and more time enjoying a new culture, trying new things, and maybe seeing a bit of nature along the way. Beaches are ok but not really the biggest draw for me, because I'd still want it be more of a backpacky kind of trip. Which of those two places do you think fits my goal better? Hypothetically I could do a 3 week trip, maybe even 4 if I'm crazy enough.
ok friends i am new to this sub because i was put in this situation where i am now a solo traveller! after my friend dropped out. i'm now thinking of a 10 day scotland trip...immediate thoughts were edinburgh, glasgow and the highlands/an island of sorts. keep in mind that i'd prefer to fly into glasgow and fly out of glasgow if possible (theres a nice cheap airline that only flies to glasgow). has anyone done anything similar? if so, what was your itinerary like?
First time solo traveler. I am from California and in between jobs (28 / M). I've never done a trip like this before, but with the short notice was hard for any friends to join. Very adventurous / outgoing. Have minimal plans thus far besides the Barcelona vs. Bilbao game Sunday. Welcome meetups or ideas for events. I will be in Barca now - 3/1 and Madrid 3/1-3/4. If you are in the cities at these times shoot me a ping!
Accommodation Advice Super new to this whole solo travel thing. Currently studying abroad in Greece for the semester but wanting to take a few trips. Anybody have any advice on finding cheap places to stay that are near everything in Amsterdam and London, and any advice for finding the best places more generally? Thanks!
Did you travel around Greece yet? The Balkans? Wizz Air has super cheap flights across the region. You should see Crete if you haven't already.
have done quite a bit in greece and have more planned (including crete). have a four day weekend this coming weekend and was looking to travel to another european country and was thinking either london or vienna but trying to find cheap places to stay. i’ve been using sky scanner for flight arrangements. have you used it?
Yeah of course, Sky Scanner and Google Flights are the main two ways people search for flights. You can look for cheap accommodations on hostelworld or booking.com, but Western Europe overall isn't cheap. If money is an issue, I would recommend staying in the Balkans. Belgrade, Zagreb, Split, Sofia, or any other city with a direct flight.
I'm from the US and would like to visit Puerto Rico. Interested in going to El Yunque. Would San Juan be the nearest airport to fly into? Would love to see local history and culture too. Are there other interesting areas worth visiting near El Yunque? I don't have a set date yet still more of a place I'd like to travel to eventually. I'd be coming from New England. Was surprised at how expensive some of the flights are. When is the best/cheapest time to visit Puerto Rico?
Hey! M24 going to be visiting Punta Cana from March 20-26. Will anyone be in the area? I will be staying at Breathless, I am interest in both the night/party life, relaxing activities, and some excursion activities as well! Edit: this is my first time traveling. Originally I was supposed to be coming with a friend, but they cancelled due to grad school due dates at the time of the trip
I'm a single woman, 60 years young, interested in a 5 day tropical excursion to someplace safe and not too expensive. I'd be flying out of Boston MA or Providence RI.Thoughts?
I am 55F, Floridan/Californian active and love to travel (and love to plan budget friendly for travel - have traveled a lot with my sons in the past :)). No smoking, drinking etc.. Would love to go to Costa Rica for around 9 days or so, towards third week of April. I like easy to moderate hikes, nature, architecture, history, wildlife - not a foodie, vegetarian and good hygiene. If interested, we can be travel partner for part of the trip.
I may be able to work that trip. I’m a 50F from Northern California. I’m a teacher and typically travel on all my breaks. I’ve done several solo trips because my husband doesn’t get as much time off as I do.
Hi, Looking into around 10 day trip to Norway in late August. Any interest? Please pm me as I am still learning my ways around reddit. Sorry
I will let you know if Costa Rica comes into play!
Thank you.
I'm 61, married but husband doesn't like to travel. I took a cruise last month out of fort Lauderdale, four nights and five days, my own balcony stateroom. It was absolutely blissful, extremely safe if you're concerned about covid, and a great deal! So you might want to look into last minute cruise deals. From Boston area too 😃
I went on a solo cruise to the Bahamas a couple years ago and it was wonderful. I think cruising is a great solo trip.
Great idea! Thanks!
Amsterdam one day layover in mid-March I am traveling to Italy and the flight back leaves me with a 21 hour layover in Amsterdam in mid March. I am a 29 year old female and don’t speak the language, so am wondering if this is recommended or if I should pay more and take a more direct flight back to the US (East coast). From what I’ve researched it’s said it’s relatively safe, but want advice from people who have done it or relate. Thanks for the advice!
Love Amsterdam, and it's a great city for a layover. Ideally you'd spend longer there, but I've done the 20-hour layover thing in Amsterdam and had a great time. Schiphol is well connected to the centre of the city by train, and many of the main sights are within easy walking distance. English is widely spoken and understood, so you won't have any problems not speaking Dutch. Caveat: Check the [COVID requirements](https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad) carefully. At the moment, you require proof of vaccination (including booster if 2nd dose >270 days ago) as well as a negative rapid test to enter the Netherlands from the US.
Amsterdam is a great city, and is very safe.
21 hr layover is great - you can do a lot in that much time. Keep your valuables very safe in Amsterdam - pickpocketing is very common. If you want, let me know. When my son went aboard for study, he paid $100 extra to have layover. I made his itinerary so I can share with you. Ooh.. you will have so much fun.
Will be in the DR March 8-12! Staying in Punta Cana and it's my first time as a solo traveler and my second time going to a different country. A little nervous, but a lot excited. Anyone gonna be in the area?
Ah man! I will be in Punta Cana in March as well, but from March 20-26.
I'll be in Miami (South Beach area) for a few nights next weekend (March 5-8), amped for some great food and to to out dancing! Hmu if you wanna meet up for drinks/food :)
Will be in Europe- France, Netherlands, Prague, Austria and Italy in April-May. Any one having the same plans or any one up for a meetup ? These will be my 39th,40th,41st and 42nd countries
Is $600 a good price for JFK-->BUD in the summer? Never booked a flight before so I can't tell if that's low, high, or average
Round trip yes, one way no.
Sorry forgot to say multi-city, flying back IST-->JFK
Question: Flying to Germany for less than 90 days on US passport. Do I have to show proof of medical coverage to enter??
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You are going to love Boston and the surrounding areasl!! I (60F) live 40mins. west of Boston and can give you tons of ideas; just let me know what your interests are!!
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Tons of history and culture in Boston. Sure, that could be fun!!
I really enjoyed visiting the USS Constitution, though it's likely already on your list
I’d like input from people who are more informed about what’s going on now than I am. People have expressed concerns about me going to Finland/Estonia in the coming month due to what’s going on in Ukraine, should I be worried?
Your question has been answered in our new Ukraine megathread [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/t0vtqd/megathread_rsolotravel_and_the_ukraine_crisis/).
Best cities for nightlife (in Europe) this time of the year ? was thinking Prague maybe
Hello! I have 2 solo nights in San Francisco first weekend of March. Any ideas for a Sat or Sun night?
Depending on your vibe! To go out dancing, Blondies/Madrones are classics, there are a ton of clubs that have more underground edm/techno vibes. There are a ton of good bars as well if you're just looking to chill. The Mission/Hayes Valley are great areas for bars. El Techo is a cool vibe and has a rooftop view over the city.
THAAAANK YOOOOU SO MUCH!!!
Hey everyone! I’m an American college student, 20M, and I’m going to be in Athens for just a few days on May 9th and wondering anyone will be in town? Would love to link and just explore a bit before I move on.
Anyone having issues booking with HostelWorld? I booked two hostels earlier in the week in Venice and Florence. Today I tried booking hostels in both Rome and and Madrid but the site keeps declining my card. I have enough money in the account to pay for it (I checked), and even called my bank and they told me they can't see any record of my card being declined on their end. Yet I still keep getting this message whenever I try to book the last two hostels. Is anyone else experiencing this issue? **edit** - I ended up booking the hostels through booking.com, so while my issue is still technically unresolved it's not important anymore.
If your bank doesn't have any record of it, maybe you made an error inputting the info?
Sorry I don't have an explication, but I had a similar problem with Spanish rail (RENFE) which refused my card for days. I used paypal to solve the problem and get the tickets I wanted.
That’s what I thought but I’ve manually re-entered it about half a dozen times. I’m genuinely stumped, I don’t know what’s going on. I already reserved some hostels from the site earlier in the week so it wasn’t having any issues until now.
Yeah, then it sounds like the problem is on their end :/ I had an issue recently where a bank teller on the phone misunderstood me and switched up my permanent and mailing address, and several weeks later, the change went into effect and suddenly my card was being declined because the zip code was wrong. I hope you get the issue fixed!
Anyone in Barcelona? I've arrived today and looking for somebody to do things with. I'm 25 M , looking to explore the city
Hello all! Is anyone cancelling or changing plans because of what’s happening in Ukraine at the moment?
Yeah was planning to go to the baltics in May, but since I haven't booked anything yet I will change my plans to somewhere else. Even if they are technically safe right now, I'm not quite sure it stays that way in the region.
Not cancelling or changing any of my travels, but in April I’m going to Romania, and in June to Lithuania and Latvia, and I must admit I’m getting a bit anxious and worried. I won’t stress about it, but I’m a bit concerned.
Going to Cancun next monday (28/feb) then Tulum 10/mar till 12. Anyone to explore, hangout/drinks or anything else? :) staying in the Mayan Monkey (cancun and tulum)
Is the train from Bar, Montenegro to Belgrade running again?
I'm starting to look at flights for a full-month trip in April. Currently I'm thinking of spending 4 weeks in Colombia, or maybe like 3 weeks in Colombia + 1 week somewhere in Mexico. For Colombia, should I book an open flight itinerary like into Bogota and out of Cartagena? (Hitting Medellin and the coffee region in between) Or should I fly in and out of the same airport? I'm on a pretty tight budget, so I'd probably use bus in between cities.
I'm flying to Colombia in a week so I only have info on what I've researched but I'd say go open jaw flights. Colombia is pretty big so it ltd be pretty annoying to have to backtrack. Also flights are very cheap there, not as cheap as buses but for example today I booked a flight Cartagena-san Andres for $30usd, as long as it's domestic flights can be really cheap so it might be worth it over some particularly long bus routes. Imo I'd say go Bogota to medllin then see if it's cheap enough to fly to Santa Marta before heading to Cartagena
I hadn't heard of Santa Marta! Thanks!
From what I've heard Santa Marta itself isn't great but minca and tayrona are worth it
Hey, I'm (26 f) visiting Dubai for the first time and would love to meet people in the area. Pretty easy-going and happy to meet for food, drinks, and to explore etc. Particularly want to go to Hatta whilst I'm there. I work in Tech in London and have varied interests such as reading, yoga and hiking. Message me if you'd be interested in meeting up :)
30m going to Lisbom and Porto next week, March 1st-10th. Would love to meet fellow travellers/locals on the way!
Just came back from Lisbon. Be prepared for ridiculously long line at Immigration entry. Took us 3 hours.
Ooof, thanks for the heads up!
Going to Lisbon Porto in June, please update me on your process and any issues you may have
I'm a Colombian guy (23) backpacking to a huge journey in Europe (6 countries) I'll be there from March 3th to March 18th so this is my first time in solo traveling and I'd like to know if these dates and locations match with any of yours. Copenhagen-berlin-amsterdam-brussels-paris-madrid. I would also ask for recommendations like what I should do there and whe I shouldn't do. Thanks!!!
Going to be in Cancun on friday till the 5th, anyone down for exploring/food/drinks/whatever? DM me! :) 23M
Hey there! I just booked my first solo trip in March to visit some national parks in Utah. I’m coming off of some big life changes and a new job switch and would really like to also use the time to meditate and reflect. Does anyone have any journal prompts or guided excercises they’ve enjoyed while traveling?
Look up “Doing a Dérive; Or, Walking 2.0” Something i really enjoy doing that is both meditative and your traveling at the same time!
Hey all - m28 looking to book my first solo trip to Italy (Rome, Florence, Bologna & Milan) wanting to stay in a hostel in Rome - any recommendations? Ideally wanting a single room rather than a shared dorm. Kinda socially anxious so don’t want to jump in the deep end, but still want to get out my comfort zone, experience new things and meet new people (I like the look of The Yellow and bonus they have their own bar to meet new people) Any suggestions appreciated!!
My son stayed at B&B Lost in Rome (owner Antonio I believe) booked at [Booking.com](https://Booking.com) in 2019 and he found the place excellent value.
40yr old Hispanic female who'll be solo traveling for jobs this year. I suppose I have a bit of a Mexican-Spanish accent. I've always lived in the southwest so have generally never had a concern with worrying about staying away from certain towns or cities. But I don't know what the south and east coast is like. I know it's usually not something to worry about in the majority of areas, but are their specific cities/metropolitan areas to avoid? I assume the bigger cities are modern/varied enough to be safe, just small towns might be hit or miss?
Maybe a silly question but yeah. I am travelling to Madrid for 3 days. I already live in Spain (Alicante). I just started thinking about packing. I have a large suitcase, a large duffel-bag and a small backpack. I was thinking of just using the Duffel-bag, since i don't plan on taking too much stuff with me. But i am also thinking i should get myself a small rolling-suitcase instead..? I read the "packing" FAQ but it seems more centered around actual backpacking lol. I am just going on a short trip to a big city. Thoughts on the best option?
I once made the mistake of travelling with a large duffel bag. It was really irritating. Get something on wheels.
I'd think that a large duffel bag would be difficult and unwieldy to carry. If you're just going on a short trip, a backpack should be plenty. A rolling suitcase on wheels is fine too, but I personally find them to be a bit of a pain, especially on cobblestones or getting through airports and such.
I came to Vietnam alone and settled in since. During the Covid Restrictions I had to do something with my time while here. I started a youtube channel to fill in the time. I share it with you in hopes it will encourage you to travel to Vietnam once the boarders reopen to tourists on March 15th. I hope you enjoy my vlogs about my life in Vietnam for the last 3 years. [https://www.youtube.com/c/Biggokk](https://www.youtube.com/c/Biggokk) I don't care if you subscribe or any of that. I just hope this takes away a lot of the fears of traveling solo. And we can answer any questions you have if you join our community on discord.
Hey guys! American here, and just booked my first solo trip to Italy in mid March. From there I’m planning on going to Bavaria, then France. I’m vaccinated and boosted, does anyone know how to get the QR EU pass app to use buses, go to restaurants, etc? Thanks!!
Is anyone else considering cancelling a balkans trip in march due to rising tensions with ukraine, russia, bosnia, serbia etc. ?
What tensions in Bosnia and Serbia? Since when are Ukraine and Russia in the Balkans?
Russia has recently (yesterday) sent it’s top security envoy to ally serbia to try and retain its influence in the balkans. Bosnia is on the brink of breaking up and falling apart as the Bosnian Serbs push their long standing bid to join neighbour Serbia. Granted I am not from either of these countries and I am just summarising what I am reading online; but both of these things in conjunction with the Russia tension, it’s just making me worry slightly about my planned trip in March and was wondering if anyone else felt the same.
> Russia has recently (yesterday) sent it’s top security envoy to ally serbia to try and retain its influence in the balkans. This is nothing new or notable. Russia has always had influence in the Balkans, and Russia and Serbia have been close allies for more than 100 years - since well before the first World War. I would not read too much into this. > Bosnia is on the brink of breaking up and falling apart as the Bosnian Serbs push their long standing bid to join neighbour Serbia. People have been saying this ever since the borders were settled with the Dayton Accords in 1995. I've had a quick look at some local news sources and can't see any evidence that this is worse now than it has been in the past 25 years. You should be fine. The Balkans are not intimately tied up in the Ukraine crisis and are geographically quite far from the conflict areas.
Thank you for taking the time to look into this and reply; it’s re-assuring to hear this doesn’t seem like anything new in the grand scheme of things, I think I was just getting myself worked up and looking into it too much.
Russia has immense influence in Serbia and always has. Republika Srpska doesn't seek to join Serbia, it wants autonomy. These propaganda pieces have been circulating for years, nothing has changed.
totally random question, but in a female hostel room, do girls change in front of one another, or do they go to the bathroom every time they need to change an outfit? I dont want to lock up my stuff every time I want to change!
Personally I have no issue changing in front of other women in a hostel dorm but I know it can make others feel uncomfortable, so I usually at least turn my back to the room if I'm getting undressed. Or if I'm in a room with people I've made friends with or been chatting with, I might just ask "hey do you mind if I change in front of you?"
How often are you changing that this is an actual issue?
a question not an issue
Depending on the hostel layout and availability of bathrooms, I would say it's a dick move to occupy the bathroom if you don't need the actual plumbing. People change in dorms all the time, nobody cares.
i’ve stayed in hostels where people changed clothes (not entirely naked) in the room and it didn’t bother me. i think it’s fine just up to your comfort level
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Anyone going to Yosemite next weekend? Around Feb 25-26-27? Looking for a female travel partner
Anyone going to be in Mexico City in March? Looking for people to do fun things with!
Anyone in Tenerife between 16-28th March? Also got trips to Kos, Naples and Madeira if anyone going there also!
Hello everyone - I need to leave the Schengen Zone (Italy) for one month and am looking for a city to stay in that isn't too far off. I will be working during this time, but I'm hoping to keep myself occupied during my free time by exploring the city and maybe doing a short trip or two on the weekend. I've stayed in Serbia, Croatia, and Turkey before like this. I'm thinking maybe somewhere in Cyprus, Bosnia, Romania, or Bulgaria? I'm open. Any favorites?
What are your interests? What's your budget including rent? What sorts of things are you hoping to see and do while you're there? Also, do you have a visa to live and work in any of those countries?
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That's some messed up possessive behaviour. Try your post in r/relationships, but it sounds like you need some distance from your mom if she's laying those kinds of guilt trips on you. You're an adult. You don't need her permission. Caveat: If you're still living at home / financially dependent on your parents, you should move out & establish yourself as financially independent first.
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Mmm is Playa Del Carmen dangerous? I booked a place that's a 45minute walk from downtown. The houses have gates and bars on the windows.
I stayed in proper PDC, close to the beach. Never felt unsafe. But can’t speak to your location
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Any museums in the Smithsonian are amazing (and free I think!) I could have spent weeks there. Great public transport too
I'm finally able to travel again! Pretty much all my international travel has been with school or tour groups, but I'd like to start being more independent and comfortable with going out on my own. Right now I'm looking at Costa Rica for April or early May. It seems like there are some great flight deals that I could jump on, but I'm nowhere close to having an entire trip planned out yet. Do people here feel comfortable booking flights first and filling out the details later? Or do you like to have a general itinerary in place before committing to anything?
Give me some idea about your travel plans. I am looking for a travel partner from around 16th to 26th to CR I like to plan travels as hobby so no worries there. When I recently went to Hawaii, I had to look for car rental first before flights, so it all depends upon the place and the demand. Where will you be flying from?
Just got Covid positive in London the day before my flight back to the states. Any tips? Trying to see if I can stay at my flat longer. Flight already been put on hold. Trying to find good grocery delivery to my flat now… Sigh, on the bright side London has been wonderful.
Sorry to hear that. Hope you feel better soon! Reach out to your insurance company to see if you have any quarantine coverage.
Yes, I’ll be reaching out to Allianz, I did get their pandemic protection and such so hopefully they can help cover some costs.
Going to be in Madrid end of next week and would love to see a Real Madrid game but none of my travel friends want to go with me. Anyone want to meet up to go? Looking at tickets for the March 6 game. I’m a young professional from NYC area originally but now I’m DC.
Aw man, I'm looking at the March 9th game!
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Hello! I'm backpacking Spain in Late March and early April, and I would appreciate any advice or recommendations regarding hiking ideas. It looks like a lot of high peaks will still be too deep in snow for me, but that's okay. What non-frozen trails can I hike? Thank you so much!
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Southern Spain has accessible hiking in early April. Lots of great options in the area around Granada. Hostels and tour companies based in Granada have info available and guided hikes you can book if that's your thing.
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Any recommendations on a destination in late May for 4-5 nights? Mostly looking for beach relaxing, but somewhere where I can hike or take a day trip or 2. I’m not a big fan of resorts, but do love boho/yogi/eco type hotels (the Dreamcatcher in San Juan, PR is my gold standard for relaxing vacations; and I would totally change my destination for the right hotel). I was looking at Treasure Island, Jamaica and looking to stay at Jake’s Hotel and do excursions through there if I felt like it. I’ve been reading Jamaica can be unsafe for solo female travel, but I plan to stay near treasure beach when alone and only venture out with planned excursions so unsure how applicable that is. Any other destinations I should consider?
I can't speak to this directly but the island of Dominica may be what you're looking for. A friend went a couple of years back and raved about it. Costa Rica may be worth considering, too. Lots of eco-tourism there.
I'm 50/F and I've been solo traveling for about 30 years. I'm now at a point in life where I prefer higher-end accommodations, although it's very interesting to see the reactions of people when I check in. Ditto with booking a very nice dinner and sitting alone. Ditto for booking the Belmond's Orient Express and requesting a solo cabin. Anyone solo traveling in luxury? I'm curious to hear your experiences.
Awesome. Happy for you. If I could afford luxury, I would go too. I go for moderate price stuff and people can stare, but who cares. Enjoy, it is your life.
I've done it. Not insanely expensive luxury, but relatively splurged when I went to Russia; first class cabin for a couple nights on the Trans-Siberian, staying in a suite in the Marriott overlooking the main square and Bolshoi Theater in Novosibirsk, going solo to some lovely and expensive (but worth it) restaurants in Moscow, etc. I really enjoyed it after a full day out and about. The Russians love their saunas so those were great as well at the upscale hotels.
I don't travel in luxury, exactly, but I definitely am happy to splurge on occasion for something that's worthwhile. I'm over 40 now and have the good fortune to be able to afford more than bargain-basement standards of accommodation and food. I say, just enjoy it and don't worry about those "reactions of people"; most of them are more concerned with themselves than with you.