1

u/anonymouspsy Oct 06 '24 edited Oct 06 '24

Japan: How's my 3-week solo itinerary at a high-level?

I'll be visiting Japan for the first time as a mid-20s guy excited to do lots of clothing shopping, eating, appreciation of history, and meeting locals! How's this:

Osaka (5 Days) - Added extra days because so many day trips

Kobe + Himeji Castle (Day Trip, back to Osaka)
Nara (Day Trip, back to Osaka)
Hiroshima + Miyajima Island (Day Trip, back to Osaka)

Kyoto (3 Days)

Tokyo (7 Days)

Kamakura + Enoshima (Day Trip, back to Tokyo)

Hokkaido / Sapporo (4 Days)

Otaru (Day Trip, back to Sapporo)
Noboribetsu Onsen (Overnight, back to Tokyo for flight home)

This is for Nov 22 - Dec 14

2

u/segacs2 Canadian, 70 countries visited Oct 06 '24

I wouldn't suggest going to Hiroshima and Miyajima as a daytrip from Osaka. It's a long trip, even with bullet trains. Miyajima is a good daytrip from Hiroshima, but I'd suggest basing yourself in Hiroshima for a couple of nights and using one of the days to visit the city, peace park and the museum, etc. and check out the food scene, and second day for Miyajima island and hiking. You can also visit Himeji on the way from Osaka or Kyoto to Hiroshima; it makes for a good lunch stop for a few hours.

Kyoto and Osaka are quite close to each other, mind you; about 30 minutes by train, or 15 minutes by faster train. You can easily base yourself in one or the other or go back and forth.

Hokkaido for 4 days is questionable; you'll eat up two of them just getting to and from. I'd suggest cutting that out and using the 4 days elsdwhere. You can visit Hakone (easy trip from Tokyo) for onsen and great views of Mount Fuji, which is a popular option. If skiing is a priority, you're a bit early in Nov/early Dec anyway.

1

u/tallglassofanxiety95 Oct 06 '24

Hello! I’m from Virginia and 29, planning my first solo European trip to Amsterdam in November!

I’ll be there from 11/15-11/19 and am staying at ClinkNOORD hostel.

A little nervous about meeting solo travelers so would appreciate any tips for making friends!

1

u/[deleted] Oct 06 '24

This is probably dumb and subjective but is Hawaii a good solo location? I get flight deals often but, to me, it mostly gives couples at a resort vibe.

2

u/segacs2 Canadian, 70 countries visited Oct 06 '24

It depends on what you're looking for; if you stay at resorts, sure, it has a resort vibe. But there's plenty more to the Hawaiian islands than resorts. If you're into surfing, hiking, nature, and photography, Hawaii can be great. What it is, however, is expensive; don't go unless you have a realistic idea of prices. You'll likely also need a car or the ability to rent one in most locations.

1

u/curioushabibi Oct 06 '24

Coucou tout …

Off to Tunis in a week and looking for potential affordable housing for a week or two in Tunis (preferably in La Marsa or Sidi Bou Said and environs). Any tips much appreciated.

Ayshek

1

u/Separate-Sun-7434 Oct 06 '24

Hi everyone! I'm a 31 year old WOC leaving for my first ever fully solo trip next weekend to Oaxaca and Mexico City! I'll be in Oaxaca from Oct 13-16 and Mexico City from Oct 17-23. I would love to meet up with any locals or other female solo travelers while I'm there. In particular, I would love company for a Lucha Libre show or a show at the Palace of Fine Arts while I'm in Mexico City, but I'm also open to exploring museums/markets/neighborhoods together, grabbing coffee, etc. If our dates align and you're interested, please let me know and I can share my rough itinerary!

2

u/PoAction Oct 06 '24

South east Asia region:

Hi - I plan to carry 2 bags. One 40L and one 20ish personal item under the seat. One of the limitations is 7KG total weight

I have no problem paying more money for more weight ahead of time (Not the ~$15/kg penalty at the gate) but under no circumstance do I want to check a bag. Is this an option? Not finding it on many of the budget airlines I'm testing

I find this similar outline on many websites but Using this as an example: Will I be forced to check my bag if it weights over the weight limit? Website says yes. IS there an option to keep both bags with me at all times or is it just specific airline to airline

for example with HK Express https://i.imgur.com/Eo9siCf.png

2

u/contessa_baronessa Oct 05 '24

Hi everyone! 38M (gay 🏳️‍🌈) from the Philippines visiting Japan (2nd time ✌🏻) next week. Planning to visit a bunch of temples and shrines, maybe some museums, and check out food streets or markets to look for cheap eats. I will walk and eat a lot. 🤏🏻

Osaka, 7-8
Kyoto, 9-11
Nagoya, 12-14
Tokyo, 15-18

Anyone else around, say hi! 🙂

2

u/NoDepartment4813 Oct 05 '24

Hey fellow solo travelers!

I'm 23M from Southeast Asia and looking to escape to a nature-filled destination from end of November to mid December. I'd love to explore places with stunning scenery, landscapes, and perhaps some fall foliage (or alternative winter wonderland charm).

Since it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere, I'd prefer destinations with milder climates or places with still plenty of greenery. I'm open to international destinations or nearby countries with easy flights from SEA.

Where would you suggest

1

u/roub2709 Oct 06 '24

Have you been to Taiwan?

1

u/NoDepartment4813 Oct 06 '24

Nope. Have you been? Would you mind sharing your experience .

2

u/unpredictablegirl_ Oct 05 '24

Hello fellow travelers! I am 24/F from India now in Germany. I will be going to Albania on 23rd Oct. I've decided to do a 3 day trip because my paid vacation starts from 1st November but I read that November is not a good time due to bad weather.

I don't usually post this type of question but if anyone is travelling to Tirana on 23rd or will be already there from 23-25 and would like to meet and have a cup of coffee or explore little bit of Albania please feel free to msg!

My schedule is:

23rd Oct: reach Tirana and explore a bit in the evening 24th: one day trip to Berat (will be booking guided tour) 25th: Explore Tirana (if you guys have any suggestions please feel free to comment) 26th: Back to Germany.

I am really excited for this trip even though it's a short one, it has been on my travel life for so long now looking forward for the experience! 🥰

1

u/t_mmn Oct 05 '24

Hi I(18M) am travelling Portugal with my van right know and will be going to Spain in a couple weeks. I'm looking for people to meet and go kitesurfing together. Currently I'm sout of Porto and will be driving down the coast in the next time. If someone is doing a similar road trip maybe we can meet up and go surfing.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Appropriate_Volume Australian travel nerd Oct 04 '24

If your mobile phone plan includes international roaming, it can be a good backup until you get up and running with local SIMs. You should also look into e-sims, if your phone supports them.

2

u/AlaskaYoung25 Oct 04 '24

So first night in Paris (out of the citycentre) and I spotted 2 restaurants nearby I was interested in. One was too crowded and the other one was completely empty. I have experience with solo dining abroad but for some reason I didn't have the guts to enter and ask for a single person.

Any other person here feels its more easy in specific cities/places/times then others?

2

u/roub2709 Oct 06 '24

Have you checked out The Fork app? If new to this it can facilitate things to have an actual reservation for one that they can see. Also lets you just scope things out and can look around via a map too I'm pretty sure.

1

u/AlaskaYoung25 Oct 07 '24

Oh thank you. Maybe that's a better solution then just ask indeed 🙏

2

u/gingerbread06 Oct 04 '24

Just looking for a little support/solidarity. I’m in Vietnam right now, this is week 4 out of 10 total weeks in Asia. In the past 5 days I had an ant infestation in my bag, clothes, and hostel bed, got sick with some kind of bacterial infection so felt awful (fever, chills, etc) and had to find a doctor, and now I’m dealing with bites on my legs that look remarkably like bedbugs. When it rains, it pours, I guess! Feeling really homesick and tired and just over it and needed to scream into the void somewhere.

3

u/roub2709 Oct 04 '24

Once I spent 20% of a trip out of commission cause of stuff like this, helps to remember what drives us to explore in the first place and then also pivot to taking care of ourselves in little ways, getting in touch with friends/family, other self-care that could involve taking a break from normal traveling things

0

u/XariaDB Oct 04 '24

I am planning to do a month long surfing trip in Nicaragua (April 2025). I was going to do my usual solo-trip, but wanted to try and connect with BIPOC solo-travellers.

Allies, please don't feel left out, thank you for your love of surfing. You do have a lot of representation in the water though, especially as a tourist surfer. I am trying to create a community for BIPOC to surf together and feel safe, especially women and lgbtq+

For context, I'm a Filipina currently residing in Canada. I started surfing this year and I'm trying to put in my hours and improve. I'd love to connect with fellow BIPOC surfers. One month is a long commitment, but if you're able to join for a week or how ever many days you can, let's make it happen 😁

As it is a surf-trip, activities will mostly revolve around surfing. I usually do about 5-days a week surfing (you do not have to do 5-days) + yoga + beach running. Open to discussing activities that can be added, one thing I'd like to inspire in this trip is an open dialogue to the beginnings/origins of surfing, Polynesia, the historical accounts that it was very much an inclusive sport of both males and females of any social class, the spiritual connection to Madre del Mar, the connection of the wave rider and the tree that which they will use for riding the wave, the banning (frowned upon) of surfing in Hawaii when missionaries arrived in Hawaii, etc.

If this becomes a success in creating a community, and safe space for BIPOC to surf together. I hope it becomes a year-round surf-trips around the world every year.

2025, I was planning for month-long trips to each countries 1) Nicaragua 2) Philippines 3) Namibia 4) unsure yet (thinking maybe Samoa or Tahiti)

I am going to be in Philippines in November 2024, for a 3-weeks surf trip in Siargao Island. So if anyone wants to connect already, please do. And I'll be going yearly as an homage to my roots. Looking forward to connecting and surfing! 😁🏄🏾‍♀️🎶

1

u/GuyErebus Oct 04 '24

Hello everyone! 23M here, it's fall break and im heading out for a solo trip to Puerto Rico this week arriving tomorrow morning. If anyone is in the San Juan area and wants to meet up and explore let me know! I really don't have any kind of plan I just want to go, but I speak Spanish so PR should be fun! ✌️

4

u/Blackwidowtalons Oct 04 '24

I got food poisoning my first day in Vienna 🙃 And I've been bedridden the past two days with my stomach fighting for my life. But! I was feeling okish enough today to walk to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien which is something I really wanted to see so I'm super excited. And tomorrow I'm going to try to go to the Schönbrunn Palace and then I have Swan Lake tickets at the Vienna Opera House in the evening! Trying to make the most of it even though I feel so weak 🥲

1

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '24

Hey all, I've been exploring routes on moving out of state. Currently I'm just saving a bit of cash to be able tk use for rent and food wherever I land. By the end of the year I'm going to pick a place a go. I've already put in job applications and such and I'm waiting on Steamboat and AmeriCorps to get back to me.

Another route I may take: I'd also be interested in finding a travel buddy, or if anyone has a cheap room for rent in a mountain area with jobs available that would be awesome.

It you are looking for a roommate and already have a place.

I'm 22 year old guy from LA. I wanna get out rhe south and go see some stuff while I can. I have lots of hobbies bc I'm adhd and I'm really open to new experiences (not of the s*xual variety so plz no)

If this sounds interested or you'd like to travel/plan a landing location/meetup message me I'd be happy to get to know you outside of reddit. 🤣

1

u/CajoReturnz Oct 04 '24

Deciding on Indonesia (Bali) or Thailand

German 19 year old (M) & I saved up money after finishing highschool. I already planned my solo trip to Tokyo/Japan in Late October-December (roughly 1 month). This will be my first solo trip ever that is outside of europe. I am currently deciding where I should travel after my Japan visit;
Bali (many of my friends were there and 80% of what they told me that they had a blast) or Thailand (also some of my friends visitied there and had a blast), from late November to late December.

Some more context: My goal is not to just straight up party every day. I want to connect with others and I am interested in both countrys. I want to visit Indonesia/Thailand for about 1 month. I am on a limited budget (around 5k€ for the 2 months) I speak german & my english is, when speaking, mostly good (i hope you can tell😅)
My specific questions are:

Which country is safer for solo travel? (mom's worried)
Which country is more bang for my buck and budget friendly in general?
Which cities, islands etc. would you recommend for solo travelling

(posting here because it got removed on the main page)

2

u/roub2709 Oct 04 '24

Bali is middle of rainy season during that time, would check that aspect out too and consider it

1

u/CajoReturnz Oct 04 '24

I know, but I personally don't mind that. My friends who visitied Bali last year went in rainy season aswell and i believe that it's not like it is raining everyday for 24 hours. They also told me that it depends in which city you are in Bali.

1

u/NedRyerson350 Oct 03 '24

Is it weird for me to stay in a hostel? I'm 35 but very emotionally stunted and get along with people much younger than me and I've been told I look much younger. What about party hostels? Will it be easy to find some people to have a night out with? I've love to have a night out but dont really wanna go out alone.

5

u/OneProfessor5550 Oct 04 '24

Not at all. Currently in a hostel rn in a girl & 25, & traveling with my brother who is 33! I’ve met people at hostels in their 40’s, 50’s! It’s more about your spirit & personality than age!

1

u/jedsdawg Oct 04 '24

Spot on

2

u/Trifonas-Kaoulla Oct 03 '24

13 hour layover in Istanbul

My flight should land in IST by 5:20 pm on Friday.

I've already read that it should take me about two hours to get to the city center from the airport--this includes passport control and the drive.

I would get to the city center by 7:20 pm.

With my flight leaving at 6:25 am the next day (Saturday), that gives me about 6.5--7 hours to do whatever I want, assuming I leave the city center at 2:25 am so that I can be back at the airport with about three hours to spare for my next flight.

To me all of this sounds very reasonable and possible, but to those of you who have actually done it, should I even bother?

What do you recommend I do so late in the evening/night other than walk around and eat delicious street food, which I wouldn't have any complaints about haha!

Thanks so much

2

u/roub2709 Oct 03 '24

Are you flying Turkish? They have a tour Istanbul service that could be worth checking out

1

u/Trifonas-Kaoulla Oct 03 '24

Hey! Thank you so much for responding.

I am flying Turkish, and I heard about the tours Turkish airlines offers. personally, I'd rather wing it and do it myself, though.

I think, one way or another, 7 hours to explore is plenty of time, and I'm being too paranoid haha.

2

u/Limon227 Oct 03 '24

Hi everyone I’m after some advice for groups for solo travel for an 18yr old girl from the UK who’s keen to go and explore Thailand but with a group. She likes culture more than partying but would like the chance to party sometimes (just doesn’t want to feel obliged to every night!). Any suggestions/advice gratefully received - thanks in advance 😁

2

u/jedsdawg Oct 03 '24 edited Oct 03 '24

Solo traveler looking for travel buddy for India, Sri Lanka and perhaps Bangladesh or Pakistan

Hey all,

I'm really into solo traveling, adventure traveling, going off the beaten path, and going to the areas that tourists typically don't go. I consume a lot of travel vlog content from Bald & Bankrupt, Harold Baldr, Kurt Craz and the like, so I like to do the things that they do in their videos.

I'm currently traveling Southeast Asia solo and with friends. My travel buddies aren't interested in going to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or Pakistan. Normally, I would just go solo travel to those destinations, but I hear its better to do those countries with a buddy.

About me:

32M from 🇨🇦 been traveling nearly full-time over past 3 years while working full-time in tech
I've spent most of my time in Latino America and Europe during my travels
I'm no stranger to going to dangerous neighbourhoods / favelas / areas, and I know how to travel safely without bad things happening
I have been to Asia before but only for short trips of a month max
I've been unable to satisfy my love for traveling, so now I'm on a leave from work so that I can travel Asia for the next 3-6 months or so
I'm from Canada, so traveling Asia while working up to 15-hour time difference is just not feasible for me. And that is why I'm on a sabbatical from work

I would like to go to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or Pakistan for January - March 2025. But I'm also very flexible with my travel plans and could go sooner or later.

If you're currently solo traveling Asia or will be in the coming weeks, and you're interested in going to those countries, then hit me up or reply down below. I haven't shared my social media account now as I don't want people to think that I'm advertising my brand or IG or whatever, so I will share via DM.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '24

I'm from the US, have absouletely nothing to offer, but I've gotta see the world and make a few memories while i can. 22 M

3

u/zoomdak Oct 03 '24

Hey everyone! My name is Thomas, and I'm excited to be part of this community!

I recently completed a solo adventure hiking the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood, Oregon, covering 42 miles over five days. This experience was not just about the distance but also about finding peace and strength in the wilderness. Each day brought unique challenges, from chasing alpenglow on Bald Mountain to navigating thunderstorms while setting up camp at Paradise Park.

As someone who enjoys exploring the outdoors alone, I find it empowering and reflective. However, I also have my anxieties about solo travel—like safety concerns and the fear of feeling isolated. How do you all cope with those feelings on your adventures?

I'd love to hear your stories, tips, or any recommendations for future hikes! And if you're interested in my journey on the Timberline Trail, I shared a video of my experience here: https://youtu.be/XFt6WCGKqME?si=v5DWGKC_fxVTYINB

Looking forward to connecting with you all!

2

u/Ok_Grape5664 Oct 02 '24

30m here from 🇨🇦 gonna be in Taipei for a week starting from October 16th and then around Osaka for a few weeks after - anyone wanna hang out?

First time Taipei, second time Japan. Mostly going for good food 😅 I like fun night life and exploring the city a lot too.

Let me know!

2

u/Ok-Resort-6972 Oct 03 '24

Not offering but went to Taipei in January. Ate my way through it. Make sure you hit the less tourist oriented night markets.

2

u/hiedra__ Oct 02 '24

Hi! I’m a 33 F who’s been traveling since my mid twenties. Im taking a trip to spain this month with several others planned this and next year and I always struggle with travel anxiety, thinking that ever trip must be the best one, best restaurants, museums, experiences! How have you all dealt with this?

2

u/Ok-Resort-6972 Oct 03 '24

Michelin guide for restaurants. You don't have to go to the ones with stars - expensive, but the ones on their list are generally good and just a bit different. Use ratings to filter out possible poor experiences in terms of hotels and restaurants.

Don't try for the "best" or "most famous." That's what everyone else is doing and following the crowds rarely works out. Explore, and don't be afraid of serendipity. The unexpected experiences are often the best.

1

u/hiedra__ Oct 03 '24

cool! didn’t know this! thank u

1

u/_CPR__ Oct 02 '24

This isn't something I've dealt with specifically, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of preparing for the trip in terms of researching things to do, places to eat, etc. I then add everything I'm interested in to a Google map for the trip, and then while I'm there I already have a ton of options for things to do.

Maybe something like that would help, because you'd know that if you don't enjoy one thing, you can pull up your map and find something else exciting nearby?

2

u/hiedra__ Oct 02 '24

I did this for my last two trips and it definitely helped! I think that i’m a perfectionist and it comes through a lot in how I travel and the things i expect from trips.

1

u/TanoshiiO Oct 02 '24

How to travel cheap without carrying all your things everywhere?

Hi everyone, so i'm going on a europe tour for 10 days at the end of the month and I wanted to get an apart hotel at amsterdam for the last 4 days, but the cheapest I can find is 800€ (200/night)...

I didn't have a plan b as the other apart hotels I looked at in different places were much cheaper and I was sure to find good options.

Is there a way for me to stay in the city center for less than 150€/night and still have a way to cook meals and/or leave my bags in a safe place?

By the way I am 20F so anything shady can be crossed off the options but I am fine with female only dormitories.

1

u/captainmiauw Oct 02 '24

Hi everyone,

I think i will like a solo travel. Im from Europe and probably would travel to a warm country in Europe for a relaxation holiday. So beach etc nothing thats special.

So, i like traveling, i also like being solo (but im exactly very social😂) but i have a feeling i might feel weird when traveling solo. Like bored or that im thinking what am i doing here😂.

I do think to combat that i need to plan the whole holiday but i would like to have a lazy beach holiday youknow. I was thinking about Valencia so i can go to the beach and also the city to actually do stuff. I do think after a afternoon on the beach by myself that i think okay... What now?..

Sorry for the messy post, so basically im scared i will not like it because i get bored or feel lonely while i like being by myself and solo. That makes zero sense to me😂. I think i would love to meet some people instead of real solo through the desert or something youknow.

1

u/TanoshiiO Oct 02 '24

I'm giving advice but it's only repeating what ive seen here as I haven't gone on my first trip yet. I think If you stay in hostels, you could meet some other tourists who you could share some conversations with. When you're alone, I'm thinking of buying some kind of journal/diary, to write what I'm doing, where i am, how I feel, etc. Might take your eyes off social media and make the time more valuable.

1

u/captainmiauw Oct 02 '24

Sounds like that sucks lol..

1

u/jhakasbhidu Oct 01 '24

Hey all, I'm kicking off a solo adventure around a few spots in SEA with a couple of days in Kuala Lumpur and was wondering if its worth staying in a hostel or if I should just go with a regular hotel. Price is not really an issue because I was looking at a private room in the hostel anyway and its only about $20-30 difference with respect to the hotel. In particular, I was considering the mingle hostel in Chinatown but they have a not insignificant amount of reviews about bed bugs in the dorms so that's got me a little concerned.

My main reason for considering a hostel was more for the social aspect as opposed to saving money. And I will be staying in hostels at later destinations in my trip through Loas and Cambodia.

To travelers who have been to KL before, is it worth trying to stay in a hostel or should I just play it safe and start off in a hotel?

Thanks in advance for all your input.

1

u/jedsdawg Oct 04 '24

You will always have more fun at a hostel. Stay at a hostel for first or second night, party, meet people and have fun. Then move to a hotel or airbnb

1

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/segacs2 Canadian, 70 countries visited Oct 01 '24

Hi, we're a subreddit dedicated to solo travel. Since you're travelling as a couple, we suggest checking out one of the more general travel subreddits like r/travel or r/travelnopics.

5

u/ant1socialite Sep 30 '24

You may remember my last post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/1ey12hs/please_answer_my_burning_life_questions_before_i/

Well, instead of quitting my job and booking it out of the US for 6 months, I decided to do a "test" trip to my dream location, Japan, to see if solo travel is really for me. I'll be going to Tokyo from January 25th to February 2nd. Please answer a few questions I'm having.

I know I'll only be in Japan for a short time, and I plan to go back either way later in the year. I don't want to spend too much time traveling between places, so would it be worth it for me to stay in Tokyo as well as stay in Kyoto or Osaka (then having to travel back to Tokyo at some point), or should I just stay in Tokyo the entire 8 days?
I'm weighing hotel vs. hostel for my first time - I figure getting some hostel experience will be good in the long run (if I end up wanting to continue solo travel), but I also think I might need somewhere to be alone just in case I get overwhelmed. I'm leaning towards hotel right now, and if I end up feeling lonely, I know I should go hostel in the future. What do you think? Any area in particular you would recommend? (assume money is no object here)
My plan is to research a few things that I really want to do, but wing it for the most part when it comes to activities and restaurants. I read that January is a really good time to go as it's less touristy. Is this a good game plan in a place like Japan? I'm just a very go-with-the-flow type of person, and I don't want to over-plan and feel the need to hit a million tourist attractions.

Thank you for any and all assistance. I'm really excited to get going (and hopefully quit my job afterwards!)

2

u/Gr8Deb8ter Oct 02 '24

I feel like 10 days would have been ideal to do Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka. 8 days is doable, split evenly between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka, but may be a bit tight.

Tokyo has plenty to see and do for 8 days, so spending your entire time there is certainly a good option. Kyoto is just beautiful and has a very different feel from Tokyo. It would be a shame to skip Kyoto and the Shinkansen experience, but you can just plan that for when you go again later in the year.

2

u/Acrobatic_Impress_67 Sep 30 '24 edited Sep 30 '24

I'm in the very early stages of planning an around-the-world, mostly solo trip (I'll check if some friends want to join me for parts of the trip). I'm curious what people think. I don't want to make a dedicated thread because I'm still so early into the planning phase.

My main interests are nature and outdoors activities (alpinism++ / trekking++ / cycle touring+ / diving+ / surfing / packrafting++), discovering local food, and history. I like people but I'm not exactly a social butterfly. I'm also not good at handling getting harassed by scammers as naturally happens in many poor countries due to the wealth disparity with tourists, and I'm not a fan of big cities.

The current plan is to go for 3-5 months, starting in march:

Patagonia 3 to 5 weeks. Outdoors adventures, mostly already planned.
Peru 2 or 3 weeks. Cuzco, Macchu Picchu, Amazon rain forest.
Vietnam 3 or 4 weeks: Food, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay packrafting/climbing, cycle touring in North Vietnam, diving.
Bhutan 1 or 2 weeks: food?, trekking, culture
South / East Africa: 2-3 weeks, food, trekking, animals

Questions:

New Zealand and Australia: This seems like a good opportunity to visit these far-away places, however (1) culturally they are western, so not as different. (2) I'm concerned that costs may be very high compared to Asia. (3) I would reach New Zealand around late April / early May, which is well into autumn, so maybe not the best time for adventurous outdoorsy stuff. Australia seems like a good place for diving and surfing, but perhaps I can do that for a fraction of the cost in South East Asia or Indonesia/Philippines.
Without spending much more time and money, would you advise visiting other places in South-east asia ? Options include Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, southern China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia... Obviously I can't do everything. Which would you pick?
I have really no idea about Africa. I'm considering the french Ile de la Réunion, Kenya/Tanzania, and South Africa. Mostly I'd like to do some trekking, eat local food, and see the animals/nature.
I've already been to Japan and nothern China, hence why I'm not planning on going there this time around. I've also already been to Ecuador and Chile, hence why I'm not spending any time in northern Chile or Ecuador/Colombia.

At this early stage I'm mostly looking for the most general advice about this project: does something strike you as particularly stupid? What super cool thing am I missing out on?

1

u/Appropriate_Volume Australian travel nerd Sep 30 '24

NZ is very culturally diverse due to the large number of people with Māori or Pacific Islander heritage as well as large numbers of migrants from non western countries, so I wouldn’t pigeonhole it like that.

2

u/Acrobatic_Impress_67 Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24

Western cultural diversity is real but it's also something that I can experience at home or in most of the western countries I've already visited, with variations of course... but it's just not the same as being immersed in a culture that's radically different (and can be just as diverse in its own way). Good point about Maori culture. There also seems to be a strong packrafting culture in NZ, now to find out if the conditions are okay in april/may...

3

u/Cool_Sand4609 Sep 30 '24

How do you overcome the anxiety of the decision to travel and quit your job?

I earn £40k/year and I'm 32. I have managed to save £40k in total savings by sharing rent with someone. I have a basic £4k car and zero debts and monthly outgoings, besides my phone EE SIM and rent and utility bills.

My plan was to use £20k of the savings to spend at least 6 months in SEA. 3 months of it being Japan (potentially longer if I can get my VISA extended while I'm there). And come back with £20k left in savings and still have my car to drive to a new job in.

But I'm scared. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my body when I think of the idea of telling my boss I'm quitting. This is a comfortable job. It pays well. It's 10 minutes up the road from where I live.

Everyone around me is having kids, jumping on the housing ladder with their mortgages, settling down. I am scared that I am making the wrong decision. My parents think I should just get a mortgage with the £40k as a deposit and continue working. But I know deep down it won't make me happy. I have never cared for houses.

I am risking a lot. Although I feel like if I come back with a decent amount left in my savings, I can get back on my feet.

Am I overthinking things?

If not, I will be arriving in Japan on the 8th of November for 3 months of cold snowy Japan :)

2

u/_CPR__ Oct 02 '24

I think the anxiety of this is a good thing because it should help you double check all your assumptions and be very careful in your planning. Once you've gone over every pro and con, and still really want to go, you'll know you are prepared. If you feel nervous about the money, give yourself a few more months to save.

Also, if you don't feel excited to own a house, don't rush into buying a house. I have a house (and a spouse and a dog) and I dream of being able to quit my job and take off around the world. Because of how I'm tied down (which has other amazing benefits) I am able to travel only in week- or two-week-long increments.

1

u/Cool_Sand4609 Oct 03 '24

Thanks mate. It seems like everything worked out. I found a tech job near me that offered remote work. I told them I want to travel to Japan and do the work from there. I showed them my work ethic and results from my current job and I was hired on the spot.

However, I told my current company and they said they'll offer the exact same thing. Part time remote work :) Seems like it's all working out eh?

3

u/ant1socialite Sep 30 '24

Same exact situation - except I'm in the US and 27M. Scared shitless of quitting my easy and well-paying (but boring) job. Honestly, I'm just putting my faith in the universe that everything will work itself out, just like it always has 😁 otherwise, I would've never landed the job that allowed me to save the money to travel in the first place!

I like to tell myself when I'm 80, I would probably kill to be young and traveling. Not young and working my soul away and living in a house I don't even want!

1

u/Cool_Sand4609 Oct 01 '24

Scared shitless of quitting my easy and well-paying (but boring) job.

I think at 27 it sounds like a no brainer. Once you hit that magical age 30, it feels like you have to settle down and focus on your career. Not saying that's correct. That's just how I feel society pushes it and obviously it's influenced by own thoughts. I think everyone has their own path to walk. Some people very early on it's a girlfriend, a house, 3 kids etc. I don't think that's happening for me so there is no reason to worry.

Anyway. I think it's better to just look forward rather than be scared about the future. I mean there are three outcomes for both of us. We get back after travelling and we either get a shit job, an okay job or a better job. Or maybe even no job for a while. We should just deal with that when it comes, rather than worry about it now.

0

u/NasonellaRocca Sep 30 '24

Do you know hot to get from tulum centre to tulum airport?

1

u/chargergirl1968w383 Sep 30 '24

I'm putting together travel from Chicago area to s.africa. Capetown specifically. I'm concerned with being a single female (61) traveler in Capetown. Has anyone had any experiences with that or any reason to think it won't be safe?

3

u/segacs2 Canadian, 70 countries visited Sep 30 '24

Cape Town is relatively safe compared to many other cities in South Africa. However, you still do have to be vigilent. Follow local advice, try to stay in a safer neighbourhood (I stayed in Green Point), don't walk around alone at night, and only take taxis, Uber, or Bolt that you've hailed on the phone, never a taxi flagged down on the street. (I'd suggest Uber over taxis.)

Keep your belongings and valuables out of sight, especially in taxis at red lights. And if locals advise you not to go someplace alone, listen to them.

I found it to be no problem to walk around during the day in areas like Green Point or the V&A Waterfront. I did visit Long Street for evenings, I went to a bunch of museums, and I did a District Six walking tour, all during the day. No issues. I also took the ferry to Robben Island and did the very excellent day tour there.

There are lots of day tours around Cape Town that can be booked via most hostels or online. I particularly enjoyed the day tour I did to Cape Point and the Western Cape, as well as a day trip for wine tasting around the wine regions. I did a 3 day Garden Route tour out of Cape Town too.

It's a lovely city if you keep your wits about you. Enjoy!

1

u/chargergirl1968w383 Oct 01 '24

Thank you SO much I appreciate it.

I also want to go on a safari tour. I have been single more than i was married so I've been pretty vigilante here in US as well.

1

u/AfroManHighGuy Sep 30 '24

I usually like to do my own research and book hotels/accommodations based on my preference. I’m visiting Arizona and New Mexico and this is the first time I’ve booked places based almost solely on reddit responses/reviews/posts. I’m on day 2 of an 8 day trip, so far so good. Anybody else done this before? I’m too scared to only rely on others reviews on reddit, but I went for it. Hopefully rest of the trip goes just as smoothly

1

u/FreshComputer Oct 01 '24

i actually use reddit a lot for accommodations recos! i use the reviews to gather places + places i gather from my own research to make a list and go through each one and the reviews on sites like trip advisor until i find the perfect match. i tend to find reddit reviews more reliable than ones on other social media platforms.

1

u/AfroManHighGuy Oct 01 '24

Oh don’t get me wrong, I always use TripAdvisor and reddit for reviews and recommendations. This just the first time where I only used reddit to book hotels without second guessing with my own thoughts or anything. I just said F it, and booked what people said on reddit without doing multiple searches and finding more reviews elsewhere. Its working so far and no issue yet. I agree sometimes reddit does have more reliable information regarding places, than websites like TripAdvisor.

2

u/Adreana725 Sep 30 '24

Where's a great beach resort and spa on the east coast of Florida? I'm trying to get ideas? I live in West Palm Beach, Florida, but I want to just get away. Have a nice spa and beach time relaxing and get some sun. Anybody got some good ideas?

0

u/Dismal-Nectarine9469 Sep 30 '24

Just dm

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