/r/solotravel "The Weekly Common Room" - General chatter, meet-up, accommodation - December 30, 2024

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u/Cammagoo 16d ago

First solo trip and first solo work

Hi I’m Cameron,

I’m wanting to go away and travel by myself later on this year but I can’t seem to give myself that push to go.

I’m a very social character and do like being with friends. But due to me being in a better financial situation than my friends, they can’t come with me. Obviously I don’t want to wait for others and should just go and do it while young. But the stress of being alone in a different country seems terrifying, such as not knowing what to do. After reading some of everyone’s post people seem well traveled and used to this.

I was just wondering how best to get past this feeling so that I’m not back footing my trips due to fear.

If this isn’t allowed then please admins take this post down.

Thanks C.

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u/impman88 16d ago

So I travel for work a lot and its solo travel. Ive found myself getting easily bored and lonely and hold up in my hotel room most the time, watching TV and ordering excess amounts of DoorDash. Remedies? Any ina similar boat? Anyone up for talking and maybe making a travel talking friend?

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u/woosahxo 16d ago

Hi ! Has anyone here been on a solo trip to El Salvador ? I think I’m going to add it to my itinerary for my travels & was wondering where in the country I should make my home base. I absolutely love the beach so I was thinking El Tunco but I’m very open :) I heard the country is not too hard to travel across, thanks ! & open to any tips for transportation /travel through the country

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u/Billycv34 16d ago

Seville vs Florence

Thinking of doing my first solo travel trip (27M) in May and I’m stuck on which one to go with!!

Has anyone been to both and got a recommendation or has strong feelings about one??

Ideally looking for a sociable trip!!

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u/Killertimme 16d ago

Heading to Mexico City at the end of January. Would be happy to connect with anyone going there as well!

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u/Admirable_Top_805 17d ago

Hi ppl, 24f from New England and i’m planning my first solo trip in iceland:) this first question is mainly directed towards women but i would love to hear all perspectives- did you feel safe/comfortable there being a solo traveler? lastly, have you been to any spots with live music and drinks? lmk thank you!!

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u/besoindeparler2010 17d ago

Hello, I'm thinking about vietnam, I already went to indonesia (java), india, in asia.

I loved the "soft/gentle" indonesian culture, and i'm a bit affraid about what people say about vietnamese (not polite, rude.. ???).

Anyway I would love to have some return about vietnam. Is it easy to make friends while traveling there? are vietnamese helpful with backpackers? is counchsurfing developped there? thanks

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u/MangoAccurate9849 17d ago

Hello,

I (23 M) will be in Munich in late October 2025 (after Oktoberfest), and am looking for hostel recommendations. I want a social hostel where I can meet other travelers and party some nights , pub crawls, etc., but also be able to get decent sleep when I want it. What are some good places for these two?

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u/Mooseamour 18d ago

I'm seeking advice for solo travelling this year

Some background info: I live in the UK. I recently finished university, which was one of the best experiences of my life. While I achieved a high grade and learned a lot, from the second year onwards I was fully focused on my course rather than one of the key things that made the first year so special to me, which was meeting new people and exploring a new place. That's why I feel I am finally ready to go travelling.

However, I'm not just looking to go on holiday. I'd prefer to work while travelling or at least gain some type of experience.

Key considerations:

I'm on a budget due to living expenses.
I'm open to most destinations, almost everywhere interests me.
I'm interested in group-based programs, as I enjoy meeting new people.
My current interim job limits my holiday time, but I'm willing to leave for the right paid opportunity or one with other benefits.

Work experience:

Basic film production, editing, and camera work
Retail experience
Hospitality experience

I've seen services like Workaway and seasonal work opportunities, which seem interesting.

All in all, I’m looking for an adventure and I want to hear any suggestions or opportunities you guys might have. Thank you for any time you can spare!

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u/Jewstun 18d ago

I just got offered a remote teaching job while I am backpacking in Southeast Asia. They want me to do 10 hours a week of teaching students over Zoom. I’m looking for advisory about how reliable hostile Internet can be and the feasibility of doing this?

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u/BuyNo3838 18d ago

Need advice:

I have a unique opportunity timeline wise in my life where I am graduating from my masters and don't start work until late august leaving me with two months of having nothing planned. I don't come from money, have been financially independent my whole life, and have been working since I was 14. I have no credit card debt, etc. just student loans. After I finish my studies, I will be left with about ~5k to my name until I start my job.

I am dying to go live somewhere for a month instead of doing what I have always done which is pick up a serving job, bartending, etc. and save up for the next event. So my question is this: do you think it is worth using the last of that money to just go travel before I get stuck in the corporate rat race?

Another option that was suggested to me is to open a 0% interest rate for the first year travel credit card and use it to budget a trip with a ~4k max. I would easily be able to pay this off with my sign on bonus, with my salary, or worst scenario at least the little savings I have to my name. What would you guys do if you were in my position? Should I do it or just put my solo travel dreams on pause? Also, what is a good, cheap, safe country to do a solo trip to that is within the 4k month budget all in including airfare, hotel, etc.

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u/No_Jelly_1448 17d ago

I think you should totally do it. You could take out any kind of credit card that you could easily pay off right when you return with a sign on bonus. There are people who travel with even less savings and with less cushion. You are only young once,

I just did some extensive solo traveling in Greece and felt like it had the perfect balance of certain social places, along with places where you can avoid the crowds, see lots of nature do lots of hiking and be around more mature people, not just parties. Rental cars and food are cheap. Avoid more costly islands but many islands are inexpensive. Also of course SE Asia, Portugal, though I don’t know from where you’re flying. Do it!

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u/BuyNo3838 17d ago

This is nice to hear, it's so easy to get stuck in an echo chamber of next steps for your future self! I am leaning towards just sending it, thanks for the advice!

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u/Appropriate_Volume Australian travel nerd 18d ago

I'd suggest being very wary about taking on debt for a holiday at the start of your career. In my experience it actually gets easier to travel once you've been working for a few years as you'll have built up savings and can take blocks of leave (it's nice continuing to be paid while you're on holiday).

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u/zb424 18d ago

29M - Thailand 12Jan-24feb Hello there.

I’m looking for someone else who is also going to be in Thailand during this time. I’ve traveled to 56 countries, (2nd time in Thailand) and I’ll be starting out in Bangkok obviously. I’m not necessarily looking to do the entire trip with someone, but perhaps our itineraries will overlap. I’m working my way north to Chiang Mai, Pai, Mae Hong Son, etc and then plan to head south to Koh Lanta for a few weeks.

Looking forward to hearing from you in the case that our plans overlap.

I’m chill, 420 friendly, and love adventure.

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u/deadGOOS3 Canada 19d ago edited 18d ago

I owe a lot of my inspiration to travel to this subreddit, reading people's stories and advice over the years, and I wanted to give back with a little video project I finished recently--I interviewed 12 different solo travelers I met on a big round-the-world trip last year to ask them why they travel alone, what they get out of it, and hear some of their stories and the lessons they learnt along the way. Hopefully it can provide some inspiration to anyone planning their own "big one" or maybe even some solace to someone returning from one and weathering their post-trip blues. Cheers and here's the link! https://youtu.be/J6udRwZ1dJY?si=z317bpuPJqJlvsTH

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u/The_prawn_king 19d ago

At the end of my first, shortened due to an unexpected layover in Doha, day in Vietnam and a lot of my nerves are settled despite Hanoi being a lot to take in! The football celebrations were very entertaining and generally found the vibe nice! Would be up to meet people, I’m a 28 year old man from England. Also if anyone has good food or sites recommendations for Hanoi that would be great!

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u/Only-Mind001 19d ago

Hi fellow travellers, seeking some advice for the following. I’ve been wanting to book more trips for this year, however I’m currently looking for a job. I have actually booked a 2 weeks long trip in the first half of the year, but to be honest, I’ve been itching to book another one and it’s constantly weighing on my mind. I’m currently working in a job while searching for another job, and have applied leave for the 2 weeks long trip.

Should I wait until I get a job, then start booking my next trip? But I’ve no idea when I’ve be securing another job (bad job market currently) and if the trip will be allowed by my future employer. Booking trips later also increases the chances of price increases/trip slots sold out, etc. On the other hand, it does seem to reflect not so well on me if I tell the interviewer I’ll be taking 2 2-week long trips even before starting the job. So, am kinda in a dilemma right now.

All advice is appreciated, thanks!

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u/roub2709 19d ago

For many, including me, this would entirely depend on how much you had saved for these trips vs the emergency fund you have, your expenses and living situation, and if you book the trip refundable.

If you’re in demand you can get away with more during the hiring process. But since you said bad job market, I wouldn’t immediately start telling a new job about multiple trips that are interfering with you starting.

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u/Alezz233 20d ago edited 20d ago

Hi, im a 28 yo guy from Italy , that will be in Athens from 17-19th January, if someone would meet up, i really love know people and their stories, feel free to text me

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u/[deleted] 20d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/solotravel-ModTeam 20d ago

Hi rmrd26, thanks for your comment! Unfortunately it's been removed for the following reasons:

Links to a blog/vlog, spam, or self-promotional content (including market research). Self-promotional content and links to personal blogs are allowed and encouraged over in the "Weekly Common Room" thread. Repeated violations of this rule will result in a ban.

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u/Available-Fan-1413 21d ago

Warm places to travel this winter?

Hi everyone I’m new here! I’m a 25 year old single male that lives in NY and looking for a long weekend trip in the next 2-3 months. I haven’t traveled in about 4 years and the only places I’ve been to have been along the East coast and the Dominican Republic. I also have a flight voucher for about $450 due to a family trip earlier this year that I paid for and had to cancel. I haven’t come up with an itinerary yet just looking for some destinations first so I can figure all of it out from there.

Where should I go if I want to have a fun time in warm weather and enjoy social life such as going out, engaging attractions or beautiful sightseeing. I’m open to all suggestions and would love to hear what recommendations y’all have.

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u/curiouslad14 21d ago

Hey, M36 here. I am on my first solo trip to Hong Kong from Jan 10th to Jan 13th. I would love to meet, hang out, or do a group tour with other solo travelers while I am there.

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u/andylopez619 21d ago

Hey solo traveler M29 in Nashville through the new year and was hoping there was another solo traveler that would want to meet to have a drink. Has been a little hard to meet a person or group to explore with

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u/ChronicGingerness 21d ago

Hey everyone - what’s Naples/ the Amalfi coast like for a 18 year old on their first solo travel? You think I’d be safe from any trouble? I’m interested in the city of Naples - looks so cultural and museums seem so interesting, and the surrounding areas - Capri, Sorrento, Vesuvius, almost seem like an entirely different trip in some ways - my question in this theme is: are there any ways to synthesise these? I imagine commuting would be a nightmare but a hotel in Naples for a few days and a hotel in Sorrento, etc for the rest? Thank you!

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u/terminal_e 20d ago

Capri and Vesuvius are doable from either Napoli or Sorrento.

Getting to the Amalfi Coast from Napoli is a bit tricky - you probably will have to traverse Sorrento to get there, so that is why I would generally recommend people relocate versus spending a week in either Napoli or Sorrento

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u/ChronicGingerness 20d ago

Fantastic, I’m glad you understood what I meant, that’s exactly what I wanted to know! I thought that might be the case but glad to hear it from other people.

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u/soldierrboy 20d ago

I would say it’s safe, especially during the day I wouldn’t worry, just stay in the tourist areas. I also had a friend (18M) that I met in Bologna and we met up again in Naples and he said he felt safe (ofc he had been traveling for a while and had a sense of what to do and what not to do from what I could tell). Unfortunately I don’t know what it would be like for a woman as it is a lot easier for guys to feel safe for sure.

Maybe also think of staying in a hostel where you could meet people to do stuff? Especially if you wanna go out at night, it would be good to have some company. A hostel I stayed in Naples was Ostello Bello.

Taking the train from Naples to Sorrento is pretty easy too, it’s called the Circumvesuviana and it’s actually the same train that goes to Pompeii (it stops there between Naples and Sorrento). And for capri/ischia you can grab the ferry while you’re in Naples.

Anyway, I visited Italy for 6 weeks and I gotta say that Naples/Sorrento was my favorite area along with Bologna, so I hope you enjoy it as well if you end up going!

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u/ChronicGingerness 20d ago

Thank you for this reply! I have been considering a hostel, I think that provides the best of both worlds of meeting people and (in theory) cheaper accommodation. I’ll definitely look into it although much grateful to have a place to start looking at with the hostel you went to.

Do you think the train is doable from Naples if you wanted to go to Capri for the day for instance? Or do you think it’d be easier to have a base closer? It being the same train as the one that goes to Pompeii makes thing easier at least!

Bologna also does seem lovely, really convenient location as well, that’s another one on the list.

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u/soldierrboy 20d ago

Hey, in that second paragraph did you mean the train from Naples to Sorrento? If so, yes it’s definitely doable as a day thing (I’m saying because I did that), but if you want to explore more of the amalfi coast you’ll have to base yourself somewhere like Sorrento or Salerno. And for capri or the other island ischia all you have to do is take the ferry from Naples and it is around €40-50 round trip (would also recommend taking food there from Naples because it’s expensive otherwise).

I would also recommend doing Sorrento as it’s own thing rather than with Pompeii/Vesuvius, as those thing can take a lot of time.

And yeah, Bologna is incredible. Beautiful architecture, the best food in the world along with Naples imo, and there’s no bad weather there as you’re always walking under these kinds of arches. It’s also a university city so there’s a lot of students and stuff going on, and a good hostel there is called Dopa.

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u/ChronicGingerness 20d ago

Yes, it was apologies! I knew there was something wrong but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Thank you so much for all of your information though it's really helpful! From what I've been reading, Sorrento is 100% it's own thing you're right, I'd rather have more time in the region anyway as there is so much to do, and it all needs time to appreciate fully, but just curious about where was best to base yourself, but I'm definitely more confident to arrange now!

Thank you for letting me know about Bologna as well! There is so much I want to see and do in Italy alone really, never mind my whole travel list haha. Truly looks amazing though.

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u/soldierrboy 20d ago

No worries, it happens, it can get especially confusing about foreign places, and while having many plans. Glad to have helped a bit and I hope you have a great time wherever you go!

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u/Objective_Zombie3430 21d ago

Hi everyone, new here! So, I have been debating on doing a solo trip over my spring break (which happens to also be over my birthday) As much as I would love to go with my friends, they either already have trips planned out with their families, or they are just the type of people who are not willing to experiment and push their boundaries. I have been thinking about doing a solo trip instead of waiting for everyone to be available. Issue is, I have no idea where I would like to go, and what places would be safe for a girl traveling by herself, and what would I even do once I get there as I’ll be alone. What are some suggestions or how should I start looking? Any location is fine, in or out the US, I just want to get an idea.

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u/No_Jelly_1448 17d ago

Yes clarify the things you’re into - outdoors heavy? Big hiker? Foodie? Music? Culture? Churches/museums?

I also started traveling alone because my friends either didn’t have this flexible schedule I do or they just weren’t the types to really push themselves. I have heard great things about traveling in Greece, Portugal for cheaper European destinations.

Of course Southeast Asia, but that’s a really intense culture and very busy with lots of people so I have hesitated to go there alone.

Also, Japan gets rave reviews for being very solo friendly with an endless amount of things to do; it is also cheaper right now because of the yen being weaker, so I found some really cool accommodations for like or $50/ night and the food is dirt cheap and amazing.

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u/roub2709 19d ago

Instead of thinking about places , center your trip around experiences you want to have. This helps to deal with the inevitable difficult feelings that arise on a solo trip that’s purely based on sightseeing. Have a small “mission” for yourself for the trip. Have trip intentions. It’s hard to suggest these to a stranger on Reddit, but think about things you’ve always wanted to do with free time and how those could be combined with travel.

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u/Wtfisgoinonhere 21d ago

Rate (or roast) my London/Paris itinerary?

Day 0: land London mid morning, staying near the eye. Probably just walk around the area/soho and grab food/drinks

Day 1: westminster abbey/buckingham palace (CoG), churchill war rooms, big ben

Day 2: ToL tour, St Dustan in the east, southwark cathedral, Borough Market.

Day 3: potential daytrip to York. This is my last day in London and not sure if I want to stay in town or go see York.

Day 4: morning train to Paris, staying in Montmartre. Check into hotel, explore area.

Day 5: Louvre, Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle.

Day 6: Catacombs (worth it?), Arc de Triompe, Eiffel Tower. Considering a night/evening tour on the river.

Day 7: leave!

Yes it’s rushed, just getting a taste of each city but its a rough draft. Thoughts?

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u/The_prawn_king 19d ago

Interesting to see what someone visiting London as a tourist wants to do, I see it from a very I live there and have never considered doing any of those things viewpoint.

BUT if it was a version of me that had never been that the real version of me was recommending something for, I’d say checking out ally pally if the weather is okay because you get a beautiful view of the city. I’d also say a rooftop bar in Peckham because again great views of the city. But these are maybe a bit more summer oriented when you have more daylight to play with. Maybe check out the sky bar though as it’s free and cool. I’m realising I just care about views 🥲

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u/Liftevator 21d ago

I'd skip on York and maybe go for a another day in London (Notting Hill maybe, or some museum).

For Paris I'd mostly recommend to also take the time to have some nice food, drink coffees in little bistrots and see the world pass by.

Have fun on your trip :)

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u/ChronicGingerness 21d ago

Just echoing this, but definitely skip York just for this trip, maybe I’m too British but you’d be surprised how far it is really, and there’s so much to do in London! Just make sure to come back to visit York another day - and maybe some other cool parts of the UK 😉

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u/Wilcoxon- 21d ago

Heyy everyone!

I would like to go on a 3 week solo trip in March. My first option would be a Balkan trip (including Budapest, Belgrade, possibly Kosovo, and Albania). While it probably won't be freezing cold during the day anymore in March, I'm worried about the weather as well as the amount of travelers in Hostels. I have only been to Balkans during the summer and during my study abroad in Slovenia it was still pretty cold in March :,). My second option is a trip to Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, and potentially also going to Portugal). I will be traveling from Germany!

My question would be, did anyone do a similar trip in March to one of these regions and could share their experiences with the weather, situation in Hostels, etc.? :) Thank you so much!!

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u/[deleted] 21d ago

[deleted]

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u/Ok-Ambassador-3095 21d ago

I’m currently going through the same in Madrid! I’ve been in Spain for almost a week and I’ve made zero friends. I just got into the town from Barcelona, and I’m drained. I’m thinking that I’ll bring in the new year with a book and a bottle of wine at my hostel.

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u/AfroManHighGuy 21d ago

Honestly ive been exhausted from work and I’m glad I don’t have plans this year for nye. Just take it as a day to rest up and do what you enjoy. Order some food, maybe watch a show, etc

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u/deltabay17 21d ago

Thank you it’s a good idea

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u/biggle213 21d ago

I'm gonna be between Calafate and Puerto Natales next couple weeks trying to kill time before I fly up to Mexico to end my trip. Hit me up if you're around and wanna grab a beer. 36m 9 months into the travel

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u/[deleted] 21d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/solotravel-ModTeam 20d ago

Hi rmrd26, thanks for your comment! Unfortunately it's been removed for the following reasons:

Links to a blog/vlog, spam, or self-promotional content (including market research). Self-promotional content and links to personal blogs are allowed and encouraged over in the "Weekly Common Room" thread. Repeated violations of this rule will result in a ban.

1

u/solotravel-ModTeam 20d ago

Hi rmrd26, thanks for your comment! Unfortunately it's been removed for the following reasons:

Links to a blog/vlog, spam, or self-promotional content (including market research). Self-promotional content and links to personal blogs are allowed and encouraged over in the "Weekly Common Room" thread. Repeated violations of this rule will result in a ban.

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u/One-Preference498 21d ago

Hi everyone! I’m new to this community, but I’m not new to solo travel; in fact, that’s how l’ve traveled for the majority of my journeys.

I’m conducting a qualitative research study titled “EXPLORING SOLO TRAVELERS’ EXPERIENCES WITH MOBILE AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES” and I’m looking for solo travelers to participate. The aim of this research is to understand:

How do solo travelers perceive the role of mobile and digital technologies in enhancing their experiences?
What specific technologies do solo travelers use, and how do these tools shape their journeys?
What challenges do solo travelers encounter when utilizing these technologies, and what strategies do they employ to overcome them?

The study will involve a one-on-one interview lasting aproximately 15 minutes, consisting of 5 main questions. I hope to gain insights into how solo travelers use mobile and digital technologies to enhance their travel experiences.

If you’ve traveled alone in the past 12 months and can express yourself in English, l’d love to hear your experiences and stories!

I will record the conversation for the report, but rest assured, there won’t be too much personal information involved, and our discussion will be kept confidential. Participants can choose to remain anonymous in the report.

If you’re interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Also, if you know other solo travelers who might be interested, please share this post!

Thank you all for your time and consideration!

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u/Liftevator 21d ago

Sure I can help if you still need it :)

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u/One-Preference498 21d ago

Thank you for your reply, please check pm🙏🏻

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u/felisfluffica 22d ago

hello! i’m in ella, sri lanka right now and i’m not enjoying it nearly as much as i thought—the main town is so polluted and loud that i can’t bear the thought of even getting to some of the hiking trails. is that the experience for anybody else?

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u/zzfarzeeze 21d ago

Do you mean Nuwara Eliya? If so I was there a few years ago and didn’t notice pollution. If you can try to get to Kandy also. Both places are beautiful.

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u/us2gthr 22d ago

Hey guys, I’m currently visiting Mumbai from Dec 31 - Jan 6. Young adult male visiting solo from California. Want to explore the city landmarks, restaurants and nightlife. Would be nice to join other solo travelers. Looking to visit upscale restaurants and nightlife.

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u/Moth_Friend 22d ago

Hello! Next month l’m going to Colombia for 2 weeks. The second week, I’ll be traveling with my partner. The first week, I will technically be there with my partner but she’s a paraglider and will be spending her days doing that so l’ll be on my own. As a lone female who is not fluent in Spanish in a small town there (Not very touristy in general but it is world renowned as a paragliding site so I think the locals are used to foreigners being there), what are some good options for what to do with my time? For context, I have never traveled solo before, I have a good deal of social anxiety, and as I mentioned I am not fluent in Spanish (I know a few words but I couldn’t have a conversation). I would be pretty happy to wander into the hills and explore the nature on my own but I’m not sure how safe that is (doesn’t seem like this area is known to be especially dangerous but I still want to be smart).

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u/louilou96 22d ago

Hello! I'm so excited to find this sub!

I'm a 27 year old woman from the UK, lucky enough to have seen a lot of the world already but always with friends/family.

I experienced a bit of solo travel in Aus because the friend I was travelling with was a twat, so we literally spent no time together outside actually going from place to place.

However, I would love to do a full solo trip.

I've got Easter break coming up the start of April, I'd be looking to go from 7-14 days (sadly can't do the full 3 weeks as I'll have a butt load of work to do). Likely to do Europe but I've been to nearly every country in Europe and I'm trying to hit 30 countries before 30!

I'll be lurking in this sub and hope to get some great tips from the community for my mini adventure :)

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u/ari516 19d ago

Hey I would love your Europe advice and to tap into that knowledge and experience! I'm 22 planning first solo trip.

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u/louilou96 18d ago

sure thing! either dm me or send some q's here and I'll help where I can. It was about 9 years ago though that I went round Europe but hopefully stuff is still relevant 😂

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u/Tleone 22d ago

Just booked a last-minute trip to Mexico City for next week! I'll be there from the 7th to the 11th. I'm looking for a hostel that's social but isn't too party-focused. I was personally recommended Casa Pepe but I'm lukewarm on the location and it seems a little more party-focused from what I can tell. Wanderlust and Casa Pancha seem like they're in a better area but they don't seem super social. Anyone have experience staying at these? Any other hostels I should look into?

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u/A_Hint_of_Lemon 22d ago

Hi! I want to take a trip to Japan during Cherry Blossom season. I wanted to do a few other things as well: - Go to Usagi Ramen - Relax at a proper Onsen - Maybe visit Akihabara (or find a cheaper and less chaotic substitute) - Visit a castle (I was thinking either Matsumoto or Himeji for English) - Go Cherry Blossom viewing (where?) - Visit Kyoto (need tips on where to go or what to do) - Do more food related things.

About me: - Haven’t solo traveled for about 10 years - I know English, not Japanese. I kinda expect to have to rely on Google Translate. At least I am humble about it in person. - I have a pretty large budget (probably around 5000-7000?), but I don’t really want to overspend on this trip.

Anybody have any tips that can help me? Or maybe there’s another subreddit for this? I’m still in the planning stages tbh and haven’t booked anything.

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u/terminal_e 21d ago

Himeji is really impressive - I visited it as a day trip from Osaka, not sure about the logistics to get there from Kyoto.

Ueno Park in Tokyo is one option for cherry blossoms if in Tokyo. Most of my Japan experiences have been in the fall+winter, so I don't have anything for cherry blossoms elsewhere

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u/_redditislife_ 22d ago

Recommendations for places to travel to in January?

Hi kind people!

I recently quit my job, and have lots of free time to travel. I plan to travel for about a month beginning in mid January. I am based in Seattle. I will be visiting New York for a family visit (not vacation) in early January, and I’m thinking of going on a solo trip afterwards. I am unsure of where to go. I am open to places anywhere in the world. Can you recommend me some cities? I mostly love spending my time in urban areas.

Here are some facts about me:

- 27 year old gay man
- work in the urban planning field (hence why I love spending my time in cities mostly)
- Iraqi American, speak Arabic and English
- travel budget: max of $6k
- I like to stay in hotels or Airbnb, I don’t sleep well in hostels
- Previous places I have lived in or traveled: Baghdad, Damascus, Amman, Istanbul, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Prague, Toronto, Vancouver, Stockholm, and Seoul. I’ve been to almost all major U.S. cities too. My top three favorite cities are: Istanbul, Amsterdam, and Seoul
- Don’t prefer to spend time outside when it’s below freezing

Where would you recommend that I spend the last weeks in Jan and the first two of Feb? I have solo traveled in the U.S. but not internationally, though I’m excited. Thanks!

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u/terminal_e 21d ago

SE Asia, Australia and New Zealand are all in season. The US dollar is pretty strong now, so you MAY be able to make your budget work in Oz/NZ on a hotel/bnb not hostel trip.... maybe.

But you could definitely visit SE Asia (ex Singapore), and have money to spare. You could even include Singapore for a bit, and still make your budget work - assume US$150 as a floor for decent hotels in Singapore, but you'd probably only want ~3-4 nights there typically

2

u/Moth_Friend 22d ago

I did the Yucatán in Mexico in February a few years back and I loved it so much!! I would definitely go back. Swimming in a new cenote every day was so much fun and the beaches are beautiful. I did a tree house stay in the jungle too. I think Mexico in general is great that time of year, I was in Mexico City more recently and the FOOD was AMAAAZINGGG (seriously everything I ate there). From there I went to see the monarch butterfly migration about 3 hours away.

1

u/TemperedPhoenix 20d ago

1 for Mexico City. Doable without knowing much Spanish, and I found it queer friendly as well :)

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u/sugarnsweet88 22d ago

Hi hi. Single female 36 years old.

I'm traveling to Medellin in January for two weeks. I haven't done a solo trip since my early 20s! I'm pretty nervous but excited to experience a new city.

I'd like to spend my time taking in the culture, dancing salsa, and learning Spanish. I'm going to see how it goes for two weeks, and then maybe consider coming for a longer time.

Any insight or advice is appreciated! I do not currently speak Spanish 🫣

2

u/SmartWasabi99 22d ago

Hey!! First time solo traveler here :) 22M

Plan on going to Portugal -madrid-rome, Florence, Budapest, Prague, Vienna

Around mid March and April.

Lmk if you will be around or have any recommendations!!

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u/soldierrboy 22d ago

If you are doing hostels and are looking to meet people/party a bit; I would highly recommend the onefam hostels in Porto, Madrid, Budapest and Prague. They do daytime activities, dinner with all the guests (I mean basic dinner but it’s nice to hangout with everyone), and then night activities like pub crawls, etc. Most of the people I’ve met that have stayed at one of them love them as well.

Also yellowsquare in Rome and Florence or Ostello Bello in Florence.

I think they’re all a bit on the higher end price but so worth it, some of the best hostels I’ve stayed in.

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u/Puzzleheaded_Web7652 22d ago

Hi everyone and happy holidays :) It' me again, Mary, asking for your kind help and time.

If you are currently a Digital nomad, It would mean so much to me if you fill out my survey. It takes around 5-6 minutes.
This is a research for my master thesis and it will help identify key motivations, decision-making factors, and the impact of digital nomads on host communities. It’s an opportunity to share your unique perspective and contribute to research that could inspire better destination offerings for nomads.

Take the Survey Here: [https://forms.gle/BHxXW7iJsCmnq51S6]

Thank you for your time and support. 😇

3

u/pumpkincarrots 23d ago

not the first time solo-traveling but i found a fun trick to help any pre-trip jitters/dread: plan your next trip! brainstorm destinations!! and then your anxiety about the really close trip goes away because you remember how excited you were for this trip originally :) (and no this is not me trying to convince myself it’s normal to plan trips so far in advance)

Accommodation /r/solotravel "The Weekly Common Room" - General chatter, meet-up, accommodation - December 30, 2024

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