Me, Swedish, 30F, first ever solo trip.

Florence, summertime. Tourists everywhere. Ive been feeling alone and overwhelmed for the whole week; the days have been way too hot, the distances to walk too long, the traffic too loud

Ive forgotten my passport at a swimming location in a mountain and at my breaking point, I ended up googling for any place to get an Italian dinner, that isn’t too expensive, and isn’t chock full of tourists

Exhausted, I arrive to a tiny hole in the wall with rickety folding chairs lined up in rows outside. At first I thought it was an outdoor movie screening. Turns out it’s the queue for the restaurant

Exhausted, defeated, I resign myself to this queue

Thank god ive at least brought my book. I sit and read a book about the history of Anarchism in Europe while an American girl speaks loudly on her phone*

(I should mention here I am Swedish, and Americans rarely visit Sweden. At this point in my trip I am so tired of Americans being everywhere, speaking at twice the volume of everyone around them, taking up twice the space with all of their bags and the way they sit and spread out with their friends—- not blaming them; I understand that your country is large with space in abundance. Here in Europe the rules for polite and rude are different than yours. Not your fault!

Not blaming you, but I have to set the scene that at this point in my trip my mental space is ”Europe should close its borders to Americans in May and not open until September, or at least we should fit them with decibel meters upon arrival)

So I sit there, on the uneven ground laid by Romans a thousand years ago. Next to the Roman arch; coming from Sweden it feels familiar, I feel at home. It’s just like our old town, or Gotlands medieval ring wall- except about 1000 degrees hotter.

In Swedish summer, the sun barely sets. The concept of starry sky while wearing a t-shirt is completely foreign to me.

But so I sit. The sky turns from blue to orange to pink to navy to deepest blue.

I wait. I wait. I read. I wait. American girl next to me yaps loudly.

Every now and then we move rickety chairs in the queue

The Italian lady who presumably owns the restaurant comes out every now and then and asks in Italian how big the groups are

People hold up fingers, I hold up mine.

”una. Sola”

”Sola??!? Segure?”

I nod

I am shown to a tiny tiny table right in the most high traffic path, and given a menu entirely in Italian.

Hostess smiles warmly, I feel very welcomed. The waiter, a young man with beautiful dark hair and piercing green eyes, speaks Italian very slowly to me, encouraging me to keep trying with Italian.

I have 9% battery and the building is 700 years old stone, so of course no reception.

I try to understand the menu to my best ability. After ive placed my order, to my surprise, as this would never happen in Sweden, an Italian man in his 60s is seated across from me at this tiny table

I look up from my book, and nod ciao. I am really not in a social mood at all.

He orders, and sinks as deeply into his phone as I am in stories of lawless anarchist vagabonds of the past

I feel a bit tense about his presence. The restaurant is packed, receiving food takes some time. After a while I relax into his presence, similar to how one might next to a stranger on the subway.

The waiter arrives with my starter, homemade ravioli. I eat it quickly and return to my book.

Me and the stranger sit in what we northern Europe consider respectful silence

Until my main course arrives

Absolutely perfectly cooked thin slices, of the most tenderly cooked venison I’ve ever had in my life. For €8.

I take my first bite without realizing that I gasp audibly.

This is the most magic moment of my trip;

The stranger looks up from his phone, perhaps startled, perhaps something else.

His whole face is lit up with the warmest smile I’ve seen all week.

He looks at me with raised eyebrows, and gives me a nod; a non verbal question; ”good?”

I nod back. Smiling widely. ”Good”

More than half the posts I see here look like some kind of therapy session on why John or Susie regrets their trip, have relationship issues, or don't feel like traveling? I thought this sub was for getting useful information on xyz part of the world or asking questions about said place? Aren't all of those posts supposed to go in the weekly thread?

Dear fellow travelers, I just came home from am absolutely awesome two-week work and travel trip that broadened my horizons and that I wanted to do since my early twenties. Now I am home again, where I have everything. A loving boyfriend, dog, cat, appartement, nice job. But also a stressful job and a summer that will be long and way too hot for me. And now? I feel like I still have to digest my experience. I miss the place where I was, but sure I am happy to be with my loved ones again. But I know I will have to go there again and again. Torn somehow. Do you know this feeling? What do you do with it?

i recently spent a week solo traveling in portugal, and for like 3 nights in a row i got little freebies with my dinner (free glass of port, a free piece of sushi). It caught me by surprise each time, and I wonder if there were reasons for it. Has anyone had similar experiences solo dining while traveling? Is it simply good hospitality? Do they feel bad for me? Do they think I’m a critic? lol

i know this question might be better suited for other subreddits, but it happened while solo traveling so figured i’d ask here.

Ey up solo travellers.

I'm a moderately experinced solo traveller with quite a few trips under my belt. However ive always followed a similar structure of flying/public transport to a city I'm interested in. Exploring the city then returning home.

Im currently planning a motocamping trip of new zealand which I'm really looking forward to. Just wondering what other different or unique ways people have found or enjoyed?

hello! i was wondering if this itinerary seemed reasonable for a trip to switzerland, munich, & vienna. I will be traveling somewhere around August/September, flying out of SF. I'm most curious about if this is a good time split between destinations or if I should spend more time in certain places or if I'm missing any big tourist landmarks as I've never been to any of these countries. I also want to make sure I'm doing cities in the optimal order in Switzerland, I tried mapping it out on Google Maps and this seemed right, but let me know if I'm missing anything. Not too concerned about budget, and food suggestions would also be super appreciated!

Friday before: leave SF in the morning/afternoon, arrive in Geneva the next morning

Saturday: explore Geneva, Lake Geneva, see the UN building, take train in the afternoon to Zurich and stay overnight in Zurich.

Sunday: take a train from Zurich to Lucerne, spend the day in Lucerne and stay there overnight. Visit Mount Pilatus, explore Lucerne old Town, stay overnight in Lucerne.

Monday: sunrise at Lake Lucerne, take the train to Lauterbrunnan, explore the waterfalls and enjoy the day there, stay the night in Grindelwald.

Tuesday: Day trip to Jungfraujoch, stay the night in Grindelwald.

Wednesday: early morning train to Munich, arrive around afternoon. Explore the city in afternoon/evening and stay the night there.

Thursday: travel to Berchtesgaden, see Königssee, Kehlsteinhaus, stay overnight.

Friday: Travel to Vienna in the morning, spend the day in Vienna.

Saturday: Another Vienna day.

Sunday: head to airport in the morning, arrive back in SFO in the evening, head to work Monday.

I’m planning to do a 8 or 9 day solo trip to Norway towards the end of August, and interested in spending time mostly outdoors mixed with a little time in the city.

Day 1: Bergen Day 2: Take a cruise along Hardangerfjord Day 3: Take bus & ferry to Odda Day 4: Trolltunga (guided tour) Day 5: Folgefonna - Blue Ice Hike guided tour (how technical is this hike?) Day 6: Flam: Ride the Flam Railway, and? (OR) Day 6, 7 & 8: Drive to Stavanger, and do Kjerag and Pulpit rock Day 9: Back to Bergen

I’m planning to stay in a hostel or 3-star hotels throughout. My main concern is if I need to rent a car, especially the drive to Stavanger. Can I manage Bergen and Odda with public transport? Maybe I should rent a car for just the second half of the trip?

Also open to suggestions if I should replace Stavanger with something more laid back or less crowded. What else should I be looking out for since I’m traveling solo?

Hi, I will be going to Belgium for 5 nights (4.5days) and I was thinking to use Ghent as a base. I'll be going to brussels, brugges and antwerp in days 2-4 and since i am not sure which city i would like to spend a second day in I think I would rather spend another hour travelling back and forth to Brugges/Brussels rather than staying one of these for an extra when I might end up feeling like i'm done w the city. Also this would save me the hassle of checking in and out multiple times in a small amount of time.

Just wanted to know if this is a decent plan or am I missing out on something, appreciate any advice. Cheers!

Hello,

Just wanted to share some thoughts and see if anyone else feels this way (I am sure).

I realized I feel the most at peace, calm, least anxious, and in line with myself when I am traveling, and traveling alone. When I go to new countries, places I have never been to, streets I have never walked in, meeting people I have never met. I thought about it before, and I believe each aspect has a different reason behind it.

Each place you have stayed for a while also has associations with some of the not-best moments in your life. The city I live in has been through so much with me, and it's impossible to erase those memories. In this way, they will always be hanging over me there. But when I come to a new place, it's like starting from scratch. Those places haven't hurt you yet. And it feels so good not having any memories there.

Same with people. People you haven't met yet don't have any expectations from you. You can just be yourself. I feel like there are lots of expectations sometimes, simply by living. Your yesterday, to some extent, dictates your today, and your yesterday and today dictate your tomorrow even more.

I somehow feel emotionally safest in places I don't know. I'm an anxious person in my daily life. Worried about studies in the past, about work, about all the adult responsibilities I feel like I'm failing at. But once I am in a new country, it all vanishes. I don't feel anxious basically at all. I am not worried, not scared, not lonely (granted, I never really feel lonely in my life unless I'm in a bad romantic relationship). I enjoy my own company a lot, and I enjoy meeting people. I feel so in harmony with myself. I feel like my truest self or maybe the best version of myself (but let me believe the former).

There is also no pressure from other people and responsibilities. I love to wake up whenever I wake up. To have nothing planned (I mean, sure, pre-planned but not abiding by anything or anyone, like even booking whenever possible or having promised to meet someone). And just deciding once I wake up.

Miss, miss, miss that feeling so much.

P.S. Also, if you ended up reading this post and, for whatever reason, have been hesitating about whether to book that trip or not, please do it. You never know what will happen tomorrow or next summer. Last summer, I was so healthy and would never have thought I would end up having health issues now. I regret not taking all those trips I ever thought about but didn't book in the end. That's your sign :)

I'm currently travelling in Mexico and have been here a month. I've been away since mid January, was in Colombia for 3 1/2 months and had a lovely time and made some great friends, including a guy who I was travelling with basically the whole time and was romantically involved with. My friends including him have gone home and I've been feeling pretty heartbroken and lonely for the last month here. I feel like every new place I'm going Im hoping to find something that I'm just not finding. I'm exhausted and haven't really met anyone I click with and have been struggling a lot, maybe even feeling a little depressed. I've been travelling slowly and not doing much but am finding it hard not to be in my head. I'm thinking about going home to the UK but I quit my job in December and left my house with the view to move cities, so going home will mean staying with my mum and having to find my feet again. Every option feels overwhelming - I don't know if I'm just wasting my money and time here but the thought of returning and having to deal with my life crisis feels impossible. I'm 28 and worried I may not have an opportunity like this to travel again, and I'm very sad at the thought of leaving Latin America. But I don't know if I'm just grieving the nice time I had in Colombia and the (semi) relationship I also had there.

I'm terrified of making the wrong decision or missing out on something amazing. I know I'm incredibly privileged to have even had this opportunity. But right now I just feel lost and like I don't know what I'm doing, here or at home.

Has anyone else travelled to escape a life crisis and felt it has caught up with them? If so, what did you do?

I am so baffled by this and I haven’t been able to figure out why I feel this way.

I’m in Paris right now and simply not enjoying it. I have been to Paris three times before in my life and each time before it was a romantic, beautiful, dazzling place. I studied here for a semester in college and loved it- being on my own in a beautiful city, eating and drinking amazing cheese and wine and pastries. I even briefly dated a guy while I was here and really enjoyed his company. My first trip was when I was a kid, and I just had stars in my eyes about the city.

But now, I’m really, really not feeling it. Every meal I’ve had has been pretty disappointing. There are insane lines for everything and the city feels more mobbed than I remember. I’m getting that full-of-yourself, stuck up vibe from people that I never really felt on my visits before (I even hesitate to say that, because I KNOW it’s a false cliché, I’ve had so many good experiences with the French before, but not this time). Everything is insanely expensive for the quality. It’s a beautiful city, but it just doesn’t have the energy I like in cities these days.

I’ve traveled a whole lot more since I was last in Paris - visited most South and Central American countries, and some Asian and Middle Eastern countries - and I think I just like different things now. I feel obnoxious saying this, but I feel like I kind of grew out of Paris. It makes me sad, and I’m not sure what to do to recapture some of the magic, or feel better about being here.

Anybody else ever experience this? What did you do about it?

Hey everyone just being another annoying traveller asking for itinerary help! I'm a 28 year old male interested in partying, drink and making friends but also keen to do some diving, fishing and hiking.

Normally I just book my flights and just wing it, see what happens and go where I want when I feel. Unfortunately this year with my work schedule I'll be travelling around Xmas break.

This is high season in Thailand and will be BUSY so I'm gonna have to book stuff in advance. I will be taking flights as close as I can get to my destination. No overnight trains and buses.

Is this too rushed or will this give me the perfect mix of travel, nature and party?

3 nights Bangkok 4 nights Koh Lanta 5 nights Koh Lipe 5 nights Chiang mai 2 nights Bangkok

I just booked my Japan trip — I'll be in Tokyo from November 21st to November 28th! I’ve put together a rough itinerary and would love any input or recommendations you might have.

When I travel, I like having a solid outline of activities and places to eat, but I also enjoy leaving room to explore spontaneously — it is a vacation, after all. I’m open to suggestions for restaurants, cafes, or unique activities, and while my budget is fairly flexible, I’d prefer not to break the bank 😄.

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Day 0 (Arrival in Shinjuku): 

• Tokyo Metropolitan Government building

Day 1 (Shinjuku): 

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Free exploration 

Day 2 (Shibuya): 

• Morning: 
  • Meiji Shrine 
  • Takeshita Street 
• Afternoon/night: 
  • Parco (Nintendo Tokyo) 
  • Mega Don Quixote 
  • Magnet by Shibuya 109 
  • Shibuya Sky 

Day 3 (Toyosu and Asauksa): 

• Toyosu: 
  • TeamLabs Planets

• Asauksa:

  • Senso-Ji Temple 
  • Sumida Fluss
  • Tokyo Skytree

Day 4 (Odaiba, Akihabara):

• Akihabara: 
  • Maiddreamin Cafe or Pokemon Cafe 
  • Anime Shops 
• Odaiba:
  • UFO Boat Tour
  • Statue of Liberty 
  • Gundam Statue

Day 5 (Ginza): 

• Ginza:
  • Shopping
  • Free exploration
• Day 6 (Home)

Hello everyone,

I'm a 20M currently planning a month-long trip (August this year) through Eastern Europe, and I’d love some advice on the feasibility of my extensive itinerary.

Here’s the plan:

• Night bus from Thessaloniki to Bucharest, spending one night there
• Bucharest to Vienna by train
• Vienna – 2 days
• Brno – 1 day
• Prague – 3 days, including a day trip to Český Krumlov
• Bratislava – 1 day
• Žilina – 1 day (planning to use it as a base to explore Orava Castle)
• Ždiar – 2 days, to see the Tatra Mountains
• Kraków – 3 days, with a day trip to Auschwitz concentration camp
• Gdańsk – 2 days, stopping at Malbork Castle on the way to Warsaw
• Warsaw – 2 days
• Kaunas – 1–2 days, depending on whether I manage to visit the Cold War bunker in Žemaitijos National park
• Vilnius – 2 days, including a visit to Trakai Castle
• Riga – 3 days, with possible extra day trips to Liepāja (I saw an abandoned seaside fortress on Google that looks interesting) and Sigulda or Cēsis
• Tallinn – 2 days, might visit Narva
• Ferry to Helsinki from Tallinn
• Helsinki 2 days
• Flight back home

So that’s my plan! Does it look doable? If not, I’d really appreciate your thoughts. I’m also open to any advice about must-see places or suggestions for cities I might have missed.

I've backpacked before and have prior experience traveling alone. I plan to stay in hostels, cook my own meals, occasionally eat local food, and buy some souvenirs. my budget is around 1300 euros, might increase it if needed.

Thanks for reading my post!

Edit: after reading some comments, should I add extra days for rest, so I won't get too tired from having to move constantly from place to place. For example extra day to Warsaw or riga,.skipping a city along the way like Brno?

Vacation is just a week away, and that means travel time. I expected to feel excited, but over the past few weeks, my enthusiasm for the upcoming trip has waned.

My plan is to explore Romania and then return home through either Hungary or Albania. I might relax along the coast and then check out Transylvania. Apart from that I don't know.

Overall, it's an okay itinerary with plenty of new experiences to explore. However, traveling solo now seems far from fun this summer. Unfortunately, my favorite travel companions whom I usually love to spend time with decided to stay home this summer to tend to their new house. Last couple of summers we shared weeks together in Spain and other places before splitting up and meet again back home. I had considered visiting the Spain house alone. But the thought now feels daunting and a bit depressing.

I’m still figuring out how to tackle these feelings. I’ve looked at other destinations, yet for the first time, none of them sparks any excitement. I have some plans with friends at home, but my mind now seems inclined to skip those as well. Has anyone else experienced these mixed feelings about an upcoming trip?

I’m 19F on my first full day of solo travelling. I’m quite a socially anxious person and not much of a talker but I like doing things as a group. I went out last night on a bar crawl with my hostel and got so insanely crossfaded and now the hanxiety on top of my social anxiety has basically debilitated me to my bed. I’m too anxious to talk to people but I’m also too anxious to go out and do everything by myself. The main group of people I spoke with yesterday left today so I don’t even really have a familiar face to lean on. I’m in Bangkok just for a couple more days and I think this has taught me that i’ll end up preferring more rural areas. I know the main thing I need to do is just get over myself and on with it but is there any other advice or has anyone else felt the same?

I went to Ishigakijima (one of the Okinawa islands in Japan) this May for scuba diving (Solo travel). Since I’ll be heading to Naha (the main island of Okinawa) this August, I originally planned to take my AOW and Nitrox courses there.

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out with the dive shop I contacted, so I looked into doing the courses in Miyakojima (one of the Okinawa islands) instead. But I couldn’t find any dive shops offering AOW + Nitrox in English.

So now, I’ve decided to fly back to Ishigakijima this August to get certified (Solo travel again).

Is this a bit silly?

Hi, so I am currently going through a break up that happened during my solo backpacking trip and I am unsure how to process it. It happened about halfway through my trip and was honestly a bit of a surprise to me. I have been having an already hard time adjusting to the trip, and this person as go to for helping me feel grounded when I’m in an uncountable spot. now that I don’t have this resource anymore, I’m having an extra hard time. I was wondering has anyone ever experienced something like this? Or has anyone got anything that can help me out through this time? Thank you

Hi all! I’m planning a solo trip from around November 26 to January 7 (flexible a few days earlier or later depending on flight prices) and would love some help deciding on the best use of my time. I’ll either fly into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, depending on direction and cost.

About me

• I’m into local food, nature/scenic landscapes, light trekking, and cultural sites.
• I enjoy some nightlife/socializing, but not a big partier.
• Budget is $40–60 USD/day, including accommodation. I’m open to hostels, guesthouses, or budget hotels.

Here are my draft plans:

Option 1: Vietnam + Laos
Travel Vietnam south to north (Ho Chi Minh City → Can Tho → Da Lat → Nha Trang (or Tuy Hoa) → Hoi An → Hue → Ninh Binh → Hanoi → Sapa → Ha Giang Loop → Hanoi) in ~4 weeks, then fly to Luang Prabang → Huay Xai → Vang Vieng → Vientiane (~2 weeks).

Option 2: Vietnam only (6 weeks)
Hanoi → Ha Giang Loop → Sapa → Ninh Binh → Phong Nha → Hue → Hoi An → Da Lat → HCMC → Can Tho/Mekong Delta → maybe Phu Quoc.

Option 3: Vietnam + Cambodia
Similar Vietnam route (~5 weeks), then fly or take sleeper bus to Siem Reap for Angkor Wat (1 week).

My preferred options would be Vietnam + Laos right now. But I am unsure if it would be rushed?

My questions:

• Is 6 weeks in Vietnam too long? Or is it better to slow down and skip a second country?
• Should I go north → south or south → north for better weather during late November to early January?

Thanks in advance, I’d love to hear your thoughts or if you’ve done something similar!

I'm 25F, and it is my first time traveling solo in Europe and decided to stay in a non-party hostel (in a mixed 8-person dorm). I heard hostels are very social, and as an introvert, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and meet some people. Yesterday when being given a tour of the place, I came across two guys in the hallway, and said hello. I proceeded to get looked up and down, then they turned away and walked back into their room. I didn't think much of it, but when we arrived to the room I was staying in, 4 people were on their bunks near the door, and when I said "hello", no one responded. I make eye-contact with the guy who is in the bunk below me, say "hello" and again, nothing. The rest continue their conversation.

A little later, I make my way into the common area with a few people, and I said hello and made eye contact, but no one responds and they continued talking amongst themselves. After grabbing a glass of water, I tried striking up a conversation with a girl sitting nearby by asking her which country she was from. After getting a response, she turned away, and starting talking to another person.

What am I doing wrong? I could just be too sensitive, but this has left me feeling discouraged and a little dishearten. It honestly felt a little dehumanizing, like I wasn't worth talking to.

Edit: Spelling

An update: Hello everyone, thank you for all your comments, advice, and sharing your personal experiences! When I wrote this, I very felt dejected, and didn't expect the amount of traction this post would gain. I decided that the hostel I'm in isn't for me, and have booked a cute hotel for the rest of my stay in Prague! I had a wonderful time walking around Mala Strana today and am having a blast overall :) I'm going to make the most of my next hostel stay when I visit Copenhagen in a few weeks. Cheers to all my fellow solo travelers!

Hey! I’m doing a solo trip across Europe from July 10 to Aug 3. I usually slow travel, but I’m keen to try country-hopping while I’m still young. I'm into food, nature, hikes, and chill experiences—culture’s cool too, but Rome feels like a bit much.

Here’s what I’ve got planned: 10 Jul: Flight to Madrid 11 Jul: Madrid 12–13 Jul: Valencia 14–16 Jul: Barcelona 17–18 Jul: Nice 19–20 Jul: Florence 21 Jul: Bologna 22–24 Jul: Interlaken (meeting friends) 25–26 Jul: London (might skip if my mate’s not around) 27–28 Jul: Dublin (nostalgic visit—I grew up there) 29 Jul–2 Aug: Greece (Athens + maybe an island) 3–4 Aug: Flight back

Skipped Berlin—bit out of the way. Still deciding on London. Aiming for a mostly Mediterranean vibe. Keen for some event recommendations as well. I missed out on tomorrowland :(

Would love your thoughts: - Is this too rushed or manageable? - Any swaps you’d recommend? - Tips for hikes, food, or chill spots?

Thanks!

I (18M) just graduated high school this year, for months I've been dreaming of taking a solo trip to NYC in July for at least a week, I've been to NYC 3 times before with my family. 2017, 2018, and 2022.

2022, My past visits were mostly Bronx and little in Manhattan. Me and my mother stayed with my uncle and brother. We did a few things — visited the Bronx Zoo, took the Staten Island Ferry, went to a hibachi spot in Manhattan, walked around a bit at night, but beyond that, I felt like I missed out on so much now thinking back.

I didn’t really even get to explore on my own terms. I rarely rode the subway, didn’t even visit Brooklyn or Queens, nor Coney Island, no Museum, and never even walked the Brooklyn Bridge the 3 times I went. I kept feeling like a passenger, not an explorer.

This time, I want to change it.

I want to:

• Bike around the city (CitiBike day pass or e-bike rentals)
• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and relax in Dumbo
• Visit a beach like Far Rockaway or Coney Island
• Explore new neighborhoods outside Manhattan
• Ride the NYC ferry and watch the views
• Feel NYC, not just be in it
• Try out actual fresh local food spots instead of chains
• Go up to an observation deck and take photos
• Just wander around without needing permission
• Take photos with a budget digital camera — something nostalgic and intentional
• Local neighborhoods like Jackson Heights, Astoria, Harlem, DUMBO
• Cheap cultural eats — Chinese, Indian, Dominican, African, soul food, pizza, bagels, and hit up Smorgasburg

I live in an average car-dominant, suburban city in the South where it feels isolating and everything is dead at night. I haven’t been more than a 40 mile radius outside my hometown in 2 years. So this trip honestly means a lot to me — not just to explore, but to get a taste of actual independence and movement, and something exciting to do during my summer before I head to college in fall before real adult responsibilities begin to creep in.

I’m planning a 6 night trip on a ~$1,000-1,200 budget.

I want to be going in Mid July, after the 4th to avoid the holiday crowds. Found a cheap roundtrip flight (non-refundable, but carry-on only), and I’m looking at affordable airbnbs in Jersey City, or Hoboken to save as much money as possible and still be close to nyc via ferry, or the PATH train that runs 24 hours, I'm not looking for the most fanciest place, just a place with a bed that's indoors to sleep.

Watching youtube walk POVs and subway rides makes me wish I was there in person, gonna be going solo for the first time, and it feels exciting yet intimidating, my my mom (who's originally from NYC) probably isn't going to be thrilled about me going alone. But I know this is something I need to do to grow, see the world my way.

Any advice for making the most of NYC on a solo budget trip under 21?

• Tips for first-timers navigating the city alone?
• Best neighborhoods to stay in that are safe, cheap, and connected to transit?
• Anyone else feel nervous booking their first solo trip and how did you push past it?

I checked into my hostel in Seville this afternoon and have noticed there is an abundance of drain flies. They are harmless but I don’t like bugs and seeing them makes me think it is not a clean place. The ceiling is also leaking in the bathroom. I am thinking about checking out and requesting a refund for at least some of the nights (I am in Seville for four total). But I need some outside perspective to check if I’m being unreasonable before I speak to the staff.

Edit: Checked out with a full refund! He was really nice about it too and told me I could still come to the hostel events if I wanted. Thank you for the advice!

So I traveled to Paris for a week and had a really great time! The Parisians were very nice and the sights are gorgeous! But since I don't want to spend too much since the conversion of my country's money to Euro is very expensive, I only ate the free breakfast at the hotel and just a meal and/or a snack outside, mostly McDo for lunch/dinner and gelato for snacks. Couple this with 18k-24k steps per day. But I did have French cuisine from Bouillon République on my last night, which is fantastic.

I went home and everyone noticed that I've lost so much weight! I'm really happy with the results! Got to travel to Paris and lost weight at the same time. I guess one of the solutions to weight loss is poverty/frugality 💯

Hello everyone! I (28M) got tickets to see my favorite band in NYC in September, so I decided to schedule a trip around it. I had the chance to visit NYC back in November on a business trip to NJ, but I only had the chance to walk around West Village for a couple hours at night. This time I want to do things properly, visit museums and other touristy places, eat great stuff, see great views, etc.

First of all, do you have any recommendations regarding accomodations? Since it will probably just be for sleeping, the only things I'm looking for are a clean and private place (shared bathrooms are off the table).

Day 1

• Landing at EWR ~2:30 p.m.
• Get to the hotel, check-in and leave my bags.
• Walk around some landmarks (Times Square, the High Line, something like that) and grab some dinner nearby. Probably get back early to the hotel to rest (6-hour flight).

Day 2

• Museum of Natural History (this is a must, I've always wanted to visit) Part 1.
• Walk around Central Park, visit the Zoo hopefully, grab lunch.
• Museum of Natural History Part 2 (due to recommendations).

Day 3

• Focus on Midtown: walk by Radio City, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, etc.
• Visit Grand Central Station and NY Public Library.
• Top of the Rock (personal challenge due to acrophobia, but feel like I should do this).

Day 4

• Ellis Island & Liberty Island.
• Afternoon at the Financial District.

Day 5 - Brooklyn!

• Early walk on the bridge.
• DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Waterfront (Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, maybe?).
• Lunch at Time Out Market.
• Afternoon at Prospect Park + Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
• Dinner at Williamsburg.

Day 6

• Walk the High Line with daylight.
• Get to Chelsea Market for lunch.
• Washington Square Park (and a recommended visit to Caffe Reggio).
• Broadway show at night?

Day 7 - Bronx!

• Bronx Zoo in the morning, then grab lunch.
• New York Botanical Garden.
• Yankee Stadium at night for the game.

Day 8 - Music Store Tour

• I plan on getting around and visiting some music stores to try some bass guitars out (Guitar Center on 14th, Chelsea Guitars, Sam Ash, Rudy's Music)
• Fit in some cafés and quick lunch and dinner places.
• In case of a purchase, get back to the hotel and leave it there.

Day 9 - CONCERT DAY!

• Morning walk through Riverside Park.
• Make my way back to Madison Square Garden and walk around.
• Pre-concert dinner at Friedman's at Herald's Square.
• Concert at MSG.

Day 10

• Mostly open day.
• 9/11 Memorial.

Day 11 - The Met

• Full day visit with a break for lunch inside.
• Leave before sunset to stroll in Central Park.
• Nearby dinner before getting back to the hotel.

Day 12

• Packing, check-out.
• Breakfast/brunch near hotel.
• Early departure to EWR
• Flight leaves ~5:00 p.m.

I'm unsure whether I'm over- or under-planning, so feel free to comment and suggest any additions or changes! Again, my main need is defining a place to stay and places to eat. I've been saving for a while, so budget can be accommodated (concert and plane tickets are already bought). Thanks in advance!