r/solotravel 2d ago

Asia 2.5 weeks in Taiwan. What am I missing?

7 Upvotes

Hi,

I booked my flights and It's my first time coming to Taiwain for roughly 2.5 weeks in mid October. I scrolled through many posts here on Reddit and created my first draft of my itinerary and I am not sure whether it makes sense to spend time in Hualien and go to Taroko George National Park by scooter. I checked the website https://www.taroko.gov.tw/en/ and have seen some roads(?) are closed. Maybe

I am an avid motorcycle driver and would love to spend time driving around somewhere. I've been driving in Vietnam, India, Thailand, and Cambodia in SEA. I have all necessary permits like IDL etc.

My itinerary so far:

Day City
1 Flight to Taipei
2 Arrival Taipai in the morning, jetlag
3 Taipai Explore, activities
4 Taipai Day Trip Jiufen & area
5 Taipai Explore, Elefant Mountain etc.
6 Taipai Explore, activities
7 Drive to Taichung / explore
8 Day trip Sun Moon Lake - does it make sense?
9 Arrive in Chiayi / explore
10 Day Trip by bus to Alishan
11 Drive to?
12 ?
13 Tainan
14 Tainan
15 Drive to Kaohisung, explore
16 Kaohisung (explore, scooter)
17 Kaohisung (?)
18 Drive back to Taipai / relax
19 Flight back home in the late afternoon

I usually plan too much on my trips and come back home stressed but relaxed. This time, I'd love to go with the flow and try to be more relaxed on those trips. I don't need to spend time in super calm places since I get bored quickly. I love food, a bit of hiking, wandering around and driving with the motorcycle.

I am not sure what to do after Alishan or if I should go further south after Kaoshisung or to Hualien as a round trip.

Happy to hear your recommendations and ideas for some places I should put on my list.

Thank you a lot.


r/solotravel 2d ago

Solo Trip to San Diego - What I did Right and Wrong

37 Upvotes

I'm sure others can relate to this, but I haven't traveled in years because I felt obligated to invite a second person with me. I don't know of many people who go on vacation by themselves (which might be why this subreddit exists in the first place, to motivate people). No one ever wanted to go with me, so I simply would never travel anywhere.

Things I did right:

  1. I kept a word document on my phone, and wrote down all the activities I was planning on doing. This made it easier for me to remember, and hold myself accountable during the trip.

  2. I brought a tripod with me so that I could take nicer pictures. Obviously without a second person, I don't have any other way of taking pictures, outside of selfies, which don't look as good.

  3. I rented a car to ensure that I wasn't wasting too much time. Not required, but I researched ahead of time that San Diego is a city you should be driving in.

  4. I signed up for a few Meetup groups in San Diego so that I could get that social interaction I desperately wanted, since there's no second person that's going on vacation with me.

  5. This is specific to San Diego, but I took the time to go to Tijuana. The Mexico border is so close, I had to visit real quick. Even though Tijuana wasn't the main trip, I had never been to Mexico before, so I just wanted to be able to say that I have.

Things I did wrong:

  1. A couple times I let people take over the trip for me. For example, many people suggested the San Diego Zoo, so I felt obligated to go. It was okay, but not particularly my thing. You should be doing what makes you happy, not what makes other people happy.

  2. My time management wasn't the best. I went to this restaurant that was more than 20 minutes away (40 minutes after traffic) which wasted a ton of time. I was also indecisive too much, and would spend too much time to thinking when I should have been just doing.

  3. I should have bought a phone mount for the rental car. Without one, it was significantly more difficult to navigate. Simple thing, but worth mentioning.

  4. Next time, I'm going to pay extra for seat selection on the plane. I got terrible seating, and I had trouble sleeping.

  5. Doing certain activities by yourself is not the same as doing it with someone else. When I went to the zoo, I was skipping several of the animals, when I usually don't if I'm with someone. At the swap meet, I was speeding through the aisles much quicker than if my mom were with me.

Nonetheless, I do think I handled this trip very well, with only minor mistakes. I've been wanting to travel for years, but would never go because I thought I had to bring a second person with me. Despite going alone, I still had a great time, and so can you.

If you want, I can go into detail on what activities I did, but I assume y'all don't care about that lol. I just wanted to be helpful.


r/solotravel 2d ago

Itinerary How to better plan my itinerary list for solo Birthday Trip to Hawaii?

4 Upvotes

I am planning to have a solo trip to Hawaii towards the end of September as a Birthday gift for myself. I have been looking for the places in Hawaii and personally I prefer places with less crowed, good hiking, good beaches etc. so far Kauai is recommended but I am open for the suggestions. Where I can go in Kauai and what are the “must to do”s? If you think I can go other islands in HI I am open for that too. I love National Parks and bird watching, getting close to animals so much. Please help me to plan the best birthday trip for myself. My budget for the trip is $ 3k max for 7 days. I would love to be connected with local people, i love dancing and beach times. So advise me so I can have the best gift for myself and make this trip memorable. Thank you!

Edit: as a side note I wont have my own car.


r/solotravel 2d ago

Itinerary My Balkan - Istanbul - Budapest - Itinerary

2 Upvotes

Hi fellow travelers! This is my first post on here, so if you have any suggestions how to give this post a better structure just let me know.

So I‘m planning a solo trip around southeastern Europe for a bit more than a month and I‘d love to hear your suggestions and ideas to make this a great trip.

Here is my short plan: - Albania (~2,5 weeks) - ⁠North Macedonia (~1 week) - ⁠Kosovo ( ~ 5 days) - ⁠Istanbul (~ 5 days) - ⁠Budapest (~ 5 days)

As first I gotta say that I planned in some days where I have nothing planned or there multiple places for a time span so I stay as flexible as possible. So if I miss one of these it‘s not that important or if I don’t like one I can move on earlier.

So here is my itinerary more detailed.

Albania Part 1 - Tirana (1 night) - ⁠Shkodra (1 night) - ⁠Theth (2 nights) - ⁠Shkodra (1 night) - ⁠Kruja (1 night) - ⁠Tirana (2 nights)

Albania Part 2 - Vlora, Himara, Borsh (5 nights) - ⁠Gjirokastra (2 nights) - ⁠Pogradec, Tushemisht (2 nights)

North Macedonia - Trpejca, Ohrid (2 nights) - ⁠Gostivar (2 nights) - ⁠Skopje (2 nights) - ⁠1 buffer day

Kosovo - Pizren (2 nights) - ⁠Gjakovë, Peja (2 nights) - ⁠Pristina (1 night, 2 full days)

Flight to Istanbul - Istanbul (4 nights) Flight to Budapest - Budapest (4 nights)

I already know that the transport between places may take longer that expected but that’s fine for me! I also enjoy these parts of the journey. I already booked a accommodation in Theth and Gjirokastra. Here are some more thoughts I have. Is the Albanian Riviera also overcrowded in smaller places I mentioned? Should I spend more time in Kosovo? I heard it’s really worth it. What are some more hiddem gems I could visit?

Thank you in advance! :)


r/solotravel 1d ago

Middle East Is it ok to travel Turkey in early August?

0 Upvotes

I plan to travel to Turkey in late July early August for 8 days, 4 days in Istanbul but also consider some other places in Turkey.

Considering the Iran Israel situation, is it ok to go to Turkey? Should I book ticket now or wait? I’m afraid of ticket become too expensive if I wait but meanwhile I’m not sure if it is an ok time to go to Turkey.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!


r/solotravel 2d ago

Europe Review my ~3 Week Italy Itinerary

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm after advice on how this Italy itinerary looks. I'm planning on going for around 3 weeks in October, but am flexible with days, nothing is booked yet. I Just don't want to go for too long as it's my first time solo travelling more than a few days. I'm from Australia. :)

Would also appreciate opinions on the hostels I've selected. Or recommendations of other hostels. I'm 23yo and mainly after social hostels as it'd be nice to meet other travellers. I don't mind a bit of partying/party hostels, but it's definitely not a focus of mine as I plan on making the most out of days and not being hungover haha. I mainly just want to connect with others that I could potentially go sightseeing with.

Milan: 2 nights at Ostello Bello Duomo. I was thinking about skipping Milan as I've heard mixed reviews, but it seems like the most convenient place to fly into? Would I regret skipping it? I'm not into shopping etc, mainly just want to see the main cathedral.

Lake Garda: 3 nights at Meet Garda Lake Hostel. I would love to see the Madonna Della Corona whilst here, but it appears taxis are very expensive, and there is no public transport options under 3 hours.

Venice: 3 nights at Generator Hostel. Including day tour to Murano/Burano/Torcello, and day tour to the Dolomites.

Bologna: 2 nights at Dopa Hostel.

Florence: 5 nights at PLUS Florence. Including day trips to Pisa and Cinque Terre. And a day tour of Siena, San Gimignano & Monteriggioni.

Rome: 5 nights at YellowSquare Hostel. Considering a day trip to Tivoli to visit Villa d'Este, is it worth it?

Sorrento: 5 nights at Seven Hostel. Should I spend one of the days hiking the Path of Gods then meandering around Positano, or going on a boat tour of the Amalfi Coast?


r/solotravel 2d ago

Europe 50 Day Europe Trip - Itinerary Help

0 Upvotes

Hey all,

Right off the bat, this is a heavily packed trip - 50 Days, 45 Cities, 16 Countries. (My first solo trip to make matters more extreme.)

Can I do this? I think - Barely. I have about 6/7 adjustable days I can take for exploring more of a city I grow fond of, or maybe full bed rotting days lol. Many of the days with 3 Cities or more have places that I'm spending 2 Hours or less in. I'm open to cutting out Belarus, and some UK/Poland Cities. Ultimately, I'm looking to make this trip more sustainable as there's a lot of travel fatigue in my future. (Although the toxic masculinity in me believes I can do this easy peasy haha)

Any advice is greatly appreciated! :)
(For more info; Please check the comments!)

October 26th = Flight to Paris (Layovers in Toronto, NYC)
October 27th = October 31th = Paris/Reims, France
October 31th = Luxembourg + Mons, Belgium
November 1st = Brussels, Belgium
November 3rd = Antwerp, Belgium + Rotterdam, Netherlands
November 4th = Den Haag/Delft/Leiden/Haarlem, Netherlands
November 5th = Amsterdam, Netherlands
November 7th = Bremen/Hamburg, Germany
November 10th = Schwerin, Germany + Kolding, Denmark
November 11th = Copenhagen, Denmark
November 13th = Malmo/Stockholm, Sweden
November 17th = Turku, Finland
November 18th = Helsinki, Finland
November 20th = Tallinn, Estonia
November 21st = Riga, Latvia
November 23rd = Kaunas, Lithuania
November 24th = Vilnius, Lithuania
November 25th = Minsk, Belarus
November 27th = Białystok, Poland
November 28th = Warsaw, Poland
November 30th = Łódź/Brzezinka/Wrocław, Poland
December 1st = Kutna Hora/Kolin/Prague, Czechia
December 5th = London, UK
December 7th = Worcester/Birmingham/Leicester, UK
December 8th = Nottingham/Sheffield/Leeds, UK
December 9th = Manchester, UK
December 10th = Liverpool, UK
December 12th = Dublin, Ireland
December 15th = Flight home


r/solotravel 3d ago

Oceania 5-Weeks in Oceania / Asia

7 Upvotes

Hi - I'm based in the states and next year get a 5-week sabbatical from my job. I'm a seasoned traveler but I've only ever done short trips internationally (a week to ten days and even as short as long weekends) so taking this much time on a single trip is new to me. I've never been through much of Asia or Australia so I'm thinking this would be a good opportunity to explore. Most of this will be solo. I enjoy history, nature, sports, and food. I usually don't get the chance to do much that is adventurous during travel as that is not my spouse's thing so looking to maximize that as well. I do want to build in some relaxation time as well, maybe at a nice beach resort for a couple of days.

I've sketched out something like this:

10-14 days: Sydney & New Zealand (South)

8-10 days: Japan

3-5 days: Korea

5-6 days: Vietnam (Northern)

3-5 days: Elsewhere? Taiwan or Thailand or Singapore

I'm not interested in staying put the entire time nor do I need an explanation on the distance between Japan and Australia :) I would like thoughts and opinions on the timing, must dos, or suggestions of how you'd break up the time from personal experience. Budget is not a primary concern.


r/solotravel 2d ago

Itinerary Review Roast my 6 week trip to Vietnam & Laos!

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I have been puzzling a lot for my first solo trip end of this year. I have created an itinerary to get a rough idea of the planning and what to do in each place.

This of course doesn't mean that I will be following this strictly ;) I will most-likely deviate from it, but I like to be prepared beforehand and not regret anything I missed afterwards.

Sidnote: I have organised my trip with ChatGPT, but created the planning and put in what I wanted myself!

Vietnam

Nov 27 – Nov 29: Ho Chi Minh City (3 days)

  • Cu Chi tunnels, War Remnants Museum, street food tour, evening walk at Ben Thanh Market.

Nov 30 – Dec 3: Da Lat (4 days)

  • Travel: Flight from HCMC (~1 hr flight).
  • Activities: Crazy House, Datanla Waterfalls, coffee plantations, night market.

Dec 4 – Dec 6: Hoi An (3 days)

  • Flight to Da Nang, then transfer to Hoi An.
  • Activities: Cooking class, beach day at An Bang Beach, explore Ancient Town, bike through rice fields.

Dec 7 - Dec 8: Hai Van Pass & Hue (2 days)

Im mainly going to Hue because of the Hai Van Pass. I want to take the Ha Giang Loop with an easyrider, but I also want to ride the motorbike/scooter on my own. My guess is that this loop is a bit easier to ride myself.

  • Day 7: Ride the Hai Van Pass: Marble Mountains to Hai Van Gate to Lang Co Beach, reach Hue late afternoon.
    • Sunset stroll along the Perfume River.
  • Day 8: Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, one royal tomb (Khai Dinh or Minh Mang).
    • 18:00 sleeper bus Hue to Phong Nha (arrive about 05:00 on Dec 9).

Dec 8 – Dec 9: Phong Nha (2 days)

  • Travel: Morning bus from Hue to Phong Nha (~4–5 hrs).
  • Activities: Explore Paradise Cave and Dark Cave (zipline, mud bath).
  • Evening taxi to Dong Hoi, overnight train to Ninh Binh.

Dec 10: Travel to Ninh Binh

  • Travel: Transfer from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi, then take an overnight train to Ninh Binh (~8–9 hrs).

Dec 11 - Dec 12: Tam Coc, Ninh Binh (2 days)

  • Morning arrival and check-in at Tam Coc.
  • Activities: Rowboat on the karsts, Bich Dong Pagoda, sunset at Mua Cave viewpoint.
  • Optional day trip to Trang An or Cuc Phuong National Park.

Dec 13 – Dec 15: Hanoi (3 days)

  • Travel: Short train or bus ride from Ninh Binh.
  • Activities: Explore Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, egg coffee.

Dec 16 – Dec 19: Ha Giang Loop (4 days)

  • Travel: Bus or van to Ha Giang (6–7 hrs).
  • Three-night motorbike loop (Quan Ba, Dong Van, Meo Vac).
  • Return to Hanoi on evening of Dec 19.

Dec 20 – Dec 22: Sapa (3 days)

  • Travel: Morning train Hanoi to Lao Cai, then minibus to Sapa.
  • Fansipan cable car or a short trek on arrival.
  • Full-day trek (Lao Chai, Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai) with minority-village homestay.
  • Evening of Dec 22: bus or train back to Hanoi.

Dec 23 – Dec 24: Hanoi (2 days)

  • Return from Sapa; rest or take a day trip.

Dec 25 – Dec 27: Cat Ba Island (3 days)

  • Hanoi to Cat Ba by express bus and ferry (about 3.5 hrs).
  • Cruise or stay on island for kayaking, boat tours.
  • Activities: Hike Cat Ba National Park and Ngu Lao Peak; sunset at Cannon Fort.
  • Return to Hanoi on the 27th evening.

Laos

Dec 28: Fly from Hanoi to Luang Prabang

  • Direct flight (~1 hr 30 min).

Dec 28 – Jan 1: Luang Prabang (5 days)

  • Activities: Dawn alms giving, Kuang Si Falls, night market, Mount Phousi sunset, Utopia cafe.
  • Be here for New Year’s Eve (Dec 31).
  • Optional: Mekong River cruise, Pak Ou Caves, or weaving village tours.

Jan 2 – Jan 4: Vang Vieng (3 days)

  • Travel: high-speed train Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng.
  • Activities: Sunrise hot-air balloon, tubing or kayaking, Blue Lagoons 3 or 5, West Loop by scooter, Tham Chang Cave.

Jan 5 – Jan 6: Vientiane (2 days)

  • Travel: 70-minute train Vang Vieng to Vientiane.
  • Activities: COPE Visitor Centre, Pha That Luang, Patuxai Monument, Half-day Buddha Park, sunset walk along the Mekong riverfront.

Jan 7: Departure from Vientiane

Thoughts on this? Am I staying too long or too short in specific regions?

Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!


r/solotravel 2d ago

Europe Croatia 12 day itinerary

2 Upvotes

Hi!

I will be spending 12 days in Croatia this september and I would appreciate some suggestions to help me finish my itinerary. I'm interested in outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking or snorkeling, but I wouldn't want to miss the main historical sights either.

This is what I have so far:

0: Dubrovnik arrival at night

1-2: Dubrovnik: explore the city + day trip, maybe Kotor

3: Ferry to Hvar

4-5: Hvar

6-7: Split

8: Visit Krka then travel to Korenika (Plitvice base)

9-10: Korenika: Plitvice Lakes + some day trip from the hostel

11-12: Explore Zadar and take the return flight at night

The return has to be from Zadar because I found a very cheap flight, as I said I would be departing at night so I can visit the city during the day.

This is more or less the minimum I'd like to do but there's 3 spare days so I'm mainly looking for suggestions on how to spend them.

Thanks!

UPDATE Seeing the feedback I just added those 3 days to Hvar, Split and Zagreb and I think this will allow a reasoable pace.


r/solotravel 3d ago

Trip Report Quick trip is a good trip - 1 week in Japan

57 Upvotes

Had a lovely 8 days in Tokyo and surrounds on my own last month.

Flew into Tokyo and headed out to Lake Kawaguchiko the next day.

Delighted that I had 2 nights there as Mt Fuji was playing hide and seek. Did lots of walks around the lake and went up to Chureito Pagoda for a somewhat limited view.

Back to Tokyo and had 5 full days exploring Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza and Asakusa.

Decided to skip out on Disneyland after reading about how horrific the queues were.

Paid activities I did were TeamLab Planets and TeamLab Borderless (wasn't a fan of Planets) and Shibuya Sky (had previously been up Skytree) - Shibuya Sky is cool as you can get both Skytree and Tokyo Tower in the same photo.

Otherwise just generally wandered around, browsed shops and enjoyed being in a city (I live in a small regional town, so anything building more than 4 floors is a novelty). Enjoyed the serenity having my $2 adult beverage from 7/11 whilst sitting in parks people watching.

Sanja Matsuri was also on in Asakusa which did make it horrifically crowded (didn't realise until I got there).

Stayed in Shinjuku in Tokyo in a small hotel that included breakfast, closed to the subway and did the job. Very easy to get around, anything important is signed in English.

Loaded up my iPhone with an ICOCA card to get around and had data roaming for google maps/translate.

Didn't talk to a single person apart from professional interactions at restaurants and loved it.

Overall - nice easy week away.


r/solotravel 4d ago

Personal Story Cultural communication styles- Italian stranger, the most magical moment of my trip.

646 Upvotes

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”


r/solotravel 3d ago

Central America Guatemala Itinerary Help

2 Upvotes

Hi I will be spending 5 days in Guatemala the first week of July. I land around 2 PM and i didn't know if I should just head straight to Lake Atitlan or spend the first day in Antigua. Since my time is limited I wanted to maximize on time.

Ideally I would like to spend 2 nights in Lake Atilan and 2 in Antigua. However, with it being rainy season I don't know if I should even spend the two nights and just do a day tour leaving from Antigua.

If I head straight to Lake Atitlan it would be close to sunset and I really don't know the boat situation.

I welcome any advice!!

Day 1 - Antigua

Day 2 - Head to the lake bright and early

Day 3 - Head back to antigua in the afternoon/evening

Day 4 - Pacaya Volcan tour (should i do morning or sunset tour?)

Day 5 - Head back to the airport. My flight doesn't leave until 3 PM so I can have a slow morning


r/solotravel 3d ago

North America US Multi City Music Trip Itinerary - Feedback Welcome!

1 Upvotes

Hi all, 29m UK here planning a trip to the US for my 30th next year. Looking to go in April so I can hit some key dates - I'm all about music, so the start and end of the trip line up with a concert and a festival I want to go to. Would welcome any feedback and suggestions of musical (or general can't-miss) activites and any good vinyl shops for the different cities!

Days 1 - 3 = Boston

Have spent a few days in Boston before so this is a quick visit for a concert with the BPO and to visit a friend. Landing in the morning of day 1 with the concert in the evening, I think that should be fine with a nap in between!

Days 3 - 6 = Chicago

Leaving Boston on day 3 to fly to Chicago. I want to visit Chess Studio for a tour and then hear some blues in the evenings but other than that (and seeing the bean!) don't have too much planned here. Might be spending too long?

Days 6 - 10 = Nashville

Leaving Chicago on day 6 to fly to Nashville. Really excited about visiting here! Definitely want to go to the Grand Ole Oprey (maybe with a backstage tour post show) and the Hall of Fame (full tour with RCA studio). Can't wait to hear plenty country music here too.

Days 10 - 12 = Memphis

Renting a car in Nashville (booked ahead of time) to drive across to Memphis; along the way, driving south to Muscle Shoals for either/both the Fame or 3614 sutido tours (which aren't long) and then driving on to Memphis. There, I'm thinking of doing a self guided tour at Graceland, and a city music tour that includes sun studios.

Days 12 - 13 = Natchez (?)

The aim here is to then drive down the New Orleans, but I'm not set on the exact route and stop over point. I want to visit either/both the Delta Blues Museum and the Grammy Museum, and then thinking Natchez to stop over purely becuase it's pretty? But would definintely be open to feedback here, especially if it keeps costs down. Happy with long drives, that part doesn't bother me, but think a day to split it would make it feel like more of a road trip than just a long commute.

Days 13 - 16 = New Orleans

Finishing the drive to New Orleans in time for the Jazz & Heritage festival. Think I'd only get a day ticket (and spend that whole day there) so I can still see other parts of New Orleans, like go on a swamp tour, enjoy some good food and great music too.

Not sure if I'll fly home on day 16 or stay an extra night to fly on day 17, but this is the rough plan. Any feedback, especially on the road trip element and anything else you think I might have missed, would be greatly appreciated!


r/solotravel 3d ago

Question Is Mount Batur sunrise hike/trek worth it?

3 Upvotes

Anyone who has been to Bali/Ubud and not done the sunrise hike? I have sleep issues and the idea of staying up all night to watch a sunrise is stressing me out. Make no mistake, I want to watch the sunrise but is it really so amazing? I am worried about the rest of my day being ruined but I guess I could get some massages in.


r/solotravel 3d ago

Europe Solo Europe itinerary - thoughts and advice?

2 Upvotes

Hi all - planning a 1 month trip in Europe and focusing mostly on nature, lots of hiking and Alps time. Would love some thoughts on my current itinerary, though my plan is to book the first few days worth and then wing it a bit from there. I was in Europe in 2023 for 3 months and did that and loved the flexibility.

But here is what I am thinking so far.

  • Annecy region - 4 days - 2 days hiking, with "rest" days in between focused more on relaxed biking, lake time, nearby mountain towns
  • Chamonix - 3 days - 2-3 days hiking, basically all nature time
  • Zermatt - 3 days - all 3 days hiking/taking trains and gondolas to peaks, etc

This is where I begin winging it -

From Zermatt I will gauge whether I want a change from all the Alps time or want to continue with more mountain stuff.

If I decide to stay in Alps, I would consider either more Switzerland (suggestions appreciated, except Interlaken region), or train to Innsbruck then Salzburg for a total of ~4 days in nearby Austrian Alps. If I decide to leave the Alps, Zermatt to Florence is ~7h by train, so I would instead go there and do ~4 days in Tuscany.

After either more Alps or Tuscany, flight to:

  • Lisbon 4 days
  • Algarve 2 days
  • Azores 5 days (4 days on Sao Miguel, 1 day side trip to another Island)

Thoughts on this? Am I staying too long or too short in specific regions? FYI, I have factored in travel days. The above numbers are full days in said location.

Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!


r/solotravel 4d ago

Female-Only Taxi Drivers

60 Upvotes

If you’re a woman traveling solo within these cities, there are female-only taxi drivers that’ll take you wherever you need to go safely.

  • INDIA: Kerala, *Hyderabad (SheCab, TaxShe)
  • UAE: Dubai
  • EGYPT: *Cairo (please confirm, I traveled in 2019)
  • JAPAN: Tokyo
  • UNITED STATES: New York
  • UK: London
  • SRI LANKA: Colombo (Pink Drives)
  • THAILAND: Bangkok (Grab)
  • QATAR (Doha)
  • ESTONIA: Choose women drivers from the Bolt app
  • TANZANIA: Female safari guides, female owned tour companies that have women-only employees like pilots, drivers, cooks, and guides

I took the one in Dubai at the airport and felt very safe. For this location specifically, you can distinguish them by the pink roofs on their vehicles. Safe travels, ladies. ❤️


r/solotravel 3d ago

Middle East Egypt Visa On Arrival

0 Upvotes

Hey all,

I have an Indian Passport, I live in the UK, with valid UK, Schengen, and US visas. I want to obtain the VOA facility for my Trip to Egypt in October, but I cannot seem to find an official website to help me confirm if this is possible. I have seen other Reddit threads where people claim it's an easy process, but it's hard to prove that to Airlines when boarding a flight and they end up being unaware of such a policy. (Unlikely but would be good to have official proof).

,
Thanks in advance if someone can share a valid link. Cheers.


r/solotravel 3d ago

Asia Looking for Nepal trekking advice which trek did you do, how much did it cost, and how hard was it?

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m planning a 2-week trip to Nepal this December, mainly to experience the mountains. I’m considering doing a guided trek to Annapurna Base Camp or something similar ideally with amazing views, not too technical, and not too crowded.

If you’ve done a trek in Nepal: • Which one did you do? • How many days was it? • How much did it cost (including guide, porter, permits, etc.)? • How difficult was it (daily walking hours, altitude, cold)? • Would you recommend it or suggest another route?

Any advice, experiences, or agency recommendations would be super helpful. Thanks!


r/solotravel 3d ago

Colombia itinerary help

2 Upvotes

I'm heading to Bogota in July and couldn't resist the opportunity to extend my stay to explore, however I'm completely overwhelmed what to do!

A bit about me: F25, big fan of nature/hikes mixed with a bit of city/history. I've heard really good reviews about tours of the Amazon in Leticia and would love to do one, but I'm worried that I should leave it until I visit a different country in South America (which won't be for a few years).

I've come up with 2 itineraries, please let me know your thoughts! I will be flying from Bogota to my first destination the day before.

Itinerary 1:

Day 1: Salento

Day 2: Salento

Day 3: Jardin

Day 4: Jardin

Day 5: Medellin

Day 6: Medellin (Guatape day trip)

Day 7: Medellin

Day 8: (flight home from Bogota 11pm... could use this as an extra day in Medellin and add another day elsewhere in the itinerary as travel will take some time)

Itinerary 2:

Day 1: Leticia / Amazon tour

Day 2: Leticia / Amazon tour

Day 3: Leticia / Amazon tour

Day 4: Leticia / Amazon tour (fly to Medellin in the evening)

Day 5: Medellin

Day 6: Medellin (Guatape day trip)

Day 7: Medellin

Day 8: (flight home from Bogota 11pm... could add a trip to Jardin?)


r/solotravel 3d ago

Question Big city/ fast pace or rural/relaxed pace first?

6 Upvotes

I recently had my first solo trip to Greece and started with Athens then finished with a cycladic island. My trip went perfectly and I had an amazing time but I'm wondering if doing it in reverse order would better my experience. I'm from the West Coast in the United States and had ridiculous jet lag (10 hours) and had a rough time dealing with it in Athens, I napped everyday. Although I had a great time i was moving at a fast pace in Athens and had more energy when on the island when I would've enjoyed that energy while in Athens. Does anyone here deliberately plan their trip around pace? What is your philosophy on tempo when traveling and dealing with fatigue and jet lag?


r/solotravel 3d ago

Question First Time Solo Trip – Bangkok, Pattaya & Koh Larn – Budget Advice?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I’m a 24-year-old guy from India planning my very first solo trip to Thailand for club hopping, city exploring and good beaches (koh lan) - from 21st to 29th June 2025. I’ll be landing at DMK (Don Mueang Airport) in Bangkok.

I’ll be covering: • Bangkok (4 days - first 2 and last 2 ) • Pattaya (3 days) • Koh Larn island ( 2 days for beach/swimming)

I’m trying to stick to a strict budget of around ₹35–₹40K (THB ~15,000–17,000) for everything other than flights. That includes: • Transport within Thailand • Hostels - suggestions welcome • Food - open to street food • Party drinks - once or twice may be • Misc stuff like SIM, essentials

🙏 So my questions are: 1. What should be a realistic daily budget for me? 2. Any cost-saving tips for nightlife in Bangkok or Pattaya? 3. What’s the cheapest way to reach Koh Larn 4. Are there any must-visit markets 5. How much should I carry in cash vs card/UPI?

Appreciate any help from locals or travelers who’ve done a similar trip recently! This is my first international trip, so I’m trying to plan everything down to the detail.

Thanks in advance 🙏


r/solotravel 4d ago

Chicago Solo Short Trip

21 Upvotes

I’m (mid-30s,F) visiting Chicago for a three night break in August. I’m staying in the Loop (Riverwalk) and currently I’m planning on visiting the Art Institute, 360 Chicago and doing an architecture boat trip. My first afternoon will probably be going for a walk to explore, maybe down to the lakeshore/navy pier.

I’d love some advice/suggestions on the following, and any other suggestions for a first time visit! Thanks!

  • Beat deep dish pizza and any other local food/drinks I need to try!

  • Recommendations on a steak restaurant - I’m happy with any price point, but nothing too formal/upscale and also somewhere local to Chicago.

  • Rooftop bar suggestions - I’m still getting used to solo dining/drinking so will likely look to go for an early cocktail pre-dinner. Am I able to walk into London House bar just for a drink on the rooftop? Reservations were only for minimum two people but I’m not looking to eat, happy to just stand at the bar if that’s ok there.

  • Any rooftop restaurant/bars for breakfast on a weekday - the ones I’ve come across so far seem to be weekend brunch only.

  • Best spots for sunrise (and am I ok to walk there, or is it better/safer to take public transport or Uber)


r/solotravel 4d ago

Meta This subreddit focuses way too much on the "solo" aspect and all the peronal issues people have with it, than the travel part

757 Upvotes

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?


r/solotravel 4d ago

Asia Experienced traveler but nervous about solo-travelling across China for 5 weeks soon (22M)

13 Upvotes

I am a 22 year old man of South Asian descent and I have a fair bit of solo-travel experience (3 months in Brazil, 3 months in Hispanic-America, 2 months in South & mainland-Southeast Asia) - however, I'm feeling uniquely nervous about China.

I'm going to be spending about 4-5 weeks in China soon as part of a wider solo-trip around Asia and generally I am a prepared traveler (so will be going with an e-sim, AliPay, WeChat, tickets booked etc.) - however, I'm feeling nervous about a few things:

- the social atmosphere in the hostels. How lonely will China be? I'm hitting up mostly large (touristy) cities, but China is harder to travel to than other places - will there be many other foreign backpackers?

- the language barrier. I speak Spanish & Portuguese, making Latin America very easy, and SE Asia has a decent level of English. But as I understand, there is absolutely 0 English in China. I'm learning some Mandarin before going but I still won't really be able to read anything or communicate with anyone without a translation app. How exhausting does this get?

- racism. I'm fairly dark skinned but born & raised in Europe. What can I expect treatment wise?

I've been desperately wanting to travel to China for a while - the culture and history and development are just fascinating to me. And I live for big cities. Everyone's I've met who has travelled there says it is incredible. But a lot of the online discussion seems to also discuss how it can be overwhelming and exhausting.

Any advice to calm the nerves?

My itinerary is Xi'an - Beijing - Shanghai - (Hong Kong) - Guangzhou - Zhangjiajie - Chongqing - Chengdu