What are /r/solotravel's favorite Products & Services?

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I'm one month into a four month road trip. So far I've drivin 4837 miles starting from my home in Minnesota. Today I spent my birthday checking out 17 mile drive in Pacific Grove, CA. I hadn't done much research on it and it really blew my mind. In particular I loved Spanish Bay, which is where this picture is from. I walked all the way down the boardwalk (and had a deer cross the path right in front of me!) and then back down the beach with my toes in the water. I also treated myself to a fancy seaside dinner of clam chowder, lobster risotto, and chocolate mousse. Now I'm laying in my sleeping bag in my hammock high as a kite. Life is good today.

Packing cubes. Seems simple but it’s really kept my packing more organized throughout the trip.

Also I splurged and got a secure day pack like this one. I know it doesn’t take the place of being aware of your surroundings but it was added comfort knowing it’s a tad more difficult to steal my stuff.

I'm going to suggest somewhere completely different: Wales. There are a lot of ancient Celtic ruins in that country, and most of them are not promoted to tourists. The Welsh island of Anglesey was the last stronghold of the Druids in their fight against the Roman Empire, and there you can find the ruins Din Lligwy village, about 2000 years old. Take the #62 bus from Bangor and ask the driver to let you off at the crossroads that leads to Moelfre, then walk down the farm road ahead, past the Stone Age cromlech tomb, and over the hill until you see the site spread out before you. If you are alone, which it's likely you will be, spend time with the stones and think of the daily life that took place ages ago.

Wales is full of places like this. Accessible yet deserted, surrounded by remote picturesque settings.

To set the mood, it helps to read the old stories like The Mabinogion. Even more helpful is to try to learn the local language and make friends; they might tell you about places that aren't publicized. Or just go wandering -- one time we stopped the car near a footpath on the Gower peninsula; on the other end of that path, beyond a woods, was a deserted crumbling castle perched on a cliff above the ocean.

Just one suggestion. Several people I knew who came from the area around those ruins stepped into them with their right foot first. When I asked, they'd joke about how it was just a superstition they'd been told by older relatives. But they all did it. Maybe you should too.

Noise-cancelling headphones can be an absolute godsend if you want some peace and quiet - Bose QC35 if you've got the money, Taotronics TT-BH22 if you're on a budget.

Airbnb hosts may not

• Decline to rent to a guest based on gender unless the host shares living spaces (for example, bathroom, kitchen, or common areas) with the guest.
• Impose any different terms or conditions based on gender unless the host shares living spaces with the guest.
• Post any listing or make any statement that discourages or indicates a preference for or against any guest on account of gender, unless the host shares living spaces with the guest.

Airbnb hosts may

• Make a unit available to guests of the host’s gender and not the other, where the host shares living spaces with the guest.

Am I missing something?

Edit: Source

I got a "phone anchor" for $10. It is basically a thin piece of fabric with a loop attachment at the end. You put it between your phone and its case, and then you can clip a mini carabiner onto the loop, and attach it to a chain, and clip the other end to your belt loop. There are many different varieties, here is one example from Amazon. Also helpful if you're clumsy and prone to dropping your phone.

It's not completely theft-proof (nothing is), but my hope is that it is enough of a deterrent.

Single person would probably use their own earphones whereas a couple would need a AUX jack splitter, which is not carried by everyone. Thus, the couple thing.

VPN software like ExpressVPN. Some countries block Reddit, so you'll need it in case you wanted to keep in contact with us.

Some block pornhub, so you'll need it in case your solo travel is too solo.

Skyscanner for flights, Airbnb for lodging, World Nomads for medical insurance, AMEX for car insurance, plus NordVPN lately for online security. They've all served me well the past decade or so on four continents. Good luck.

I got you. If you don't mind flying out of Oakland that is.

Round-trip Oakland to Barcelona on June 18th to July 4th (have to book separately) for a total of $587. On Iberia you get one free checked bag. Next flights. Round-trip Barcelona to Rome June 19th-July 4th for $108. On Vueling it's $15 per checked bag if you pay online (maybe $30 if you have to pay both ways.)

You would have plenty of time to make your next flights when you land in Barcelona. There is no guarantee though and there's always a risk, any flights get delayed you're kind of boned.

Your total would be $695 ($710-725 if you check bags). I know it's not your exact dates, but it's the best you're going to do without a super complicated flight itinerary.

Beep boop, I'm not really a bot, yet. If you need any help finding flights, feel free to PM me.

> Bring your own locks

Yep! I use these because they will fit on every type of locker. Some lockers have very small hasps and the shackle of a larger padlock won't fit in it. Obviously they aren't going to keep a crook with tools out, but they are fine for people who are just looking for something quick and easy to grab.

Also, consider where you store your passport. Some people feel safer with it on their person and some people feel safer with it in the hostel locker. Me personally, I figure my chances of getting mugged are smaller than my locker getting broken into, so I always carry my passport.

Lastly, consider booking smaller rooms in hostels (4 people or less). I figure the more people who have access to the room, the more chances of theft.

erm... https://spotify.com/ ?!

Kidding :D

I have a pair of Sony MDR-EX650AP which though they are quite bulky I can sleep on. Been using them more or less daily for 6 months and they are still good.

All ears are different of course though so they maybe torture devices for you!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M00S8ML/

NordVPN has a 3 years for the price of 1 offer on at the moment. I've been with them for a year and am perfectly happy. Seems a (relatively) small price to pay for the security but also depends on your needs. Opera (browser) has a built in VPN and is a lovely, lightweight browser with useful extensions. VPN seems basic bitch level security these days. TOR is another option - you can use with WWW for secure banking etc.

I highly recommend wearing long johns/thermal pants. Something like that, under your pants and then use long socks over them and wear boots. I guarantee you'll never want to wear pants again without it after that. Or rather, try it with and without and you'll notice the difference. Get a couple of pairs of them they are worth it, and nothing beats taking off your pants after a long day and lounging in long johns at home, very comfortable.

You don't have to buy them from Amazon, there are many sources for free, public domain books, or regular downloading. You only need Calibre to upload the books from your pc to your kindle.

I bought my Paperwhite (which is the most popular version of the Kindle) in 2014 and it's holding up pretty well, I still use it daily with no battery problems or lack of updates

Or get a bag like this

The outer smaller bag detaches for your day trip and it attaches to the outside like transformers to make one big super bag when its time to carry all your stuff. No need to have the smaller bag take up valuable room in the bigger bag.

I take this travel pouch of sorts with me on trips, your belt goes through one of the sewn on loops and the pouch rides on the inside of your pants. I keep one card and some cash in my billfold but spread the rest of my cards/cash between that pouch as well my backpack I keep locked up at the hostel.

Instead of shouting at your phone, why not get a cheap bluetooth shutter?

http://wikitravel.org/en/Right_to_access

"The right to access is in some countries the right for anyone to vastly partake of nature and what it offers, as long as it is within the boundaries of local law or general acceptance. Although Scandinavia is quite expensive, many of the things that are of most value are free-for-all - the scenery, hiking, quite a lot of museums and many other sights."

If you suffer from anxiety, it's not as easy as saying "fuck it" and it's gone. You will need guidance to overcome it properly.

I'd suggest you start by getting a book on the topic. I've read through How to Deal with Anxiety and it was a great help.

It will give you techniques needed to beat the worry. The best thing I got from the book was understanding all the different forms of worry and the reasons why we worry. It's a relief knowing it's a common disorder and there are many ways to overcome it. You won't be trapped with an anxiety ridden mind forever.

How long until you go? Get it sorted now and you'll thank yourself later.

Check out the Xiaomi Yi. Here's a test video showing it compared to a GoPro. The Xiaomi Yi 2 shoots 4k and is $200 on Amazon. It has its own version of a mounted case, but it will work with GoPro accessories. Amazon sells these Chinese knockoff accessories for super cheap. I got this for $10 a few months ago and they're all pretty good quality. I mean it's just plastic, and the mount stickies are still the same 3M brand GoPro uses. Selfie stick is kinda crumby though.

Might also look at getting a GoPro on Ebay or Craigslist. I picked up a new Session for like $100.

I spent a month in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia) in June. I bought a travel money belt, almost like a fanny pack, but it fits flush against the skin under clothes. I carried my phone, money, and a copy of my passport/international drivers license in this pouch at all times. I purchased this pouch from REI before I set off. It was one of the best purchases I made for my trip. I left my original passport locked in a safe. Most of my hotels/hostels made copies of my passport for save keeping in case anything were to happen, but I was also sure to have 2 copies made before I left. I carried one copy on me and left another copy in my luggage.

The link below is for something similar on amazon (I am in no way advertising for amazon although I love the convenience).

Travel Money Belt with built-in RFID Block - Includes Theft Protection and Global Recovery Tags https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010U13F50/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HEEBBbTQ6AP07

For my phone i use a anti theft app that can activate a really loud noise (i'm not kidding) if the device is moved or unplugged. Works great and no one have tried to steal my phone up til now :)

I use this one,it has some other cool futures to.

Schindler factory museum is dedicated to the occupation.

The castle has multiple guided tours of various sections.

Bus to the salt mine starts at a stop a block away from the train station/mall entrance. No need for a tour to get there, although you have to take a tour inside it.

I stayed at a nice airbnb in the Jewish quarter.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6303022

> Grab a map of the subway and keep it handy.

Personally though I can really recommend the "Citymapper" app for your phone for this.
This app features digital versions of the subway map, available to view offline.
But it also gives the option to plan and set a journey and save it offline, so you can even easily access it while underground.

Sounds like an advertisement (And I think in some way I'm just doing that xD) But this app has already helped be a great deal when I was in Tokyo, London and Amsterdam. Really useful if you're planning on travelling with public transport.

Now any 'verbal' advertisement wouldn't be complete if I didn't add a Apple and Android url.

Depends on the vibe you want. New Orleans is great if you're feeling introspective (music, overall romantic feeling). Crash in one of their tiny bungalows and eat yourself silly. Phoenix is actually really awesome for some down time (great culture, great food). I crashed at The Hive when I was there in this amazingly affordable Shasta trailer, and it's one of the best times I've ever had solo.

Philadelphia is unexpected with a million things to do. Asheville, NC is a great mountain town with amazing beer and a ton of concerts.

I solo travel because 1) plans never work out with friends and, 2) I'd rather travel alone than not travel. So I don't glorify solo traveling as the best thing ever, I really enjoy traveling with people too. I just don't want to end up sitting at home when I could be out there exploring the world :)

I'm half your age but all of this could apply to you too:
It's kinda like asking "what do you do on your days off work?" I do what I feel like: Maybe I socialize, maybe I sleep in, maybe I go out for a good meal, maybe I go explore a new neighbourhood, maybe I go to a museum or see a sight, maybe I hang out on the beach.

I fall back to my default hobbies whenever I'm about to get bored: I always travel with books, I go geocaching if I don't know how to spend my time walking around, I go to science museums or aquariums if it's raining, and I snorkel whenever I can. If I want to socialize, I check out meetup.com where I personally go for board gaming events. These are things that I enjoy just as much alone as with a partner.
I also occasionally go to art galleries, which is something I hate doing with other people - I find it hard to match the timing in galleries as there's some sections where I could spend all day and some where I'd just as happily look at a plain, white wall.

Those hobbies don't apply to everybody but most people have some interests that they'll keep on enjoying also alone. It's a matter of finding those and applying them :)

Yes, this! Also, for anyone with an Android phone, I highly recommend OsmAnd - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand&hl=en_US - it's not great for real-time navigation (although it can do it), but it's phenomenal because you can download offline maps for entire states, and they never expire.

It's also great if one is into hiking, as it has way more trails than google maps. I realize that's tangential to the OP's needs, but just an FYI, as I love camping, hiking and backpacking, and it's one of my essential tools (I pay for the paid version that has unlimited downloads and topo maps). There are other apps better focused on hiking/backpacking, and better apps focused on real-time navigation, but for the "I want offline maps for an entire country/state," I really love OsmAnd.

Oof. I just did this flight back in February when I went on a trip to Thailand from the Midwest. If you can knock out, then that's the best. Unfortunately I am completely unable to sleep on planes so I just tough it out and mentally prepare to be awake for 30 hours. I have all my music downloaded from Spotify, a book or two, and healthy snacks. Usually I can find a few movies on the plane's entertainment section and I'll watch a few of those as well. I generally try to pick the longer ones, or have some long ones downloaded already.

I do wear comfy clothes, and I bring toothbrush/toothpaste/face wash and freshen up whenever I can. These headphones were also pretty great for when I did feel like making an attempt a getting some Zs. (I always have white noise/relaxing sounds downloaded to my phone and I'll have that play on a loop.)

Springing for an exit row is 100% worth it on those long haul flights, especially as a super tall person. Not only can I stretch better when I'm sitting, but I get up every hour to stretch/do lunges/get SOME kind of movement, and I can do so easily without bothering anyone.

>How do I figure out how to navigate an area that I've heard next-to-nothing about?

Google Maps? :D

Just joking. I would buy the Lonely Planets "Southeast Asia on a Shoestring" guide, it will give you an good overview of what to see and also about the history of places/countries.

If you don't want to spent money, you can also check out http://wikitravel.org/en/Southeast_Asia

But I would recommend everyone who is new to SEA to start in Thailand, because it is together with Malaysia the most developed country in SEA I would say and that makes it for beginners easy to travel.

The dollar is extremely strong in Turkey right now. Before you balk at the safety factor, read up on Aegean and Mediterranean Turkey

http://wikitravel.org/en/Aegean_Turkey http://wikitravel.org/en/Mediterranean_Turkey

Selcuk (Ephesus ruins) and Pamukkale are probably top 5 coolest things I've seen in my fairly wide travels. Turkey has tons of seaside cities that are really fun and interesting - Fethiye, Oludeniz, Olympos, Kayakoy ruins - you'll find a lot of Europeans/Australians/etc traveling around the area.

Added bonus - Istanbul is one of the cheapest international flights from the US (often cheaper than places in Western Europe) and is an incredible city in its own right. The central area is safe, save the standard petty crime/scam artists you'll find in Barcelona and other European cities.

Also, getting around Turkey can be extremely cheap - back in 2012 a one way flight from Istanbul to Izmir was $55.

In 2012 I was getting 1.5 lire to $1 USD, and it's up to 2.2 lire per USD now. Hostels will run around $10/night, maybe a bit more in Istanbul, and you can eat really well for $7 or so, plus the food in Turkey is often really fresh and locally sourced (at least outside of Istanbul).

You could easily kill a month in just Western Turkey, with a dip into the central region to check out Cappadocia. Downside: May/June is better time to go for weather

For a place that's in its peak season right now (and will be warm) - Cambodia/Vietnam/Laos are the cheaper parts of SE Asia - plenty to see in those places as well.

Take a look at this link and the instructions.

You can use the website IFTTT to set up alerts when great deals become available from RSS feeds (such as TheFlightDeal, great site) so you can jump on the deal immediately.

I get email alerts almost every morning. Some are domestic US trips some are international, all are great price but flexibility is key.

This might sounds like a strange thing to suggest but maybe don't spend all your time in London. As London does not equal England.

I know that London is a massive place and you could easily spend all your 10 days just wondering around but it is the most expensive place and there are many other cities in the U.K. That are easy to get to via train.

The UK has a great train network, though prices can be expensive if you don't plan ahead. You could make your way to Scotland via some other cites.

I would also download an offline map of the UK using an app such as maps.me and you will get GPS navigation making it was to get around. Other cites to visit could be places such as Bath, Bristol, Manchester, Birmigham, Brighton and there are loads more. Most of these places should take no longer than 1-3hrs, depending on speed of train. (Note: Not all of these places are on the way to Scotland)

I know I'm going against the crowd (people who just tell you to visit London) but just trying to give you ideas of the places less traveled and touristy, but that's how I see traveling going to places others might have not.

Lots of uninformed answers here; medication is exempt from the normal restrictions on carry-on quantities of liquids/gels.

U.S. Customs says a "rule of thumb" for prescription medication is that you're allowed to bring a 90-day supply with no issues as long as it's in its original container and has the prescription. If you're staying longer than that, though (which I assume you are since you'll be a student) you would presumably be able to bring more. However, Differin is available over-the-counter in the US, meaning it doesn't require a prescription and you can just buy it.

If I were you, I would go ahead and bring it with you, and include a copy of the prescription to indicate why you have it. It should be fine.

For sure - here is the link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.outbound&hl=en

We are really looking for feedback to make it better so please let fly with any honest feedback you have!

24/F here.

I had good experiences with the AirBnb's I stayed in in London last year on two separate trips. I stayed in one in ~~Whitechapel~~ Shoreditch that was really nice but a bit far from a metro stop and pretty expensive. I also stayed at one in Canary Wharf that was right next to a stop and a lot less expensive. I never felt unsafe even though it was my first solo trip and the hosts I had were really accommodating, even though I got lost on the Tube the first time and ended up being super late to meet them.

I do agree though that your question is a little vague considering that AirBnb's are run by individuals and there are literally thousands in London. But I get what you were trying to ask.

>I'm in Pai right now

Unless you are heading north into Laos you will presumably be passing back through Chiang Mai then. Two suggestions for things you might like to do:

1) There are Buddhist temples around where you can stay and receive meditation instruction. I stayed at this one just outside Chiang Mai back in 2009. http://www.fivethousandyears.org/ It was a genuinely amazing experience. They feed and house you and you just have to make a donation at the end so it can be as cheap or as expensive as you like.

2) I haven't done this myself but there is a place that does art classes that people seem to like. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293917-d2149832-Reviews-Noina_Art_Studio-Chiang_Mai.html

Similar equivalents may well exist around Pai if you want to stay there.

Otherwise, maybe go back to that arts organization. Any chance they can sort you out with a volunteer visa?

This is great advice!

​

If you haven't checked out meetup.com yet, you definitely should! I'm not overly outgoing but I went to a few meetups when I moved to a new city and now, years later, I'll be in two of their weddings!

IIWY:

Start here: http://wikitravel.org/en/China

Read and decide on major cities/locations in China I'd want to go to. Read the articles on that wiki about those places.

Look at hostel websites like hostelbookers.com to find places to stay. Maybe book the first one at a later date, before leaving.

Check out flights on skyscanner.net to get an idea of prices. The original wiki should tell you the climate for the year, to help you decide when to go, if that matters to you.

I would book the first accommodation in the place where i will arrive, with ideas of where i want to go next. From then I would play it by ear, reserving rooms for the next hostel using the wifi of the current hostel and paying when I arrive.

Don't plan strict dates if you can, just have a rough idea of the places you want to go. The wiki for each location gives you information about getting in and out.

Oh god, I'm supposed to be editing two videos right now, but this is way too tempting. To start off, with a budget of 35k, put 5k away for an emergency fund/safety net that you should not touch. This way, if things change you've got a bit of cash to get settled down just about anywhere. 30k minus say 2k in transportation costs (buses, trains, scooter rentals, flights to and around that region) leaves you with 28k. You should definitely get some insurance for this trip, not wanting to look into the specifics I figure you'll have 27.5k left. For one year, that's $75 a day for food lodging and fun. I'm betting you can rent a pretty sweet place for around $20 a day in just about all of those countries. I mean look at this place, $620 for the month, that's not bad at all, and it's pretty killer and centrally located. This leaves you with $55 a day for food and fun. Yeah, you're going to live like a king. You've got more than enough to live in all of those countries for a year or longer.

However, give me an hour, I'm going to give you some more options. I'm pretty good at this.

There's a statistical correlation to crime & poor areas. link

> Poverty and crime have a very "intimate" relationship that has been described by experts from all fields, from sociologists to economists. Link

https://matrix.itasoftware.com/

It’s the only site I’ve found that lets you select multiple origins to multiple destinations. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have all the low cost carriers so you might want to check Norweigan Air, Wow Air, etc…

1. Select a city in Europe (I would recommend something central like Zurich)

2. When you select a city, a “Nearby” button will appear to the right. Select your max distance and select all the airports

3. Search

I like to look at https://www.google.com/flights/ for the cheapest fairs. if you plug in a destination, you can open up the map on the right to see prices to every city in the world, and the cheapest days to fly there

I loved my Hikpro 20L ( Amazon link ) until my ex-girlfriend decided it was a gift to her instead of a loan. It's also about perfect for work and short trips assuming you're not carrying an assortment of bags.

I found this tiny book in a book store once while backpacking through Colorado. Like some of these other ppl have said, you can’t really expect this self discovery moment to just happen at a certain time. For me, I didn’t realize how much in my head I had been because of work. I walked through this tiny book store and found this book and decided to read it once I got to the peak of a mountain. I’m not much of a spiritual zen kind of guy but this book literally forces you to stop, breathe, and just take everything in. I carry it with me while I’m at work and whenever I go on other backpacking trip.

The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (Shambhala Pocket Classics) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1590309367/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jlbOCb1JV61SF

I've been using NordVPN every day since the government brought in the Investigatory Powers Bill and I can't fault it at all. Have it set up on my computers and phones and it works great with no noticeable speed decrease.

I spent a few days in Dublin and Galway during a six week trip of the UK and Ireland - you'll have a blast! From what I remember, the bus from Dublin airport to the city is super easy to wrangle, just prepare yourself for Gaelic (Irish) everywhere. It's really cool though :)

As for the buses, pretty sure the airport bus to the city was a 'pay when you're there' type dealy but the bus from Dublin to Galway had you buy your ticket at the counter. Also, if you have a big pack and might stick out like a sore thumb, keep your wits about you at the Dublin bus station. A few pickpockets lurk around there.

As for hostels, I used the HostelBookers app the entire time I was over in Europe and had zero complaints. Also, if you're planning on using trains, I swore on the National Rail app. Pop in where you are and where you want to be and boom! You're good to go.

Enjoy!

If travelling Europe, I found that: Rail Planner https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.hafas.android.eurail&hl=nl is really useful. An offline rail route planner.

It was built by and for use with Interrail/Eurail, but of course works without. It's purely a route planner so you'll have to deal with the tickets yourself.

Yea. I just recently found a netflix tv series called Bad Trips Abroad. I didn't think medical cost would be so much overseas but it is. No matter how careful you are accidents can still happen. And with quotes like 60k USD for medical expenses, this can cripple me financially for few years. I leaning towards getting medical insurance after watching that show. But where?

link to tv show https://www.netflix.com/watch/80189418?trackId=14170286&tctx=0%2C6%2Cf4d47c59-6565-4caa-b3f3-85b9e64fe29d-24796969

1. https://www.google.com/flights

2. Click "Explore Map" from the hamburger menu in the top left

3. Type "Newark" (or NYC, JFK seems to have some good prices) to "Europe"

4. Enter dates, or click "Flexible"

5. Scroll around the map and see what fits. You'll probably save a good bit flying in and out of the same airport if you can do a logical circle, but sometimes 2 one-ways makes more sense due to the cost of getting back to the original airport.

Good luck!

For ease of travel, Rome/Florence/Milan looks like the best bet. Bahn.de shows the trips (Rome->Florence, and Florence/Milan) to be under 2 hours for each trip. I doubt the tickets would be more than $100 each.

Prague/Vienna/Budapest doesn't look too bad. A 4+ hour train ride and a 3 hour train ride ( http://www.rome2rio.com/trip/QZ4EWm ).

I didn't get a train pass. In Spain I mostly took buses. I did some rides on blablacar.com and just paid full price for trains at other times.

For long distances, like Rome to Prague, flights are both quicker and cheaper ($220 and 19 hours for the train, $50-150 and 2.5 hours for a flight). Trains are almost always more convenient though. At most, you're usually looking at a short taxi ride to get to the station. Rome2Rio.com is great for seeing what travel options are the best.

If you decide to do just Italy, consider going to skyscanner.com and just put in "Italy" as your destination. It may be cheaper to fly into Milan than Rome, or maybe some other city that would be cool, but you hadn't considered. You can also just put in "Everywhere" and see what countries are cheapest to fly into. If tickets to Poland are super cheap you could start in Wroclaw then do Prague/Vienna/Budapest.

I actually plan to go to Mexico City in March 2022 (!), pending of course not only receiving my vaccinations but also making sure CDMX's hospitals are relatively back to pre-COVID occupancy by then.

Here is the itinerary I made so far: https://wanderlog.com/plan/lxqmerjkbrabbkgs/trip-to-mexico-city/shared

It includes restaurants that I've seen to be recommended many times. But note the prices of food at these establishments look to be on par to some restaurants and prices in central California. So feel free to pick and choose which ones you really want to go to in order to save money. You'll definitely save more money eating at stalls.

The three food related items I read to be most important to experience in cdmx is tacos al pastor, chilaquiles, el morro's churros, pasteleria ideal's bakery items, and puqueria.

Things to do: markets, teotihuacan, chapultepec forest and castle and museum, city center, markets and luche libre.

Disclaimer: I haven't visited yet, so feel free to take this all with a grain of salt or pick and choose what ever stand out to you.

i would look for the cheapest flight into europe and then hop a budget flight from there. kiwi.com is helpful for this. you can search from the BA or wherever using the radius search and it'll check all the options for europe.

Sub $800 flights in those date ranges from airports in that region:

Valencia, Torino, malaga, geneva, naples, nice, alicante, london, eindhoven, stockholm, barcenlona, cagliari, jerez, santander, milan... and about a dozen more cities. you have options that are much better than $1500.

https://www.kiwi.com/us/search/38.18--122.06-186km/48.22-9.52-1955km/2017-06-14_2017-06-17/2017-07-01_2017-07-03

Use various meet-up groups/apps like meetup.com or subreddits of the places you're at. If you're in Copenhagen, then hop by r/Copenhagen. There should be plenty of options to meet people or get tips to live decently on budget.

I'm 5'1", 115 lbs and have the 46L Osprey Women's Kyte in XS/S. Fits my torso perfectly, even weight distribution, and the straps are designed so they don't squash your boobs. I took it with me on a three-week trip to Thailand and could comfortably carry it everywhere with me. Even met another girl in my hostel who had the same backpack, in the same color, but a 36L. We both loved it!

I took it with me as a carry-on for all my flights, including airlines that have strict size/weight requirements, and had no issue. Even with the 46L I did pack lighter though. I didn't fill the backpack all the way when I started my trip.

If you live near an REI you can try different ones in the store to see how they fit you, and how comfortable they feel. I ordered mine from Amazon after researching heavily and reading all the reviews. It did not disappoint one bit!

Link

I bought a pack sort of like this but I haven't used the big bag yet. Since cards, bills and keys are flat they fit behind the phone and stay down not covering the camera.

ETA: The one I own also has an inflated edge so even if it fome loose from me somehow it will float instead of sinking.

Anecdotally, I loved staying in La Candelaria.

I also didn't feel it was unsafe...just sketchy :)

Once the sun goes down there are TONS of people offering you coke/weed...dodgy looking druggies...etc.

But I never felt in danger.

I stayed with David at this AirBnB...cool dude and a good option/great location if 32 bucks a night isn't out of your price range: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2802706

Vietnam - you can get visa-on-arrival, but you need the recommendation letter. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293921-c148049/Vietnam:Faq.Visa.On.Arrival.Voa.html

You can save a lot of money by traveling by bus at night. Buy a 1st class ticket, and get a good nights sleep - gets you where you want to go, and saves a night hotel/hostel charges.

Eat street food, it's tasty, cheap, healthy, and safe. Look for places where there are lots of locals eating, or a long queue.

Google 'scams' for each country you plan to visit. Some scams are the same in every country/city, but some are specific to the locations. For example, you don't want to get out of the taxi first, make sure the driver gets out and goes to the trunk before you pay him. I've heard of them driving off with a persons luggage...

Yes, get vaccinations and a flu shot. Dengue is big right now, so bring Deet or Picaridin. Ask your Dr. to prescribe a strong antibiotic like Cipro, and get some sleeping pills or valium for the long flight across the Pacific. Note: in some countries prescription meds are either less or more strength, and/or placebos.

I get travel insurance for each trip I take. Claim zero 'trip cost' and just get medical and evacuation.

That sounds like an awesome plan dude, go for it! Added bonus is that you get to prove your mother and brother wrong :)

A solo trip should scare you a little bit, especially since it is your first. The experience will however be one that you will remember for the rest of your life. It's good to be scared, it opens up the possibility of being brave!

Normally I would recommend that you used airbnb or such for your lodging, but in your case I'm wondering if a cheap hotel or hostel wouldn't be better. Don't get me wrong, airbnb would probably be cheaper, but I´m thinking you would have an easier time meeting new people in and close to an hotel. Airbnb´s can get quite lonely if you are travelling solo...

A journey is of course the sum of all the experiences you have during it. I really recommend that you try and get together with locals as much as you can, to really maximise the experience in each city. The cities you are planning on visiting are huge and full of activities. No one can show you a good time in a city better than the people who live there. Go out and meet new people as much as you can, and I can promise you you'll have a great time!

If you need tips on what to actually do, there are of course a lot of sites to check out. Tripadvisor is pretty good for you normal touristy stuff and everaround.com is good for more local experiences.

Good luck on your journey!

Hey, I stayed in Chiang Mai at the Royal Lanna hotel. If you can't find a hostel, this hotel is alright, and IIRC, on the affordable end (for a hotel).

In case you have trouble finding things like blister cushions (or want a cheaper alternative), duct tape works really well. Just cut out a patch that's larger than the blister area and put it directly over the blister. You can bring duct tape from home if you want to be prepared ahead of time (just wrap a few feet around an old gift card).

First of all, the majority of travel destinations are either visa free, or visa on arrival if you have a US passport. For example a quick look on http://wikitravel.org/en/South_Korea suggests that you don't need a visa for Korea. I suggest you use wikitravel or similar to find the information on the countries you are visiting.

Its also worthwhile familiarising yourself with Schengen zone rules when travelling Europe.

Spend the night in Galway, it has some of the most traditional/touristy pubs always packed and with live music.

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Castle from Dublin... Hmmm... How about Dublin Castle? :P

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I think you can search for standard newbie advise on this sub. Things about how to keep your items safe, eating alone, loneliness, etc.
For hanging out with people, consider Couchsurfing Hangouts, it's the social part of CS. Meetup.com is also an option, and you might have some luck on dating websites (I clearly state in my traveling dating profile that I'm looking for somebody just to show me around, etc).

Can you find any meetsup to go to? Check out meetup.com, Internations, Couchsurfing events, Facebook groups, hostels etc. It will be easier to meet people who are also looking to meet people.

I find it strange how it always seems here like people either stay at hostels constantly or never stay at hostels.

I'm similar, so I sometimes do a few nights in a hostel when I feel like socializing and then a few nights in hotels where I can sleep properly and recharge.
Also, Meetup.com, dating apps, and CS Hangouts are worth using.

> As far as I understand, there's plenty of things that'll make tourists sick but not locals.

Yeah, not that I've ever skipped out on eating street food, but different places have different bacteria that's common to the area, and locals might not get sick from the food because their bodies are used to it.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/travelers-diarrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352182

> So why aren't natives of high-risk countries affected in the same way? Often their bodies have become accustomed to the bacteria and have developed immunity to them.

To say that something is safe to eat just because locals eat it is ignorant at best and dangerous at worst. I encourage everyone to eat street food, but use common sense.

88 Temple hike in Japan will blow your mind. http://wikitravel.org/en/Shikoku You don't have to do the whole thing at once, and it's possible to catch rides when you don't want to walk.

Of course India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos for Buddhism. You can do Muslim spiritual quests, Jewish, Catholic, and etc - depending on your interests. You can find American Indians who will take you on a 'spirit quest'.

I just returned from Bolivia where I did Ayahuasca in La Paz, but Rurrenabaque is reputably better. For that matter, there are tons of places all over SA that do Aya.

• Duolingo
• Memrise

If you want to pay for/already using/like using Rosetta Stone go for it. Just know you being able to count or ask how much something is isn't going to change your social life much so don't worry too much about learning the language beyond greetings if its a short trip.

Check out for Network Railcard.

Bear in mind it only applies to London and South East - have a look at the map.

I'd say that the transliteration of phrases will more often than not tends to be less useful because how the tones are all inevitably messed up.

But definitely the part of not disrespecting King and Buddha must be emphasized if one wants to stay out of trouble.

There is a website with quite comprehensive info and tells you the difference btween your own country with the destination. https://www.thebasetrip.com great for new countries in comparing and understanding things to do.

I like using Rome2Rio and Google/ITA Software's Airline Matrix for travel planning. Whats great about ITA matrix is that you can search like 10 nearby airports at once, look at a whole months worth of fares at once etc and a some other nifty features. Im seeing Ft. Lauderdale to Dublin for next April for 700+ one way and 1046 USD round trip (sorry wont let me look further into the future). Hopefully that's of some use to you. Also, you can't book direct from these sites but they are excellent tools. I'm planning my first trip to Europe now, sorry I can't be more of a help.

Cheapest flights to the UK now will generally be on Norwegian. I believe they only serve New York (out of JFK iirc) and I think they fly into Gatwick.

Google Flights is my favorite flight search engine. You can input various airports as origins and destinations and it'll search all the possible routings and show you the best options.

Looking at that, seems like BA actually has a direct flight JFK to LGW for less than $700 for your dates.

https://www.google.com/flights/#search;f=JFK,EWR,LGA;t=LHR,LGW,STN,LCY,LTN,SEN,QQS;d=2017-06-30;r=2017-07-09

I’m a fan of Tripit. For longer multistep trips, it’s a must have for me.

It’s an app that makes it really easy to keep track of your itinerary. Basically, every time you get a confirmation email for a flight, accommodation, etc… you forward the email to a tripit email. The app then extracts all the data from your email, organizes it chronologically, and stores it in the app. All your info is in one place instead of multiple emails.

https://www.tripit.com/

I like hostels as a way of meeting people. I tend to cook, and then strike up conversations in the kitchen. Others just hang out in the common room or participate in hostel activities (pub crawls, movie nights, etc).

I also like going out alone, and just meet people that way. Or use Meetup.com.

Couchsurfing also works, including using the Couchsurfing Hangouts (I haven't personally done the latter, but know multiple people who have with positive results).

A friend of mine loves Couchsurfing and goes to their events when traveling, which has helped her lots when traveling. (I only use Couchsurfing to couchsurf or host.)

I've done dating apps with decent results (I'm a woman, I feel like gender might impact the results on those, despite that I've been clear about only wanting to make friends when traveling) and I've used Meetup.com a fair bit - always a decent way to meet people.

Some hostels have organised activities, like pub crawls or movie nights, which you can join. I also like cooking, as a hostel kitchen is a nice, casual, place to chat with people. That said, like you, I like to spread it out a bit as not every hostel has the right vibe for me.

I'm sure you'll be fine. There's a lot of ways of meeting people, including the old fashion way of just going out alone. It'll be great, and you'll learn from the experience so future trips can be even better.

this style is good for a combo yoga/sleep pad. It is primarily a sleep pad so it is more comfortable than a yoga pad, but it has enough sticky ness and compressibility to be used for exercise too. It also has functionality for insulation, where yoga pads have an R value of <1.3, this is closer to 2. R value is a measure of insulation, with 1 meaning you are essentially sleeping directly on the ground, 10 being a thick, warm mattress.

Here’s a link. It must be popular because the price is more than double what I paid for it a year ago.

You have two main concerns:

1. A search of your computer/phone at the border.
2. Criminals stealing your data from WiFi or even cell networks.

The only defense against #1 is to not carry across the border any data that's important to you. That isn't just a concern at the Russian border, but frankly, any border.

Then #2 is more a matter of using a VPN. If you use Project Fi

Otherwise, install something like VyprVPN (which is pretty cheap) and make sure you turn it on when connecting to anything, including cellular. If you have an Android, you can tell it to always be connected.

Finally when you get home, change all your passwords for sites you logged into.

I was in Beijing for 5 days earlier in the year - i have an iPhone, but use Google maps, I got ExpressVPN and it was amazing - meant that I could use google maps which definitely helped navigate all the hutongs and small alleys! In terms of hutongs/places to visit, there is a market street called nanluoguxiang full of delicious food and souvenir places etc which I reckon is worth checking out, though you could probably tack it on to the day you do Forbidden City (just prepare for a lot of walking). There is also a night market called Wangfujing Street Market or something similar, that has all those sort of odd foods you might potentially wanna try.. scorpions and snakes etc

Trust me, buy one. Even if you're only going to be in a censored place, it'll make life much easier.

Six months in China... it was a lifesaver while studying abroad.

Back home, you can use them to bypass picayune workplace restrictions.

I currently use Private Internet Access (PIA) and Tor. Slickdeals has a promo code for a 1 year I believe for PIA at $30 the other day.

But Hotspot Shield (if that even exists anymore?) while in China. I'll have to do more research on it because things could have changed in six years.

OsmAnd~ (free) or OsmAnd+ (same app, $9 for the convenience of installing it from Google Play).

Open-source OFFLINE maps, navigation, points of interest, Wikipedia POI, hill shading, contour lines, wikivoyage.

I've used Maps.me, but I've never had much love for it. I've not touched it since discovering OsmAnd~.

> For Cameroon - The Poor Christ of Bombs

I think maybe you meant 'The Poor Christ of Bomba' ( https://www.amazon.com/Poor-Christ-Bomba-Mongo-Beti/dp/1577664183 )? At least I can't find any books with the name you wrote.

Since you are going during Autumn, I can suggest one place to you : Fukuroda Falls. Its a 2-hour train journey from Tokyo Station but its really beautiful. I went there during late Spring, so the leaves were all green, but I can imagine during Autumn, it would be really pretty.

Oh yeah, since you are going during Autumn, the Kyoto Imperial Palace will be open to public for a few days. I am not sure which dates but keep this mind, so that you can be in Kyoto during this time.

Try to pack light. Since laundry services are available is almost all hostels, you can just wash and re-use clothes.

For flights, I can recommend skyscanner.com. The website helped me get cheapest flight to Tokyo.

Accomdation wise, I used booking.com and airbnb. Sometimes, booking.com was cheaper than hostelworld. So, yeah..... You can also try couchsurfing. I wasn't successful, though.

If you can get the SIM card, do it. But if you can't, get a offline map app. I recommend Maps.me. The Japan maps were accurate and filled with a lot of points of interests like food, cafes and attractions. I used Maps.me together with Google Maps. Also, there is also an offline Japan train app : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.narita_airport.android.tabimori So, even if you don't have internet access, you can find out which train to take.

Hope this helps in some way.

Silicone earplugs do it for me.

Airbnbs. If you reach out to the hosts, you can sometimes score deals since you're only one person. They can lock bedroom doors for you too if it's more than one room/bed. I scored this one for $75 in January during the rainy season. I don't make a habit of $75/night rooms but it's one of the best values I've ever had. Free breakfast and they booked everything for me, took me places when they suspected I needed, gave me a phone to use so I could reach them. I left the biggest tip I could. I understand keeping the housing budget small but Airbnbs are such an amazing value in SEA I recommend trying to splurge more there rather than somewhere like Paris or Venice.

If you have a long long layover, I also have spa recommendations as well. They will literally pick you up from the airport, give you an amazing package deal, take you to their amazing restaurant if you want to eat, and then take you back to the airport before your flight. I killed four hours on a 7 hour wait one time this way.

I'm a woman, so Bali was an excellent splurge trip for me. I highly recommend not 'roughing it out' if unnecessary.

I did. Lovely place. I went there without doing my homework so I bought an ebook of Rick Steven's Paris guide book from Amazon (so I wont be so clueless). I wasn't expecting much but it turned out to be like having a robot tour guide. There's walking tours with maps and routes with audio guides. Srsly, very helpful. Just download onto your smart phone and listen to the audio while you walk around, following directions and checking the book's map every now and then.

Restaurant recommendation: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187147-d778973-r136037121-Le_Relais_de_Venise-Paris_Ile_de_France.html Dude, UNLIMITED STEAK FRITES. Srsly. They just keep loading your plate with the yummiest steak ever with heavenly sauce and fries. Go there hungry. Accessible via metro.

Just to keep others from getting confused like I did, this isn't just some random hostel in the middle of nowhere. It's a castle and what is presented to be the first youth hostel in the world.

I haven't been there, but tripadvisor makes it seem like more people go there for day tours than actually staying there. Might be interesting if passing through somewhere that remote.

I haven't been to either but I'm planning an Argentina trip. Here is the page I looked at for information on buses http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294266-i977-k6867917-Information_for_long_haul_bus_travel_in_Argentina-Argentina.html. Also spanish is easier than thai!

> -Siestas are real, and things close in the afternoon till the late evening. Can make getting food challenging sometimes.

This. I knew going in what siestas were, but I figured it was only businesses and large restaurants. I learned that it's pretty much everything. My first day I was starving bc I woke up after siesta had already started due to jet lag.

One recommendation I can make if you go to Madrid is Restaurant Botin. They are known as the earliest founded restaurant in the world and they are famous for their roast suckling duck which was indeed very good.

Edit: Wanted to add that if you are a fan of international sports, there's also the olympic stadium in Barcelona.

I just got back from Vietnam a couple of weeks ago and did pretty much the exact same thing you are planning. I stayed at the Vietnam Inn Saigon while in Ho Chi Minh. Great hostel, very social and a sweet roof top bar that you can get two free beers from every night. Nha Trang is nice with a sweet beach and there's plenty to do on the island of Vinpearl, which is right off the coast. Da Lat was nice mostly because it's a town up in the hills and turned out to be an amazing break from the heat and humidity. If you do anything in Vietnam, visit Hoi An. One of the most beautiful towns I have ever been to. If you go to Hoi An visit this bahn mi restaurant I was in Hoi An for four days and I probably eat there close to 15 times. Literally every time I left my hostel I stopped by. So cheap (~$1 per sandwich). Hoi An has beaches similar to those at Nha Trang and the old town at night was a sight I'll remember for the rest of my life. Enjoy your trip, I'm jealous, I would go back there tomorrow if I could. Also, eat Pho every morning you're there, because you know: "When in Vietnam"...

Sounds good. I mostly remember seeing the city in Jackie Chan's Who Am I and it looking pretty cool. It looks like it's pretty easy to just go from the Amsterdam airport to Rotterdam too, so I am leaning towards heading to Rotterdam first and going to Amsterdam on my way back.

Let's see. Top of my head. The Medina, the Souk, Jemaa El-Fnaa square (at night it's a huge festive good court), Menara/Majorelle gardens, Beware of the Souk and the Jemma square: beggars, pickpockets, sellers of toys etc a-plenty. Haggling over price is common when going into a souvenir shop. Getting around: taxi's but you want to be on your guard for rip-of. Wikitravel has a nice article: http://wikitravel.org/en/Marrakech

On the way to Ukraine, you could stop off in a country that doesn't exist - Transnistria. It essentially is a hold over from the Cold War, and was founded by a Red Army battalion that refused to give up. They have their own currency, passports, laws, flag, etc - except nobody acknowledges them.

I've had some friends that have visited there, heard it's pretty amazing. Don't forget to visit the The Train Station Bar, in Tiraspol, Transnistria. It's listed as #2 on Young Pioneers 10 Bars To Visit Before You Die, only being beaten to the top spot by the Diplo Club in Pyongyang.

I think AirBnb and Uber is a good combination for Miami. Be sure to check out Miami Beach (south beach area), and check out Lincoln Road Mall while you are there. I also like the Brickell area, which is more of a high rise community in/near downtown. Villa Vizcaya is an interesting visit, which is a historical oceanfront house. I would also strongly recommend doing a bus tour, which is a great way to see the highlights of the city.

I love visiting Miami. It is an interesting city with an international flair and great weather. You might find some more ideas here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Miami

I used the "green bus" when travelling between Chiang Mai / Rai and it was quite good. I bought my tickets at their office close to Phra Singh (in the middle of old town) but you will need to take a songthaew or a tuktuk to get to the bus station.

http://www.greenbusthailand.com/website/en/

Others have recommended Pai and although the countryside was really nice the town itself felt "fake", it was like a mini Khao san road + spring break, so I would go to Chiang Rai instead or possibly the Chiang Dao national park.

I lived in Denmark for over a year and camped in both Sweden and norway. All Nordic countries are expensive but allow open camping

Read about that here http://wikitravel.org/en/Right_to_access

If you budget right you can easily do 1000usd/month. Try not to drink and/or rent a car and you'll save a lot of money.

Ill be staying at a guesthouse called Nonni, a friend recommended it. They have received quite good reviews on trip advisor and it is in a good area close to the Saturday night market.

I stayed east of the moat for a week last fall and it was full of 55 yo tourists with young "girlfriends" and lady boys...not quite my kind of scene. NW of the moat (Nimman) have a really nice vibe with lots of cafes and small restaurants, a bit expensive though despite being a student area.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293917-d3183412-Reviews-Nonni_Guesthouse-Chiang_Mai.html

2 days in Siem Reap and both of those days are travel days? No Phnom Penh? I stayed in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for 6+8 days last fall and it was too little time for me but I guess you could visit some the must see tourist stuff in ~5 days.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g293939-Activities-Cambodia.html

A few tips:

1) GET A RESERVATION TO THE VATICAN. MUST!!! Otherwise, the line is hours long

2) Get the Roma pass: it lets you skip straight ahead to the lines, especially if you use it to get you into the Colosseum. I spent longer walking through the empty stanchions of the fast line than actually going through the main door. You can also buy your ticket to Colosseum at the Forum- they are the same ticket.

3) There's a really good mom/son pasta shop for 5e I went to: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187791-d4539264-Reviews-Pasta_Imperiale-Rome_Lazio.html

Best. Pasta. Ever.

4) Roma pass = good deal even if its just for transport

I was just in Lisbon by myself in August and had an amazing time! It's a great place. I bought a tourbus pass to get around quicker to see more as I was only there 3 days. I also did a day tour through Yellow Cab TT Tours (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189158-d5017473-Reviews-YellowCabTTtours-Lisbon_Lisbon_District_Central_Portugal.html) and it was great. I highly recommend that tour. It is just in a jeep so it is very personal. Have a great time!!