Those Who Wander #3 - April 2016
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THOSEWHO<br />
Date<br />
WANDER<br />
KEEP WONDERING - KEEP WANDERING<br />
APRIL <strong>2016</strong><br />
THESOLOTRAVELLEREDITION<br />
TOP TIPS FOR<br />
EATING OUT<br />
ALONE<br />
Thailand, Venice & Ireland for<br />
solo travellers<br />
WHATTRAVELLINGFULLTIMEHAS<br />
TAUGHTMESOFAR<br />
with little wanderlust stories<br />
8TIPS FOR YOUR<br />
FIRST SOLO<br />
BACKPACKING<br />
TRIP<br />
Page<br />
PLUS<br />
Not Without My Passport<br />
Eat Sleep Breathe Travel<br />
We Are <strong>Wander</strong>ers<br />
& #DestofDay
There's been a lot brewing behind the<br />
scenes here at <strong>Those</strong> <strong>Who</strong> <strong>Wander</strong>. We've<br />
introduced the new We Are <strong>Wander</strong>ers<br />
Facebook Group, have adopted a travel<br />
savvy group of guest editors, and lots of<br />
other exciting developments that we are<br />
keen to roll out!<br />
It's important to us that while <strong>Those</strong> <strong>Who</strong><br />
<strong>Wander</strong> grows and develops, the heart stays<br />
with you; the community. We will always<br />
want this magazine to be your go-to for<br />
travel advice and to hear the stories of<br />
fellow wanderers. So when we receive all of<br />
the awesome questions we get, we want to<br />
help you answer them.<br />
If there were one topic that receives the<br />
most attention, it would be the thrilling yet<br />
daunting prospect of solo travel. Whether<br />
you're wanting to know if solo travel is right<br />
for you, where you should go or what you<br />
should expect, we want to help you get the<br />
clarity you need to bust through any<br />
self-limiting fears (and get that plane ticket<br />
booked!).<br />
Thus, we consulted those in the know; our<br />
best resources to bring you our first special<br />
edition. We hope that you find their wisdom<br />
useful, and that it helps you to step forward<br />
for that one man/ woman trip you've been<br />
dreaming about.<br />
Keep Adventuring,<br />
Britt xo
SANDERBAZELMANS<br />
LIONTRAILS.COM<br />
8 TIPSFORYOUR<br />
FIRSTSOLO<br />
BACKPACKINGTRIP
WHAT<br />
TRAVELLINGFULL<br />
TIMEHASTAUGHT<br />
MESOFAR<br />
JANEYBRECHIN<br />
LITTLEWANDERLUSTSTORIES.COM
Travelling the world has taught me<br />
many things. It has opened my eyes to<br />
new experiences, these eyes have<br />
seen things ? good and bad ? that can?t<br />
be unseen. My memory is filled with<br />
stories, private jokes with people I<br />
may never meet again, beautiful<br />
sunsets and sunrises (yes I do wake up<br />
early sometimes), insane experiences<br />
and moments I won?t ever be able to<br />
explain well enough that someone<br />
will get it and so much more.<br />
I?ve changed, I know I have. I look back to the<br />
?old?me. The unexperienced, untraveled,<br />
self-conscious, naive girl. The one with all<br />
the plans ?the 5 and 10 year plan ? the one<br />
who knew where I would be right now.<br />
But now I am so far away from the straight<br />
lined path I had laid out for myself at 18. I am<br />
so far off the path I couldn?t tell you the<br />
direction to get back to it, it is unseen and<br />
my new ?path?isn?t there, only untouched<br />
ground, waiting for footsteps to mark a path<br />
to take me forward; and at this stage, any<br />
path I make doesn?t guarantee me the<br />
opportunity to retrace my steps. This can be<br />
good or bad.<br />
Travel isn?t all the glitz and glam of the 5 star<br />
resorts, beautiful food, enviable photos,<br />
perfect hair after hauling a rucksack and ever<br />
perfect plans we keep seeing from Travel<br />
Bloggers lately. Travelling full-time is up and<br />
down, Its dirty and messy, Lonely and<br />
overwhelming, adventurous and boring all<br />
rolled into one.<br />
I?ve worked hard enough to travel<br />
extensively in the last 4 years, but it wasn?t<br />
enough. I left home in December 2015 to<br />
pursue my dream of travelling the world<br />
full-time. I don?t see myself stopping ? or<br />
returning to the UK ? anytime soon.<br />
I want to share with you some things I?ve<br />
learnt ? about myself and other things ? while<br />
travelling so far:<br />
MYGUTHASABETTERSENSEOF<br />
JUDGEMENTTHANI GIVEITCREDITFOR...<br />
ORAMI JUSTREALLYHUNGRYATTHE<br />
RIGHTMOMENTS?<br />
I?ve travelled to some incredible places both<br />
Solo and with friends. To these incredible<br />
places I have done some things I grew up<br />
being told not to do, I?ve done things I always<br />
promised myself I wouldn?t, avoided some<br />
pretty stupid situations and also ones that<br />
seemed completely harmless but a massive<br />
part of me (i.e. my lovely gut) shouts NO. This<br />
isn?t Ok. I don?t like it, lets leave.<br />
When people say ?trust your gut?you never<br />
really think anything of it right? It?s an<br />
expression, nothing serious and often a<br />
feeling we forget to notice throughout our<br />
everyday, routine filled life. It?s only when<br />
you jump out the box, looking at new<br />
situations ? or the same ones ? in another<br />
country, city, place does the feeling become<br />
more noticeable and one in which we deem<br />
worthy enough of paying attention to.<br />
You know now that you are vulnerable ? if<br />
you are anything like me, my face gives away<br />
my emotion before my brain full recognises it<br />
? your paying more attention to your senses,<br />
your learning to trust yourself.<br />
So I just want to take this moment to thank<br />
my Gut. Even with all the ?stupid?situations<br />
I?ve gotten into, I?m still alive and kicking ?<br />
Running to touch wood right now.<br />
MAKINGFRIENDSTAKESALOTOF<br />
EFFORT... SOMETIMESI WANTTOSKIPTHE<br />
SMALLTALK<br />
I?m currently travelling Solo. Solo in the<br />
sense of I left the UK that way, by no means<br />
am I alone. I have met and will continue to<br />
meet some incredible people, I go on Tinder<br />
dates ? yes I have no shame, its also the<br />
easiest way to meet locals sometimes! ? and<br />
I?m (now) a pretty confident person. Even<br />
though I hate it, small talk comes naturally to<br />
me now.
The minute I realised I could say No and<br />
people would still say Hey and share their<br />
embarrassing stories with me the next day<br />
was liberating ? I mean some of them were so<br />
drunk I could have pretended I was there.<br />
Say No if you don?t want to do something.<br />
You came out on this trip to do you, so do<br />
you. I can promise you are probably not<br />
missing anything you can?t do at some other<br />
stage.<br />
People actually respect you a little more.<br />
You?ll do things you actually want to and<br />
enjoy yourself a whole tonne more.<br />
COMMUNICATIONISALOTMORETHAN<br />
SPOKENWORDS, SOMETIMESIT?SDANCING<br />
OUTWHATYOUWANTORSIMPLYMAKING<br />
CHICKENNOISES?..<br />
I?ve travelled to more than 25 countries ?<br />
which is insane when I think about it ? and<br />
every single one is completely different from<br />
one another ? as you?d expect right?<br />
A language barrier is a challenge yes, but it<br />
should never be a reason not to go<br />
somewhere. It should never be a negative, I<br />
mean, English is my first (and only language)<br />
and I completely take advantage of that. The<br />
majority of native English speakers will<br />
never learn another language?<br />
Yet as I travel around the world I meet<br />
people from all over the world, from all<br />
walks of life, from the ridiculously pool to<br />
the extremely rich and they all give English<br />
(or another language) a shot.<br />
So don?t be afraid to completely<br />
immerse yourself in a different<br />
culture with a different language, try<br />
to learn some of their language?<br />
Otherwise the next best option is<br />
hand gestures, dances, pretty much<br />
?hey, let?s play charades?, you?ll<br />
become pretty popular pretty fast.<br />
WHENEVERI NEEDTHEM, MYFRIENDSAND<br />
FAMILYBACKHOMEDON?TACTUALLYFEEL<br />
LIKEAMILLIONMILESAWAY?.<br />
One of my biggest fears was getting home<br />
sick and wanting to come home. Which<br />
would not be an easy choice or option<br />
considering I?m literally the furthest away<br />
from home I could possibly get.<br />
At home I would speak to my Dad every<br />
other day, my sisters and I were close and<br />
were like my best friends, my mum was<br />
always around as I lived with her and my best<br />
friend and I ? although in different cities ?<br />
talked every day, went on holidays together,<br />
made plans and saw each other when we<br />
could.<br />
I still talk to my best friend almost every day.<br />
It?s amazing how you forget when you go<br />
travelling technology doesn?t become<br />
non-existent. In Asia it was tricky but a nice<br />
break. In New Zealand, I have a Sim Card,<br />
with data, just like home. AMAZING.<br />
If I need a chat I can call, text, Skype,<br />
Facebook, snapchat my way back into their<br />
lives.<br />
So even though I?m 13hrs ahead on the other<br />
side of the world, everyone I need from<br />
home is still there when I need them.<br />
YOUTHINKYOUWILLBUDGET, BUTIN<br />
FACT, YOUWILLPROBABLYTOTALLY<br />
FORGETANDSPENDTHEMAJORITYOF<br />
YOURMONEYALOTFASTERTHAN<br />
INITIALLYPLANNED?<br />
Unless you are Insanely good at forward<br />
planning ? or can predict the future ? I can<br />
guarantee that once you get going, after<br />
(max) two weeks, your budget will start to<br />
fall apart a little bit.<br />
Sure you will have weeks when you spend<br />
almost nothing, live off ramen noodles and<br />
soy sauce, hitch hiking your way around or<br />
sleeping in the cheapest hostels. But you?ll<br />
also have weeks where you try the local
Throughout my travelling ?career? (for<br />
want of a better word) I have always<br />
thought that ?be sensible? is by far<br />
the worst and most annoying travel<br />
advice out there. I love travelling to<br />
small leafy corners all of the world.<br />
Crawling through travel blogs and<br />
airline deals to plan my next<br />
adventure is my ideal Friday night.<br />
Travel is my life and I love it.<br />
But it?s not all Mai Thai?s and sleep in?s.<br />
Travel on a budget is hard work, both<br />
physically and emotionally. Carrying around<br />
a backpack for 8 hours straight when trying<br />
to find a place to stay, getting hustled and<br />
bustled the whole time can leave the<br />
unexperienced nomad more than a little<br />
shell-shocked. In fact there is a lot out there<br />
that can scare a traveller into never stepping<br />
out of their front door again. Which is sad<br />
because there is so much to do and see out<br />
there, letting a little bit of fear stop you from<br />
experiencing all of that is heartbreaking.<br />
I have seen riots, been too close to<br />
dangerous animals, bitten by bed bugs,<br />
leered at by strangers, had stomach bugs,<br />
washed my passport, been robbed and<br />
everything else in between. But with every<br />
?challenging? event comes a great story? or<br />
so I keep telling myself. Because I have also<br />
seen the sun rise over ancient ruins, climbed<br />
volcanoes, eaten deep-fried tarantula?s,<br />
danced to the full moon, skied in summer,<br />
swum with Nemo and a hundred other<br />
mind-blowing amazing experiences.<br />
There is a plethora of blogs and books out<br />
there giving you travel advice on how to stay<br />
safe on your trip. Telling you that if you are<br />
sensible no harm will come to you. Just be<br />
sensible, you will be fine.<br />
And it is at this point that I roll my eyes in<br />
annoyance. That is a load of horse dung.<br />
<strong>Who</strong> doesn?t consider themselves a sensible<br />
traveller? I don?t head off on a vacation and
SO, WHATISTHETRAVELADVICETHATI<br />
WOULDGIVETOAFELLOWTRAVELLER? I<br />
AMNOTGOINGTOTELLYOUTOBE<br />
SENSIBLEASI ASSUMETHATYOUARE.<br />
- Be realistic in your risk assessment.<br />
Treat every country, every place<br />
differently and make your<br />
assessments based on that. You will<br />
make a lot of your decisions based on<br />
experience so take the least risky<br />
option until you build up enough<br />
experiences to safely recognise a<br />
dangerous situation.<br />
- Talk to other travellers? lots of other<br />
travellers. Try and ask questions<br />
behind the stories. I often find<br />
travellers want everyone to love a<br />
place they have loved so they may<br />
leave out a few gritty details. Keep<br />
asking questions and if you feel<br />
someone isn?t telling you the whole<br />
truth, find someone else and ask more<br />
questions. BUT don?t take one person?s<br />
opinion on a place as gospel ? not<br />
everyone loves a place, and not<br />
everyone hates a place.<br />
- Listen to your gut. Most times your gut<br />
is right on the money. Listen to it<br />
always, ignore friends and cute<br />
crushes who may and convince you<br />
otherwise, if your gut says no ? then no<br />
it is!<br />
- Have networks/ solutions in place to<br />
help you if needed. Simple things like<br />
travel insurance or knowing the<br />
number for reverse-charge to call<br />
home. It won?t save you from bad<br />
things happening but will help you if<br />
you do need help.<br />
- Be confident or fake it till you do.<br />
Often a little bit of confidence even in<br />
the worst situations can be a great<br />
help, it?s a hard thing to tap into when<br />
you are scared so practice a confident<br />
walk and rock that when the little hairs<br />
are standing up on the back of your<br />
neck.<br />
My final piece of travel advice is, travel is<br />
different for girls and boys. Anyone who<br />
says it isn?t is being naive ? to be clear, I am<br />
not saying that boys don?t have risks ? just<br />
that they are different to what a girl will<br />
face. Yesterday I was walking down a quiet<br />
suburban street on my way to a café at 11am,<br />
a car slowed down as it drove past me and<br />
honked while the passenger yelled<br />
something obscene at me. I ignored it of<br />
course, that?s what we are told to do after all<br />
? but until I got to the café I felt a little on<br />
edge and I walked a little faster. It isn?t a nice<br />
feeling and when those sorts of things<br />
happen to you around the corner from your<br />
home, let alone in a strange place where you<br />
are unsure of the laws and if they will<br />
protect you ? it feels even worse.<br />
Determine the risk level, and work out if you<br />
are comfortable with it. Don?t take a chance<br />
with your safety but also be realistic. A group<br />
of youths yelling things from a moving car at<br />
11am isn?t really a threat to me? its<br />
unpleasant but my personal safety isn?t in<br />
danger. If all women turned around and went<br />
home after being jeered at we would never<br />
see the world, which is a very sad fact. I hope<br />
one day that I never have to worry about<br />
being leered and jeered at and that I don?t<br />
have to fear what those actions could lead<br />
to. Until that day I am going to keep<br />
evaluating risks so that I can continue to<br />
explore the world, discover new places and<br />
people. Jump off waterfalls, swim with<br />
turtles, dance with fire, eat raw fish, laugh<br />
with strangers and sleep in hammocks ?<br />
because the alternative just isn?t very<br />
interesting to me. For me, getting to a ripe<br />
old wrinkly age and not having any stories to<br />
bore the nurses at the retirement home is a<br />
risk! I have evaluated that risk and realised, I<br />
am not willing to take it. I want a life full of<br />
adventure and experiences. It?s a very big<br />
world out there.
WHYI CHOOSEA<br />
LIFEOFTRAVEL<br />
NOTWITHOUTMYPASSPORT.COM<br />
Photographer and travel writer Helen Suk has a commitment to<br />
curiosity. With her camera in hand, her explorations have taken her<br />
across the globe, from Uganda to Ireland, and Vietnam to Peru. Helen<br />
hopes that her tales and learnings help others along the way, and that<br />
her images inspire others to take up a life of travel.
One of the hardest parts about being a<br />
solo traveller is building up the courage<br />
to eat out? alone. The fear of being<br />
bored, of people looking at you and<br />
thinking you are friendless, of not<br />
knowing what to order or worse having<br />
no one to share with. All very valid<br />
reasons for being afraid of eating on<br />
your own, right?<br />
I remember doing it for the first time, I was 18<br />
and in London on my own. I sat down at a table<br />
with my book clutched closely to my chest, my<br />
face was bright red from embarrassment<br />
causing me to order quickly. The waitress tried<br />
to smile and say something to me, but my<br />
mumbled answers sent her on her way with a<br />
bored eye-roll. When my food came out I<br />
practically inhaled it ? to this day I can?t<br />
remember what I ate or if it was any good.<br />
Ten years later, I am now a veteran backpacker<br />
and eating out no longer scares or<br />
embarrasses me. In fact, it?s the complete<br />
opposite. Eating out alone is one of my<br />
favourite things to do when I get to a new<br />
place. Often travelling on your own requires<br />
confidence and self-trust, but when you are<br />
fresh off the plane it?s hard to feel those<br />
things. When I have just landed I am usually<br />
tired and cranky (living in Australia most of my<br />
flights are long haul) and a little on edge with<br />
fear. My first confidence boost comes when I<br />
find my accommodation, check in and feel safe<br />
in the decision I have made. There is no<br />
greater buzz than conquering that small pit of<br />
fear that arrived with you off the plane.<br />
After a much-needed shower, I grab a map and<br />
head out into the big bad world. Capitalising<br />
on the buzz I received from finding my<br />
accommodation I let my feet go in search of<br />
somewhere to eat. It?s a great way to steady<br />
yourself, build up your confidence and<br />
celebrate being in new and exciting location.<br />
HERE ARE MY TOP TIPS FOR EATING OUT AS A<br />
SOLO BACKPACKER:<br />
AVOIDPEAKMEALTIMES? GOJUST<br />
BEFORETHEDINNERRUSHORJUSTAFTER<br />
THELUNCHRUSH.<br />
That way you won?t be holding up a table and<br />
feel like you need to hurry your meal. The<br />
waiters will also have more time for you<br />
because you will either be their first<br />
customer or their last.<br />
TAKEABOOK? BUTDON?TBEAFRAIDTO<br />
PUTITDOWN.<br />
We are so used to being constantly amused<br />
whether from our phones, tv or books. If you<br />
take a book put it down when the food<br />
comes and spend some time tasting and<br />
savouring every bite. You want to remember<br />
the food not the book.<br />
TALKTOTHEWAITERS? EATINGALONG<br />
DOESN?THAVETOBESOLITARY.<br />
Ask the waiters what their meal suggestions
BESTPLACESTO<br />
HANNAHLOGAN - EATSL<br />
Hannah Logan is a self confessed<br />
international happiness. Never one<br />
35 countries she has explored wer<br />
time of her life and doing things h<br />
Travel features some of the amaz<br />
including her thoughts on the b<br />
included some of he
BESTPLACESTO<br />
HANNAHLOGAN - EATSL<br />
Hannah Logan is a self confessed<br />
international happiness. Never one<br />
35 countries she has explored wer<br />
time of her life and doing things h<br />
Travel features some of the amaz<br />
including her thoughts on the b<br />
included some of he
THAILAND<br />
FOR<br />
SOLO<br />
TRAVELLERS<br />
After four years of trips to Europe,<br />
2015 was my time to change it up<br />
and visit a new continent, starting<br />
with a long-time backpacker<br />
favourite: Thailand.<br />
I got a lot of feedback from people telling me<br />
I would be ?ok because I did Europe first?.<br />
They claimed travel in SE Asia, especially<br />
solo travel, was hard. But since I had so much<br />
experience travelling solo in the Western<br />
world, it wouldn?t be too difficult for me.<br />
Well, having now officially travelled through<br />
Europe and parts of SE Asia, let me tell you<br />
that Thailand is one of the easiest places I<br />
have ever travelled to. And one of the most<br />
fun. Here?s why:<br />
THEPEOPLEAREAMAZING<br />
Surprisingly to many people, English is<br />
widely spoken across many parts of Thailand.<br />
Granted, once you get really off the beaten<br />
track and into the rural towns and<br />
communities of the country it?s a different<br />
story but chances are, for at least the first<br />
part of your visit, you will stick to the bigger<br />
cities and touristic hotspots.<br />
In my experience, the Thai people are some<br />
of the friendliest around. However, there are<br />
many others that will refute my view;<br />
claiming locals to be rude, unfriendly, out to<br />
rip you off, and even racist. Personally, I<br />
think it all depends on how you treat them. If<br />
you come in thinking you are better because<br />
you have more money, don?t adhere to the<br />
traditional customs, and speak rudely to<br />
them (reminder- they can understand you!)<br />
then yes, you will be treated poorly. And<br />
really, are you surprised?<br />
Treat them kindly, show proper respect, and<br />
make the effort to learn a little bit of Thai<br />
(hello and thank you go a long way) and you<br />
will be surprised at the kindness you are<br />
shown. From directions, to tips, to treats<br />
you?d be surprised at how much the Thai<br />
people are willing to do for you- if they think<br />
you deserve it.
ACCOMMODATIONISAFFORDABLE, AND<br />
NOTJUSTTHEHOSTELS<br />
Thailand offers a variety of accommodation<br />
options, many of which can be of great<br />
value. Hostels tend to be the most budget<br />
friendly option. A bed in a dorm can be<br />
found for as little $6CDN/ night but can also<br />
go up to nearly $20CDN/ night for boutique<br />
hostels in trendier/ busier locations. Hostels<br />
are the best places to find fellow<br />
backpackers and solo travellers, making it<br />
easy to meet people and make friends.<br />
There are plenty of guest houses offering<br />
affordable rooms as well. Or rustic, private<br />
beach bungalows. These usually start at<br />
about $20CDN/ night and go up depending<br />
on season and amenities. A great option<br />
when you need a little space to yourself.<br />
Of course there are plenty of classy and<br />
beautiful hotels and resorts as well for those<br />
wanting to splurge. Some of these options<br />
are relatively cheap by North American and<br />
European standards and it may be worth<br />
booking a night or two to get a break.<br />
However not everything is a deal and there<br />
are some pretty swanky and costly options<br />
as well so make sure to do your research.<br />
YOUDON?THAVETOBEPARTOFAGROUP<br />
TOSEETHESIGHTSANDGOON<br />
EXCURSIONS<br />
Have you ever wanted to go on a day trip or<br />
take an excursion to see something, but not<br />
been able to because you?re one person<br />
army isn?t enough to run the trip? It?s a<br />
common problem for solo travellers, but not<br />
so much in Thailand.<br />
From scuba diving to temple exploring, most<br />
activities in Thailand can be both group and<br />
solo-traveller friendly. Some things would<br />
definitely be cheaper as a group, but when<br />
you convert the total rate into your own<br />
currency, it?s not that bad if you have to go<br />
alone. For example, a return trip from Chiang<br />
Mai to Doi Suthep (30km) costs about 600<br />
baht including the driver waiting for about<br />
an hour. That?s $15CDN. Expensive for<br />
Thailand? Yes. But consider how much the<br />
same would cost you elsewhere and you<br />
quickly realize that, if this is something you<br />
really want to do, you can afford it on your<br />
own.<br />
One of the main methods of travel in<br />
Thailand is by motorbike, which travellers<br />
can easily rent for a day, week, or even<br />
month. This way you can easily explore<br />
further to reach places without having to<br />
rely on anyone else. Just make sure you are<br />
comfortable driving a motorbike; accidents<br />
are one of the leading causes of death in the<br />
country. You also better make sure you have<br />
insurance, and nerves of steel.<br />
EATINGOUT<br />
One of the most awkward things for solo<br />
travellers is meal times. Sure, cooking your<br />
own meal in a hostel is an option but<br />
sometimes you want to eat out. And<br />
sometimes eating out alone can be<br />
uncomfortable. Not a problem in Thailand<br />
where street food is both authentic, and<br />
cheap. No reservations required.<br />
Tip: Head to the night markets and join the<br />
locals for a fun night out and some good<br />
street eats!<br />
THINGSEVERYTRAVELLERSHOULDBE<br />
AWAREOF<br />
- While Bangkok?s Ping Pong shows<br />
might be a ?once in a lifetime<br />
opportunity?to many travellers, the<br />
fact is not a single person I know that<br />
has been has enjoyed it. The state of<br />
the women ?performers?can only be<br />
described as sad and depressing, and<br />
they are a scam. If you want fun night<br />
out, check out a ladyboy show instead.<br />
- Elephant tourism is a huge draw in<br />
Thailand, however they aren?t all<br />
necessarily for the good of the<br />
animals. While there are plenty of<br />
sketchy organizations there are also<br />
plenty of good ones including BLES,
VENICE<br />
FOR<br />
SOLO<br />
TRAVELLERS<br />
Think Venice is only for couples on<br />
romantic vacations? I dare you to<br />
think again.<br />
Venice seems to be a hit or a miss with most<br />
people. A lot of visitors downplay this<br />
infamous city, claiming it?s too touristic, too<br />
expensive, or even too fake. I disagree.<br />
In fact, in 27 countries visited, Venice is my<br />
favourite city. I fell in love with the city of<br />
canals during my first visit in 2013, enough<br />
so that I made sure to stop by again in 2014.<br />
I loved everything about it, I was never<br />
bored, and I was totally comfortable being<br />
there solo. It?s actually one of my favourite<br />
places to recommend to other solo<br />
travellers. Here?s why.<br />
THELOCALSAREAMAZING<br />
The kindness that the locals have always<br />
shown me blows me away, especially since<br />
Venice is such a touristic city. My first visit I<br />
expected to be snubbed; to be seen as just<br />
another North American visitor infiltrating<br />
their city. I was so wrong.<br />
I got off to a bit of a rocky start when I took<br />
the wrong vaporetto to my B&B, and when<br />
we arrived back at Piazale Rome the young<br />
man driving noticed that, over an hour later, I<br />
was still on board. Not only did he help me<br />
figure out where I was going, but he actually<br />
walked me to the correct vaporetto, worried I<br />
would be confused since things were under<br />
construction.<br />
Local vendors were kind as well, posing for<br />
my photos, helping me with directions,<br />
suggesting places I could find the things I<br />
was looking for and circling them on my<br />
map. At restaurants, the wait staff usually<br />
felt bad for me, the single girl eating alone,<br />
and I would frequently get a little<br />
something; a second glass of wine or even a<br />
special treat from the kitchen of which they<br />
had ?extra?.<br />
The owners of the hotels I?ve stayed at have<br />
been equally incredible too, keeping an eye<br />
out for me and always ready to help with any<br />
questions. Even checking to make sure I was<br />
ok after getting food poisoning in Verona,<br />
something I would never have expected a<br />
busy hotel to follow up on. And when it<br />
came time to leave, both locations I stayed at
IRELAND<br />
FOR<br />
SOLO<br />
TRAVELLERS<br />
The Cliffs of Moher, pints of Guinness,<br />
myths and legends, and the greenest<br />
grass you have ever seen; Ireland is<br />
somewhere every traveller should<br />
visit at least once in their lifetime.<br />
Already on your list but you can?t convince<br />
your friends to come with you? Don?t worry<br />
about it. Pack your bag, grab your passport,<br />
and board the next flight, because the<br />
emerald isle is a perfect destination for solo<br />
travellers. Need convincing? Here are a few<br />
reasons why.<br />
ACHOICEOFACCOMMODATIONS<br />
Ireland is one of few places that actually has<br />
a decent choice of accommodations that<br />
won?t burst your bank account. Hostels are<br />
always a favourite among solo travellers, and<br />
there are plenty to be found around the<br />
country (many of which are, conveniently,<br />
attached to pubs!).<br />
However, for those who aren?t big fans of the<br />
hostel life, yet don?t want to spend all the<br />
money on a hotel room, I recommend B&Bs.<br />
Irish B&Bs are some of the best in the world;<br />
with friendly hosts and full Irish breakfasts<br />
to start your day, you may never want to<br />
leave.<br />
Owners are helpful and often willing to go<br />
out of their way to help solo travellers<br />
experience the best of what the area has to<br />
offer. This is especially true in terms of solo<br />
female travellers, whom most owners tend<br />
to keep an extra eye out for.<br />
Tip: Keep in mind when booking a B&B; some<br />
are located quite a ways out of town. So if<br />
you don?t have a car, make sure to find<br />
somewhere central or close by.<br />
EASEOFTRANSPORTATION<br />
There?s no need of worrying about having to<br />
rent a car to travel around Ireland (although<br />
it can be fun if you do). The country is well<br />
connected by a network of busses, and for<br />
some routes, trains. Tickets can be purchased<br />
in advance (online or in station) or right<br />
before departure at the station. Student<br />
fares are available, though purchasing them<br />
in person is not recommended as some
"About a year and half ago I had a home, a well<br />
paid job and was in a committed relationship. I<br />
had everything I should have wanted but I was<br />
unhappy. My mind told me that this was the<br />
reality of being an adult but my heart just wasn't<br />
in it. I wanted to wander the world, explore and<br />
be free. I wanted to travel.<br />
One day I woke up and decided it was time for<br />
change. I quit my job, ended my relationship,<br />
moved out of our home and managed to land a<br />
job as a flight attendant. Deciding to give up<br />
everything for the love of travel was one of the<br />
most nerve-wracking and exhilarating things I've<br />
ever done. Now, travel is not only my job but my<br />
lifestyle! And I'm happy to report I've never<br />
looked back.<br />
On home soil my peers are planning engagement<br />
parties and baby showers while I'm in the sky<br />
missing all the travellers I've met and<br />
anticipating all the crazy adventures I'm soon to<br />
have. At times, it does get hard when it seems<br />
like everyone else is settling down because like<br />
most people, apart of me fears that I'm getting<br />
left behind or I'm missing out. But in my<br />
fast-paced and busy life these feelings never last<br />
too long.<br />
Besides, I never dreamed that within a year I'd<br />
have solo travelled the first time to Thailand,<br />
caught up with friends in Bali, see the Solomon<br />
Islands and Papua New Guinea, explore all of<br />
Australia or booked trips to Greece and Vietnam.<br />
I'm no longer dreaming in an office cubicle, I'm<br />
actually living it!<br />
Travel has forced me out of my comfort zone, it<br />
has brought out the most genuine version of<br />
myself and has enabled me to see the the world<br />
with an entirely new set of eyes. I've made some<br />
lifelong friends and I've found myself in the<br />
process. Travel is such an intense experience and<br />
I'm 100% addicted!<br />
One day I may meet someone that will make me<br />
want to settle down, but until then I'll continue<br />
to jet set spending any free time I have ticking off<br />
my bucket list around the globe. My life is not<br />
what I had originally planned, but I'm loving<br />
every minute of it.<br />
You will never regret the chances you took, only<br />
the ones you didn't take. So take the plunge, do<br />
what makes you happiest, never look back and<br />
aim to live a life inspired!"<br />
- Tayla Williams
HIGHLYCOMMENDED<br />
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Raquel in Sarajevo, Bosnia<br />
Kurt and his friend in Egypt<br />
Charlotte at Cable Beach, Western Australia<br />
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