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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


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