Author: Inquisitive Society

So, here’s the deal – I’ve been getting all hyped and saving up for my first big solo trip, and in the meantime, I’ve been following some content creators who are in my age group. But let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. These three girls I’ve been keeping tabs on have been traveling since they were practically babies – okay, maybe not that young, but you get the idea. And of course, everyone’s curious about how they’re funding these jet-setting adventures. The usual story goes like this: they saved up some cash and now they’re raking it in online, mainly through TikTok.

Now, there’s this one girl from Austria who caught my eye. She doesn’t have access to the Creators Fund, so she claims she’s making money through “photography” while she’s out on the road. I mean, seriously, how lucrative is photography when you’re bouncing around different countries? Oh, and get this – before she started trotting the globe, her original plan was to study at NYU. That right there tells you something about the kind of financial backing she’s got. But here’s the kicker – every time these girls head back home, it’s to a fancy house. The Austrian girl, for instance, decided to jet back because she “missed her horses.” I mean, come on now, how self-sufficient can you really be if you’re living it up like that?

As I kept following their adventures, especially the Austrian girl who isn’t pulling in cash from TikTok, yet somehow manages to afford trips to places like Papua New Guinea, it all started to feel a bit off. It’s like, are they really as relatable as they make themselves out to be? Let’s face it – being able to work and save every penny to fund your travels is a privilege in itself. The only solo travel creators who seem to be genuinely self-sufficient are the ones who are 24 and up and are upfront about having a remote job or a legit business or have a massive following on social media.

I can’t be the only one who’s noticed this, right? It’s like, are these young travelers really out there hustling on their own, or are they getting a little boost from somewhere else? And let’s be clear – I’m not talking about those YouTubers who roll out polished videos with insane experiences and food tours.

Travelling can be stressful enough without having to worry about being excluded from certain accommodation options. As someone who has recently been planning a trip to Asia, I can sympathize with the frustration of searching for a place to stay, only to find out it’s female-only. It’s even more annoying when the listing fails to mention this in prominent writing, instead burying the information in small print.

No matter if you’re a man or woman, this experience is a huge inconvenience. On one hand, there’s nothing wrong with female-only accommodation, but on the other, it’s frustrating that there’s no way to filter out such options from your search results. Hostelworld used to offer this, but it seems to have since been discontinued. It’s a shame, as the ability to filter out female-only accommodation would save travelers a lot of time.

Unfortunately, it seems that booking platforms aren’t prioritizing the addition of this feature. It’s understandable to a certain extent, as it’s only a minor annoyance to read the small print. Nevertheless, for those who are already dealing with the stress of planning a trip, it’s still a huge frustration.

The situation is even worse for those who experience the opposite problem — finding a well-reviewed, well-priced place, only to discover that it’s male-only. This issue is less commonly known, but it isn’t uncommon in certain parts of the world.

It’s hard to say why exactly booking platforms haven’t implemented the option to filter out female-only or male-only accommodation. It may have to do with legal issues, or the fact that it’s not seen as a priority. Either way, it’s an issue that could easily be solved with the addition of a filter.

At the end of the day, no one should have to deal with the frustration of searching for accommodation and being excluded from options due to their gender. It’s an issue that could easily be solved with the addition of a filter, so hopefully booking platforms will take notice and make the necessary changes.

Travelling abroad can be a challenge, no matter where you’re heading, especially when you’re crossing an ocean. I’m tall and large, so no matter what I do I’m going to be uncomfortable, so I’ve given up on trying to make the long transatlantic flight more comfortable and just assume that it’s going to suck and prepare to suffer. But, after that flight, I can enjoy stepping into the “heaven” of the airport.

I used to book upgraded seats in advance, but I’ve stopped doing that and just accept that I’ll be miserable for 10 hours. That’s when the silver lining appears; I’ve found that once I resign myself to suffering, the suffering isn’t so bad; it almost becomes a game. I can enjoy the food on KLM flights, for example, and then, after I land, I can finally stretch my legs and walk around. I need 36 hours or so of recuperation after that long flight, but it’s totally worth it.

Travelling long distances is a challenge no matter where you’re from. Australians, New Zealanders, and North Americans all travel long distances and have to suffer a bit. For North Americans, it’s usually a transatlantic flight, while Australians and New Zealanders typically travel to Southeast Asia and have long flights to get there. A New Zealander here shared their experience of Berlin to Vietnam, then Vietnam to Auckland, and finally Auckland to Wellington. By the end of that long haul, their feet were swollen and their urine was amber. No matter where you’re from, long-distance travel can be tough. But, if you resign yourself to the suffering, it can be an enjoyable experience.

We often take for granted the privileges we have in the developed world, not realizing the realities of those living in less fortunate environments. From Tanzania to Ethiopia, Guatemala to the Middle East, there are stories of misfortune and sorrow that remind us of how much we are truly blessed.

In Tanzania, for example, the lack of financial resources means that hospitals are often unable to purchase basic medications. This can have dire consequences, leading to people dying from easily preventable illnesses. I recently spoke to a doctor who told me how he often has to buy medications himself, using his own money, in order to save the lives of his patients. His despair was palpable, as he told me how he was considering quitting his job, unable to cope with the heartbreak of watching people die unnecessarily.

The situation in Ethiopia is no better. On a recent bus journey through the country, I witnessed a mother and her two children drinking directly from a roadside puddle as it rained. Unpaved roads and other infrastructure issues are just a few of the many problems that hinder the country’s development.

A similar situation prevails in the hills of Guatemala. People here live off of corn tortillas and reside in homes with poor ventilation and no smoke extractors. This means that, by the time they reach adulthood, they have the lungs of a two-pack-a-day smoker.

These stories of hardship and despair are a reminder of how truly privileged we are in the developed world. We often forget that, while we may have our own problems, we should be thankful for the abundance of resources available to us. For those of us that have ventured outside of our comfort zone, these stories will stay with us forever.

I’m a huge proponent of packing light. I always pack underwear, because you never know when you’ll have an accident. I use cotton underwear, because it’s comfortable and breathable. I tend to use the same clothes and accessories I wear in my day to day life, which helps me save money and space. I don’t like to use packing cubes, but I do like to use ziplock bags to organize my stuff. If I can’t fit everything in a 25-30L bag, I often take a bigger satchel, sling or messenger bag. I haven’t bought anything special for onebagging, but I have sold a lot of my belongings to make more room. I bring two books with me, a paperback and an e-reader, just in case one of them gets damaged. I also carry two laptops, a gaming laptop and a tablet, and two bags; one for my tools and one for my laptop. I’m always trying to pack light so I don’t have to carry too much around. I also avoid buying items that don’t save much room when folded, such as folding sunglasses. I like to keep things simple and only bring the essentials.

I have noticed that when I’m on solo trips, I’m more aware of how I look compared to the other people around me. I’m not the most fashionable person, and usually I’m wearing whatever I find comfortable, not worrying too much about what others think. But when I’m around people who are quite obviously putting a lot of effort into their looks and outfits, I can’t help but feel a little out of place and a bit self-conscious.

Regardless of how I’m feeling, I still go out and have a great time and make friends. But I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if so, how did you cope with it?

Traveling solo can be a great way to meet new people and explore a new city, but it can also be intimidating at times. I’ve noticed that on some of my trips, I’ve felt more aware of how I compare to the other people around me in terms of fashion and style. I’m not the most fashionable person and usually I just wear whatever I’m comfortable in, not worrying too much about what others think.

But when I’m surrounded by people who are obviously putting a lot of effort into their looks, I can’t help but feel a bit out of place and self-conscious. On my recent trips to Berlin and Madrid, I was staying in social hostels for the first time and had the opportunity to meet a lot of people. It was great to meet new people and experience new cultures, but I also noticed that many of the other young women (and guys too) were very well dressed and put-together.

I’m always up for meeting new people and going out and having a great time, but I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this feeling of being a bit self-conscious in comparison to others? How do you cope with it?

Traveling solo can be an incredibly rewarding and eye-opening experience, but it can also be intimidating and can make us more aware of how we’re perceived by others. Whether it’s the people at the hostel we’re staying at, or people we meet on bar crawls and in clubs, it can be hard not to compare yourself to others.

It’s important to remember that everyone is on their own journey and we all have our own unique style and manner. It’s okay to have days where you don’t feel as confident in your own skin, but it’s important to take a step back and remember that you don’t need to conform to any particular standard.

Everyone is different, and we all have our own unique ways of expressing ourselves. So, if you ever do find yourself in a situation where you’re feeling self-conscious, remember that you don’t need to worry about what anyone else thinks. Just take a deep breath, remind yourself that you’re on your own journey and be your own unique self.

Traveling solo can be a great experience, but it can also be a bit intimidating at times. I recently found myself in this situation while traveling in Europe. I was feeling a bit lonely in some of the larger cities, so I decided to give a party hostel in Barcelona a try. It had great ratings on Hostelworld, and I figured I would be able to break the ice and make some friends.

Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. I arrived on Halloween, and not only was I intimidated by the party atmosphere, I didn’t have a costume. So instead of joining in the festivities downstairs, I stayed in my capsule and felt like a complete loser.

I was feeling pretty low, so I decided to turn to the internet for advice. I asked for help and was overwhelmed by the kind responses I received. People shared their own experiences and offered encouragement. Everyone agreed that nobody really cares about costumes, and that it was important to just put myself out there and have some fun.

So, the next day I followed the advice I had been given and decided to take a walking tour of Barcelona. I figured I would be able to make some friends and get to know the city at the same time.

As it turns out, the advice was spot on. I was able to break the ice and make some friends, and by the end of the tour I was feeling more confident and comfortable in the party hostel atmosphere. I even ended up joining in the festivities and had a really great time.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: when you’re feeling a bit lost and lonely while traveling, there is always a way to turn things around. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make some friends. You never know, it could end up being the best decision you make.

I was beyond excited to book a month-long stay in an Airbnb for my girlfriend and I, so four days before the stay, I made the booking. I wanted to save a bit of money, so I accidentally put in 1 guest instead of 2, as it usually didn’t make a difference in the charge. Little did I know, I had just made a costly mistake.

When I went to add the extra guest, I found that it would cost an extra $2,000 a month – insane for two people sharing a double bed. The initial price was $3,000, so paying $5,000 for a couple was ridiculous. I knew I had to do something, so within 24 hours of booking I reached out to the host. Unfortunately, they were firm on the price and wouldn’t budge.

I was honest with the host and asked if there was any way I could get a full refund, as I couldn’t afford $5,000. Little did I know, the host had the strict cancellation policy enabled and because it was a last-minute booking, there were no refunds. I pleaded with the host and Airbnb support to refund me, as no time had been lost on the host’s listing since I had just booked it hours ago. Unfortunately, the host said no and refused to refund me a penny.

I was stuck in a bind – I couldn’t afford the $5,000, and my girlfriend needed somewhere to stay. I had no other choice but to cancel the listing, meaning I lost the $3,000 I had already paid. It felt like I had just gone through a 48 hour fever dream. I know all of the hosts are going to say “too bad”, but the fact remains that this was a really crappy experience.

At 3am, I found myself wide awake and unable to sleep. It was the fourth night of my stay in an all-female dorm, and I had paid extra money to be in a room without any guys. But, an hour prior, my roommates had brought a guy back and started having sex.

My roommates had shined a phone light on my face several times to check if I was awake, and I had stayed silent, thinking that maybe they wanted to have a chat. But, when I realized what was happening, I switched on the bed light and let them know that I was aware. I told them that what they were doing was wrong, but there was no response.

When I asked to switch rooms, the desk staff laughed and said that this sort of thing happened all the time. I began to feel like I had overreacted, especially since I’m 27 and travelling alone to Budapest. I understand that people want to have fun, but I don’t want to stay in a hostel again after this experience. I’m so disappointed.

My experience in an all-female dorm was not what I had expected. I had paid extra money to feel safe and comfortable during my trip, but my room was disrupted by a couple having sex. I felt embarrassed and let down when the staff simply laughed off the situation. Furthermore, I’m now apprehensive about staying in a hostel again. Travelling alone can be difficult, and it’s important to feel safe and respected.

I explain the situation, and he is surprisingly nice. I get my passport back, and thankfully, they let me through.

After two months of traveling Europe, I was feeling pretty confident I had the visa situation nailed down. But as I took an 8 hour bus ride from Bulgaria to Istanbul, I realized I had made a major mistake – I had forgotten to check if I needed a visa to enter Turkey.

In my defense, Turkey was never part of my initial itinerary and I had only added it two days prior, so I hadn’t had the opportunity to properly research the visa requirements. I had also been traveling around countries with no visa or Schengen zones for so long that the thought of needing a visa hadn’t even crossed my mind.

As I stepped up to the passport control line, I quickly googled “do [my country] citizens need visas for Turkey” and realized I had messed up. I sheepishly asked to do a visa there, and the officer motioned for me to step out of line. I was feeling embarrassed and the bus driver started yelling at me for delaying everyone. I explained the situation and, thankfully, they let me through.

I learned an important lesson that day – research your visa requirements before you travel! It’s always better to be safe than sorry.