Category: FAQs

Before smartphones, travelling was much more difficult. You needed to use paper maps to find your way around unfamiliar places, and booking things while travelling often meant a trip to an internet café. But ever since the advent of smartphones, it’s become so much more convenient. With the help of Google Maps, you can easily figure out the quickest route from A to B without having to worry about getting lost. You can also find places to eat, read reviews, and buy tickets for transportation. Plus, it’s great for listening to music, reading, and all the other things a phone can do.

I realised this when I went to Seoul twice, once long before smartphones, and once recently. The difference between the two visits was night and day. The first time, I got lost walking a few blocks from my hotel, but the second time I was able to navigate public buses to a national park with ease.

This is why smartphones are so liberating. They save us so much time and make everything so much easier. They turned the world into a much more convenient place to explore. I can now plan a trip with the help of my phone and have a great time with less stress.

I recently visited Istanbul and decided to do some research on what tourist scams are common in the area. Thankfully, I read about the shoe shiner scam. The next day I was walking in the center when I noticed a shoe shiner had dropped one of his brushes in front of me. I was aware of what was going on, so I chose to ignore it and kept walking.

That’s why I decided to create touristscams.co, a website where you can quickly find out what the most popular tourist scams are in the city you’re visiting. It’s a great resource for travelers who want to be informed and avoid getting scammed. I’d be delighted to hear any ideas on how I can make it even better.

Besides Istanbul, Paris is another popular destination for tourists that is known to have its own set of tourist scams. I’m planning a trip to Paris soon and I’m already aware of a few scams that happen around Sacré-Cœur. The bracelet scam is when people tie a bracelet to your hand and then demand money, and the other is when people try to get you to sign documents for their cause and then ask for a donation. Additionally, there’s the pan handler scam where they put a cup with coins out in front of them, conveniently placed next to a slotted grate. When it gets knocked over, money falls through the grate and they use this as an excuse to ask for even more money.

It’s important to be aware of these scams and to pay attention to prices when you’re travelling. My website touristscams.co is a great tool to help you stay informed and stay safe on your travels.

I recently took a three-week solo trip around Europe, visiting three countries and staying in a different type of accommodation in each: a dorm hostel, a pod hostel, and a hotel. Planning the trip was a real rollercoaster of emotions for me. I’m a socially anxious person and had never travelled alone before, so I was really worried about going and being miserable – wasting my money and then feeling worse about myself. But despite all my doubts, I took the plunge.

My aim on the trip was to push myself out of my comfort zone and put myself in social situations, be in challenging situations that would force me to adapt without leaning on anyone else, learn to be content by myself in public, and do all the fun things that interested me.

I’m happy to report that I achieved all of my goals! It wasn’t always easy. The first day was especially tough, and I found that staying connected with my family and friends back home, practicing mindfulness, meditation, and journaling really helped. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that there were times where people struck up a conversation with me – while waiting in lines, in hostel rooms, and so on – and I reciprocated.

One of the most important things I learnt on this trip was that it’s ok to be alone. I learnt that I can still have a great time and make memories, even if I’m by myself. I also learnt that it’s ok to reach out for help and connection if you need it. I feel much more confident now, and I’m looking forward to travelling alone again soon.

I’m still shaking, even half an hour later. I’m a solo female traveler in my mid twenties, and I’ve been exploring Thailand, Vietnam, and most recently, Indonesia for the past three months. I meet friends in the cities I visit, but I’m alone for the times I’m traveling between places.

Today I spent 10 hours traveling between islands in Indonesia, my last leg of the journey being a 30 minute Grab ride with a man. At first, he was friendly, asking me what I planned to do in this city. But then he started to ask more personal questions, like my age, if I was traveling alone, if I had a boyfriend, and even asked me to come sit in the front seat. I told him I wasn’t interested, and he asked for my Instagram. I said no.

Then, he “rated the drive” even though there were still 15 minutes left. This prevented me from using the help features on the app, and I started to feel really unsafe. The last few minutes of the ride felt like an eternity, and I was so relieved when I finally reached my hostel.

This experience was a complete shock to me, as I’ve never encountered any similar behavior from drivers during my travels. It’s a reminder that, as a solo female traveler, it’s important to stay vigilant and be aware of my surroundings. I’m grateful that I made it to my hostel safely, but this incident has made me even more cautious of the people I come in contact with.

Singapore welcomed me with open arms five years ago when I decided to embark on a three week solo travel journey. As I explored the city, eager to eat my body weight in local cuisine, the news about Anthony Bourdain’s death hit me like a ton of bricks.

Bourdain was an inspiration to many of us, myself included. He encouraged us to explore the world through food and embrace other cultures, and this was my tribute to him back then: Here’s to Anthony Bourdain, a man who inspired a whole generation to explore street food. I’m sure wherever he is now, he’s in an alleyway hole-in-a-wall, having a good laugh with the locals while cracking a cold one. Rest in Parts Unknown.

Out of all the celebrity deaths, his was the one that impacted me the most. President Obama put it perfectly when he said that Anthony Bourdain made us a little less afraid of the unknown. That’s why I decided to solo travel, why I gave up being kosher and why I randomly put on Roadrunner last night, even though I’ve seen it before. His approach and humility to his adventures made travelling seem totally open and accessible. Before streaming and PVR, reruns of No reservations were my comfort food.

Rather than mourning someone’s death, I prefer to recognize their birthday. It focuses more on the entrance of a person into this world, rather than their departure. Anthony Bourdain was an incredible man who had a huge impact on my life, and his birthday is the perfect time to celebrate the legacy he left behind.

Traveling solo can be a great way to explore the world and discover yourself, but it’s not for everyone. If you’ve been having a hard time finding someone to join you for your travels, you’re not alone.

I’m a 31-year-old Canadian man who’s been having a hard time finding people to travel with me outside of resorts, which have become boring to me. For the past three trips, I’ve been traveling solo, and I’m about to book my fourth once my leave from work is approved. I’m also planning a two-week trip with a friend.

The difficulty I’m facing is that a lot of my friends and family are put off by the idea of taking a 10-hour flight, so I’m stuck going alone. I don’t mind it, but I’d prefer to have someone to share my adventures with.

If you’re in a similar position, you’re not alone. There are plenty of people out there who travel solo because they can’t find someone to join them. It’s a great way to explore the world on your own, but it can also be a great experience to have someone to share your travels with.

So, if you’re looking for a travel buddy, you’re not alone. There are plenty of people out there who are in the same boat as you and would love to experience the world together. You just have to find the right people.

There are plenty of ways to find like-minded people to travel with. Whether it’s joining a local travel club, searching travel forums, or simply asking friends and family, you can find someone to join you on your next trip.

It’s also important to remember that it’s ok to travel solo. You don’t need to find a travel partner if you don’t want to. Solo travel can be a great way to explore the world and discover yourself.

No matter how you choose to travel, the important thing is that you get out there and explore. The world is a big place, and there are plenty of amazing places out there to explore. So, get out there and start planning your next trip. Read more “Can Solo Travellers Find Like-Minded People Out There?”

I have been traveling for five years now, and I firmly believe that solo travel is the best way to get the most out of a trip. When I first started traveling, I went to Europe with four of my acquaintances: A, B, C, and D. Initially, we all planned to stick together, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.

Person A was the leader of the group and was incredibly lazy. We would go out partying until 1am, but she would stay up all night and then sleep until 2pm. In the third week of our trip, I was getting fed up with waiting for her to wake up every day and decided to explore on my own. She was disappointed that I was leaving without them, but I wanted to explore and experience the culture, not just sit around in our Airbnb all day.

Person B was very stingy with money and refused to spend it on anything interesting. He was the richest out of all of us and had no student loans, but he would only eat at Subway or cook food at the Airbnb. Whenever I wanted to grab a bite to eat somewhere, he would tell me to just cook something at the Airbnb. He refused to spend money on museums or anything else that cost money, but wanted us all to stay together.

This is why I chose to go solo traveling. I wanted to explore the culture and the food, not just stick around McDonalds and Subway. Solo travel has allowed me to really experience the culture and get to know the locals. I can go wherever I want, whenever I want, and I don’t have to worry about waiting around for other people. I highly recommend solo travel to anyone who wants to get the most out of their trip.

As a solo female traveller, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to feel safe in some destinations. My male friends always rave about xyz city, claiming it’s safe, but more than three times I’ve been there, I still don’t feel safe. Whether I am walking a block away from my hotel, or wearing an oversized shirt and baggy pants to not attract attention, men can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves or stop being creepy. I know not all men are like this, and there are some wonderful men out there, but it still gets so exhausting.

I wish the people who cat call and follow you would just fuck off, and that some men would understand the difficulties of solo female travel. I’m not even staying in sketchy areas, either – I’ve done my research and read the reviews.

Sometimes it’s almost better to befriend a male nearby, as they can usually act as a deterrent. But even that doesn’t always work. So, what else can we do to protect ourselves as female travellers? I’m talking specifically about central/Latin American destinations.

Let me know your suggestions in the comments!

If you ever find yourself feeling unsafe, it’s important to report it. Recently, I stayed in a hostel for a week and one night found myself in an uncomfortable situation. I was in bed reading when a man came into the dorm. I was giving him one-word answers, trying to show that I wasn’t interested in talking, but he didn’t catch my cues. He then insisted I get out of bed so he could “demonstrate” something he learned in Tango class. I thought this would get him to stop, but it only made things worse. He immediately tried to kiss me and, despite my protests, kept trying to get me to agree. Finally, he gave in and left, but I was shaken and not sure what to do next.

It can be incredibly embarrassing and intimidating to be on the receiving end of unwanted sexual attention. It can also be difficult to know whether or not to report it. Will anyone believe you? Will they think you’re being overly dramatic? Is this kind of behavior normal? After doing some research, I decided to report it and, thankfully, my hostel immediately moved me to a private room. This showed me that they take sexual harassment seriously.

It’s important to remember that being made to feel unsafe is not normal. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable or scared, it’s important to report it and get the help you need. Don’t be afraid to speak up and stand up for yourself. It’s never okay to be in a situation where you feel unsafe.

I recently visited Ohrid, North Macedonia, and it’s a beautiful place, but I experienced a lot of racism from the children here. Being an American who is ethnically Chinese, I was subjected to kids screaming “Ching Chong,” “Suck a penis ch*nk,” “China! China!!,” and “Nihao” at me in just two days. It’s been very hard to move past this and it’s really put me off from traveling further into the Balkans.

I understand why this can happen in smaller towns, where there’s not much diversity and kids are not taught what is socially acceptable, but it’s still definitely not okay. I’m sorry this happened to you. Being of South Asian ethnicity myself, I recently had to deal with racism due to the influx of economic migrants into Bosnia and Croatia. I was almost hit by a car on purpose twice, followed, and yelled at to “go back.” I was even questioned about my route when crossing the border and a white girl even changed her seat because I was brown. These experiences leave a bad taste in my mouth and I don’t want to downplay anyone else’s experience of racism.

I think it’s mainly xenophobia in rural towns, but it’s still not acceptable. It’s true that this might not happen as much in bigger cities, but it’s still important to be aware of the possibility of racism in the Balkans. Even if you have good experiences, it’s still important to understand that this kind of racism can still exist and should be taken seriously.