Planning a solo trip can be daunting, especially for first-timers. To be safe, many travelers opt to book tours and experiences through companies like Viator and Get Your Guide. While this can be an easier option than renting a car or navigating a large national park or remote location, there is often a two or three person minimum for group tours. This can be confusing for those who are new to solo travel.

So why is there a limit on group sizes? In short, it is for financial reasons. Tour operators need to hire people and gear and that costs money. If one person is on the tour, the operator will not make as much money and it may not be worth the guide’s time. I experienced this firsthand while on a tour in Argentina. I was the sole traveler, which was not ideal. I got along with the guide, but it would have been better with a group.

If you are a solo traveler who wants to book a tour with a particular company, you can still do so. Most operators are happy to arrange it if you are willing to pay for the minimum number of people. This way, the operator will still make a profit and you will get the experience that you desire.

Ultimately, solo travelers should know that there are options out there for them. Even though there may be a two or three person minimum for group tours, operators are often willing to accommodate solo travelers if they are willing to pay the minimum cost. Before you book your next tour, contact the operator and see what they can do for you.

Travelling alone can be an exciting and liberating experience, but there are so many different ways to do it. Many people immediately think of backpacking and staying in hostels when they hear about travelling solo, but there is more to it than that. Solo travelling with a bigger budget is possible and can be just as enjoyable.

With a bigger budget, you can stay in hotels in good locations, rent a car, and have other conveniences. Solo travelling with a bigger budget means that you can tailor your experience to your preference while still having a great time. After all, the only right way to travel is the way that you enjoy the most.

I know from personal experience that solo travelling with a bigger budget can be incredibly enjoyable. I used to do the whole backpacking and hostel thing when I was younger, but now I prefer to stay in a funky BnB or nicer hotel. This way, I don’t have to worry about socialising as much, and I get more sleep. Plus, as an introvert, I don’t get overwhelmed as quickly.

Group tours are a great option for socialisation opportunities, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to travel in this way. If you’re on a tighter budget, hostels can still be a great choice, but it’s important to remember that there are other ways to go about solo travelling as well.

Overall, solo travelling can be a great experience no matter what your budget is. You can tailor it to your own personal preferences and find the best way to enjoy the journey. Whether you prefer backpacking, staying in hotels, or something inbetween, it’s all up to you. Find what works for you and have fun!

Travelling can be stressful, especially when you’re trying to find the best deals on flights. It’s even more difficult when you’re looking for something like Skyscanner but in reverse, such as finding the cheapest flight to a specific location from anywhere. While there isn’t a service that offers this directly, Kiwi.com comes close to achieving this. On the site, you can enter a region or a radius around a city and it will show you the best deals in that area. I’ve tested out a lot of different options and found it to be quite useful. However, I recommend not buying the ticket from Kiwi.com as it may include extra fees and you won’t have any chance of getting your money back if your flight gets cancelled or changed.

If you need help finding flights, Flightconnections.com is a great resource as it offers a variety of options for flights to Minneapolis, MSP.

If you’re looking for a workaround for finding the cheapest flights from anywhere to a specific destination, I have a technique that I usually use. I search the other way around, and then back-check the prices. So if I’m looking for the cheapest flights to London from anywhere, I search for the cheapest flights from London to anywhere (which Google Flights can do) and then back-check each of the cheap flights to see if the pricing is still good when searched the other way. This usually works for me and can save you a lot of time.

Traveling can be expensive, especially during these times. I’ve been monitoring flights prices for the past five months and the costs have doubled since my previous trips. For example, my trip to Barcelona used to cost around $600 and my trip to Belize only cost $300. With prices now up to $1400 for Barcelona and almost $700 for Belize, it’s hard to get anywhere without breaking the bank.

I’m fortunate and grateful for the privilege to travel and if something were to happen tomorrow and I’d never travel again, I can live knowing I got to see some of the world. But now I have a significant other and some teenagers that I want to share my love of travel with, and it’s just so expensive. I’m thankful that I have my credit card points to help me out. I have a Capital One Venture and just received a Capital One Venture X (even with the $400 annual fee). This has allowed me to use my points for flights and it’s been a real help. This year, my credit card points allowed for a ticket to Jamaica, Arizona, Cancun, and South Florida.

If you’re looking for ways to make travel more affordable, consider using credit card points and miles. They can really make a difference when it comes to the cost of flights. Another thing to consider is to look at flights to other European cities and then catching a cheap flight to Barcelona from there. This can help to save some money and make your trip more affordable.

Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive, but it’s important to be mindful of the cost. Credit card points and miles can be a great way to make travel more affordable. Additionally, looking at flights to other cities and then catching a cheap flight can be a great way to save some money. At the end of the day, travel can be an amazing experience and if you’re mindful of the cost, you can make it happen.

I’ve been planning my interrail trip through Europe for years and I was so excited when I found a two-month ticket for 50 percent off last year. I assumed that since I was traveling in April, prices would be much lower than the busy summer season. But I was wrong. I was completely shocked when I started looking for hostels and saw the sky-high prices. A bed in a dorm for 8 people without breakfast for 65 euros? Even hostels that normally cost about 20 euros were now costing 140 euros per night. Even hostels in Eastern Europe were now costing 50 euros per night. I was desperate. I didn’t want to try couchsurfing or book a private room on airbnb as I’m traveling alone as a woman.

I decided to look into why the prices were so high and I realized that it might have to do with Milan Design Week, which was taking place at the same time I was visiting. I looked up prices for other cities like Barcelona, Stockholm, and Vienna and found similar prices. This made me realize that high prices were not isolated to Milan, but were happening all over Europe.

I was starting to panic and was seriously considering cancelling my trip. I was so disappointed to think that all my planning would be for nothing. But then I started researching cheaper alternatives, from finding hostels with lower prices to taking advantage of discounts and promotions. I found that there were still some hostels that were offering low prices and I was able to find other places to stay for cheaper than the original prices I had seen.

I’m still disappointed that I won’t be able to stay in the hostels I wanted, but I’m glad that I’m still able to go on my interrail trip. With a little bit of research, I was able to find the best deals and make sure I still have an amazing trip.

If you’re planning a trip to Germany, you won’t want to miss out on the Deutschlandticket, which is set to be released in May 2023 and available for purchase until the end of the year. With it, you can travel anywhere within Germany using regional trains, any day of the week including holidays. Unfortunately, the ticket does not cover long distance trains, ICEs, IC/ECs, or Flix transport.

Luxembourg has a great offer on public transport – it’s completely free! But, if you’re looking for a more affordable option in Germany, you can still get the monthly subscription at 49 euro. You can cancel it immediately after you purchase it, but it does have to be for a specific calendar month. Even though it’s not as cheap as the 9 euro ticket available last summer, it’s still progress and a great permanent option for locals and tourists.

The exclusion of long distance trains does make it difficult to travel through Germany, however. The trip from Munich to Berlin, for example, would take around 12-15 hours with six different train changes. Therefore, the Deutschlandticket might not be the best option if you’re trying to make a long distance journey.

No matter where you are, always be prepared for any medical issue you may encounter. Whether it is a blister from a long hike, or a stomach ache from a new cuisine, having the right medications and supplies on hand is key.

So what should you always keep in your bag? Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are great for pain relief and inflammation. Imodium and benadryl are useful for stomach issues and allergic reactions respectively. Don’t forget to pack electrolytes, neosporin, and a tube of prep H for blisters. If you’re travelling abroad, acetaminophen, diflucan, and antibiotics can be helpful. A few iodine swabs are also advisable, in case you are bitten by an insect.

If you’re prone to heartburn or acid reflux, famotidine (Pepcid) is a must. To prevent motion sickness, Dramamine, Imodium, and anti-nausea medication are essential. People with UTIs should bring antibiotics along. Finally, to be extra safe, carry an epipen and narcan in case of extreme allergic reactions or opioid overdoses.

Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Before you embark on your next journey, pack a few medical necessities in your bag to ensure a healthy and successful trip.

Traveling is one of the most exciting experiences in life, but planning and packing can be stressful. Fortunately, there are many travel hacks that can help make your trips easier, cheaper, and more efficient. In this article, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite travel hacks that I’ve learned over the years.

Maximizing Luggage Space:
One of my favorite travel hacks is to use a duty-free bag to supplement my carry-on only travel. This bag is an excellent way to save space in my luggage, and I can carry extra items in the duty-free bag. Another hack that has made my travel life easier is carrying a foldable, separate bag for dirty laundry. This bag is lightweight, and I have had it since 2008. I also use packing list “templates” that I’ve curated over the years. I modify them for whatever specific trip I’m taking, and I mark off the things I did not use, so that the next time I use that list to pack, I can think twice about the things I need and don’t need.

Preparing for the Unexpected:
When I travel, I always keep a change of clothes, toiletries, PJs, and flip flops in my carry-on in case the airline loses my checked bag. Travel credit cards have empowered me to go on life-changing trips for a tenth of the cost. Before traveling to a new area, I always pre-download Google maps of the area I’m going to because you will often lose service, and this could save your life or avoid an annoyance. Additionally, I print all my paperwork such as visas, hotel reservations, proof of insurance, etc., and carry them with me. Although I won’t need it 9/10 times, that 1 time could ruin my trip.

Money-Saving Tips:
Using credit cards that give me lounge access and shampoo/conditioner bars that are much easier to pack and lightweight is also another hack I use. By using Scott’s cheap flights, I just plan the time I want to go somewhere, not the destination itself, and then let fate (airline prices) decide the rest. Another hack is eating some meals from shopping at the grocery store. I always pack a bamboo fork and spoon so I can buy things like yogurt. If you’re planning a Mediterranean vacation, instead of vacationing in Italy or Greece, try Croatia or Montenegro. It’s a less common country and offers more value for your money.

Organization:
Using large Ziploc bags to organize stuff is another hack that I use because it’s easier to find things buried in my luggage if I can see inside. For the same reason, I never buy packing cubes that are all the same color and size. I put a “want to go” flag on my Google Maps of every place that I research or get recommended to me. That way, if I’m ever just wandering around not sure what to do next, I can pull open my map and see what little green flags are close by around me.

Surviving Long Travel Days:
When stuck in an airport during a weather event, go to the chapel to sleep. Very few people go there, and those who do won’t bother you. It’s much quieter than sleeping with hundreds of people on cots that make creaking noise, and the eerie feeling of being watched over by security guards and airport personnel. Using Ziploc bags is another hack. Get the good ones, they are worth it. They’re good for some food items, toiletries, pens, soap, wet bathing suits, whatever. Also, unscrew bottle caps of liquid items, put on a plastic bag or piece of plastic wrap, then screw the top back on.

If you’re looking for cities that have plenty to offer and are relatively close together, there are plenty of wonderful options in the USA and abroad. In the USA, cities like Boston, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Los Angeles have great public transportation and are walkable. For international cities, Tokyo, Kyoto and many Polish cities are great options. Other cities like San Francisco, Krakow, Gdansk, Montreal and Denver also have plenty to offer and are relatively easy to get around.

If you’re looking to save money on transportation while exploring a city, some great options are Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta. All of these cities are very walkable and have great public transportation. In Boston, there’s even a historical walking trail that you can follow through town, and in the summer, you can catch a free symphonic musical experience on the esplanade by the Charles River. Chicago has an amazing transit system, and Seattle is quite walkable if you don’t mind some hills. Philadelphia is a great option as well, since the city is laid out in a grid and is completely flat.

Greenville, South Carolina is also a great option for those wanting to save money on transportation. There’s also a website, walkscore.com, that rates cities based on their walkability. Vancouver, BC and Montreal are great choices for those looking to stay in North America. Tokyo and Kyoto are great options for international travelers, as are many Polish cities.

No matter where you choose to explore, there are several options that will allow you to save money on transportation while still enjoying all a city has to offer. Research public transportation and walkability before you book your trip, and you’ll be able to save money while still exploring the culture, sights and sounds of a city.