). He then started asking me more personal questions, like where I was from and if I was traveling alone. I told him I was from the US and was indeed traveling solo, and that’s when he started to get a bit handsy. He kept touching my arm and trying to take my hand, and all I could think was “how could I have been so stupid?”

I took a solo trip to Europe, something I had dreamed of for a while. After a long flight, I arrived in Berlin early in the morning and decided to wander the local area and grab a bite to eat. After brunch, I returned to my hotel to wait for my room to become available. A man came up to me in the lobby, introducing himself and saying he wanted to practice his English. He wore a name tag so I assumed he was an employee. We had a polite conversation and he asked if I wanted to get coffee with him in the cafe section of the hotel. Even though I was exhausted, I said yes.

The conversation began innocently enough, but the man started to get more personal and even a bit handsy. He asked where I was from and if I was traveling alone. When I told him I was from the US and was indeed traveling solo, he started to touch my arm and tried to take my hand. I felt completely naive and stupid for trusting him.

Luckily, a hotel employee came to let me know that my room was ready and I was able to make my escape. I learned an important lesson – no matter how tired or trusting I am, I need to be aware of my surroundings and stay alert. The man may have been harmless, but I need to trust my gut and be more mindful of potentially dangerous situations.

night, I can just put up with it’. I sat down at a table and only then did I realise that everyone else in the room was wearing pyjamas. I had just walked into a pyjama party, that I hadn’t been invited to. I was so embarrassed and embarrassed for the staff who must’ve been so embarrassed by me. But the staff handled the situation so well, they just said ‘it’s a private event’ and quietly ushered me out. I didn’t stay to watch the football, I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Tonight I learned a valuable lesson, always double check your reservations and always ask if there is a dress code.

Tonight I learned a valuable lesson the hard way. I had made a reservation at a restaurant in Porto, thinking I’d get there at 7pm and have enough time to eat before the football match started at 8pm. Little did I know, I was going to be walking into a pyjama party.

When I arrived at the restaurant, there was a large crowd outside, which was unexpected for that early in the evening. The staff then ushered everyone inside, but I didn’t realize until later what was happening. When I got down the stairs, the staff started leading people to a room in the back, and I was just following the crowd, assuming that this was how it was usually done.

When I got to the room, I saw that all of the tables were really close together, and everyone was wearing pyjamas. That’s when I realized I had walked into a pyjama party that I wasn’t invited to. I was so embarrassed, and embarrassed for the staff who had to deal with me. Thankfully, they handled the situation well and just said it was a private event and ushered me out.

Tonight I learned a valuable lesson: always double check your reservations and always ask if there is a dress code. It might have saved me a lot of embarrassment if I had done so.

the same.”

Four times in the last three months, I’ve been asked to switch seats on an airplane. Today, on a work-related flight, the same situation arose. Seated beside me was a man, who had a first class seat, but wanted to sit with his wife, who wasn’t in first class. He politely asked the flight attendant if he could switch with me, and I graciously offered. While I was happy to oblige, it made me realize that this wasn’t the first time a fellow passenger had asked me to switch seats.

In the past three months, I’d been asked to switch seats no less than four times. Whether it was someone wanting to sit with their family, someone needing more legroom, or someone wanting a window seat, I’d had my fair share of requests. I’d paid for my seat and chose it for a reason; the aisle seat offers more freedom of movement and more room. And yet, here I was, asked to switch seats yet again.

This time, I was ready to stand my ground. I politely declined the man’s request and said, “No, there is absolutely no chance.” While I may have missed out on a free upgrade and some complimentary drinks, I was proud of myself for sticking to my guns. I’d paid for my seat and I felt I had the right to stay in it.

We all need to remember that when we book our flight, we’ve chosen our seat for a reason. If you want to sit beside a loved one, upgrade your ticket, or make sure you book ahead of time and choose the seat you want. Don’t expect others to give up their seat for you. We all have the right to stay in the seat we paid for.

polite and friendly but they didn’t seem to want to talk to me.

I’m not used to this at all. I recently traveled to Scotland and the crowd was pretty diverse, but something weird happened at the hostels I stayed at. People would come down and sit at my table, yet they would only talk to other people who looked European. At first I thought it was because I’m American, but then I noticed the same thing happening to the Asian man on the other side of the table.

It happened again at another hostel in a different city. A group of people were talking and asking other people about their trips, but then they skipped me. I was confused until I said something about the drink they were tasting. Then they said “oh! you speak English so clearly” and started talking to me more, only to cut me out of the conversation again.

This made me realize that it was because of my race. I’m used to racism in America, but I had thought hostels would be more diverse and accommodating. Fortunately, that wasn’t always the case. The Scottish and English people I’ve met were very cool and welcoming. They showed no signs of racism or prejudice, and I felt right at home.

All in all, this experience was eye-opening and a bit disheartening. I was expecting a place as diverse as a hostel to have less racism, but that wasn’t always the case. Although it was disappointing, I’m glad I got to meet some really cool people who treated me with respect and kindness.

this if there was a way to ensure that the clothing fits, and also, if the clothing could be delivered early enough, so that I’d have time to try it on.

Any Wear, Anywhere is a pilot program from Japan Airline that makes it easier to travel light. For just $41 US, travelers can rent a selection of used clothing to wear for two weeks and return when they’re done. The idea is to reduce weight and fuel consumption on flights, but it can also be a great way to travel with less baggage and try out new looks.

The fee covers the cost of the clothing, which is delivered to your hotel, and the return shipping. Customers don’t get to pick out what they want, but the selection is vast and the cost is still low. The downside is that the clothing isn’t displayed in the most appealing way, so you won’t know what you’re getting until you get it.

For those who don’t want to bring a lot with them on the plane, Any Wear, Anywhere can be a great travel hack. It can also be a great way to avoid carrying duplicates of your clothing to a partner’s house.

However, the biggest concern is that the clothing won’t fit. The best way to make sure the clothing fits is to try it on before you leave. To do this, you’ll need to request an early delivery and make sure you have enough time to try it on and make any necessary adjustments.

Any Wear, Anywhere is a great way to travel light, try out new looks, and avoid having to carry a lot of baggage. However, it’s important to make sure that the clothing fits before you take off, so make sure you request an early delivery and have enough time to try it on.

the city, but it’s nothing like Bangkok or Pattaya. Ho Chi Minh City has a few seedy places, but you rarely see western men in those areas. Cambodia is a bit of a wildcard, but overall the nightlife is not as pervasive as in Bangkok or Pattaya.

Southeast Asia is a vibrant and diverse region. Although there are some seedy areas in certain cities, the nightlife and activities available to visitors are not as pervasive as some may imagine. I’ve been living and working around Southeast Asia for 15 years and have gotten to know many expats and locals. I’m all too familiar with the myths and rumors surrounding the various areas, but I can assure you that a lot of it is outdated, exaggerated, or simply imagined.

Thailand is by far the most popular destination in Southeast Asia and it has the most developed shady nightlife industry. Bangkok and Pattaya are the sites of most of the seedy activities, but it’s important to note that these activities are mostly located in particular areas. If you avoid these areas, you won’t see any of it. I’ve taken my Filipina girlfriend to Thailand several times and we’ve never had any bad experiences. We’ve never witnessed any rude behavior by western men.

The Philippines has a few seedy bars and nightlife areas in Makati and other parts of the city, but it’s nothing compared to Bangkok or Pattaya. Ho Chi Minh City has some seedy places, but you’re unlikely to encounter western men in these areas. Cambodia is a bit of a wildcard, but overall the nightlife is not as pervasive as in Bangkok or Pattaya.

To sum it up, Southeast Asia is a wonderful and unique destination. Although there are some seedy areas in certain cities, the activities available to visitors are not as pervasive as some may imagine. If you’re looking for a safe and enjoyable experience, you can have it. Just be mindful of the areas to avoid and you’ll be sure to have a great time.

white dudes were hanging out in a bar nearby.

I’m currently in Bangkok, and it’s a bit of a shock to be honest. Everywhere I go, I see old white guys who are completely out of shape, hanging out with one, two or sometimes even three local women who are dressed in sexy outfits. It’s clear what kind of relationship they have, and it’s not a pleasant sight.

In the bars, it’s the same story. You see these old, out-of-shape white guys drinking and surrounded by young, local women. On the street, there are more women looking for a lonely old white guy who had no chance back home. It’s a sad reminder of the power imbalance and exploitation that is so sadly intertwined with sex tourism.

These old guys fly to Thailand to take advantage of young, desperate women; many of them have no choice or are desperately poor. You don’t see old, out-of-shape Thai guys flying to Sweden to find young, beautiful blonde Swedish girls. So it’s pretty obvious what’s going on here.

It’s hard to avoid this kind of thing in the area I’m staying in. I went to a nice Thai place for dinner recently, and sure enough, there was an old guy with two women totally fixated on him. And nearby there were more old white guys in a bar, surrounded by young women.

It’s a heavy thing to witness on vacation, but it’s a reminder of the reality of the world. Yes, sex tourism is an issue and there is exploitation involved, but it’s a complex issue that needs to be addressed in a way that takes all sides into account. It’s not something that can be easily solved, but it’s something that needs to be discussed and understood.

of life now.

Tipflation, taxes, and fees hidden in hotel prices have become a common way of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s not annoying. Whether it’s tipping, Ticketmaster fees, or hotels, it’s frustrating to know the price you saw when you searched for a hotel is not the same amount you’ll be charged when you actually book the room.

So why is this happening? It’s not hard to understand. Hotels want to make sure their prices are competitive so they advertise a lower rate than the true cost. Unfortunately, this means that when you go to check out, you’ll be met with a whole host of fees and taxes that weren’t included in the price you originally saw.

This could easily be fixed if Google and major booking services verified all prices and included the total in their search results. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, and customers are often left trying to do the math and figure out the real cost of their hotel room.

To avoid this, one of the best things you can do is search for reviews of the hotel you’re interested in on TripAdvisor. Often, customers will mention any additional fees they were charged and you can use this to make an informed decision. Alternatively, you can also try using a VPN to pretend you’re browsing from a country that requires taxes and fees to be displayed up front.

It’s clear that taxes, fees, and tipflation have become a way of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s not annoying. If you do your research and read reviews, you can make sure you’re not hit with any hidden costs.

a one way flight to Thailand and never looked back.

I’m tired of living the same mundane life every day and I’m ready to take the plunge and go on an adventurous journey. I’ve saved up some money and I’m all set to explore the world with nothing but a backpack, a laptop, a camera, and a few clothes. I have no debt, no kids, and no one to keep me here, so it’s time to take the risk and set out. But I’m wondering, has anyone else done something like this? How did it turn out for them?

I recently came across a story of someone who decided to do just that. He sold his business, got divorced, and strapped on a backpack, ready to explore the world. Fast forward to 10 years later, and he is still travelling. He said that he doesn’t regret a single thing about his decision, and would definitely recommend it to anyone else. He did mention, however, that explaining the gap in his CV wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Another person I read about made a drastic change in their life and decided to travel to Thailand after their father passed away. They booked a one-way flight and never looked back, saying it was the best decision they had ever made.

So if you’re feeling adventurous and want to take a break from your current lifestyle, why not go for it? You may have to explain the gap in your CV, but it’s definitely worth it. Who knows, you might just end up in Thailand four months later!

of the highway screaming “STOP, STOP!!” I was about to give up when I noticed the bus had stopped about 1/2 mile down the highway. I was relieved, exhausted, and in a state of disbelief. I ran down the highway and caught up to the bus and the driver was like “What the hell man? You wanted to get on the bus or what?” and I was able to get back on.

We all have fears of something that can ruin our travels. From lost passports, stolen phones, and missed flights, to getting injured, things can go wrong in an instant. I recently had a “near miss” while solo travelling that really put this into perspective for me.

I was on a bus from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to Almaty, Kazakhstan. We had gone through the border just fine, and we were on the last stretch of the journey. We stopped at a gas station about two hours away from our destination for a break, and I took the opportunity to grab a bite to eat and use the restroom. Little did I know, this detour would almost ruin my trip.

When I came out of the restroom, I realized the bus had left without me. Panicked, I raced out the door and saw the bus was already heading down the highway. I frantically shouted and broke into a full-on sprint after it, screaming “STOP! STOP!” I was about to give up when I noticed the bus had stopped about half a mile down the road. I was exhausted, relieved, and in a state of disbelief. I ran down the highway and caught up to the bus, and the driver was understandably confused. Somehow, I had made it back on the bus, and the rest of my journey went by without a hitch.

My near-miss experience was a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong when you’re travelling solo. While it’s impossible to avoid every potential disaster, being aware and prepared for the worst can go a long way. Before embarking on any solo trip, it’s important to research the destination, make safety copies of your passport and important documents, and inform a loved one of your travel plans. On the road, taking precautions like staying alert, being aware of your surroundings, and trusting your instincts can help keep you out of harm’s way.

No matter how prepared you are for a solo journey, it’s important to remember that unexpected things can happen. While it can be scary and frustrating to deal with a travel disaster, staying calm and resourceful can help make the best of any situation.