Staying at a hostel in Barcelona on a Friday night can be quite the experience. It’s a lively city, especially on weekends, and it seems like almost everyone is out and about. Last night, I was looking forward to some much needed rest, but it wasn’t meant to be. At around 2am, some British girls came back from the club (or wherever they were) and started babbling and laughing very loudly. I was in a shared dormitory of 24 people, so this woke all of us up. I wanted to yell at them to shut up, but I was thinking that maybe I had signed up for this by staying at a hostel on a Friday night.

It can be tricky to handle situations like this, especially if you don’t want to be confrontational and offend anyone. It can be tempting to just tell them to shut up, but it’s often better to try and ask them nicely. That said, it sounds like you may have chosen a party hostel, and in Barcelona, 2am isn’t even late. 24 beds in one room sounds hellish, so it’s a good idea to book a private room or at least a smaller dorm if you want to guarantee some peace.

But even if you do, there will probably still be some people who don’t care if they’re disturbing others. It’s always annoying to be woken up, regardless of the time, by people who are being loud and rowdy in a shared hostel room. You can ask them to be quieter, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll listen and respect your wishes.

So, this is what I did: I noticed that the passwords are 5 digit combinations. So I was testing combinations in the range of 00000 to 99999, but that didn’t work. Then I realized that maybe some numbers were repeated, so I started testing combinations with repeated numbers, and that’s when I got in.

As a female solo traveller, I had a few days staying at a hostel. Everything was going fine until the night before, when I got back and tried to enter the premises with the code I had been given. I tried several times, but the door wouldn’t open. I even contacted the hostel owners to no avail. I was so exhausted that I took a power nap in the stairs before going back to test some more codes. Lucky enough, I eventually managed to get in.

The next day, I spoke to the people of the hostel about the incident and they explained to me that they change the code from time to time in case some old residents keep staying without paying. They also informed me that they usually inform the current residents when this happens, but yesterday there were many people and they just omitted it. All I got was an apology, and no reimbursement whatsoever.

I was left wondering how I should go around this. Is it possible to ask for a refund through booking.com? I wouldn’t feel right just leaving a bad review without taking any kind of action.

Many people have asked me how I managed to get in. I was not under the influence of anything, and I had the code note in my pocket. What I did was, after trying the combinations from 00000 to 99999 and with no luck, I figured that maybe some numbers were repeated. So I started testing with repeated numbers and that’s when I cracked the code.

If it wasn’t for my luck and my wits, I would have ended up sleeping in the stairs. That’s why I’m looking into other ways to get some kind of reimbursement for the inconvenience this caused me. I’m considering asking booking.com for a refund, but I’m open to other suggestions.

It was a life changing experience and I learned so much about myself and the world. I have no regrets. I am now back in the US working in a different field. I’m still trying to decide if I want to go back to the corporate world or travel again. I think it’s important to find a balance between the two, but I understand why some people choose to prioritize travel.

At 23, I recently graduated college and immediately started my career. I’ve been in the corporate 9-5 grind for two years now, but all I ever think about is taking a gap year, or going on a working holiday visa, to travel before settling into a stable routine. I’m struggling to decide whether to prioritize my career or travel, and I want to hear from others who have been in my shoes.

I understand why some people prioritize travel during their 20s. After all, this is the time when you have the most freedom to explore the world. For instance, a 26-year-old man left his $120,000 consulting job to take a 6-month journey through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Japan. Not only did he find it to be a life-changing experience, but he also learned a lot about himself and the world.

At the same time, I know that it’s important to find a balance between traveling and building a career. It’s hard to decide whether to prioritize one over the other, and I’m sure many people in their 40s can relate. For instance, someone might want to travel before their kids move out, or before they get too old to carry their own luggage.

The takeaway here is that it’s important to find a balance between travel and career-building in your 20s. Traveling can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s also important to have a steady job and a secure home. As long as you find a balance between the two, you won’t have any regrets.

At 40, I’m not sure I want to travel for the sake of travel anymore. I’m looking for something more meaningful and purposeful. I’m looking for something more than just checking off a list of places and trying to max out the number of countries I can visit. I’m looking for more than just seeing the sights. I’m looking for something that will fill me up, something that will help me grow and mature, something that will help me understand the world and our place in it better.

This sub has some of the most experienced, well-traveled, and well-informed people out there, so I thought I’d ask what your thoughts are on the matter. What do you think I should do with my time? Where should I go and what should I do? What should I be looking for to fill me up, to help me grow and mature, to help me understand the world better?

As I’m sure you can appreciate, this is a rather unfamiliar situation for me. I’m used to having my next destination mapped out and my next steps planned. But this time, I find myself at a crossroads with no idea what to do next. I’m looking for your advice and your suggestions on where I should go and what I should do.

I’m at a point in my life where I want to make the most of every day and make the most of every experience. I’m looking for something more meaningful than just trying to check off a list of places. I’m looking for something more meaningful than just seeing the sights. I want to fill myself up with experiences that will help me grow and mature, help me understand the world better, and help me appreciate the beauty in it.

So, this is my question to you: What do you think I should do? Where should I go and what should I do? What should I be looking for to fill me up, to help me grow and mature, to help me understand the world better?

I’m open to all suggestions and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

As an experienced traveler, I know the world has a lot to offer, but I find myself in a rather unfamiliar situation and I’m not sure what to do. I’ve visited so many places and experienced so much, but now I want something more meaningful than just seeing the sights and checking off a list of places. I want something that will fill me up and help me grow and mature. I’m looking for your advice and your suggestions on where I should go and what I should do. What should I be looking for to fill me up, to help me grow and mature, and to help me understand the world better? I’m open to all suggestions and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

I get free breakfast, which I love because it saves me money and time. 5. Lastly, I really appreciated the cleanliness of the hotels. Hostels are often pretty cramped and small, and I’m not a fan of being surrounded by other people’s stuff.

I recently returned from a three-week solo travel trip to Portugal, where I visited Lisbon, Sagres, Lagos, Peniche, Sintra, and Porto. During my stay, I tried out both hostels and hotels for accommodation. I stayed in nice, highly rated hostels that cost around 50-70$/night and 3 star hotels that cost around 110-130$/night. Although I met some great people in the hostels and it pushed me out of my comfort zone, I ultimately preferred the hotels.

One of the main reasons I preferred staying in hotels is because I’m an earlier-to-bed, earlier-to-rise kind of person. Most of the people in hostels tend to stay up late, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. I find it really important to get a good night’s sleep when I’m travelling since it helps me stay energized for each day.

Another reason I prefer hotels is that I like having my own space and privacy. After a long travel day, I sometimes just want to take a quick nap or be alone for a while. Hostels make that impossible, since there’s usually always someone around. I need my alone time to recharge.

The hotels I stayed in also provided complimentary breakfast, which I appreciated because it saved me money and time. Lastly, I enjoyed the cleanliness of the hotels. Hostels are often cramped and small, and I’m not a fan of being surrounded by other people’s stuff.

Overall, I found that my solo travel experience was much more enjoyable when I stayed in hotels. I felt more rested, had my own space, and appreciated the complimentary breakfast and cleanliness. Although I met some cool people in hostels and it was a great learning experience, I still prefer hotels for solo travel.

it is because you take yourself along with you, and you cannot escape from yourself.”

I remember the moment when I realized my external environment would always be a reflection of my internal state of mind. It took me a few times to understand that my problems were due to my home and family life, and it wasn’t until I visited different places that I started to experience joy. I wasn’t trying to escape from myself, I was just trying to find some peace and quiet away from the toxic people I was surrounded by.

This thought was echoed by Seneca in “Letters from a Stoic”. Socrates said to someone in a similar situation, “How can you wonder your travels do you no good, when you carry yourself around with you? You are saddled with the very thing that drove you away.” Seneca goes on to explain that all the running around and visiting new places is futile if you’re just taking yourself along with you. You can’t escape from yourself.

The lesson I took away from this is that no matter where I go, I can’t run away from myself. I’m in control of my own inner state of mind and no matter where I am, I will always be a reflection of that. In order to be truly happy, I need to focus on improving my internal state of mind and not just seeking solace in external environments.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of traveling alone, but as a woman, it can be quite daunting. With reports of women being harassed, assaulted, and even facing legal consequences due to outdated laws, it’s hard to know what countries are safe and which ones to avoid. As a general rule of thumb, I recommend avoiding any country that has laws that can lead to women being charged with adultery after being raped. This includes Egypt, and while it may be tempting to explore this incredible country on your own, it’s probably best to go with a tour.

If you’re keen to explore somewhere as a female solo traveler, India is a great option. Personally, I’m waiting to explore India with my boyfriend, whose family is from there. Morocco is another country that can be explored alone, though it does require a lot of savvy and stamina. Be prepared to fend off financial scams and sexual harassment all day long. It’s not a relaxing travel experience, but the rewards are worth it – some of the best shopping, food, and architecture I’ve ever seen.

For female solo travelers, Nepal should be approached with caution. Kathmandu can be sketchy at night and spending two weeks or more alone with a male trekking guide could be a risky situation. Do your research on guides before you go.

In addition to Egypt, I would not recommend going alone to Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, or Iraq. Having experienced the relentless sexual harassment in Egypt – even while dressed quite modestly – I can confidently say that the risk does not outweigh the reward.

Traveling alone can be a great way to explore and experience the world, but as a female solo traveler, it’s important to be aware of the risks and do your research beforehand. Be sure to stay safe, and have an amazing adventure!

Hey everyone. I’m here to tell you a story about a not-so-great experience I recently had in Riga, Latvia, and hopefully it will help you to be more cautious if you’re ever in the same situation.

Six days ago, I was in Estonia, and on the third day I matched with a girl on Tinder. I’d heard stories about people using the app to take advantage of tourists, so I was a bit wary, but everything seemed legit. We decided to meet in the old town, and I arrived at the agreed location around 11pm. When I saw her, I noticed she looked different from her pictures, but I let it slide and we went into a nearby bar for a drink.

After a while, her friend showed up and joined us. We all had a great time, and then the girl suggested we have some Latvian shots. She ordered some, and then her friend got in on the action too. I was feeling quite tipsy by this point, and the last shot really hit me hard. I felt sick and needed to leave, but when I tried to pay for my drinks, I was told the girl had already taken care of it – and that’s when I realized I’d been scammed.

It turns out the girl and her friend had drugged me, and when they saw I was feeling sick, they had the bartender tell me that I didn’t have to pay for the drinks. I was obviously taken aback and felt very stupid for not seeing the signs, but I guess that’s what happens when you let your guard down.

The moral of this story is that it’s important to be cautious when you’re out and about, especially if you’re a tourist. I now know that if someone offers to pay for my drinks, I should always check to make sure there isn’t something else going on. It’s also worth taking the time to get to know someone before meeting them in person, and if something feels off, trust your gut and don’t go.

At the end of the day, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. I’m thankful that I got out of this situation relatively unscathed, and I hope my experience can help you to be more aware and stay safe.

It’s safe to say most of us have heard of the “one bag” approach to packing, meaning you only pack what can fit in a single piece of luggage. While this minimalist approach has many benefits, one item that should not be included in your one bag is underwear. No matter how much you want to embrace the one bag movement, wearing the same pair of underwear multiple days in a row is just not hygienic.

When it comes to packing light, underwear is one of the items that takes up the least space. While you can get away with a single t-shirt for multiple days, the same cannot be said of underwear. Even if you happen to be an anti-microbial material enthusiast, wearing the same pair of underwear multiple days in a row is just not a good idea.

That being said, it is possible to make a two-pair approach work. Suppose you are on a longer trip, like a two-week vacation, and you only want to bring two pairs of underwear. In this case, you can pack both pairs and wash one in the sink each night. This way, you can still fit your underwear in your one bag, but you also don’t have to worry about being the person who wears the same pair of underwear for days on end.

The key takeaway here is that, while the one bag approach to packing is great, it should not come at the cost of your personal hygiene. Even if you are an extreme minimalist, it is important to remember to bring enough underwear for the duration of your trip. After all, no one wants to be the person who smells bad because they only brought one pair of underwear.

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.