What is it you want from travelling? How did you select those destinations?

"Solo Female Traveller" and "Travelettes" Facebook groups are really good places for inspiration, tips and advice.

Sign up to Workaway where you can apply to all sorts of projects and families worldwide to help/work for a few hours a day in exchange for accommodation and food.

Oh my days I read that as literal 'time traveller looking for destinations ' 🤣 I thought this would be a weird thread ha ha. Sorry will goto bed. Think I need sleep xxx

If you're a bit nervous to start with there are loads of companies who do group tours in just about any part of the world, so you have a guide and a ready-made set of travel buddies as a bit of a safety net rather than going it completely alone.

Look at Tucan Travel (I've travelled with them and had the best time), Intrepid, Topdeck, Contiki, Flashpack etc.

Ps... destinations wise all I can tell you is that Costa Rica is the best place I've ever been, and consistently the safest country in South and Central America. I also recommended South Africa, and DP swears by Cambodia!

I thought it was time traveller, I was going to suggest 1998. That was a wicked year.

Bangkok is good for exploring and to have a good time. Khosan Road is where all the pubs and clubs are but you have to be wary of people taking the mick and trying to rip you off. We accidentally stayed in a hotel there about 4 years ago and went to explore the temples as the party scene wasn't for us. You could easily get short haul flights to other parts of Asia and make the most of it. I've been to Vietnam, Japan, China, Indonesia and Thailand amongst some other places. Asia is beautiful.

Dubai wouldn't be on my list for a solo traveller, mostly because there's not much culture to soak up there, and partying, shopping and hanging around a pool bar isn't that fun on your own!

I wouldn't go to Dubai as a solo traveller looking to party - it's not an easy place to meet other travellers, brunches are mainly socialisation spots for expat families and travellers tend to stick to the beaches - with a once a week blow out at a hotel. If you want to do glitzy though, it's definitely worth a visit with a friend, I am saying that as someone who is not a fan of "new" Dubai.

One of the most important things I learnt was it was better to meet other travellers when I was booking more budget-end accomodation. Lonely Planet Forums (if they are open again) are really great for coordinating with people before you travel, and it is always wise to book a group excursion early on so you can meet other people at your destination.

Bali and Thailand are both long haul destinations - I've enjoyed them both so I am not saying this to put you off, but how about a short-haul trip to start. Berlin, Amsterdam, Oslo, Tallinn, Barcelona would be my recommendations of a good mix of nightlife whilst getting to experience other cultures and meet other people (other than just drinking with other people). Doing a shorter trip lets you test run things - what to pack, what not to pack, whether you actually enjoy travelling, what works for you meeting people and what doesn't. I would also suggest this due to the pandemic situation at the moment.

For more long-haul trips I would add Viet Nam (as above), Cambodia, India (Kerala or Manali/Shimla), Laos, New York, San Francisco and Seattle in the States, and Vancouver in Canada.

Do remember when you are looking at costs you will need travel insurance and some countries use a hotel and an airport tax. You may need a visa for some places as well, and so do look into the cost of that, as well as the timings you need to actually get it into your passport.

Have you had a look at tours such as Con Tiki? I've never done one, but friends who like partying have and really enjoyed them when younger.

Dubai- are you rich? Solo female traveller I think is a terrible idea for Dubai. And it’s basically just shops, hotels, restaurants and pools. It’s more of a “holiday”‘rather than a place for travelling.

South east Asia- Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia

Central America- Honduras and Nicaragua are great. Learn to scuba on the Caribbean coast!

Thailand is good fun and lots of places to go and visit.

All countries are currently closed to foreigners due to Covid

When you go traveling you will need

Passport
Travel insurance
Access to emergency money
Probably a Covid free test ( at all points if entry & return)
A back up plan if airports close suddenly if another Covid strikes & you are stuck in a foreign country for months

I am going to add

What is adding to the confusion, is that some airlines & travel agents are still advertising holidays & flights. So from the outside, it looks like countries are open
So some will take your money or deposit, but your holiday will keep getting postponed until the virus situation improves much more

Check the Government websites in your language for rules about visas, Covid, length of stay, buying a return ticket etc

Watch out for scammers too !

Where you want travelling

I went to
Vietnam last year with a company called flash pack. Solo travellers 30s and 40s. Was ££ but great for travelling alone. Some
Organised trips, time to do your own thing or go out as a smaller group, lovely hotels and amazing experience: