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Hayley on Holiday

The 12 Best Places To Travel Alone in The United States

April 13, 2018 in North America, Solo Female Travel, USA
Best places to travel alone in the US: Seattle, Washington

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read the full disclosure policy here.

I’m back with another solo travel post! This time, I’m turning my attention towards solo travel USA. Here are my personal recommendations for the best places to travel alone in the US as a solo female traveller.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about my favourite solo travel destinations around the world. Although I included some American cities in the mix, I thought I would do a separate post highlighting the best places to travel alone in the US.

Somehow it’s already been over three years since I spent three months travelling across Canada and the United States solo (and on a budget). At the time, I didn’t post enough content about my experiences, so I am remedying that now. All of the cities listed below I’ve personally visited as a solo female traveller.

Once again, my solo travel criteria include good public transport, limited language barrier (which fortunately isn’t an issue for me in the US) and excellent attractions. So keep reading to discover where I do (and don’t) recommend visiting alone in the United States as a solo female traveller.

Best places to travel alone in the US: Los Angeles, California

Here’s my entire North American itinerary

My recommendations for where to travel alone in the US

1. Portland

If you’re a regular reader, you know I have a massive city crush on Portland. I’ve visited the city three times now (twice alone) and I would happily return tomorrow – if it was closer to Australia and all that. It’s a great city for solo travel in the USA. Portland is very walkable, but if you need to take public transport it’s very efficient and cheap. For $5 you can have unlimited daily travel on all public transport. There’s also plenty to keep you busy, an excellent hostel I highly recommend and the locals are the friendliest.

Related posts: Why I love Portland, things to do in Portland and the best Portland desserts

Where to stay in Portland: HI Portland Northwest Hostel

Colourful houses in a row in Portland Oregon, one of the best places for solo travel USA.

Colourful Portland houses

2. Seattle

Portland’s northern neighbour, I visited Seattle twice when living in Vancouver. It’s one of the best places for solo female travel in the USA as there are lots of things to do in the city and beyond. Plus, public transport was easy to use to get to areas like Wallingford and Fremont. It was also one of the safest places to travel alone in the US, as I felt comfortable walking around the waterfront and the city at night by myself. In saying that though, always trust your instincts. I highly recommend catching the ferry to Bainbridge Island, watching the sunset from Olympic Sculpture Park and visiting Fremont.

Related posts: Seeing Seattle on a budget, second impressions of Seattle, alternative things to do and free things to do.

Where to stay in Seattle: Green Tortoise Hostel (seriously one of the best hostels in the US).

City views from Bainbridge Island ferry in Seattle, Washington, which captures both the waterfront Ferris wheel and the iconic Space Needle.

Seattle’s skyline captured from the Bainbridge Island ferry

3. Las Vegas

My guide to visiting Vegas solo is one of the most popular posts on Hayley on Holiday. Hence it’s not just me that’s apprehensive about visiting a notorious party city as a solo female traveller. However, in the end, I am so glad I decided to visit Las Vegas alone. I got to comfortably see the city at night by bus and I ticked the Grand Canyon off my bucket list. Don’t let the fact Las Vegas is a party place deter you from vacationing there alone. Trust me, add Las Vegas to your solo travel USA bucket list now.

Related posts: The best Vegas tours for solo travellers and why you should visit Las Vegas alone.

Where to stay in Las Vegas: Hostel Cat

The Mirage, a large hotel building in Las Vegas, Nevada with palm trees and a waterfall in the foreground. Las Vegas is one of the best places to travel alone in the United States.

Wandering the Las Vegas Strip solo

4. New Orleans

Another place to vacation alone in the US is New Orleans. To be honest, I didn’t know if New Orleans would be a good place for solo female travel in the USA, but I loved my time in the city. Just like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, it might be more fun to visit with friends. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some alone time in New Orleans. I did a jazz cruise on the Mississippi, explored Mardi Gras World (so fun), treated myself to beignets, walked around the French Quarter both during the day and night, and strolled down Magazine Street too.

Where to stay in New Orleans: AAE Bourbon House, but it looks like it’s closed down. However, another top-rated hostel in New Orleans is India House – check out the reviews!

A women painting an Alice in Wonderland-inspired float creation at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, Louisiana (a great place to vacation alone in the US).

Going behind-the-scenes at Mardi Gras World

Historic building in the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana

Strolling through the French Quarter in New Orleans

5. Honolulu

Okay, Honolulu is definitely one of the best places to travel alone in the US. So far, I’ve visited Honolulu twice as a solo female traveller and love it. Yes, it’s very touristy, but the beaches, the food and the people are the best. You will find public transport is geared towards tourists and there are so many tours available, no matter what you want to do and see on Oahu. As a side note, I found Maui much more difficult to navigate as a solo female traveller.

Related posts: A great Oahu day tour and my complete solo travel guide.

Where to stay in Honolulu: Beach Boutique Hostel and Beachside Hostel (they are beside each other, but I preferred the boutique option).

Court building in Honolulu, Hawaii (one of my favourites cities for solo female travel USA).

Do any other Hawaii Five-O fans recognise this building?

6. Chicago

Chicago is a fantastic city and another one of the best places to vacation alone in the US. I stayed in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood (hello, gorgeous houses), but it was so easy for me to get a bus downtown and to the bus station. I also found the city was very walkable and you could easily stroll between attractions, along Michigan Avenue and around The Loop. You can’t visit Chicago without eating delicious deep dish pizza either. I went to Giordano’s and can’t recommend it more. Finally, I felt very safe leaving and arriving at my hostel late at night too.

Related post: My guide to all things Chicago

Where to stay in Chicago: Chicago Getaway Hostel

The reflective Bean (Cloud Gate), backdropped by historic skyscrapers in Chicago, Illinois (one of the best places to travel alone in the US as a solo female traveller).

You can’t visit Chicago without taking a Bean selfie

Close-up of small purple flowers with Buckingham Fountain in the background - Chicago, Illinois.

Next to Millennium Park you’ll find Buckingham Fountain

7. San Francisco

Somehow I’ve spent a lot of time in San Francisco, but I’ve never written about it on the blog 🙈. I’ve visited San Francisco both as a solo female traveller and with friends and think it’s one of the best cities in America. It’s also one of my favourite places to travel alone in the US. Why? Excellent public transport, a lot of hostel options and too many attractions. Even after spending about 10 days there altogether, I still have places to tick off my San Francisco bucket list. If you have time, I also recommend doing a Yosemite day tour. It’s a long day, but Yosemite is worth it. Finally, be warned that San Francisco is more expensive than a lot of other US cities (I noticed this immediately).

Where to stay in San Francisco: USA Hostel and Orange Village Hostel (I recommend both).

The iconic Painted Ladies in San Francisco, California (one of my favourite places to travel alone in the US as a solo female traveller).

The iconic Painted Ladies in San Francisco

8. Washington DC

Washington DC was a lot smaller than I was expecting, but it’s still a great place to travel alone in the US. It has excellent public transport and all of the historical sights and museums are within walking distance of each other. I loved all of the free attractions in Washington DC too, including the Smithsonian Museums and Zoo. I was there for three nights but could have easily stayed longer.

Related post: My budget guide to Washington DC

Where to stay in Washington DC: HI Washington DC (I stayed in the 10-bed female dorm, but it was so big and separated I hardly saw any other girls).

Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC (head here for a solo USA vacation).

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC

9. Nashville

Nashville is such a cool city and yes, one of the best places to travel alone in the US for solo female travellers. There is plenty of country music-related attractions, excellent restaurants and live music performances happening daily. I loved being able to eat barbecue for lunch while listening to live music. I found it easy to walk around Nashville too and the public transport was easy to navigate. Highly recommend heading here for a solo trip.

Related post: Two days in Nashville

Where to stay in Nashville: Music City Hostel

Colourful buildings along Honky Tonk Row in Nashville, Tennessee

Told you, Nashville is cool!

10. Los Angeles

I’ve visited LA three times now – twice as a solo female traveller and once with friends. Although I had one of the best trips ever to LA with my friends, I still think it’s a great place to travel alone in the US. However, when I visited solo I did rely on tours (like this one and this one) to see a lot of the sights. Whereas, with my friends, we took Lyfts and Ubers around the city. I have also stayed in both Banana Bungalow LA properties now and they’re both fantastic, with daily events.

Related posts: Where to eat in LA, my Hollywood experience and my favourite things to do in LA.

Where to stay in LA: Banana Bungalow, both in Hollywood and West Hollywood.

Ferris wheel and roller coaster at Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California (another one of the best places for solo vacations USA).

Santa Monica Pier

11. Boston

Boston did not turn on the sunshine for me during my visit. I ended up spending a lot of time indoors on my laptop. But when the rain stopped, I did enjoy what I saw. I found Boston to be very walkable and I loved the architecture. Two Boston highlights for me were walking along the Freedom Trail (highly recommend downloading and following one of the many Freedom Trail apps) and doing a free walking tour around Harvard. There were no hostel rooms available for me in Boston, so I turned to Couchsurfing and had such a great time with my host and other surfers.

Historic red brick buildings in Boston, Massachusetts (a great place for solo female travel USA).

Exploring Boston’s historic neighbourhoods

12. San Diego

San Diego pleasantly surprised me, in that it’s a great place to visit as a solo female traveller in the USA. My first thought was that it reminded me of Australia. I stayed in the Ocean Beach neighbourhood, which was fortunately easy to get to via public transport. I also spent my time in the city visiting the Old Town, walking around downtown, eating delicious food in Little Italy and venturing across the border to Mexico for the afternoon.

Related post: The best of San Diego

Where to stay in San Diego: Ocean Beach USA Hostel

Ocean Beach from the pier in San Diego, California (one of the best places for solo female travel in the US).

This is why you should visit San Diego and stay in Ocean Beach.

Visiting Tijuana on a day trip from San Diego, California

A little Tijuana snapshot

3 cities I don’t recommend for solo female travel in the USA

Although I ended up visiting all of these cities, I didn’t think they were the best for solo female travellers visiting the USA. This is primarily because they lacked good transport links and budget accommodation options. I worked around the difficulties, but if you’re planning your first solo vacation in the USA, these are the cities I don’t recommend you visit if you travel alone in the US.

1. Charleston

Although Charleston is beautiful and one of the top cities to visit in the USA, it didn’t have a lot of budget accommodation and hostel options, so I ended up Couchsurfing. The bus depot is also in the middle of nowhere, so without my very helpful Couchsurfing host, it would have been difficult to get anywhere without paying exorbitant taxi fares.

2. Savannah

Same as Charleston. The one budget hotel that was available was located out of the city. Fortunately, it was easy enough for me to get a bus into the town centre daily.

3. Atlanta

For a big city, Atlanta needs more hostel options. I stayed in an Airbnb here, but it was located in the suburbs about a 20-minute train ride from the city. 

Use this code for a discount off your first Airbnb stay

Atlanta skyline view from my post on the best places to travel alone in the US.

Atlanta skyline

So there it is – my personal recommendations for the best places to travel alone in the US.

All of these cities are perfect for solo female travellers visiting the USA or Americans looking for the perfect place to vacation alone in their own backyard. Before you go, I recommend checking out these blog posts, which you may find helpful in planning your USA solo trip. There are my top tips for fellow solo female travellers staying in hostels, how to meet people as a solo traveller and what I learned bussing across North America.

Check out my Resources page for all of my travel planning websites. But don’t forget to organise travel insurance before your trip!

You may also like…

  • Where to travel alone in Australia, my entire North America solo travel itinerary and how to make friends in new cities.

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World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

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Comments

  1. Michael says

    April 21, 2020 at 9:19 am

    What a great list! I’ve always wanted to travel in the US alone and this really does help. I also liked Portland and the coffee culture there is amazing!

    Reply
    • Hayley Simpson says

      April 21, 2020 at 10:02 am

      I’m so glad this post was helpful 😊

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    April 12, 2020 at 1:33 am

    I totally agree that traveling to Seattle alone is easy and FUN. I miss the city!

    Sarah | http://thebellainsider.com/

    Reply
    • Hayley says

      April 12, 2020 at 1:32 pm

      I miss the entire Pacific Northwest! Thanks for reading :)

      Reply
  3. Shawn McDonough says

    March 9, 2019 at 5:39 am

    WOW, where have you been all my life? I am dying to do some travel, but I really want to do it alone and the thought of spending thousands on a few day trip in addition to outrageous airfare is just stupid. So, my first solo budget destination is Banff and the Canadian Rockies. I found your post on that and a few posts later, I’m hooked. Seriously, I am crushing on you at this point! Thank you SO much, I look forward to reading all your stuff.

    Reply
    • Hayley | Hayley on Holiday says

      March 11, 2019 at 10:13 pm

      I’m glad my posts were so helpful, Shawn. Happy holidays!

      Reply
  4. Elega baith says

    November 9, 2018 at 4:47 pm

    This Blog is very informative i hope you will continue with these types of blog. Thank you for sharing this..

    Reply
    • Hayley | Hayley on Holiday says

      November 20, 2018 at 8:01 pm

      Thanks for reading, Elega!

      Reply

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Hi 👋🏻. I’m Hayley, an Australian who’s been solo travelling around the world for 10 years. 40+ countries and two working holidays in Canada later, Hayley on Holiday is my one-stop resource for solo and budget travel. I hope it inspires you to take the leap and explore this wonderful world we live in.

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Places to visit in Australia: Mount Wellington in Hobart, Tasmania

The 10 Best Places to Visit Alone in Australia

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read the full disclosure policy here. I’m back with another solo travel-focused post today. This time, we’re talking about my favourite solo travel destinations in Australia for solo weekend getaways. Here are my recommendations for the best places to visit in Australia alone. My solo travels are not limited to overseas destinations. Yes, I’ve travelled solo across Europe and North America. But I’ve also visited many Australian cities alone as well. Don’t be daunted by solo travel in Australia, because I guarantee you can have a great time Down Under with or without a travel companion. Based on my personal experience (and wishlist), here are the best places to visit in Australia alone. Can you tell I’m a Queenslander? 😂   Note: Australia is a big country and most people will recommend hiring a vehicle to see all the best sights: from cute country towns to cosmopolitan cities. However, I chose these Australian solo travel destinations as you can visit them without hiring a car and still have an unforgettable vacation. The best places to visit in Australia for solo travellers 1. Melbourne Let’s start with my current home, Melbourne. Thanks to the immense amount of things to do and its great public transport network, I believe Melbourne is one of the best places to visit in Australia if travelling alone. However, I would recommend spending more than just a solo weekend here. Some of my favourite things to do in Melbourne include visiting St Kilda, having brunch and a browse of the boutiques in Fitzroy, spotting street art in the CBD and going for walks through the city’s many gardens. You also shouldn’t leave Melbourne without doing a trip along the Great Ocean Road. I did an organised tour a few years ago and thought it was excellent. Where to stay in Melbourne: I have a post on where to stay in Melbourne. But my parents have stayed at the Atlantis – great location, good price and comfortable beds. I also recently stayed at Space Hotel, which has dorms and private rooms. The central hostel is fantastic and has a rooftop deck, lounge and gym. I’ll be back on return visits to Melbourne for sure. Read more: Where to eat in Melbourne, free things to do and general things to do, where to take the best photos and other day trips to check out. 2. Magnetic Island This may be a surprise entry, but I had to include Magnetic Island on this list of solo weekend getaways in Australia. Located a 20-minute ferry ride from my hometown, Townsville, this is where my parents live. It’s one of the best solo travel destinations in Australia because it’s made for tourists. With public buses and two great hostels located in different bays, Magnetic Island is one of the best places to visit in Australia if you’re travelling alone. On Magnetic Island, I recommend doing the Forts Walk, seeing the sunset at Horseshoe Bay, feeding the rock wallabies at Geoffrey Bay and swimming at Alma Bay. You can get to Townsville by flying or taking the Greyhound bus from two other destinations on this list: Cairns and Airlie Beach. The bus even drops you directly at the ferry terminal – now that’s convenience 😉. Where to stay on Magnetic Island: Bungalow Bay or Base are the two hostels I mentioned. Bungalow Bay is probably my favourite though, purely because it’s located in Horseshoe Bay. Read more: Things to do on Magnetic Island, favourite photo locations and where to find koalas. 3. Sydney Ah, Melbourne’s rival and Australia’s biggest city. Sydney is another one of Australia’s best solo travel destinations. Although I think Melbourne has more things to do, Sydney does have the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. However, I found that it takes longer to get places in Sydney when using public transport, so be prepared. You can get the bus to Bondi and do the Bondi to Bronte Walk. Then you can hop on the train to Instagram’s favourite place: The Grounds of Alexandria. Where to stay in Sydney: Can we talk about the epic views from both Bondi Backpackers and Sydney Harbour YHA?! They’re also top-rated on Hostelworld, which is what matters most to me. Read more: Fun things to do in Sydney As you’ll see with these places to visit in Australia, I only recommend hostels for solo travellers. Read this post for my top hostel tips and check out this post for great ways to meet people when travelling alone. 4. Hobart I know Hobart isn’t the first place you think of visiting on a solo weekend getaway in Australia. But if you have the time, it’s a short flight from Melbourne and a totally different city. It’s home to beautiful architecture, Australia’s most unique museum and some delicious food. I recommend visiting Mount Wellington, getting up close to Aussie animals at Bonorong Sanctuary and wandering around Salamanca. Where to stay in Hobart: I stayed at The Pickled Frog and wouldn’t recommend staying anywhere else. They offer free day trips to MONA and Mount Wellington, and the hostel is conveniently located in the CBD. Read more: A visit to Mount Wellington, top things to do and where to eat in Hobart. 5. Cairns So Cairns is located a five-hour drive north of Townsville (the two cities have been frenemies forever). Thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, it’s the fourth most-visited destination in Australia. Because it’s such a tourist hotspot, Cairns is also one of the best places to visit in Australia when travelling solo. The city centre is compact and easily walkable, and there are plenty of tours available. Top attractions near Cairns include Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Kuranda and Fitzroy Island. You could easily spend a week enjoying Cairns and its surrounds. Where to stay in Cairns: I’ve stayed at Gilligan’s before for a friend’s 21st and it’s […]

Lake Bled, a great day trip from Ljubljana.

My Top Picks For The 21 Best Places To Travel Alone In Europe

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read the full disclosure policy here. Looking for the best places to travel alone in Europe? Well, you’re in the right place. Keep scrolling to discover the best cities in Europe for solo travel and my recommendations for the safest places to travel alone in Europe. So far I’ve published posts on the best places to travel alone in Australia and the United States. Hence it’s now time to turn my attention towards Europe. Altogether, I’ve spent approximately six months travelling solo across Europe and in that time I’ve visited (and revisited) many amazing cities. So, from my personal solo travel experience, here are 21 of the best places to travel alone in Europe.  I base whether a city is a good place to visit alone in Europe on a few elements. This includes good public transport and easy navigation, hostel options, a variety of activities you can do alone and friendly locals.  Before we begin, make sure you check out these two informative guides: top tips for travelling alone in Europe and my Europe budget travel tips.  Best places to travel alone in Europe 1. Dublin I flew into Dublin after visiting family in Bristol and my initial thought was, this city is BUSY. But besides the crowds, Dublin is one of the best cities in Europe for solo travel for multiple reasons. This includes the fact you can easily walk between most attractions or catch public transport. I only caught two buses: one from the airport and the other to the train station. Dublin is also overflowing with hostels and fun things to do. I recommend doing a free walking tour (how unusual), visiting the Chester Beatty Library, having a picnic lunch in St Stephen’s Green and going on a Dublin doors excursion.  Where to stay in Dublin: Abbey Court Hostel, which has pros and cons. Pros: central location and large common area. Cons: small eight-bed dorms and tiny ensuite bathroom. Related Dublin posts: 20 things to do in Dublin and my Ireland/Northern Ireland itinerary for solo travellers. 2. Amsterdam I’ve said this before, but when I first visited Amsterdam at the ripe old age of 18, it was overwhelming. I was overwhelmed by the eccentrically-dressed locals, the smell of pot in the air and by our eye-opening adventures into the Red Light District at night. But when I returned 10 years later, it felt like I was visiting a different city entirely. Amsterdam is now firmly one of my favourite European destinations and it also happens to be one of the best places to travel alone in Europe. With friendly locals, good public transport options and many walkable districts, I highly recommend visiting Amsterdam as a solo traveller. Where to stay in Amsterdam: Generator Amsterdam, which again had pros and cons. Pros: modern facilities in a scenic park setting. Cons: expensive and located about a 30-minute walk from the city centre.  Related Amsterdam posts: My three-day guide to Amsterdam and where (and what) to eat in Amsterdam. Omg, that post makes me want a fresh stroopwafel immediately. 3. London Ah, lovely London. I don’t feel the need to live in London like so many fellow Aussies, but it’s one of my favourites cities in Europe to visit. I love that I’ve been there multiple times, yet I still have things to tick off my London bucket list. As one of the best cities in Europe for solo travel, spend your time visiting museums, having lunch at its many marketplaces, strolling through its colourful neighbourhoods and shopping along Oxford Street, of course. I also highly suggest seeing a show on the West End. I went to two matinees on my recent visit to London and my row alone was made up of multiple people seeing the musical alone. Where to stay in London: I’ve stayed at Wombats multiple times and it’s fantastic. Good common areas, kitchen facilities, an onsite bar with nightly activities, and modern rooms. I also stayed one night at Astor Victoria because it was close to the Victoria Coach Station, but it had nothing on Wombats. Related London posts: My solo traveller’s guide to London, an Oxford day trip from London and London at Christmas. 4. Copenhagen Copenhagen is definitely one of the most expensive cities to visit alone in Europe. Nevertheless, it’s a great city for solo female travellers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from, a long list of things to do and the friendliest locals. From the talkative guy behind the counter in 7/11 to the supermarket clerk, everyone politely switched to English without hesitation.  Where to stay in Copenhagen: Urban House Copenhagen by Meininger was expensive, but the dorm rooms were modern and large with plush beds. There’s also a kitchen, multiple common areas and you’re walking distance from many of Copenhagen’s main attractions. Related Copenhagen post: My budget travel guide to Copenhagen and if you’re interested in a Malmö day trip, check out this post. 5. Belfast Belfast may be one of the most surprising cities on this list of the best places to travel alone in Europe. However, I really enjoyed my weekend in the city. I did a day trip to Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and spent the following day seeing the sights and joining an eye-opening political walking tour. This is my top pick for things to do in Belfast if you want to learn more about the city’s history.  Belfast isn’t the city that instantly comes to mind when thinking about the safest places to travel alone in Europe. But I felt comfortable walking around the sleepy city centre during the day and along the main street at night to get back to my hostel. I didn’t know what to expect in Belfast as I’d previously heard mixed reviews, but I highly recommend visiting if you’re travelling alone in Europe and the UK. Where to stay in Belfast: Vagabonds, a very […]

Enjoying the view at Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida in Bali, Indonesia

The Ultimate Bali Solo Travel Guide – What You Need To Know Before You Visit Bali Alone

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read the full disclosure policy here. As someone who’s visited Bali, Indonesia on multiple occasions (both with my family and as a solo female traveller), here is my top advice for solo travel in Bali. Keep reading to discover the best places to visit in Bali for solo travellers and the top things to do in Bali alone. Hi, my name is Hayley and I miss Bali. But seeing as we can’t travel there right now, the next best thing (for me, anyway) is to write about it. I’ve visited Bali on several occasions and last year I stayed for a whole month (and didn’t get sick 🙌🏻). Bali will always be one of my favourite places and it’s already been the focus of quite a few blog posts. But I thought I would talk about Bali from a solo female traveller’s perspective today. With detailed information on the best places to visit, things to do in Bali alone and general travel tips, this is the only travel guide you’ll need to read before you solo travel in Bali. General solo travel in Bali tips Firstly, I want to direct you to this post, as it covers all of my top Bali travel tips. But here are some additional tips, specifically in regards to solo travel in Bali. Getting around Bali as a solo traveller Arriving at the airport You’ll undoubtedly be arriving in Bali via plane. The airport has gotten a lovely renovation in recent years (I still have fond memories of the previous airport). Nonetheless, once you step outside you will be overwhelmingly greeted by hundreds of locals holding signs that display different names. Most accommodation in Bali will offer to organise airport transport for you. I take them up on the offer as it’s the easiest option, especially when you’re arriving in a foreign country late at night. Alternatively, you can visit the taxi desk at the airport. Day to day transport As for day to day transport, if you feel comfortable renting a scooter, it’s one of the most popular options. There are locals renting scooters everywhere in Bali, which shouldn’t set you back more than 60,000 IRP per day. However, if you want to hire a scooter I recommend organising an international driver’s licence before you leave your home country. Personally, I rely on walking and Blue Bird taxis as a solo traveller in Bali. Blue Bird has an app, but I’d just walk and wait for one to appear on the main road. Once you arrive in Bali you’ll understand what I mean. The Balinese streets are overwhelmingly filled with a lovely combination of scooters, cars and taxis. Now, Blue Bird is the best company because all taxis have meters for the most affordable rate. If you hop into a different taxi, the driver may try to barter with you or “forget” to turn the meter on and no one has time for that. Uber and Grab are also present in Bali, but drivers are prohibited from entering many of the main tourist areas. As for public transport, the only option is the Kura-Kura public shuttle bus service. It travels between Bali’s most popular tourist attractions and destinations. I’ve never used this bus network, but I have seen them travelling around Bali. Travelling around Bali alone On my last solo trip to Bali, I also travelled from Kuta to Ubud and back again. In the first instance, I got my family’s driver to drive me as I wanted to stop at a few different places along the way. He’s fantastic, isn’t pushy like some drivers and speaks great English. If you’d like his details, let me know. On the other hand, from Ubud to Kuta I paid 60,000 IRP to travel on a shuttle bus with other people backpacking Bali alone. I just booked it at the travel desk outside my homestay in Ubud. If you’re a fellow budget traveller, this is a good option.  Money tips When I visit Bali, I travel with my Citibank debit card as I don’t get charged any international fees. I also predominantly use official bank ATMs. If you prefer, you can also bring cash in your local currency and change it at a money exchange. Although a few high-end restaurants have card facilities, cash is king in Bali. Tipping is also always appreciated at both restaurants and spas.  What to pack for solo travel in Bali As luck would have it, I’ve already written a post that highlights the 10 things I highly recommend packing for a trip to Bali. Check it out here. How to avoid Bali Belly on your solo trip to Bali We have to get real for a second because Bali Belly is a menace I am, unfortunately, all too well acquainted with. It’s essentially an upset stomach or travellers’ diarrhea that you can get while travelling around Bali. Predominantly caused by contaminated food and water, stay away from Bali’s tap water as it isn’t potable. Although experts say to not drink the ice in Bali, it’s government-regulated now and safe to drink.  I also take Travelan before lunch and dinner in Bali and it seems to be the magic ingredient. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited as I was when I travelled around Bali for one month without getting sick. Life goals, friends 😂. If you do inevitably get struck down by Bali Belly, make sure you stay hydrated, take rehydration drinks (available from convenience stores) and stick to a bland diet. Bali Belly is also why I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance before your solo trip to Bali.  Is Bali safe for solo female travellers? This is probably one of the most commonly-asked questions when it comes to solo travel in Bali. In my option, Bali is safe for solo female travellers. Personally, I’ve never felt afraid while walking around Bali alone. On my last trip, I stayed […]

Tower Bridge in London, England

My Complete Solo Traveller’s Guide to Lovely London

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read the full disclosure policy here. My latest solo travel guide focuses on lovely London. Keep reading to find out where I stayed in London, solo London travel tips and the best things to do alone in London. It’s about time I wrote a guide on solo travel in London. I’ve spent nearly a month in London overall, so I’m basically a local 💁‍♀️. It’s one of my favourite cities to visit – there’s just so many cool neighbourhoods to visit and attractions to see. It’s also a great city to visit as a solo traveller. So here’s my guide to visiting London by yourself, including the best things to do alone in London. If you’ve ever wondered what to do alone in London, I have you covered. Solo London travel tips First up, here are a couple of travel tips for fellow solo travellers visiting London alone. Most importantly, be aware of your surroundings in busy places as there are pickpockets in London (like every other major city in the world). I also found I felt safe walking from the tube back to my hostel at night alone, as it was located on a busier street and there were always people around. However, I only did this on a couple of occasions. As always, do what feels right to you. All of the amazing things to do alone in London listed below are daytime activities anyway. How to get to London alone Hello, my name is Hayley and I am now a pro at travelling to London alone. So far I’ve arrived and departed from London by plane, train and bus. I’ve flown in and out of London from both Vancouver and Australia – check Skyscanner for the best flight deals. I’ve also taken the Eurostar from London to Paris and FlixBus to Bruges. Within the UK, I have taken National Express buses and the train from London as well. So yes, there are plenty of ways to get to and from London. How to get around London Public transport is fantastic in London, so take advantage. I used the tube most days and even caught a few buses. I simply relied on Google Maps to figure out which tube line or bus would take me to my destination. The best hostel in London for solo travellers In my opinion, the best hostel in London for solo travellers is Wombats City Hostel. I’ve now stayed there multiple times in a six-bed female dorm room (with an ensuite). It’s conveniently located 10 minutes from both Tower Bridge and Brick Lane in East London. The hostel is also within walking distance of two tube lines and two grocery stores. I like the large common areas at the hostel and the onsite bar. The bar hosts weekly events as well, which is the perfect place to meet other solo travellers in London. I’ve also stayed overnight at the Astor Victoria as it’s walking distance from Victoria Coach Station. Let’s just say, Wombats is 100 times better. I had to walk up seven flights of narrow stairs to my female dorm, which isn’t the easiest with a nearly 20kg suitcase. I also thought the shared bathrooms weren’t the cleanest and the common areas at Wombats are so much better.  Here are my top hostelling tips & travel essentials for fellow solo travellers Fun things to do alone in London  Here are lots and lots of things to do in London on your own. You won’t be bored in London after reading this list! 1. Walk along the Thames to see the best London attractions If you’re wondering where to go alone in London, here are several ideas. On my first day in London in 2017, I ended up walking from my hostel near Tower Bridge to Oxford Street. It was a lot of steps, but I passed so many beautiful London attractions on the way. Firstly, there’s Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. I haven’t been to the Tower of London yet, but I’ve heard it’s worthwhile. Then there’s St Paul’s Cathedral before you make it to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. It was pretty quiet until I got to Big Ben, which is always overflowing with tourists. Don’t forget Westminster Abbey either. On another day, I walked on the other side of the River Thames to visit some Christmas markets. This is where you’ll find the Shard, the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe. A final, but nonetheless awesome option, is to take a cruise along the River Thames.  2. See the Queen at Buckingham Palace Can you even say you’ve been to London if you don’t visit Buckingham Palace? It’s fortunately located in central London, so there are other things to see and do nearby. If you happen to visit in autumn like me, don’t miss seeing all the falling leaves in St James’ Park and Green Park. It’s magical! While we’re on the topic, check out my autumn packing list 😉 3. Do a free walking tour Can you believe I’ve never done a free walking tour in London? I’ve done one in like every other country in Europe, but not London. Anyway, don’t be like me and join a free walking tour. It’s one of the best things to do alone in London (and any place for that matter). 4. Go shopping along Oxford and Regent Streets Oxford and Regent Streets are hectic, no matter when you visit. But Oxford Street is home to all of my favourite English stores (a.k.a. Primark), so it’s always on my personal list of things to do alone in London. If you end up visiting London at Christmas, you also must see the Christmas decorations along Oxford and Regent Streets. While you’re in the area, head to Carnaby Street, which has more independent stores. I loved the handmade products and unique London souvenirs inside We Built This City. Here are […]

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