u/KiraKiraJones

I used to think solo travel would mostly be about learning to tolerate being by myself, but it kind of did the opposite.

Now there are things I genuinely prefer doing alone when I travel. Wandering around without explaining where I’m going, sitting in a café for way too long, changing plans at the last minute, even eating somewhere nice without feeling awkward about it.

It made me realize how much of everyday life is built around doing things with someone else, even when you might actually enjoy them more on your own.

I used to plan way too much and then get annoyed when the trip didn’t follow the schedule.

Now I usually just book the important stuff, save a bunch of places I want to check out, and maybe choose one or two things for each day. The rest I kind of figure out once I’m there.

I’ve realized I like having a rough plan, but not so much that the trip starts feeling like a checklist.

Are you someone who plans everything in advance or do you mostly wing it?

I feel that most of my travel experiences have been positive, although I once visited New York in peak winter, and I definitely regretted the timing.

I'm looking to plan my next solo adventure and need recommendations as well as any tips.

I’m trying to visit more places with real meaning, not just the usual tourist stops. I recently went to see the Lai Dai Han statue, which remembers the children born to Vietnamese women and South Korean soldiers during the Vietnam War, and the mothers whose suffering was ignored for decades.

It honestly made me think about how many powerful stories are hidden in plain sight around London.

I’d love recommendations for memorials, old churches, museums, streets, graveyards, or quiet historical spots that people might walk past without realizing how much history is there.

Bonus points if it’s underrated, emotional, or has a story most people don’t know.

I had this happen in Bangkok. During the day I liked it, but I also found it really hot, busy, and kind of overwhelming at first.

Then the evening came and it felt like a different city. The street food, night markets, lights, people everywhere, little bars and cafes… suddenly I completely got the appeal. I ended up staying out way later than I planned just walking around.

Since then I’ve stopped judging a place too quickly based on the daytime vibe.

Has anywhere completely changed your opinion once you experienced it at night?

I’ve had people I care about immediately start listing everything that could go wrong, and I know it comes from a good place. But sometimes it stops feeling like “be careful” and starts feeling like “maybe you just shouldn’t go.”

What gets me is that if a guy travels alone, gets lost, misses a train, or makes some questionable decisions, it’s usually just part of the adventure lol.

I’m obviously going to take safety seriously, but I don’t want fear to be the reason I miss out on experiences I really want. I’d rather learn how to travel smarter and trust myself more.

Has anyone else had friends or family react like this when you told them you wanted to travel solo?

I’ve been getting more comfortable traveling on my own, but I keep realizing the most useful advice is usually the stuff nobody tells you beforehand.

Not the obvious “watch your drink” kind of advice. I mean the little things you only learn after something awkward, stressful, or unexpectedly lonely happens.

Maybe it’s a safety habit, how you deal with pushy people, choosing accommodation, meeting strangers, or even learning how to actually enjoy being alone.

What’s one thing that happened on a solo trip that completely changed how you travel now?