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Dublin is a hugely popular city with tourists, but is Dublin safe for solo female travellers?

According to a 2022 study, Ireland was ranked the safest country for solo female travellers. The study only surveyed 30 countries (most of them in Europe).

It doesn’t give the most well rounded analysis of what the safest countries for solo female travellers is, but it does say something that Ireland was at the top of the list.

That study showcased that Ireland as a whole is safe, but is Dublin safe?

I’ve been to Dublin a few times, and I can honestly say that it is safe, but I would by no means say that Dublin is the safest I’ve ever felt as a solo female traveller.

That prize goes to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

But, all things considered, Dublin is safe.

As long as you take reasonable precautions and don’t do anything too stupid. I’m a big believer of everywhere is as safe as you make it.

Meaning that if you follow the local norms, don’t break the law, and use common sense, you shouldn’t run into any trouble.

That being said, there are a few things you need to know in order to stay safe in Dublin as a solo female traveller.

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

Just in case you skimmed the intro and just want to get to the heart of the question, I thought I would reiterate that Dublin is safe for solo female traveller.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get yourself into trouble in Dublin. You definitely can.

But, the average tourist doesn’t have anything to worry about and can enjoy their trip to Dublin.

As I mentioned, there are a few safety tips you should know to make sure you’re safe on your trip to Dublin.

Common sense will get you most of the way there, but there are a few extra things I wanted to point out.

By following these tips, the answer to the question is Dublin safe for solo female travellers is most assuredly yes!

Dublin has a reputation of being a city that loves to drink. Pubs are everywhere, and locals enjoy their pints.

The one thing that makes we question is Dublin safe for solo female travellers is the drinking culture.

It is so easy to get swept up in it and then end up in a bad situation.

Trust me. Been there. Done that. And it was actually my trip to Dublin that made me put a hard drink cap of two on myself because I didn’t want to get in a sticky situation while travelling alone.

Most people (even solo travellers) end up in at least one pub while in Dublin. You’ll probably meet some nice locals and end up staying longer than you planned.

And quite possibly drinking more than planned.

In order to stay safe, you should give yourself a drinking limit and have a reliable plan on how you’re getting back to your accommodation at the end of your evening out.

You should also avoid telling strangers exactly where you’re staying.

That sounds like a pretty obvious thing, but you’d be amazed at how many people I’ve overheard telling strangers exactly where they’re staying.

Everywhere around the world. Not just in Dublin.

Overcome your fear of travelling alone

Now, I’m not necessarily saying that if you have a few too many drinks that you’ll be in a bad situation, but you never know.

The people I’ve met in Dublin were incredibly kind and looked out for anybody who had a few more drinks than they should have, but you can’t count on the kindness of strangers.

As solo female travellers, I think we’re all too aware that there are people in the world who target women who are alone.

Especially women alone at night and even more so women who have had a few drinks.

It’s a very sad and unfortunate reality of being a woman travelling alone. Heck, being a women in general whether you’re in your home town or travelling.

I never recommend that women get drunk in public alone- especially when in a city they’re not familiar with.

A few drinks is totally fine.

You know your body, and you should know your limits. Know how many drinks (on average) it takes for you to start losing your inhibition and stop drinking before it gets to that point.

I know some people like to get drunk and have a good time while travelling. There are ways to do that safely, and it’s not going to a pub alone.

If you want to get drunk and party, I recommend going on a guided pub crawl.

There are companies that take tourists on pub crawls around Dublin, and they’re the safest way for solo female travellers to enjoy the nightlife without putting themselves at risk.

There is a guide who looks out for everybody on the tour and makes sure everybody gets home safe at the end of the night.

It costs a little bit more than going out on your own, but you can’t put a price on safety!

Internet safety is one of the most overlooked travel safety measures, and it needs to change.

Using the internet safely is essential for travelling, and not being internet safe could ruin your trip.

You rely on public wifi networks when travelling, and that puts your devices at risk of having your personal and private information stolen.

And you don’t want to go through the headache of having your banking information stolen while you’re on holiday. It’s a nightmare, and it leaves you in a difficult situation for the rest of your trip because all your cards are cancelled.

Even public wifi networks with a password aren’t safe because countless people are on that wifi network because they have the password.

The only way you can use public wifi networks safely is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN puts a forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for prying eyes to access your personal and private online data.

It makes using public wifi just as safe as using your home wifi where you’re the only person who knows the password.

Installing a VPN on your devices is a super small step you can take and will give you peace of mind on your trip.

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my many years of travel. Honestly, most of them are terrible and slow your internet down so much that your devices are basically unusable.

I’ve turned off my VPN and put my personal information at risk too many times to count because the VPN I was using was so painfully slow that a basic webpage couldn’t load.

All my frustrations went away when I discovered NordVPN.

NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market, which is why I love it and recommend it to my fellow travel lovers.

You need fast internet when you travel, and NordVPN allows you to have fast internet and stay safe online.

Well as fast of internet as the network you’re using allows.

I’ve been using NordVPN for years (and just renewed for another two years) and have never had an issue with it slowing down my devices.

The best part is that the cost per month of a two-year NordVPN subscription is less than a single Starbucks latte.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online data and privacy with a VPN.

Esims are a new technology that allows you to access photo data while abroad. All you have to do is purchase an esim on the website or app, download it to your phone, and you’ll all set! You can access the internet with data on your phone while in Dublin.

No need for an expensive roaming fee from your home carrier. No need to get a physical sim while abroad. And you get to keep your home phone number for texting while using your esim.

I’ll never travel without an esim again. I absolutely love them and everybody else I’ve convinced to get one love them as well.

I personally use Airalo. They have data packages for the most countries around the world compared to their competitors. They also have very affordable plans and reliable data networks all around the world.

They even offer regional esims. You can purchase one esim that works everywhere in Europe, so you don’t have to worry about getting a new esim in every new country on your European vacation.

If you don’t use much data, you may also want to look into Drimsim. They’re an esim company that charges you per MB you use rather than an upfront amount of data like Airalo.

If you choose to use Drimsim, I recommend you turn off your data whenever you’re not using it. This will help keep your cost low because your data won’t accidentally be running in the background.

But, all things considered, I still recommend Airalo even if you don’t plan on using much data. You pay up front, and it only costs a few dollars if you’re not getting more than 1 GB.

This may seem silly, but one of the things that may change the answer to the question is Dublin safe from yes to no is crossing the street.

Cars drive on the left hand side of the road in Dublin.

Many tourists are used to cars driving on the right hand side of the road, and that causes problems when they’re trying to cross the street in Dublin.

They don’t look thoroughly before crossing the road, and this can cause major problems.

Luckily, it’s an easy fix!

Simply look both ways thoroughly before crossing the street. If there are any cars coming from either direction, don’t step out into traffic.

Most streets in tourist areas have markings reminding people what way to look. Take a quick peak down onto the road for a reminder what way the cars are coming at you from.

You can also just follow what the locals do.

If they start to cross, you can feel safe crossing with them. If they’re waiting around on the curb, it’s best to wait with them until they move.

It may sound like a small, simple thing, but you’ll be surprised at how many tourists you see nearly get hit by a car (or bus) because they’re not looking the right way before crossing the street.

You could make a drinking game out of it.

Ireland has a complicated political history. The last thing locals want is for a tourist to bring up politics and start commenting on (or trying to solve) the country’s politics.

Trust me. My bestie lives in Dublin (and has two Irish parents- one of which grew up in Northern Ireland), and she said everybody who has come to visit her has brought it up, and she hates it.

If you’re talking with locals, keep the conversation casual and don’t bring up politics.

I feel like this is a general rule wherever you travel, but it seems that people who visit Dublin really like bringing it up and talking about it.

Just don’t.

Talking about politics probably won’t make Dublin any less safe, but it will definitely make for a bad impression of you.

Oh. The same goes for sports.

If you’re not a sports fan and don’t have a strong opinion, it’s best to keep sports out of the conversation. Or at least declaring an allegiance to a sports team.

Again, talking about sports won’t make you any less safe in Dublin. But you’ll probably find yourself in the middle of a very heated discussion.

Solo travel in Ireland

Most large cities have pick pocketers, and Dublin is no exception.

Whenever you’re in a crowded tourist area (like Temple Street), you should have an eye on your items and be on the lookout for pick pocketers.

Most people get lost in the excitement of being in Dublin and don’t pay attention to their surroundings. This is when pick pockets make their money.

There are a few easy tips that will help you avoid being pick pocketed in Dublin:

• Keep your purse or back in front of you (or on the front of your hip)

• Store your valuables in the pocket closest to your body to make things hard to steal

• If using a backpack, keep your valuables in one of the hidden compartments closest to your body

• Don’t carry all your money with you. Leave some at your hotel/hostel safely locked up

• Beware that pick pockets often work in pairs. Keep a close eye on your bag if someone stops you and asks if you dropped something or tries to have you take a survey or sign a petition

You came here wondering is Dublin safe for solo female travellers. I hope you’re leaving knowing that Dublin is safe.

As long as you take reasonable precautions and use common sense.

Dublin is a vibrant city.

It’s a great place to start exploring Ireland, but it shouldn’t be the only place you visit.

Take the time to visit other cities in Ireland like Galway or Cork. And, of course, take in the nature.

Dublin (and Ireland) is a great place for solo female travellers.

You’ll feel safe, confident, and see interesting sights and sounds. Plus for most people, there isn’t much culture shock.

It’s a great city to experience if you’re new to solo travelling and want to get your feet wet before jumping into the deep end.

If you’re going all the way north to Chiang Rai, you’re probably going to visit the famous White Temple. It’s absolutely worth the visit, but there is a lesser known and equally beautiful temple you also need to check out. The Blue Temple Chiang Rai is worth spending an extra day in Chiang Rai to visit.

Trust me. You’ll regret not seeing it.

The Blue Temple in Chiang Rai is actually called Wat Rong Suea Ten, but I’ll keep referring to it as the Blue Temple Chiang Rai. That’s what it’s colloquially known as.

Plus it’s easier to remember, and everybody in Chiang Rai knows exactly what you’re talking about if you ask about it.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Blue Temple Chiang Rai, so you can plan the perfect trip to see it.

Wat Rong Suea Ten is also known as the Temple of Dancing Tigers. It’s called this because the story goes that there was an ancient temple where the Blue Temple Chiang Rai now stands.

It’s said that when the ancient temple still stood, tigers freely roamed around the temple and protected it. The ancient temple was abandoned over a century ago.

The Blue Temple in Chiang Rai is surprisingly young. Construction began in 2005 and was finished in 2008. I had no idea that the temple was so young when I visited it and only learned that after I left.

The temple was designed by Putha Kabkaew who was a student of the artist and designer of the White Temple also located in Chiang Rai. Again, I didn’t know that when I visited, but I did feel that the two temples felt a little similar even though I couldn’t put my finger on why. The main temple has a similar shape as the main temple of the White Temple.

Blue was chosen as the colour for the temple because in Thai culture blue is the colour of healing.

Most tourists who visit Chiang Rai stay near the bus station and night market. It’s the most central area of Chiang Rai and where most of the hotels are.

The Blue Temple is located on the other side of the river from the bus station and main tourist area.

You can walk from the bus station area to the Blue Temple. That’s what I did. It takes about 45 minutes. You have to walk on some unpaved sidewalks and down into an underpass to find a staircase to cross the bridge.

It took me a while to figure out how to cross the bridge and thought I might have to give up and call a car to take me, but there is a staircase even though you can’t see it when you first walk up to the bridge.

Even though I walked to the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai, I don’t recommend it. It was hot and a much longer walk than I anticipated. There also wasn’t any shade covering.

Luckily, there are other easier ways to get to the Blue Temple.

The first is to take a Tuk Tuk. They’re all over Chiang Rai, and your hotel could even arrange one for you. There are also lots of Tuk Tuks waiting in the Blue Temple parking lot waiting to bring tourists back to their hotel.

If you want to take a Tuk Tuk, just be sure to negotiate a price before you get in. Otherwise there is a chance that you’ll be overcharged and end up paying way more than you thought. And once you’ve already arrived at your destination, it’s pretty hard to get the price lowered.

Grab

The next option is to take a Grab. Grab is the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber, and I rely on it a lot when in Southeast Asia. You have to download the app and input your credit card information while you’re in your home country. If you try to add a foreign credit card while already in Thailand, it won’t work.

Once you have the app downloaded, you use it just like you would Uber. A car or bike will come pick you up and drive you to the Blue Temple. It’s super affordable, and I recommend everybody going to Southeast Asia get the Grab app before their trip.

The final way to travel to the Blue Temple Chiang Rai is by Songthaew.

Songthaew is a form of shared taxi in Thailand. They’re big trucks with a covered back, and you sit on benches in the back. They’re very common in Thailand and one of the most affordable ways to get around.

The downside of using Songthaew is that they don’t always run on a set schedule. Drivers tend to wait until there are enough people wanting a ride to make it worth the money.

If you’re visiting the White Temple, they run every 10 or so minutes, so you never have to wait long, but that isn’t always the case with the Blue Temple.

A Songthaew left about five minutes before I was ready to go. I waited for about half an hour for another one to show up but none did. So I walked home. I’m weirdly stubborn about walking if I can. About 10 minutes into walking, a Songthaew drove past me. I assume it was coming from the Blue Temple.

Just like with a Tuk Tuk, if you take a Songthaew, be sure to ask the price before you get in. I’ve never had a driver tell me the price, and I’ve always had to ask.

Songthaew are very affordable, so they won’t break the bank.

In Chiang Rai, they typically drop the tourists off at the bus station. If there is somewhere else you specifically want to go, you have to ask the driver before getting in.

The Blue Temple is first and foremost a temple for the locals. It was built for the locals because there were no other temples in the area, and it’s primarily used by the locals.

It isn’t a tourist destination like the White Temple. Tourists just happen to visit it.

Since it was built for and used by the locals for their religious practices, there is no costs to visit the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai. Even if you’re just visiting it as a tourist and not using it for religious reasons, there is no fee to enter.

This is a nice change to a lot of the popular temple tourists visit in Thailand that often have entrance fees.

Now that you know how to get to the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai and that there is no fee for visiting, I’m sure you’re wondering when you can visit this beautiful temple.

The Blue Temple is open every day from 7am to 8pm.

It gets pretty crowded in the late morning until the early evening. If you want to avoid the crowds, be at the temple as close to 7am as possible.

I got there around 11am, and it was pretty busy especially inside the main temple. It was hard to get good pictures without a ton of people in the frame. I often had to stand around for five or so minutes to get a quick picture without people in it.

I mentioned earlier that the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai is primarily used by the locals. You should be respectful at every temple you visit in Thailand, but I think it’s even more important when you’re visiting a local temple and not a super touristy temple.

This means taking off your shoes before you go inside. There are lots of places to store your shoes on the outside of the temple. There are lots of signs reminding you to take off your shoes before you go inside, and you’ll remember when you see everybody else doing it.

If you’re like me and have a weird thing about not having your bare feet touch the floor, be sure to store an extra pair of socks in your purse or bag just in case you’re wearing sandals when you visit a temple.

The Blue Temple like most temples in Thailand is a Buddhist temple. It’s often considered rude to take pictures of Buddha, but there aren’t signs in the Blue Temple telling you not to take pictures.

Almost everybody is taking pictures of the Buddha in the main temple, so you shouldn’t have any issues if you want to take a pictures.

That being said, if someone asks you not to take pictures of the Buddha or if signs appear in the future saying no pictures of the Buddha, it’s important you respect those signs.

Along the same lines, please don’t take pictures of people praying or of random people. It’s just rude. Nobody consented to you taking their picture.

People end up in the background of photos all the time. That’s not the issue. It’s rude when you make someone who hasn’t consented to being in your photo the primary focus of your photo. Tourists need to stop doing that.

There are rules on how you must be dressed to enter a temple in Thailand and normally there is someone watching people who enter and stopping people who don’t meet the dress code.

You have to have your shoulders and knees covered to enter the temple.

A lot of tourists don’t realize this when they plan their trip to Thailand and only pack shorts and tank tops. That’s why you see so many tourists wearing those elephant pants with a shawl over their shoulders inside temples.

There aren’t really any clothing stores or stands near the Blue Temple in Chiang Rai, so you can’t quickly go out and buy something if you don’t meet the dress code.

So make sure you’re wearing the right clothing or have extra clothing packed before you leave to visit the Blue Temple.

Otherwise, you’ll be disappointed and not be able to visit the temple.

The final reminded is to keep your voice hushed if you’re talking to someone else. The Blue Temple is a religious place, and it’s respectful to keep your voice down and whisper if you’re going to talk inside the temple.

Technically, it’s possible to visit both temples on the same day, but I don’t recommend it. You’ll be rushed and tired. But if you only have one full day in Chiang Rai and want to visit both temples, it is possible.

The easiest way to visit both temples in the same day is by using Grab. You don’t have to rely on the timing of public transportation and can move at your own pace. It is going to be the most expensive way to see both temples though.

The next best option is taking the 8:10am bus from the bus station to the White Temple. The White Temple opens at 8am, and you’ll arrive around 8:30.

Arriving this early also means there won’t be many other tourists, and you’ll get some amazing pictures!

After you’re done at the White Temple, take the bus or Songthaew back to the bus station. From there, take a different Songthaew or Tuk Tuk to the Blue Temple.

Your Songthaew driver from the White Temple probably won’t drive you all the way to the Blue Temple, but you can ask. Maybe you’ll get lucky.

I recommend people allot at least four hours to visit the White Temple. This includes the time to get to and from the bus station to the White Temple and visiting the temple.

This is the minimum amount of time. You can easily spend an entire day at the White Temple it’s such a huge complex with so many things to see and do.

I recommend people allot about two hours to visit the Blue Temple including the time it takes to get to and from the bus station.

So, while it is possible to visit both temples in a day, you’ll be tired at the end of the day and won’t be able to see much else of Chiang Rai.

There aren’t a ton of other tourist things to do in Chiang Rai, but it is nice to not be rushed.

I think a day and a half is the perfect amount of time to spend in Chiang Rai. Most people come to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai by bus.

Catch a morning bus and be in Chiang Rai by noon. The day you arrive, you can visit the Blue Temple and the next day you can visit the White Temple.

The only tricky part about this is that a lot of people travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai every day.

When I travelled between the two cities, every blog post I read said that you could just show up at the bus station and easily get on a bus to Chiang Rai. That’s not the case anymore.

I got to the bus station at 8:30 hoping to get on a bus that left just after 9am, but the first bus that had an empty seat left at 1pm.

The only way your 1.5 days in Chiang Rai plan is going to work is if you buy your bus ticket in advance and don’t rely on just showing up at the bus station.

Learn from my mistakes!

You rely on public wifi when you travel. Even if you have an esim on your phone, which I highly recommend, you at least rely on the hotel’s wifi when you’re there to save your data for when you don’t have access to wifi.

Using publici wifi, especially when travelling, puts you at high risk of having your personal and private online information stolen. Even if you use a wifi network with a password, anybody who knows that password can use it, and it isn’t very secure.

Trust me when I say you don’t want to have your banking information stolen while you’re abroad and have to deal with the headache of cancelling your bank cards while trying to enjoy your relaxing vacation.

It’s a nightmare I wish on no one!

The only way you can protect yourself while using public wifi networks is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts an invisible forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for prying eyes to access your online information and steal it.

A VPN makes using public wifi networks just as safe as using your home wifi network where you’re the only person who knows the password. It is one of the simplest ways you can stay safe while travelling.

I always say that if you can afford travel, you can afford to protect your online information.

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my years of travel and hated most of them. VPNs are notorious for slowing down your internet speed. I would get frustrated at how slow my internet was and then would turn off my VPN and put myself at risk.

That all changed when I started using NordVPN. It is consistently ranked the fastest VPN on the market, and that’s why I love it so much. I never notice a slow down in my internet speed.

I use my phone a lot when I travel, and I’ve never been tempted to turn off my NordVPN because of internet lagging.

It even works perfectly with my esim.

I’ve been using NordVPN for over 5 years and have no plans of ever stopping. It’s the VPN I make all my friends and family sign up for when they travel as well.

You can protect up to six devices with a single subscription, so you can easily protect all your devices with one account.

The best part is that a two-year subscription costs less per month than a single Starbuck’s latte.

You really have no excuse not to install a VPN on your devices and keep your online data and information protected and safe.

Visiting the Blue Temple Chiang Rai is a must do activity in Northern Thailand. It’s one of the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand, free to enter, and easy to get to.

It’s well worth arranging a little bit of extra time in Chiang Rai and adding the Blue Temple to your itinerary. You’ll probably regret it if you don’t!

I put up an Instagram poll after my trip to Chiang Rai asking people if they thought the White Temple or the Blue Temple was more beautiful.

The overwhelming majority of people voted for the Blue Temple. I still can’t decide which one I liked better, but if the poll is any indication, the Blue Temple can’t be missed when in Thailand!

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Malaysia isn’t the most popular country in Southeast Asia for travellers, so if you’re planning a trip to the country, you may be asking yourself is Kuala Lumpur safe for solo female travellers?

I’ve visited Kuala Lumpur alone before, so I can tell you first hand whether Kuala Lumpur is safe for solo female travellers.

In short, yes Kuala Lumpur is safe for solo travellers.

In fact, everywhere in Malaysia I visited I felt extremely safe. Even in more rural areas.

Just because Kuala Lumpur is safe, doesn’t mean there aren’t things you need to be aware of. There are definitely things you need to know before your trip to Kuala Lumpur to make sure you’re staying safe and protecting yourself.

We’ll go over everything you need to know before your trip to Kuala Lumpur to keep you safe in this post. That way you’ll be fully prepared and ready to explore my favourite city in Southeast Asia.

Yes. I said what I said, and I stand by it. I adore Kuala Lumpur and think it is super underrated and more travellers should make it a priority.

Tips for travelling alone for the first time

Just in case you skimmed or skipped the introduction to this post (I really don’t blame you), I want to reiterate that Kuala Lumpur is very safe.

I never felt unsafe even when out exploring alone at night or in the early mornings.

That nagging feeling that I need to look over my shoulder or double check the people walking near me wasn’t around when I was in Malaysia. I felt comfortable and confident even though it was my first time in the country.

I’m writing this article from the perspective of a white woman who visited Kuala Lumpur alone.

I had an amazing time and felt safe 100% of the time.

That being said, I have heard from a couple of black solo female travellers that they didn’t always feel welcome in Kuala Lumpur.

Some black women have experienced racial prejudice in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.

So, if you’re a person of colour, I encourage you to seek out the experiences of other women of colour who visited Kuala Lumpur alone.

Those experiences will give you a better idea whether or not the answer to the question is Kuala Lumpur safe will be yes or no for you and what you might experience in the country.

Again, I’m just telling my perspective as a white woman. I felt safe, and I believe other white woman will feel safe travelling alone in Kuala Lumpur.

But that might be the case for every woman travelling to Kuala Lumpur alone. Seek out diverse voices and make the decision that is best for you and your situation.

Just because Kuala Lumpur is safe to visit doesn’t mean there aren’t things you need to know about before you arrive in Kuala Lumpur.

Knowing these things will make your trip to Kuala Lumpur safer and help you from standing out or unintentionally offending a local.

Some of these are pretty common sense but some of them you may not know about. But hopefully they help you on your trip to Malaysia.

One of the most important things to know before travelling to Malaysia is that Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country. That means modesty is key for women travelling alone to Kuala Lumpur.

Which can also be a bit tricky because you need to balance being comfortable in the heat and humidity with also being covered up enough to not be offensive.

This means no short shorts or short dresses, no tank tops, and nothing that shoes off your stomach.

I wore a t-shirt and long skirt every day I was in Malaysia and didn’t have any trouble modesty wise. It was hot though, but that’s to be expected in Southeast Asia. There isn’t really any way around the heat no matter what you wear.

Even though Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country, there isn’t a requirement for you to be covered fully or for you to cover your hair.

Just please be respectful and cover your shoulders and knees. Unlike Dubai where a lot of tourists were wearing less modest clothing (even though I think you should be modest in Dubai as well), I didn’t see a single tourist during my three weeks in Malaysia wearing something that wouldn’t be acceptable.

Which was nice to see because most of the time there are always a few people who aren’t wearing what would be considered socially acceptable.

Anyways, moral of the stay is to be modest and respectable but complete coverage and covering of the hair isn’t required.

One of the few things that may change the answer to the question is Kuala Lumpur safe from a yes to a no is the prevalence of pick pocketing.

Be sure to keep your belongings close to you and not keep any cell phones, money, or passport in places where people can easily pull them out of your pocket or bag.

Pick pockets are most common in busy tourist places like the Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, and at KL Sentral.

But that’s really no different than any other major city.

The one thing that makes is a bit different is you have to be aware of monkeys that want to pick pocket you.

Yup. You read that right.

At Batu Caves specifically there are monkeys. Monkeys that aren’t super aggressive but will be aggressive if you have something they want.

If you have anything in your hands, you may have a monkey coming to see you. This includes a water bottle, cell phone, camera, or food.

Keep all of that inside bags as much as possible while walking up and down the stairs. Of course you’ll want to take pictures on the stairs because they’re beautiful but please take a look for monkeys before pulling out your camera and store your camera away after you take your pictures.

Monkeys may seem cute and fun when people post them on social media, but let me tell you that when you’re face to face with them (even at a distance), they’re quire scary, and you don’t want them deciding you have something they want.

One of the travel safety tips not enough people talk about is the importance of keeping your internet safe while on the road.

You rely on public wifi networks every single day when you travel. At hotels, at restaurants, and at airports.

Every time you use a public wifi network, you’re putting yourself at risk of having your personal data stolen. This could be something as small as your social media passwords or something as big as your banking information.

And let me tell you from experience, you don’t want your banking information compromised when you’re on holiday. It’s an absolute headache to deal with.

The only way to keep your online information safe while using public wifi networks is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts an invisible forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for prying eyes to access your online information.

It makes using public wifi networks as safe as using your home wifi network where you’re the only person who knows the password.

Installing a VPN on your devices is one of the easiest ways you can keep yourself safe when travelling. Especially when travelling alone when there is nobody else there to help you if your banking information is compromised.

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my many years of travel. VPNs are notoriously known for slowing down your internet speed, and I can tell you from personal experience that is the case for most VPNs on the market.

In fact, there have been many times where I stopped using my VPN and put my personal data at risk just because the VPN I was using was slowing down my internet so much.

All that changed when I started using NordVPN.

NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market. I’ve been using it for over five years on all my devices, and I’ve never noticed my internet speed slow down.

Which is saying a lot since I rely on the internet for work and am constantly asking it to work hard.

Not only is NordVPN very quick and reliable, but it is also very affordable. You can connect up to six devices on one subscription, so you can easily protect all your devices.

A two-year subscription costs less per month than a single Starbucks latte, so you can’t beat the price.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online information and data with a VPN.

It’s truly a super small thing you can do before your trip to add an extra level of safety, security, and peace of mind.

Even though Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an opportunity for drinking alcohol.

Unfortunately, just like many other cities around the world, there are instance of drink spiking in Kuala Lumpur.

As a solo female traveller, you’re even more at risk of having your drink spiked.

It is definitely one of the reasons someone may answer no to the question is Kuala Lumpur safe for solo female travellers.

Luckily, it is very easy to be safe and not have your drink spiked when drinking at a bar or restaurant.

Only accept drinks from the bartender or waiter and never leave your drink unattended or stop paying attention to your drink even if you don’t leave it unattended.

Pretty simple things that you should be following anytime you drink in public. Follow those tips, and you shouldn’t have any problem with having your drink spiked.

And if you do suspect your drink was spiked, please just buy a new one. I know it’s more expensive, but it’s cheaper than the potential consequences of having your drink spiked.

Tips for planning your first solo trip

I love, love, love Grab and rely on it constantly when travelling through Southeast Asia. It’s more or less the regions version of Uber.

You can easily get picked up and dropped off wherever you want to go for a very reasonable price.

It is also one of the tools you can use to make sure the answer to the question is Kuala Lumpur safe is yes.

Grab rides are tracked, and you can share your location with designated people. It is very safe and perfect for solo female travellers.

It’s important to note that when using Grab as a foreigner, you need to download the app and add your credit card to your account before you leave on your trip.

Otherwise you’ll run into trouble and need to have someone back in your home country create and account for you. An annoyance for sure.

Taxi scams aren’t common in Kuala Lumpur, but they are normally more expensive, and the Grab app is move convenient in my opinion.

Now, just because I’m recommending you use Grab over a taxi doesn’t mean I’m telling you not to use public transportation.

Kuala Lumpur has an amazing transportation system, and you can get basically everywhere you need to go very easily on their metro system.

But if you’re going to and from the airport or the bus terminal or out and about after dark and want to be dropped off right at your hotel door, then Grab is your best option. I’ve never had a bad experience using Grab.

I personally love cities that shun smokers, and Kuala Lumpur is one of those cities.

You can only smoke is designated areas that are more or less hidden in corners or alleys. You won’t see anybody walking down the street smoking, which is nice for non-smokers like me.

Unfortunately, just like everywhere else in the world, vapers think they’re immune from the rules of smokers and still vape out and about.

For the most part though, having to deal with someone walking in front of you smoking and blowing smoke into your face isn’t something you have to deal with.

However, if you’re a smoker, be sure you know that you can’t just smoke anywhere. You need to do it in designated areas.

Most hotels are smoke free, but I’m sure they’ll be able to point you to an area you’re allowed to smoke in if you ask.

I’m not exactly sure what the fines are if you’re caught smoking outside designated areas, but I’m sure there is a financial penalty.

• Get an esim! Esims are changing the travel game and are the easiest way to access the internet in foreign countries while still using your home number. I get one everywhere I travel! Airalo is my favourite esim. Download the mobile app here!

• I personally think the Bukit Bintang area is the best area to stay in (I used points and stayed at the JW Marriott). It’s in a great location, near lots of shopping, and has better metro options the near the Petronas Towers.

• Take the night bus tour of the city. It’s a two hour tour of the city in the evening, so you get to see all the buildings lit up. You get to disembark at a few stops, which makes for great pictures. To me, it’s the easiest way to see Kuala Lumpur at night, which is a must. I booked my ticket through Klook and saved the hassle of going to the company in person and buying my ticket.

• Stay hydrated! Kuala Lumpur is a very hot city. Please drink more water than you think you need!

• The Batu Caves and The National Museum of Malaysia were my two favourite activities (outside the night bus tour).

• Klook is my favourite place to buy tickets in advance. I used it three times in Kuala Lumpur. It saves so much time, and you can often save a few bucks booking with Klook rather than paying once you get to the attraction.

I hope this article has helped you answer the question is Kuala Lumpur safe for solo travellers.

From my experience, the answer is absolutely yes. I never didn’t feel safe during my time in Kuala Lumpur and all of Malaysia.

In my opinion, Kuala Lumpur is one of the best and most underrated cities in Southeast Asia. I highly recommend you add it to your itinerary.

You won’t regret visiting Kuala Lumpur. I love it and can’t stop telling people that they need to visit!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Gdańsk is one of my favourite cities in Poland, but there are a few things you need to know before visiting Gdańsk alone.

Knowing these things will make your trip to Gdańsk smoother and more enjoyable. You’ll also avoid missing out on some of the best things the city has to offer.

I know Gdańsk isn’t the most popular city in Poland. Most people visit Krakow and maybe Warsaw.

But, if you have a few extra days in Poland, Gdańsk is one of the places I highly recommend you add to your itinerary.

It’s a small(ish) city in northern Poland with a huge history.

A history I honestly didn’t know about until I visited Gdańsk. I chose to visit Gdańsk because of how beautiful the city is. I’m so thankful I randomly chose to visit Gdańsk because it is so much more than it’s beautiful buildings and architecture.

Now that I know what visiting Gdańsk is like and how amazing it is, I want to share it all with you, so you can decide if it’s the right city for you to visit.

Hopefully these tips for visiting Gdańsk alone will help you decide if you want to visit the city or if you’re okay sticking to the more popular tourist areas.

I’ve seen a number of bloggers and travel content creators suggest that you can visit Gdańsk on a day trip from Warsaw.

I think that is not the right advice to give.

The train ride between Warsaw and Gdańsk is three hours, so you’re spending at least six hours in transit between the two cities.

That doesn’t leave much time at all to experience Gdańsk.

You wouldn’t be able to get a good understanding of the city, and you’d definitely be missing a lot of what the city has to offer.

I think a weekend getaway to Gdańsk is perfect. Having 1.5 to 2 days in Gdańsk is the perfect amount of time.

You’ll be able to see most of Gdańsk has to offer without being rushed.

You can enjoy the city, stop in a local café, go on a walking tour, and enjoy a more laid back trip to Gdańsk.

I spent three days in Gdańsk. It was a good amount of time, but I definitely think that two days is the perfect amount of time for most people visiting Gdańsk.

But please don’t do a day trip to Gdańsk from Warsaw. It isn’t worth it. You’ll be exhausted and feel like you didn’t get to see enough to make the journey worth it.

Is Krakow safe for solo female travellers?

You can go on a free walking tour pretty much anywhere in the world, but the free walking tours in Poland are on a whole other level.

I’ve been on free walking tours in four cities in Poland, and they’ve been incredible every single time.

No matter if you’re visiting Gdańsk alone, in a group, are young, or are old, a free walking tour is a must-do activity.

Free Tour is the company I always use in Poland, and they haven’t let me down yet.

Not only are free walking tours a great way to stay on budget, but they’re super interesting.

I like going on walking tours the first day or two when I arrive in a city. They help give you the lay of the land, and you learn a ton about the city.

Learning about the city from a local really helps put the city you’re visiting in perspective. You start to see it in a whole new light.

Gdańsk has an incredibly interesting and complex history.

I truly think the only way you can really appreciate your time in Gdańsk is by understanding the history. Otherwise you’re just walking through a beautiful city without any context.

So, when you’re visiting Gdańsk, be sure to make time for a free walking tour. I promise you that you won’t regret it!

Speaking on walking, Gdańsk is a super walkable city. You can get pretty much anywhere you want to go on foot.

The only time I relied on transportation other than my feet was when I visited Westerplatte, and there is no other option but to go by boat.

Other than that, my feet carried me everywhere I needed to go. It doesn’t take very long to walk to any of the main tourist sights either.

Their either in the old town or within a 30-minute walk of the old town.

So be sure to grab your walking shoes when visiting Gdańsk!

Gdańsk’s old town is stunning, and it’s tempting to spend all your time exploring it. That is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when visiting Gdańsk though.

The city is so much more than it’s old town.

You don’t have to wander too far away from the main tourist area to get a different feel for Gdańsk. Even just walking 20 minutes in any direction will get you to a more local portion of the city.

You’ll find amazing restaurants, cute boutique stores, and possibly some fantastic street art.

Even if you don’t run into anything particularly amazing, it’s still worth getting outside the old town. Even if it is just to see different architecture and get out of the hustle and bustle of the tourist area.

There are a few notable things to do in Gdańsk just outside the old town including the European Solidarity Center and Museum of the Second World War.

Some people may consider the museum as inside the old town, but I would consider it outside. It’s beyond the main walking street and further along the water.

One things that surprised me when visiting Gdańsk was that it was cooler than I thought. I was visiting in late April, and I was chilly at times.

It was certainly cooler than the other parts of Poland I had just visited.

I think this has to do with the city’s proximity to the water and the cool breeze that can come from the water.

If you’re only packing for a weekend trip to Gdańsk, I highly suggest you pack a sweater or light jacket with you even if you’re visiting during warmer months.

Especially if you plan on visiting Westerplatte. The boat ride can get really windy and cold. I found myself shivering both on the ride to Westerplatte and on the way backk.

And you’ll definitely want some warmer clothes if you’re visiting in winter, spring, or fall.

It’s better to err on the side of caution and bring a sweater you may not end up using than not enjoy your time in Gdańsk because you’re cold.

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

Westerplatte is a small peninsula not far from Gdańsk. It is one of the most important things you can do while visiting Gdańsk.

Westerplatte is where the first battle took place when Germany invaded Poland, and it marks the start of WWII.

The peninsula now holds monuments and statues to honour the people who were lost during the battle of Westerplatte.

There are also the remains of buildings and bunkers that were left in the same condition as they were after the battle.

It is very interesting to walk around the peninsula and see the ruined buildings.

Unfortunately, when I visited there weren’t many plaques describing what took place and the history of Westerplatte.

But you the narrator on the boat that takes you to Westerplatte gives you a bit of a history lesson on the way over. And quite a musical serenade on the way back.

Or at least mine did.

But no matter whether you get serenaded on the boat ride home or not, going to Westerplatte is a must for anybody visiting Gdańsk.

Poland is known for being an affordable country. 99% of the time it is, but I was blown away by the price I paid for the train from Warsaw to Gdańsk.

It was outrageously expensive, and I have no explanation as to why it was so expensive.

But it seemed to be expensive all the time. It wasn’t just an anomaly when I was trying to get to Gdańsk.

My best guess is it was expensive because the train from Warsaw to Gdańsk was very new and a high-speed train.

So if you’re planning on visiting Gdańsk, just be aware that the train ticket to Gdańsk may cut into your budget more than you would like it to.

It is well worth visiting Gdańsk though! I loved it, and it is one of my favourite cities in Poland.

Poland is a very religious country, and a lot of things are closed or have limited hours on Sundays.

If you’re only visiting Gdańsk for a few days, you want to avoid being in Gdańsk on a Sunday. You won’t be able to do everything you want to do, and the trip to Gdańsk won’t be worth it.

Especially considering how expensive the train from Warsaw is!

Arriving on a Sunday isn’t the worst thing in the world. Make sure you arrive in the middle of the day though. Many restaurants and grocery stores that are open on Sundays close early.

So plan your solo trip to Gdańsk accordingly.

Polish people aren’t know for being the friendliest people on the planet. But just because they mind their own business and don’t engage in small talk with strangers doesn’t mean they aren’t extremely nice and helpful.

Never be afraid to ask a local for help if you’re lost or have a question when visiting Gdańsk alone.

The locals won’t approach you, but they’re very happy to help you if you ask them.

You’re probably taking a risk when you travel without even knowing it. Not being internet safe is one of the sneaky ways you’re putting yourself at risk when you’re on the road.

You rely on public wifi networks all the time when you travel. From airports, to restaurants, to hotels, you’re always connecting to an unsafe wifi network.

Anybody can access those wifi networks, and it is easy to hack into your devices and steal your personal information like your banking details.

The only way you can protect your online information and data when travelling is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts an invisible forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for people to access your personal online information.

Installing a VPN on all your devices is the simplest and easiest way you can protect your personal data when travelling.

I love NordVPN. I’ve been using it for many years and have no plans of switching to another provider anytime soon.

NordVPN has consistently been voted the fastest VPN on the market, which is hugely important for travellers.

The last thing you want is to be slowed down by your VPN when you’re travelling. Trust me. It’s awful to have a slow VPN. If you’re like me, you get frustrated and stop using the VPN, which is just as bad as not having a VPN.

One NordVPN account allows you to protect up to six devices for one low price. And when I say low, I mean it.

The cost of a two-year NordVPN subscription costs less per month than a single Starbucks latte.

You really have no excuse not to protect your online devices when you travel. It is very affordable and using public wifi networks while unprotected is never worth the risk.

I always say that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect yourself with a VPN.

Esims are a new technology that makes getting data anywhere in the world easy, convenient, and inexpensive.

All you have to do is buy an esim either online or through the app, install it on your phone, and activate it. Easy peasy.

You no longer have to search for public wifi, get a local sim, or change your phone number to a local number when travelling.

My favourite esim is Airalo.

It’s super affordable, has coverage in almost every country in the world, and provides extremely reliable data.

They even offer regional esims, so you can purchase one esim for your entire European holiday!

Another great option is Drimsim. They charge per MB used, so you only pay for what you use instead of paying for a certain amount of data upfront like Airalo.

If you do use Drimsim, be sure to turn off your data when not actively using it. This will make sure it isn’t accidentally being used in the background and costing you more money.

I hope this article helps you plan your solo trip to Gdańsk.

It truly is one of the most underrated cities in Europe and is well worth visiting when you’re in Poland.

Two days is enough to see Gdańsk, and luckily the city is well connected to the rest of the country via the train even though it is in the northern part of the country.

I know Gdańsk isn’t the most popular city in Poland, but I feel like once more people learn about it, it’ll quickly become a popular city for tourists to visit.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Wondering how to travel from Marrakesh to Essaouira? This post’s got you covered!

Marrakesh is one of the most popular cities in Morocco for tourists to visit. It is an amazing city, but you should also get out of Marrakesh and see a different side of Morocco.

My favourite city in Morocco is Essaouira. It is a small coastal town that is full of charm.

It is very different from the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh!

Some people choose to do a day trip from Marrakesh to Essaouira, but I think Essaouira is worth spending at least two days in.

Whether you visit it as a day trip or spend a few days in the city, you need to know how to travel from Marrakesh to Essaouira no matter what.

Luckily, it is very easy to travel between the two cities!

You have two main options for travelling from Marrakesh to Essaouira. You can either take the bus or arrange private transportation.

The bus is the cheapest option and is just as easy as taking a private car to Essaouira.

However, the purpose of this post is to help you decide the best way to travel to Essaouira from Marrakesh.

We’ll go over the pros and cons of each option, and you’ll have a much better idea of what transportation method works best for you by the end of this article!

Is Marrakesh safe?!

My favourite way of travelling between Marrakesh and Essaouira is by bus.

It is quick, convenient, and inexpensive.

The bus to Essaouira from Marrakesh takes just 3 hours!

It is quite efficient, and there aren’t many stops along the way.

Of course, it could take a little bit more or less time to get to Essaouira. It all depends on the traffic.

However, from my experience, it isn’t likely you’ll run into a traffic jam along the way that slows you down.

Bus tickets vary a little bit depending on what day of the week and what time you travel.

You can expect your ticket to cost between 75 MAD and 130 MAD. That’s between approximately $8 and $12 USD.

From my experience, my bus tickets have been at the lower end of the spectrum, which is nice.

You purchase your bus tickets in person at the bus station, and I believe only cash is accepted.

That could have changed since the last time I was in Morocco, but it was the case when I last took the bus from Marrakesh to Essaouira.

Important Note!

Tickets for the bus from Marrakesh to Essaouira sell out very quickly.

The first time I travelled to Essaouira from Marrakesh, I showed up at the bus station 30 minutes before the bus departed, and the tickets for that bus were already sold out.

I had to wait until the next bus before I could get a ticket.

Luckily, buses run very frequently between the two cities. If the bus you want to take is sold out, you likely won’t have to wait too long before the next one.

If you really need to take the bus at a certain time, you way want to go to the bus station a day or two in advance and purchase a ticket.

Also, when I arrive in Essaouira, I always purchase a bus ticket for my return to Marrakesh as soon as I arrive.

Buses to Essaouira depart from CTM bus station.

It is right next to the train station and a short walk from central Marrakesh.

Although, if you have a lot of luggage, you may want to take a taxi to the bus station rather than trying to navigate your luggage through the busy streets.

The bus arrives at Mahatta, which is the only bus station in Essaouira.

It is located just outside the old town (where most tourists stay), and you can easily walk to your accommodation from the bus station.

If you’re not quite sure how to get to your accommodation, there is a map at the bus station, and I’ve found the employees are always super nice and can help point you in the right direction.

Use code TRAVELSWITHERICA for 10% off my favourite Instagram presets!

• It is the cheapest option

• Convenient departure and arrival locations

• The buses are very comfortable

• The bus you want to take may be sold out

• Some people are nervous about taking the bus in Morocco

Your second option is to arrange a private car to take you from Marrakesh to Essaouira.

This option is significantly more expensive than taking the bus, but it is more convenient. Arranging private transportation can also be valuable for people travelling in a larger group, so the cost per person goes down.

You can expect your private transport from Marrakesh to Essaouira to take just under 2.5 hours.

This is if you don’t stop along the way and if you don’t run into traffic.

Private transportation tends to take about 40 minutes less than the bus, which is a significant amount of time.

Hiring a private car to drive you from Marrakesh to Essaouira costs 1,400 MAD or approximately $150 USD.

That’s not chump change, so you really need to consider the cost before you book a private car.

Tourist’s Guide to Wifi in Morocco

There are a few places you can hire a private car.

I’ve never taken a private car from Marrakesh to Essaouira, so I can’t advise on who offers the best service. Be sure to read reviews before booking!

One option is to go through a third-party site like Viator to book your transfer. They have a number of different options, and it is a safe bet that the companies on the site are safe.

Another option is to book through Tangier Taxi. I’ve never used them, but they look like a legit company based on my research.

But, again, please do your own research before booking any private transfer!

Your private car should pick you up directly at your hotel or other accommodation!

Your arrival location depends on where you’re staying.

If you’re staying outside the old city, your car will drive you straight to the door of your hotel.

If you’re staying inside the old city, your car will drop you off at the gate closest to your hotel. Cars aren’t allowed in the old city, so they can’t drop you off right at your door.

• Can depart whenever you want

• You need to research to make sure the company is legitimate

• Some companies have hidden fees

Travelling to Essaouira from Marrakesh is very easy. Being nervous about travelling between cities in Morocco shouldn’t stop you from visiting Essaouira.

It is an amazing city, and I don’t know anybody who regrets visiting it!

I prefer to take the bust from Marrakesh to Essaouira, but I understand why some people prefer to hire a private car to drive them.

A private car can make you feel more confident in a country where you might be experiencing culture shock.

No matter how you choose to travel from Marrakesh to Essaouira, just do it! It’ll be worth the time and effort.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Taking a gap year and travelling is one of the most exciting things you can do! I absolutely loved my first few months of travelling after uni before entering the corporate world! One thing I wish I had more information about before my first travel adventure was gap year travel insurance.

Thinking about travel insurance for your gap year is frankly boring and definitely something most people put off.

I don’t blame you. I didn’t give it much thought either.

Even though thinking about what gap year travel insurance you should get isn’t as fun as choosing where to go during your gap year, it is still really important.

Perhaps even more important than choosing where you want to go. If you choose the wrong gap year travel insurance, you may end up with a serious health issue while abroad and be stuck paying the bill just because you didn’t put the effort into choosing the right travel insurance.

The good news is that you’re reading this article now, so you’re already taking your gap year travel insurance more seriously than most travellers!

And more seriously than I took it when I was 21 years old and heading to Europe alone for the first time.

This article will give you (hopefully) all the tools you need to choose the right gap year travel insurance for you!

Let’s start off with discussing whether you even need gap year travel insurance. You’re young, you’re healthy, and you may think the chances of you getting sick while travelling are slime to nothing.

But that simply isn’t the case.

You can get sick or injured at any time in any place, and trust me when I say you want to have travel insurance to help pay those bills. Especially when you’re young and, in theory, don’t have a lot of money.

I’ve heard horror stories of people getting into scooter accidents in Southeast Asia, needing surgery, and it costing almost as much as their entire gap year was supposed to.

If you’re going to South America, there is a good chance you’ll be doing some hiking, and it is super easy to injure your legs while hiking. Depending on how remote you are, that may require an air transport out of the area.

You can only imagine how expensive that is.

You may think that you don’t need gap year travel insurance in Europe because it’s super safe, and the healthcare is free most places.

Well, I got injured in Bucharest during my first solo trip to Europe, refused to see a doctor about it (even when I got home), and I still live with daily pain ten years later.

So, yeah, getting sick or injured is definitely a possibility, and you need to have travel insurance to help pay for any costs associated with your doctor visits or hospital stays.

Generally, no. Being on your parent’s health insurance isn’t good enough for your gap year travel insurance.

The reason I say this is because most of the time the travel insurance included in your parent’s health insurance through work is only valid for a short period of time. Most of the time it is only valid for 30 days at a time and then you have to purchase additional travel insurance for the rest of your trip through someone else.

You could definitely use your parent’s travel insurance for the first 30 days of your trip and then purchase travel insurance for the rest of your gap year after that initial 30 days is up.

You do have to be careful with this though.

There are two options you can take if this is your plan. The first is to purchase the rest of your travel insurance while you’re abroad after the initial 30 days of insurance is done. The second option is to purchase travel insurance before you leave that doesn’t kick in until those first 30 days are up.

If you choose to purchase the rest of your travel insurance while abroad, make sure you choose a company that allows you to start your coverage with them while you’re already abroad.

A lot of travel insurance companies don’t let you do that. Luckily, my favourite travel insurance company (and the one I personally use) Safety Wing does allow you to start coverage while you’re already abroad.

If you choose to pre-purchase your top up travel insurance before you leave, you may also run into a similar issue. A lot of companies (at least in Canada where I live), won’t let you pre-buy travel insurance that starts while you’re abroad. You have to purchase enough travel insurance for your entire trip.

Moral of the story is to make sure you do your research before making a decision about what gap year travel insurance is right for you.

And to read the fine print because you don’t want to purchase gap year travel insurance and then find out it’s void if you go to make a claim because of a technically like when you bought it and whether or not you were already abroad when the coverage started.

You may still think that purchasing gap year travel insurance isn’t worth the money, but you may be legally required to have travel insurance before entering a country.

Here are a list of countries/areas where you are legally required to have travel insurance before entering:

Please always check the entry requirements for any country you’re visiting to make sure you have everything you need to enter.

I’m not just talking about travel insurance but also whether or not you need a visa to enter. You won’t believe how many people show up to places like Turkey or Vietnam and don’t realize they need to apply for and be approved for a visa online before arrival.

There are a few things to consider when choosing gap year travel insurance:

1. Coverage Types: Review the different types of coverage offered, such as medical expenses, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage loss/delay, emergency evacuation, and personal liability. Determine which types of coverage are essential for your trip.

2. Coverage Limits: Check the maximum coverage limits for each category to ensure they are sufficient for your needs. For example, medical coverage should adequately cover potential healthcare costs in your destination.

3. Deductibles: Understand the deductible amount you would need to pay before the insurance coverage kicks in. Evaluate if you are comfortable with the deductible level.

4.Pre-Existing Conditions: If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, confirm whether they are covered or if you need to purchase additional coverage or a separate policy.

5. Trip Duration: Ensure that the policy covers the entire duration of your trip, including any pre-trip or post-trip activities.

6. Geographical Coverage: Check if the policy covers all the destinations you plan to visit. Some policies may have restrictions or exclusions for certain regions or countries.

7. Activities and Sports: If you plan to engage in specific activities or sports, confirm that they are covered under the policy. Some adventurous or high-risk activities may require additional coverage.

8. Exclusions and Limitations: Review the policy’s exclusions and limitations to understand what is not covered. Common exclusions may include pre-existing conditions, certain sports or activities, and acts of terrorism.

9. Emergency Assistance: Check if the policy provides 24/7 emergency assistance services, including a helpline for immediate support during emergencies.

10. Cost: Compare the cost of different policies while considering the coverage and benefits offered. Remember that the cheapest option may not provide adequate coverage for your needs.

11. Policy Terms and Conditions: Read the policy thoroughly, paying attention to the terms and conditions, including the claims process, documentation requirements, and any specific obligations or responsibilities.

12. Reputation and Customer Reviews: Research the insurer’s reputation and read customer reviews to assess their reliability and responsiveness in handling claims and providing customer support.

There are, of course, other things you could consider when choosing who to purchase your travel insurance through, but these are the main things you need to take into account.

Okay. I know the list in the previous section is a bit intimidating, but there aren’t really that many options for gap year travel insurance because you’re gone for so long.

The way I see it, there are two options:

1. Purchase a monthly travel plan through a company that specializes in long-term travel insurance.

2. Purchase enough travel insurance days through a provider like AMA, AAA, your bank, etc.

Both options have their pros and cons, and we’re going to discuss them next.

There are a few companies that specialize in travel insurance for digital nomads or long travellers (like people taking a gap year).

They normally operate on a monthly subscription model, and the entire focus of the company is making sure that you have good travel insurance while you’re abroad.

The two big players in this game are World Nomads Insurance and Safety Wing Insurance. World Nomads is the OG player in the space, but Safety Wing is really growing and becoming hugely popular.

I personally use Safety Wing. I love the price point, the coverage, and, most importantly, the customer service and how helpful and kind everybody I’ve dealt with is.

I also really like that they cover you in your home country for the first 30 days (15 days in the US) after being abroad for at least 90 days, you can start your coverage while you’re abroad, and you can cancel and restart your coverage at any time.

It’s super flexible, which is important for people taking a gap year. You may change your mind on where you’re going, when you’re coming home, or you may even travel for a few months and then decide travelling isn’t for you and need to cancel your insurance sooner than you anticipated.

But you should look into both companies and decide what is best for you if you choose to purchase your gap year travel insurance through a specialized company.

*You will always be given ample warning before prices increase

**Prices being in USD isn’t a huge issue. It just means that your credit card on file will be charge in USD, and your credit card company will automatically convert it to your home currency. It may result in small fluctuations in your monthly prices. I’m Canadian, and the charge on my credit card has only fluctuated between $3 each month based on currency exchange rates at the time.

When I first started travelling (for for more years than I’d like to admit after that), I purchased my travel insurance through the AMA (think AAA if you’re from the States).

It’s a members-only business that does thinks like car insurance, travel insurance, trip planning, and some other stuff.

I would purchase a policy for however many days I was travelling abroad for and then purchase another policy whenever I came back to Canada and was leaving on another trip.

The insurance is fine, but it was a hassle to make a claim because they needed my Canadian insurance information and health records because they would claim a portion of the money they paid for my services abroad through my provincial health care.

That’s getting a bit into the weeds of it all, but what you need to know is that it was quite the process to try to get reimbursed for any health expenses from abroad.

You can also normally purchase trip insurance through your bank, most insurance companies, or healthcare companies in your area.

They normally charge you per day, and you can either purchase a single-trip policy or a multi-trip policy.

If you purchase a single-trip policy, you purchase the exact amount of days you’ll be abroad for. If you purchase a multi-trip policy, you choose a certain number (normally either 7 days, 15 days, 30 days, or 60 days). Whatever you choose will be the number of days you’re covered for each time you go abroad. If you’re gone for longer than the number of days you chose, you need to purchase a top up policy that will cover you for the days you’re gone above the number of days you selected.

I hope that doesn’t sound too complicated.

*Getting a policy with a zero deductible often costs more. Be sure to price out what a policy costs with a zero deductible versus a small deductible like Safety Wing has and make sure you get the best price.

I’ve never not taken a trip without travel insurance, and I’ve used both options discussed above.

Both definitely have a place in the travel insurance world. People who aren’t travelling for very long or just need a top up beyond what their employment health insurance covers, should definitely purchase their travel insurance through a larger company.

However, since we’re talking about long-term travel and gap year travel insurance, for me, the clear winner is purchasing gap year travel insurance through a specialized company.

I personally use Safety Wing and don’t plan on switching from them anytime soon. Probably not until I settle down somewhere and start living a proper adult life.

Like that will happen anytime soon.

• Very affordable when compared to other specialized companies

• Great customer support and very quick to respond to inquires

• Comprehensive coverage focused on and dedicated to long-term travellers and digital nomads

• Easy to use and understand website and portal

• Home country coverage for 30 days after being abroad for 90 days

• Can cancel at anytime, which makes it very flexible

• Maximum limit of $250,000 ($100,000 for people 65+)

• Excludes pre-existing conditions and cancer treatment

• Includes a lifetime amount of up to $50,000 for injuries caused by a terror incident (that’s not always included in other policies)

• Includes trip interruption, lost baggage, trip cancellation, border entry protection, and loss passport/visa insurance

I’m just going to pop in here and tell you about a couple apps that I wish I knew about before my first long trip abroad. Knowing about these would have made my life so much easier.

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I spent many years travelling abroad without a VPN protecting my online information. Now I love telling everybody that they absolutely need a VPN before they do any travelling.

If you travel without a VPN, you’re putting your online information (including your banking information) at risk of being stolen while you’re abroad. Trust me when I say it is zero fun dealing with stolen bank cards while you’re abroad.

The only way you can keep your online information safe while abroad is by installing a VPN on your devices. It essentially puts up an invisible forcefield around your devices that keeps prying eyes away from your personal information.

I’ve been using NordVPN for years and years now. I absolutely love it and have zero intention of switching to another VPN provider.

I discovered Airalo in 2022, and it literally changed the way I travel.

Airalo is an esim provider. You purchase an esim for wherever you’re travelling to either via their website or app, install the esim on your phone, and you now have access to data when you travel.

No need to get local sim cards, use a wifi egg like Skyroam, or rely on public wifi when you’re out and about exploring a new city.

It gives you so much freedom and flexibility when travelling. Especially if you’re a solo traveller like I am.

I no longer have to decide everything I’m doing for the day before I leave the hotel or hunt for public wifi when out and about.

I’ve eaten so many incredible meals I wouldn’t have had before just because I can Google restaurants around me.

Airalo esims are very affordable, super convenient, and I’ll never travel without one again. It’s the one thing I tell everybody in my life who is planning a vacation about.

Once you start using an esim, you won’t go back to how you used to travel.

Okay. This may seem like an odd one but hear me out.

The Google apps have become so much better the past few years, and you can’t travel without them anymore. Especially Google Maps, Google Translate, and Google Photos.

I’m obsessed with them all, and once you learn how to use them properly for travel, you won’t go back. You know all that delicious food I mentioned in the last section? All found using Google Maps and looking up menus through it.

I also recommend you get a Google Drive account. Store all your travel information in it. You can mark it to be viewable offline, which is super convenient.

This makes filling out custom forms and keeping track of your travel schedule easier than ever before. I used to just scroll through my emails to find my hotel and flight information.

Once you have your Google Drive account set up, share it with a loved one back home. This not only lets people know where you are and what you’re doing, but if something goes wrong, someone knows where you were supposed to be and can tell the authorities.

But of course nothing will go wrong on your amazing gap year, so it’s more about keeping the people who care about you informed of your movements.

Holy cow that was a way longer post than I intended it to be. I guess I have a lot to say about gap year travel insurance.

It’s definitely not the most exciting or fun thing to talk about, but it is extremely important to talk about it. You need to make sure you’re properly insured before you go abroad and have the most amazing gap year ever!

I know this post was long, and you probably skimmed a lot of it. So I’ll recap the most important parts of the article for you here.

1. You need gap year travel insurance. It isn’t negotiable. Go get it.

2. I recommend you purchase your long-term travel insurance through a specialized company like Safety Wing.

3. Make sure you read the fine print before purchasing a policy. Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements. You don’t want to find out your policy is accidentally null and void because of a silly error when you go to use it.

I really hope this article has helped you develop the skills and knowledge you need to find the best gap year travel insurance for you.

It’s an important decision you need to make for your gap year, and the right or wrong decision could have a large impact on your trip.

Now go out, explore the world, and have the best trip ever!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, and it is home to many historical palaces. Gyeongbokgung Palace is the most well known and visited palace in Seoul.

There is a lot to see and do at Gyeongbokgung Palace, and you can easily miss things as a first-time visitor if you don’t know about them beforehand. This guide aims to help you plan your trip to Gyeongbokgung Palace and give you all the information you need to get the most out of your visit.

The changing of the guards is probably the most well known things about Gyeongbokgung Palace. The ceremony takes place at the top of every hour at 10am and 3pm.

It reacts the traditional changing of the guards ceremony that was performed daily when it was an active palace. There is narration in both English and Korea that explains the ceremony and the importance of each step, so you will be able to understand the history of what is taking place.

The changing of the guards takes places in the courtyard inside the main entrance where you purchase tickets. The ceremony is free to watch, so you don’t need to purchase a ticket to tour Gyeongbokgung Palace if you just want to watch the changing of the guards.

The ceremony takes approximately 10 minutes from start to finish. It is a popular tourist attraction, so I recommend getting to the palace 5-10 minutes before the ceremony to get a good viewing location. You can show up right before it begins, but you risk having to stand on the side and not getting a full view of the ceremony.

The changing of the guards ceremony features a lot of bright colours, and it is always fun to watch no matter how many times you’ve seen it before. You should definitely plan to watch the ceremony when you’re at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

You can’t purchase tickets to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace online. Tickets have to be purchased when you get to the palace. You don’t have to worry about standing in line too long to purchase a ticket because the queue moves quickly, and there are a lot of ticket windows.

The price for an adult to enter the palace is 3,000 won. This is approximately $2.50 USD. It is an incredible deal, so there is no reason not to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace while in Seoul.

The ticket booths are located on the right-hand side of the courtyard if you’re entering the palace from the main gates. If you are using the side entrance that is closest to Insadong, the ticket booths are directly to your left when you enter.

You will easily be able to find the ticket counter no matter what entrance you use.

You have the option to purchase the Integrated Ticket of Palaces when you visit Gyeongbokgung Palace. This ticket costs 10,000 won (approximately $8.75 USD), and it gives you access to all of the major palaces in Seoul.

You will save 4,000 won ($3.50 USD) if you purchase the Integrated Ticket of Palaces rather than tickets to each individual palace.

It is a great deal if you are interested in visiting all the sights included in the ticket. All the sights included in the tickets are located in central Seoul and are walking distance from one another.

The Integrated Ticket of Palaces is valid for 3 months after the date of purchase, so you don’t have to visit every sight in a single day.

• Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Deoksugung
• Changdeokgung
• Changgyeonggung 
• Jongmyo Shrine (be sure to check times before you arrive as you have to take a guided tour, and they are only offered at certain times each day)

The palace is open every day of the week except for Tuesdays.

It is open from 9am to 6pm Wednesday through Monday, and it is busiest in the afternoon when a lot of tour groups show up.

You are able to take a free guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The tour is offered in English at 11am, 1pm, and 3:30pm. The tour takes approximately 1 hour.

You are guided through the main parts of the palace, and the guide explains the importance of the buildings as well as the history of the Korean royal family. You do not go through every building, but you will be shown the most important ones.

The tour moves quite quickly because there is a lot of information. I recommend you soak in all the information the guide gives you rather than worrying about taking pictures. You will be able to go back and take pictures once the tour is over, but you will not have access to the guide after the tour is over.

The guide will give you lots of information about the palace but feel free to ask any questions you have as you are walking from building to building.

The tours are often huge. You should try to stick to the front of the group as much as possible. The guide doesn’t always have time to wait for the entire group to show up to the next location, so you could miss parts of the tour if you are a straggler and not keeping up with the group.

The free guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace is a must-do for me whenever I am at the palace. You learn so much more than you do by just reading the information cards. Korea has an incredibly interesting history, and this tour is a great way to learn a little bit of it.

Gyeonghoeru Pavillion is one of the most famous and beautiful pavilions in Gyeongbokgung Palace. It opened to the public in 2018 after it was restored.

Gyeonghoeru is a banquet hall that was used when foreign visitors visited the royal family. It is a two-story pavilion located on a man-made lake, and it is absolutely gorgeous.

You are able to visit Gyonghoeru every year from April 1st to October 31st. The only way to tour the palace is on a guided tour, and you have to reserve a spot on the tour via the Gyeongbokgung Palace website. The tour takes approximately 30-40 minutes.

There are extremely limited spots on each tour, so it is quite difficult to get a spot on the tour. Each tour has spots for 60 Korea citizens and 10 foreigners. The tour is only offered in Korean, so you won’t be able to understand what is being said. You will, however, get to go inside the beautiful pavilion, so there are pros and cons.

There are two museums located at Gyeongbokgung Palace: The National Palaces Museum of Korea and The National Folk Museum of Korea.

Both museums are free to enter and are worth spending some time wandering around after you’re done touring Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The National Palaces Museum of Korea is a museum dedicated to the royal palaces of Korea. It is located on the other side of the main courtyard as the ticket booths.

It is a two-story museum that gives you a lot of information about the traditions of the royal family and the history of Korea. This museum is a great way to gain additional information about Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Korean royal family after you have toured the palace and gone on your free guided tour.

You can easily spend 3 or 4 hours in the museum if you read everything and watch all of the videos. I would recommend budgeting about an hour in the museum.

This museum is located on the right-hand side near the back of Gyeongbokgung Palace. You are able to access the museum either from the inside of the palace or from the sidewalk, so you don’t need to purchase a ticket to Gyeongbokgung Palace to enter the museum.

The National Folk Museum of Korea is free to enter as well. It is partially outdoor with exhibits showing old building and stores and partly indoors.

It is closer to a children’s museum than an adult museum. The museum showcases a lot of the cultural and folk aspects of Korean culture, and children seem to enjoy it. There are a lot of interactive exhibits for children to engage with.

There is a lot to see and do at Gyeongbokgung Palace. You can easily spend an entire day on the property and not run out of things to do.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is an important part of Korean culture and history, and you should make time to visit it during your trip to Seoul. You will learn a lot about Korean culture and have a better understanding of the country and its people.

The palace is extremely reasonably priced, and I always feel like I’m not paying enough to visit the historic sight. It is the perfect tourist attraction for people travelling on a budget because you get a lot more than what you pay for. You will not be disappointed when you spend money to tour Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is constantly undergoing restoration. In fact, less than half of the original palace is rebuilt! You will have a new experience every time you visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, and that is one of my favourite things about it.

The first time I visited the palace, Gyeonghoeru was under restoration. I was able to see the pavilion through a small window in the construction walls, and I fell in love. I knew I needed to go back and see it once it had been restored, and I was not disappointed when I went back. The entire experience was new and wonderful.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is a very special part of Seoul, and your visit to the city would not be complete without visiting it.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Bucharest may not be the first place you think of when planning a solo trip to Europe, but Romania is becoming an increasingly popular destination. That leads to a lot of people wondering is Bucharest safe for solo female travellers?

I’ve travelled alone to Bucharest before and have first-hand experience of what it is like to travel alone in Bucharest as a woman.

Hopefully I can shed some light on the question is Bucharest safe for solo female travellers and help you decide if it’s the perfect destination for you or not.

To answer the question is Bucharest safe for solo female travellers- the answer is yes!

I felt very safe in Bucharest, but there are a few things you need to know to make sure you’re extra safe.

Just like anywhere else in the world, there are things you can do to make your time in Bucharest more or less safe.

My philosophy is that most places are as safe as you make them.

So, I’m going to give you my top Bucharest safety tips, so you can be safe in Bucharest as a solo traveller.

Bucharest is a beautiful city and a must-visit if you’re already exploring Romania!

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

Just in case you skimmed the introduction to this article (I don’t blame you), I just wanted to reanswer the question is Bucharest safe.

The answer is yes.

Bucharest is a safe city, and solo travellers won’t have any issues travelling around the city and exploring freely.

There are some things you should be aware of before visiting Bucharest though.

While the city is safe, there are a few things you can do or get involved in that make it less safe.

I want you to be aware of these things, so you don’t fall into these traps or make some of the mistakes I did when travelling to Bucharest alone.

Just like many cities in the world, there are taxi scams in Bucharest you need to be aware of.

If you arrive in Bucharest at the airport or train station, there will be a line of taxis and a queue of people waiting to get in a taxi.

That may give you a false sense of confidence that everything is on the up and up, and the taxi drivers are legit.

There are, of course, tons of legit taxi drivers, and the majority of the taxi drivers are honest and will start the meter.

The issue is the few drivers that seem to wait around for an unsuspecting tourist and try to get them to get in their car even though they’re not the next car in the queue.

From my experience, the other taxi drivers were okay with this and didn’t fight the taxi driver that is trying to get the tourist in their car.

Even the security person who was monitoring and managing the line didn’t have an issue with this.

Then once you get in the taxi, they say they can’t start the meter or refuse to start the meter, and they drive off before you can get out of the car.

They then very much overcharge you and oftentimes won’t drop you off right at your destination but will drop you off a few blocks away and make you walk the rest of the way.

The obvious way to get around this scam is to not get in a taxi that skips the queue and to demand that they start the meter before you even get in the car or close the door.

It’s a really crappy scam to pull on tourists, but it is a very common one.

Use a gut check and don’t get into a taxi if you don’t feel comfortable.

I know this one sounds weird but hear me out.

In a lot of countries (including Romania), the precautions around sidewalk construction isn’t like it is in other countries like Canada or the US.

A lot of the time there aren’t signs, and the construction zone isn’t blocked off.

That’s all fine during the day, but it can make it easier to trip when walking in the evening.

My advice is to be extra cautious when walking in the evening. Be sure to watch where you’re walking.

You never know where there will be something you can easily trip on or a small hole you can twist your ankle in.

And yes. I’m talking from experience.

If you’ve read my blog before, you know I’m a big advocate for being internet safe- especially when travelling.

When you travel, you rely on public wifi networks at hotels and restaurants, and that is dangerous. Anybody who knows the password and wants to can access your private online information and data.

Including your banking information.

And, yes, even public wifi networks with passwords are dangerous because pretty much anybody can get the password and log into the network.

The only way to stay safe when using public wifi networks is to install a VPN on your devices.

A VPN puts a virtual forcefield around your devices that makes using public wifi networks as safe as using your home wifi network where you’re the only person who knows the password.

In my mind, installing a VPN on your devices is a must-do thing before travelling anywhere or using any public wifi network.

You may think it will never happen to you, but the last thing you want is to have your banking details stolen while you’re on holiday and have to cancel your card while you’re abroad.

That is a headache nobody wants to deal with.

I’ve been using NordVPN for my internet protection for years and absolutely love it!

It is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, which is extremely important for travellers.

You can connect up to six devices on a single subscription, so you can protect all your devices for one low cost.

There is no excuse not to install a VPN on your devices and protect your personal data from prying eyes.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online information with a VPN.

It’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind you get.

If you choose to go out on the town one night, be aware that the people who are buddying up to you and acting like your bestie probably don’t have your best interests at heart.

I’m not saying there aren’t tons of nice people to meet when you go out in Bucharest, but if someone seems too friendly, they may be a scammer.

There is a popular scam in Bucharest known as the “bar friend”. Someone spots a tourist in the bar and starts chatting with them and suddenly discover they have tons in common and quickly becomes friends with the tourist.

Sometimes people just want the tourist to pay for their drinks. Sometimes the scammers are in cahoots with the bartender to severely overcharge for drinks.

And sometimes it is much more devious, and they try to get the tourist to leave with them, and they try to rob you.

I’m not saying to not make friends at the bar, but I am telling you to be smart about it.

Don’t over indulge in alcohol and get so drunk you lose your senses.

And pinky promise me you’ll never leave the bar with someone or get in a taxi with them or go to their house.

That isn’t safe even if the person isn’t a scammer.

I hope this answered your question is Bucharest safe?

All things considered, Bucharest is a very safe city.

There are lots of fun tourist attractions to visit, the people are generally friendly, and the food is delicious.

You still need to be cautious though. Especially when you’re travelling alone.

As long as you use a reasonable amount of common sense and listen to your gut, you’ll be safe in Bucharest and have a great time!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, and it often doesn’t find its way onto the list of top places to visit in Croatia. So, that begs the question is Zagreb worth visiting?

And is Zagreb worth visiting alone as a solo traveller?

I personally don’t think Zagreb gets as much love as it should.

I loved Zagreb and 100% think Zagreb is worth visiting alone. It is so different than everywhere else you’re likely to visit in Croatia and is well worth a trip inland.

I don’t know why Zagreb doesn’t get the love it deserves, but hopefully that changes in the future!

This article will help you decide if visiting Zagreb is worth it for you and your travel style. I know Croatia is best known for it’s beautiful old towns, clear water, island hopping, and Game of Thrones.

But, there is more to the country than just the western coast. Zagreb is worth visiting as a solo traveller, and it isn’t even that far out of the way if your trip is centred around the coast.

I know this will be a controversial opinion, but Zagreb was my favourite city in Croatia that I visited.

A solo traveller’s guide to Croatia

The question here may be less to do with whether Zagreb is worth visiting alone or if it is worth visiting in general.

Zagreb is super solo travel friendly.

It’s easy to get around Zagreb either by foot or public transportation, it’s a bustling city where people are too busy to notice a solo traveller, the sights are better than you might think, and it is relatively affordable.

Especially when you compare it to some of the more expensive areas of Croatia.

Cough cough. The coastal part of Croatia and island hopping.

Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia and is by far the most populated city in the country. It has almost 700,000 more people than the next most populated city.

That alone makes Zagreb super unique from everywhere else in the country, but there are more reasons to visit.

Firstly, the architecture is stunning.

St. Mark’s Church is to this day one of my favourite churches I’ve visited. You don’t even need to go inside to appreciate it. The outside architecture (especially the roof) is so beautiful.

One of my favourite museums in the world is also located in Zagreb: the Museum of Broken Relationships. It’s exactly like it sounds and should not be missed!

And, of course, the main attraction that drives the tourists to Zagreb is Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Although I would say if you can go to Krka National Park on your journey up the coast, do that instead of Plitvice or in addition to it. I personally think it’s the superior waterfall in Croatia.

Outside of all the things you can do in Zagreb, it’s a super easy city to travel in. It’s a great city for people new to travelling alone and people who are experienced solo travellers.

Everybody is super friendly, you can walk to all the major tourist attractions, it’s very hard to get lost in Zagreb, and it won’t break the bank.

You can also find more variety of food in Zagreb than you can in the coastal cities. Pretty much any food you’re craving, you can find. And for less than in coastal cities.

The reason I love Zagreb so much and think it’s worth visiting is because of the vibe. Some cities have an amazing vibe that’s hard to put into words, and Zagreb is one of those cities.

There isn’t really a downside to visiting Zagreb alone.

It is a very easy city to travel in, and it is no different visiting Zagreb than it is visiting pretty much any other city in Europe.

What I’m saying is there isn’t anything particular about Zagreb that would make you not want to travel there alone.

If you’re comfortable with travelling alone or want to try travelling alone, Zagreb is a great choice if it’s a city you’re interested in visiting.

The only thing some people may feel uncomfortable with or hesitant about (especially new solo travellers) is visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park alone.

But the good news is is that it’s super easy to get to the national park via public transportation, or you can pay and take a guided tour.

If that’s the only thing that makes you question is Zagreb worth visiting alone, than you shouldn’t fret over that too much.

If you’re staying at a hostel, there is a pretty good chance you can find someone else in your room who is planning on going to Plitvice Lakes National Park the same day you are and go with them if you really don’t want to go alone.

Another reason you may not want to visit Zagreb alone is if you’re interested in going to the clubs and partying. I always find that it’s more fun to do that with another person.

So, either travel with a friend or make friends at your hostel if you’re staying at one.

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

The answer to the question is Zagreb worth visiting alone is yes.

At least in my opinion.

It’s a very easy city to travel in, has great sights for you to visit, and you likely won’t feel awkward being alone in the city.

If you’re thinking about visiting Zagreb alone, maybe this is the sign you need to book that trip!

• It’s the biggest city in Croatia and has a much different vibe than anywhere else in the country you’re likely to visit

• Lots of fun things to see and do including museums, culture, and nature

• Affordable compared to the coastal cities

• It’s super easy to get around Zagreb by foot or public transportation

• Nobody will bat an eye that you’re travelling alone

• If you’re not planning to see any other part of Croatia, it probably isn’t worth going to Croatia just to visit Zagreb

• If you’re interested in partying and going out a lot, you may want to visit Zagreb alone

• While Zagreb is cheaper than the costal cities, it isn’t the cheapest city in Europe. If you’re on an extreme budget, consider visiting Croatia’s neighbour Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s absolutely stunning and way cheaper than Croatia

Click here and use code TRAVELSWITHERICA for 10% off my favourite travel Instagram presets

No matter where you travel, you’ll be relying on public wifi networks a lot. The problem with public wifi networks is that anybody can access them and steal your personal online information if they know how to and choose to.

And yes even hotel and restaurant wifi networks with a password are still public wifi networks because anybody who is staying there or eating there has access to the password!

Relying on public wifi networks is essential while travelling, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your personal online information (including your banking information) at risk.

The only way to make sure your online information is safe when using public wifi is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts up a forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for people to access your online information.

It makes using public wifi networks just as safe as using your home wifi where you’re the only person who knows the password.

Being internet safe while travelling is so important, and not enough people are talking about it!

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs during my years of travel, and most of them frankly suck.

VPNs are notorious for slowing down your devices and making it super painful to use the internet.

I’ll be honest and say that there have been many times where I’ve put myself at risk and chose not to use a VPN because I was tired of how slow the internet was with the VPN turned on.

The frustration went away when I started using NordVPN.

It is the fastest VPN on the market, which is why I love it and recommend it to all my friends and family members. And to you as a fellow travel lover.

NordVPN is the only VPN service that I’ve enjoyed using and the only one that I’ve renewed my subscription with!

You can protect up to six devices with a single subscription, so you can keep all your devices safe and secure from prying eyes with one account.

Plus, NordVPN is super affordable.

The price of their two year plan is less per month than the price of a single latte at Starbucks.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect yourself with a VPN.

It’s a super small price to pay to know that all your personal online information is safe.

I hope this article has helped you answer the question is Zagreb worth visiting alone?

I 100% think Zagreb is worth visiting alone or with a group. It’s a beautiful city, and it is actually quite underrated.

You won’t see nearly as many tourists as you do in the costal cities, and it’ll feel like you’re really getting to know the city.

If you’re already planning on visiting Croatia, tack a few extra days on to your trip to visit Zagreb.

You won’t regret it!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on my affiliate link and purchase something (at no additional cost to you!), I may earn a small commission that helps me keep the blog running. Thank you so much for your support!

At first glance it may seem difficult to get from London to Disneyland Paris, but it really isn’t. You can get from London to Disneyland Paris with little to no hassle, and there is one route you can take that requires no transferring!

There are four different ways to get from London to Disneyland Paris. You can take the train directly to Disneyland Paris, the train to central Paris then the Paris metro to Disneyland Paris, you can fly, or you can take the bus.

This guide will only cover the first three methods because I don’t think taking the bus is practical or worth even suggesting to you.

The bus takes almost six hours and requires two to four transfers. That is way too much of a hassle when the Eurostar train is much quicker and than the bus.

In addition to telling you about all your different options to get to Disneyland Paris from London, this guide will also give you guidance on choosing the right option for you and your travel style.

Knowing the pros and cons of each travel method will help you choose what will work best for you. Different modes of transportation work best for different people, and my goal is not to tell you what works best for me but guide you in finding what works best for you!

This is the most direct, convenient, and quickest way to get from London to Disneyland Paris. Eurostar has one direct train a day from London St. Pancras station directly to Marne-La-Vallée (the train station located right at Disneyland Paris).

It leaves London at 10:15am and arrives at Disneyland Paris at 2pm. It is so quick and easy, but the downside is that there is only one train per day, and you may have to get up fairly early to catch the train depending on where in London you are staying.

NOTE: The direct train does not run between London and Disneyland Paris between early January and mid-February. You need to plan an alternative route if you are travelling during this time.

You will have to use the London Underground to get to St. Pancras in most cases, and that can take upwards of 45 minutes if you’re staying on the opposite side of the city and need to transfer to multiple different lines on the Underground.

You need to purchase your tickets online in advance on the Eurostar website. Tickets are available for purchase 180 days in advance. You should purchase your tickets as early as you can! This will give you the most options when choosing your seats, and Eurostar ticket prices increase as the date of departure gets closer and closer.

Eurostar tickets aren’t cheap to begin with, and they become extremely expensive if you’re booking tickets only a week or two in advance. I don’t normally plan things very far in advance when I travel, but I always get my Eurostar tickets the day I decide I’m going to be taking the train between London and Paris.

You need to print your ticket before you board the train. You will need a physical ticket. Unfortunately having an electronic ticket is not good enough, but hopefully that will change soon!

It is essential that you arrive at St. Pancras at least half an hour before your train departs! You need to go through security as well as customs, so be sure to have your passport or EU residence card easily accessible!

It is airport-style security, so you will have to remove your belt and remove any loose change from your pocket. Your bags will go through a scanner and by x-rayed. You will then go to a customs counter to get your passport stamped or your residence card checked.

Then you are free to board the train when it is time.

The entire process goes pretty quickly, but you don’t want to be too rushed. It is always safer to leave a little extra time than not enough and be stressed and rushing.

The first time I took the Eurostar from London to Paris, there was an issue with the Underground, and I arrived at St. Pancras ten minutes before the train departed! The staff was incredibly helpful and got me through security and customs quickly then escorted me to the train, but it was far too stressful!

You have the option to book a package directly through Disneyland Paris that includes your Eurostar train directly from London to Disneyland Paris. You can learn about the packages on the Disneyland Paris website.

A few of the features include:

• Complimentary luggage transfers from the train to your Disneyland Paris hotel
• Activity and colouring sheets for children on the train
• Round-trip direct train from London to Disneyland Paris and back
• Park tickets for the duration of your stay
• Accommodation at a Disneyland Paris hotel

This package option can be a good choice for some families. You need to review all of the package features before you make your decision. The inclusion of luggage transfers and the Eurostar tickets being arranged for you probably isn’t enough to justify the package price.

However, if you get a good deal on the hotel and the extra perks are attractive to you and your family, the package may be a great option. You really need to crunch the numbers of what the package costs versus what it would cost to pay for everything out-of-pocket. Oftentimes the package deals don’t save you as much money as they claim to.

• It is direct! This is by far the most attractive part of this transportation method.
• The trains arrives steps away from Disneyland Paris. You don’t need to worry about figuring out how to get to Disneyland Paris after you get off the train.
• It is quick. The journey takes less than three hours!

• The train from London to Disneyland Paris only leaves once per day.
• Last-minute tickets are going to cost you a pretty penny.
• It doesn’t run between early January and mid-February.

The next option is to take the train from St. Pancras station in London to Gare du Nord in Paris. Trains leave London for Gare du Nord approximately once per hour (normally at half past the hour). This means it is a lot easier to fit catching this train into your travel schedule because there are many more trains that leave.

The train from London to Central Paris takes about two and a half hours, so the transportation time to Paris is comparable to taking the train to Disneyland Paris directly.

This train is also direct, so you don’t need to worry about transferring to another train during your journey. You still need to go through security and customs, so all the previous advise regarding getting to the station early is still important!

All of the ticketing information that was outlined in the section about the train directly from London to Disneyland Paris still stands.

You should book your ticket as early as possible and up to 180 days in advance. Even though there are a lot more train options, it doesn’t mean that it is less of a risk to wait and book your ticket closer to the date of departure.

Eurostar still raises their ticket prices the closer it is to the date of departure. There are a lot of different train options, but it is a very popular route and often sells out. This is especially true if you are travelling on a weekend, during peak hours, or over a holiday.

Ticket prices will already be more expensive during those times than they are during non-peak times, and they will only go up in cost the longer you wait.

Trust me. You don’t want to procrastinate about booking your Eurostar ticket. You will end up regretting it in the long run, and you may even decide that taking the train isn’t worth it because the price has increased so much.

So please, please take my advise and book your train ticket early!

You’ve made it from London to Paris but now you have to get from central Paris to Disneyland Paris. In order to do that, you need to take the RER train to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy. You can either take RER B or RER D. Both RERs run very frequently.

In this post, I am only going to take about the RER B because it is the simpler of the two routes.

The first step is to follow the signs for the Paris Metro/RER. They will be easily visible as you walk from the train platform. Once you are in the portion of Gare du Nord that houses the RER, you will need to purchase tickets.

There are green ticket machines that allow you to purchase tickets without queuing to purchase them from a ticket booth. The ticket machines are very easy to use and offer many different language options if you don’t speak French.

Pro Tip: Walk past the first set of ticket machines you see right when you enter the station. They are always the busiest! There are more ticket machines further into the station that are less busy.

A one-way ticket from Gare du Nord to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy costs €7.50. The ticket machines accept cash, debit, and credit.

Now that you have purchased your ticket and are ready to get on the RER, follow the signs for RER B in the direction of Robinson / Saint-Rémy-lés-Chevreuse.

You can get on any train that stops on your side of the platform as you are getting off at the very next stop. Don’t get comfortable when you board the train because it isn’t a long ride!

You get off at Châtelet Les Halles (the next stop after Gare du Nord) and transfer to the RER A. The transfer from the RER B to the RER A is incredibly simple. You simply walk from one side of the platform to the other.

The RER A has two different routes, so you have to be careful to make sure you get on the correct train. You need to get on the train that ends at Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy. If you get on the incorrect train, you will have to backtrack and get on the proper train. It is a hassle that is easily avoided by ensuring you are on the correct train.

There will be an overhead display on the platform showing the end destination of the train. If it doesn’t say Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy, don’t get on that train.

Trains to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy run approximately every ten to fifteen minutes.

The journey once you get on the RER A takes just over half an hour so get comfortable and enjoy the ride. You don’t have to worry about accidentally missing your stop because Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy is the last stop on the line.

• It is quick and doesn’t require you to transfer trains.
• There are multiple departures every day.

• You have to navigate the Paris metro.
• It takes longer than the Eurostar directly from London to Disneyland Paris when you factor in the time you’re on the metro.

The last option is to fly from London to Paris then taking public transportation to Disneyland Paris. You can often find inexpensive flights from London to Paris by using Sky Scanner or Google Flights.

The inexpensive flights you find are often on budget airlines like Ryanair or EasyJet. This means you have to be cautious of extra charges like baggage, pre-booking a designated seat, and printing a boarding pass at the airport that can increase the price of your ticket.

You may also have to fly out from smaller airports like Stansted that don’t have the best ground transportation options. Or land at Beauvais-Tillé in Paris, which doesn’t have great ground transportation options either.

I advise you not to land at Beauvais-Tillé as it takes approximately three hours to get from the airport to Disneyland Paris. It is worth it to pay a little bit more for your flight to land at Charles de Gaulle.

It would be ideal to get a flight out of Heathrow or Gatwick and land at Charles de Gaulle in Paris. This will give you the easiest and quickest flying route from London to Paris. If you can’t land at Charles de Gaulle, Orly Airport would be the next best option to land at.

There are three ways to get from Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland Paris.

This is the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to get from Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland Paris. It costs €17.50 per person one-way and only takes 15 minutes once you’re on the train. The train doesn’t run as frequently as the metro, so it is possible you will have to wait up to 30 minutes for the next train to arrive.

The TGV leaves from terminal two and is one level below the ticketing counters. You take the train in the direction of Marne-la-Vallée and get off at Marne-la-Vallée (2 stops away from Gare du Nord). You don’t need to book tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at the airport when you arrive.

This is the method I would recommend to most people.

This is a bus that takes you from Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland Paris. It costs €23 for adults and €10 for children over the age of two. Children under the age of two ride free.

The Magic Shuttle Bus also departs from terminal two between sub-terminals 2E and 2F. Once you are near 2F, you will take exit 8 and walk outside until you reach the bus.

The bus rides takes approximately 90 minutes. It is more expensive and takes longer than the TGV, so I don’t recommend this option.

The final option is taking a taxi. A taxi costs €76 on average and takes approximately 40 minutes. This is quite expensive, and I wouldn’t recommend it to smaller groups. I would only suggest this as an option to people with a larger group where €76 is close to the cost of using public transportation.

You can get a taxi in any terminal, and they are available 24 hours a day.

Just like with Charles de Gaulle, there are three way to get to Disneyland Paris from Orly. They are via RER, the bus, or a taxi.

Taking the RER to Disneyland Paris from Orly requires two transfers and takes approximately 90 minutes. The cost of the entire journey is €10.

You start by taking Orlyval from the airport to Antony. At Antony you transfer to the RER B. You must make sure you get on an RER B train that stops at Chatelet Les Halles. At Chatelet Les Halles you will get off the train and transfer to the RER A.

As described earlier, you need to ensure you get on an RER A train that ends at Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy. You get off at Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy and walk directly to Disneyland Paris. It is as simple as that!

Orly has a Magic Shuttle that takes you directly to Disneyland Paris. The bus runs seven days a week between 9am and 7:20pm, and it costs €10 for an adult and €10 for a child. The shuttle takes 90 minutes on average, but it can take longer if there is a lot of traffic.

The Magic Shuttle departs from both the South and West terminals. They depart approximately every 40 to 80 minutes depending on the time of day. During peak hours, they depart more frequently at every 40 minutes. At off-peak hours, the bus runs less often at every 80 minutes.

The Magic Shuttle drops guests off at the Disneyland hotels. If you are going straight to the parks without dropping off your luggage, you should get off at the Disneyland Hotel stop as that is the closest hotel to the park entrance.

This is the most popular method of getting from Orly to Disneyland Paris, so it is quite often very busy. It isn’t guaranteed that you will be able to sit with your family.

I would recommend this as the best option to get from Orly to Disneyland Paris.

It takes the same amount of time as the RER, but you don’t need to transfer. You just get on the bus and get off. There is no need to figure out if you’re getting on the proper train and going in the right direction. It is far less stressful.

The final option is to take a taxi from Orly to Disneyland Paris. Below are the prices for a taxi to the parks:

• 1-4 passengers – € 65
• 1-5 passengers – € 70
• 1-6 passengers – € 75
• 1-8 passengers – € 80

You can pre-book your taxi here. If you don’t want to pre-book a taxi, you can pick up a taxi at any terminal when you land.

This is a good option for people with a large group. It is potentially less expensive than taking your entire group on the shuttle, and you don’t have to wait for the next shuttle to arrive.

• It is great for people who are staying near an airport in London or who are going directly from London to Disneyland Paris without leaving the airport.
• It is a great alternative for people who are afraid of taking the train.
• You can use frequently flyer miles or points to save money if you have them.

• It takes a lot longer than the train by the time you get to the airport, go through security, board, fly, disembark, go through customs, and then take public transportation to Disneyland.
• It is often more expensive than the Eurostar.

This is a difficult thing to answer because, as I said at the start, everybody has different travel needs. I think what will be most helpful is to highlight what type of traveler would enjoy each of the three different options. This will help you choose what is best for you!

But my personal favourite method of transportation is taking the train directly from London to Disneyland Paris. It is just so convenient!

This is the best option for people who are staying on or near Disneyland Paris property. It takes away the stress of trying to get from Gare du Nord or Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland Paris.

You simply get off the train and head to your hotel. It is the least stressful way to get from London to Disneyland Paris.

I would highly recommend taking the Eurostar from London to Disneyland Paris directly to anybody who is going to Paris specifically to go to Disneyland Paris and isn’t doing anything else in Paris.

Taking the train from London to Gare du Nord is great for people who are staying in central Paris or who are doing more in Paris than just Disneyland Paris. This option allows you to arrive in central Paris and then find your hotel in central Paris before heading to Disneyland Paris for a day trip.

This is also a great option for people who are travelling from London to Disneyland Paris during the winter when the direct train isn’t running. It gives you the convenience of taking the train with just a little extra hassle of taking the RER from Gare du Nord.

The train to Gare du Nord also gives you more flexibility than the direct train from London to Disneyland Paris because it runs more often. It is easier to fit into your travel schedule than the direct Eurostar train that only leaves once every morning.

This would personally be my last option. It is by far the longest option and often isn’t less expensive than taking the Eurostar train.

I think this could be a good option for people who are landing in London and going directly to Paris without leaving the airport or people who are travelling to Disneyland Paris from a different city in England other than London.

Taking a flight may be quicker and more convenient than going all the way into London then catching a train to Disneyland Paris.

But I wouldn’t recommend this option to people who are staying in central London. It is much easier to take a train from St. Pancras to Paris than head all the way to the airport and flying to Paris.

It is very easy to get from London to Disneyland Paris no matter what transportation option you choose. You could take the train first thing in the morning and still have half a day in the parks!

I would recommend looking into taking a Eurostar train. They are quick, convenient, clean, and you can find less expensive tickets if you book far enough in advance.

It is super easy to get from London to Disneyland Paris, and it makes a great addition to your Europe trip. I mean who doesn’t want to spend a few days at Disney?