It’s simple math: the more you save, the more you can travel. It’s what allowed me to extend a solo world trip from one year to two years (and to not completely decimate my overall life savings).

I’m solidly a mid-budget style traveler too - not a “true” budget traveler but decidedly not a luxury traveler either. Which means I’m saving as much as I can when I can, but also splurging here and there because you know - you only live once.

So while I DID spend many years saving up for my dream trip, I also was strategic and tried to stay money-savvy because solo travel can be quite expensive at times, and any money I did manage to save meant more travels later.

I’m sharing all the things I did as a full-time traveler that ended up saving me THOUSANDS of dollars. And I’m feeling fairly confident in promising you that you’re not doing ALL of these yet - so let me help you save & travel more too!

Traveling during the offseason & booking during off-peak times

Off-season travel might just be my holy grail at this point. Come for the lack of crowds and stay because hotel and activity prices drop quite a bit - I can’t think of a better combo. Shoulder season travel is still quite underrated, and even if you’re locked into a spring break / summer break type timing, SOMEWHERE in the world it’s shoulder season. The tradeoff is generally weather is not PERFECT and it can be unpredictable, BUT I think it is still absolutely worth it. Things to be aware of: road / trail / transport /restaurant closures during shoulder season / off-season.

And if you truly can’t make shoulder season work, booking during off-peak times can also help you save as well. I’ve saved on activities by being the very first ticket-holder, by being a mid-day ticket holder (especially when it’s hot out), or even just taking a mid-week ticket when sales are lower than the weekend.

Getting an ATM card that pays back ATM fees

Nothing makes me feel like an elite more than using whatever ATM I want (minus sketchy ones of course) even if the fees are outrageous (looking at you, hotel ATMs). Happily before my solo world trip, another traveler let me in on a hot tip to use an ATM card that pays back the ATM fees, and this alone easily has saved me hundreds of dollars (message me and I’ll let you know the one I have!).

Booking tickets either far ahead of time or totally last minute

Booking things like flights and train tickets in advance generally help you save a ton, so being decisive and forward-planning can be a huge bonus (to the great joy of Type-A travelers to hear I’m sure). As you get closer to your travel dates, no matter what time of year, prices tend to creep up, so the early bird truly does get the worm here.

HOWEVER … if you like to live dangerously, the high-risk high-reward is booking flights and even hotels at the VERY last minute to save $$$. SOMETIMES flight tickets will be astonishingly low at the last minute as the airline attempts to fill a flight, so I probably would only attempt this in an off-season situation. Similarly, hotels may dip in price - and for this I’d recommend an app to help you find these deals.

Stacking up on free activities

One of my favorite ways to start a new trip is to do a walking tour - but skip the actual tour and take yourself around for free instead. You’ll get a feel for neighborhoods and attractions and build a solid base for your trip. As a nature girlie, I also LOVE planning hikes and visiting parks too because 99% of the time they are both completely free and completely worth it.

If you’re a student, bring your student ID EVERYWHERE. You can use a student ID to do a ton of activities for free or for a much more discounted rate, especially in Europe.

Tip: check with the local tourism board office for tips on free activities or things like free museum days.

Using public transportation as much as possible

It might be common sense, but using public transport instead of car rentals and taxis WILL save you a ton of cash. I think for Americans especially, it’s quite nerve-wracking to try out a bus or metro abroad, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll realize public transport is pretty similar all over the world and that you can handle it.

Tip: look up to see if there’s a local public transport app in your city / country of choice - it will have the MOST up-to-date schedule and any changes due to things like maintenance or holidays. Google maps can be surprisingly good with public transport options and schedules around the world, BUT I’ve also been burned so it’s always good to cross check.

Tip 2: as a solo traveler, I STILL research what public transport options are SAFE vs UNSAFE* and adjust accordingly.

*Unsafe in my experience is usually more along the lines of - will my things get stolen, is there some sort of scam that could happen, or are the conditions of the transport unsafe (e.g. bus routes on sketchy roads).

Getting a travel credit card & building up points & miles

I fear I let points & miles intimidate me for way too long, but once I dipped into these waters I was COMPLETELY hooked (and I think you will be too!). There is so much information out there on points & miles and it is definitely overwhelming, so I’d recommend just starting small at first: sign up for your airline’s loyalty program and keep track of all your membership numbers. Pick ONE travel credit card to start with, wait for a good welcome offer, and time this with a large purchase (for me - camera gear or my next trip, but this could be things like furniture too) to make sure you hit the welcome offer spending amount.

One you’re ready to take it to the next level - get savvy on partner airlines and use transfer partners and transfer BONUSES instead of directly using your points. On my world trip, I used all the miles I had saved up to do my MOST expensive or longest distance flights - which immediately cut down on one of my biggest expenses.

Renting a budget Airbnb, grocery shopping, & cooking my own food instead of dining out

I’m not saying that trying out new foods isn’t one of the greatest parts about travel, but listen, you do not need to eat out for EVERY meal. Grocery shopping and cooking your own food can save you tons, especially in expensive destinations (Nordic countries, you’re killing me). Airbnbs are actually still great abroad and can be quite affordable compared to hotels (unlike in the US currently).

And even if you aren’t down to cook, it’s SO easy to grab groceries for breakfast or sandwich materials for lunch - cutting down on ANY meals out adds up. Tip: eat out for lunch to try local foods, but make dinner at “home” as dinner is usually the more expensive menu.

Staying FLEXIBLE - with travel dates, locations, & activities

When I’m booking a flight, I’m always opening up the entire month calendar and picking when to fly based on the cheapest day INSTEAD of staying stuck to specific dates. I know this isn’t always the most feasible with rigid PTO schedules, BUT it's worth a look to see if there are even just cheaper weeks or months to fly (even if you have to travel on a particular day of the week).

My other favorite activity: jumping on the “explore” page of Google flights and just seeing where in the world I could travel for cheap - it’s taken me to places I wouldn’t have considered otherwise, and these have honestly been some of my FAVORITE trips.

Flexibility is key to saving when traveling, and this even can come down to flexibility in activities - like being able to pivot to a cheaper day, and booking local & in person instead of online with a big company (this one was huge for me on my world trip).

Signing up for an email subscription that sends out cheap flight deals …

Time is money, and instead of trying to chase down a flight deal myself and waste hours hunting, I spend my money instead on an email subscription service that sends me deals. And I’ve found that booking just ONE deal pays for the entire subscription, so I think it’s always good to keep in mind that sometimes SPENDING a little money helps you save MORE money in the long run.

… and chasing a deal instead of a destination

And coming back to being flexible, if you can chase a deal instead of sticking with a specific destination, you’ll be able to see SO much more of the world and try out places you might not have considered. As much as I’m a type-A planner, all of the times I’ve spontaneously booked a trip JUST because I saw a killer deal has ALWAYS led to an incredible trip.

Even if I have a specific place in mind I’d love to visit, waiting until a deal comes around and booking it THEN has saved me so so much. And if this timing lines up with shoulder season too - you KNOW you have a double whammy saving wonder.

Asking locals for their tips & favorite places

Every time I conquer my introvert energy and chat up locals, I get the BEST tips on not only amazing places to try, but I’ve easily saved a ton by doing things like visiting local restaurants instead of tourist hotspots (and let’s be honest, the food is WAY better too!). Even if there’s a language barrier, using Google translate to chat and ask their opinion and what THEY like to do always leads to unique experiences I wouldn’t have found any other way. And the way locals just LIGHT UP when you ask is one of my favorite things to witness - because most of the time they are so enthusiastic and excited to share what they LOVE about their home with you, especially when you’re excited too.

Packing carry-on only & traveling light

Flying around the world with countless airlines means I would have had to pay SOOO many baggage fees if I didn’t just pack carry-on only. Sometimes it’s small amounts but WOW does it add up with international flights. Not going to lie, I’ve traveled enough that I definitely have some trust issues when it comes to checked baggage, so for me it feels like every time I pack carry-on only, I’m also potentially saving myself having to buy another wardrobe / all new toiletries / etc if my bag ever got lost (tip: use a travel credit card insurance for lost baggage!).

Paying MORE for refundable options - for flexibility or to recoup in case of a trip cancelation

Paying more for the refundable option physically makes me cringe, but every time I HAVEN’T done this option, something happens and I’m out $$$. Trust me, that extra bit can actually save you a LOT long term because inevitably with travel, something goes wrong and you’ll have to change your plans, miss a flight, or something is not what you expected - there’s so many possibilities. As a solo traveler I especially like having flexibility to change something if it doesn’t feel right.

And yes, you can get travel insurance and a lot of travel credit cards can cover things like this too, but honestly with full-time travel it was such a headache that it was easier for me to be able to just easily hit “cancel”. I also love having that feeling of spontaneity of completely skipping something I had planned and pivoting to something I learned about on my trip that I’m WAY more excited for.

Okay now I need to know - are you doing any of these to save money while traveling? Did any of these surprise you or teach you a new way to save? Share YOUR money saving hacks in the comments to help us ALL travel more!

Leave a comment

About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

July saw me in Barcelona and Costa Brava Spain, and then back home to spend time with my friends, watch the world cup final, and get caught up on my summer reading.

Each month I’m sharing a monthly round-up of what I’ve been loving & what I’ve been up to lately - a little behind the scenes that I don’t really share anywhere else! Maybe it will help you find something you love too, or inspire you to reminisce on the moments you want to remember from July.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

My favorite travel photos from July

Gaudí was a huge inspiration for me this month. This was my second time in Barcelona where Gaudí’s art and architecture covers so much of the city and I was once again blown away. I had a lot of fun taking some more abstract shots as well as the classic Barcelona tourist shots. I also LOVED the drone shots I got on the coast of Spain in Costa Brava as well as the framed up “cave” photo that took me HOURS to find the location of (worth it).

What I Read in July

I read 5 books in July, getting me up to 40 books so far this year (my goal is 70, up from 52 last year!)

⭐⭐⭐⭐The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - inspired by my time in Spain this month, I wanted to read one of the most famous Spanish authors (sadly my Spanish is NOT quite good enough to actually read it in Spanish yet). They’ve actually made this into a Netflix series which I will be watching in Spanish to practice. The book itself is INTENSE but wow so good - I can see why this is absolutely a classic that must be read.

⭐⭐⭐ Bromantasy by Maire Roche - a fun little cozy fantasy. I only gave it 3 stars because I felt like the book itself didn’t quite live up to the description, and some of the modernisms threw me off a bit.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kill the Beast by Serra Swift - I started this one after seeing a friend in my Silent Book Club reading this. It felt like Howl’s Moving Castle meets fairytale and it was an enjoyable read - I especially loved the focus on platonic love instead of a romantic love.

Recipe I Enjoyed

Of course paella is a MUST in Spain - and the one that blew me away is this version with black rice (from squid ink!). Here’s a recipe I found you can try from Caroline’s Cooking so you can make it at home and enjoy it too!

Outfit Inspo for Summer

Spain had some ICONIC shopping and this was my fav outfit I purchased from one of my favorite shops, Pull & Bear. The white skirt is PEAK Euro summer and I’ve been wanting one for ages. And of course, had to pair it with a yellow top (one of my signature photo colors).

Londre - my FAV swimwear brand for their iconic one-piece finally dropped a butter yellow version of their minimalist swimsuit (which I already own in red!) and I ran to buy it before my Spain trip.

Shows I Watched (& Loved)

I haven’t been watching a lot of TV lately as July was such a busy travel month, but near the end I rewatched one of my comfort shows, Our Flag Means Death on HBO. Sadly it got cancelled after 2 seasons but I did like the ending and would 100% recommend it. It’s about the legendary captain Blackbeard and wealthy landowner-turned-pirate Stede Bonnet. It’s cozy, it’s campy, and the representation is incredible.

Skincare I tried - Sunscreen Edition

As a ginger, I’m always on the lookout for great sunscreen. Unfortunately, I fell in love with a local Spanish sunscreen from Cantabria Labs - you know, the sort of thing I can’t really buy in the USA (cue tears). The US is well behind Europe and Korea in terms of sunscreen formulations, and to make matters worse - you can’t import foreign sunscreens with these formulations anymore (they have to make a US-ingredient version which tbh sucks). So my strategy is literally just to keep traveling and buying abroad, and bringing back as much as I can haha. But if you somehow have a hookup for this Spanish sunscreen, you let me know! As for a US brand that is abroad as well (I often buy it in Europe!), you definitely can’t go wrong with La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios line.

Travel accessory standout

Shoutout to my phone power bank because when I travel I’m charging my phone with it LITERALLY every day. Turns out, using your camera app nonstop is one of the biggest battery drains you could do. PERFECT, love that for me.

And I’ve been telling literally everyone I know to get a phone leash for Europe - I prefer just a wrist strap one but you can get a crossbody or longer leash too. Pickpocketing sadly is rampant in Europe and I was NOT about to lose my phone in Spain!

Music I’m Listening To

It might have come out in June but I am STILL jamming out to Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album, You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl so in Love. TBH I’d listen to anything she came out with because she is crazy talented. And as a fellow artist I was a huge fan of how all of her music videos from the album were created by other actual artists (and not AI!).

Those are just a few of my July favorites - let me know which ones you loved reading about, if you have any requests for future favorites (sections, specific items, etc), and of course share what YOU loved this July in the comments!

About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

Quarantined twice, deadly strain of typhoid once, and my phone almost ripped from my hands - and yet I’d visit all of these countries all over again.

As someone who spent 2+ years traveling the world full-time, I have had my fair share of surprises (both good and bad). And as a solo traveler, I feel uniquely qualified to speak on safety concerns and other issues us solo travelers are a bit more vulnerable to, or things that other travelers might not have noticed.

So I’m sharing the countries that surprised me the most in hopes it helps prepare you better for what you MIGHT experience. But I do believe everyone should experience a country for themselves to truly ascertain if they like it, if it felt safe, and if they’d visit again - so take my stories at the value of personal experience only, and not any harsh guidelines on places you should or shouldn’t visit (because I think you SHOULD visit them all!).

Guatemala (the good)

Guatemala completely surprised me and I don’t know why more travelers aren’t talking about it! Affordable, adventurous, truly some unique experiences you can’t find anywhere else (you HAVE to do the volcano hike) - it was easily one of my favorite central American countries.

Ecuador (the bad)

I LOVE talking up mainland Ecuador - it truly is underrated (stop skipping it in favor of the Galapagos!). BUT, that being said, Quito was probably my most stress-inducing city. I felt like everyone was watching me, I didn’t feel safe having my camera or phone out, and local cops even came up to me to warn me about local scams and to watch out for myself.

Egypt (the good)

Everyone says Egypt is super stressful because of the vendors and people hassling you, but I honestly wasn’t that bothered by it! However, a huge caveat to this is that as a long-time solo traveler at this point I am VERY experienced at ignoring people shouting at me, walking with purpose, and giving off a “don’t f with me“ vibe, which served me well here.

The Philippines (the bad)

I wanted to love the Philippines as much as everyone else - the beaches here are truly elite - but the island-hopping tours and day-tours STRESSED ME TF OUT. Super crazy, unorganized, and had a very uncomfortable experience with a male guide. While the people were overall SO SO nice, I felt very NOTICED as a foreigner and that also causes me stress as a solo traveler trying to be wary of my surroundings. I will say though - the larger / more touristed islands were worse for this, but smaller/local islands were SO much better and I felt more welcomed and a lot less perceived.

Jordan (the good)

Jordan was hands-down one of the SAFEST countries I’ve EVER visited - which probably surprises a LOT of people to hear! But I truly felt welcomed and so looked after by the locals - like I could legitimately leave my entire camera bag on the ground, walk off, and know it would still be there when I got back because someone was looking after it. I would recommend Jordan with my whole chest, incredible destination in the Middle East that deserves your tourism dollars.

Chile (the bad)

While Patagonia in Chile was amazing and felt very safe, in Santiago my phone was almost stolen (GET A PHONE LEASH FAM) and I felt like I couldn’t have my camera out for safety reasons. I now still get a bit anxious when someone bikes by me too closely. It was definitely a lot more nerve-wracking to be in this city than out in the countryside, so next time I’d probably skip the city and head straight into Chile’s amazing nature.

Namibia (the good)

If you are looking for Africa’s MOST underrated country, it’s NAMIBIA. The most surreal landscapes, incredibly friendly people, and so many unique experiences. I road tripped around and had such an incredible time, and would 100% do this trip again. Africa is already underrated in my opinion, and Namibia just proves the point - why aren’t more people going?!

Bolivia (the bad)

Hear me out - I LOVED BOLIVIA. It’s another very underrated country - just talk about the LANDSCAPES. Everyone visits Uyuni for the salt flats, but then skips the rest - but the rest is the best part! So what is the bad? Well … I got a really bad case of typhoid (despite having the shot) so food safety is not the best here.

Singapore (the good)

Safest country in Asia? Perhaps the world? Hands down, it’s Singapore. AMAZING for solo travelers but I’m begging you: DON’T stop at the airport and do nothing else - actually explore Singapore! I’m a huge nature girly and not usually as into cities but Singapore is SO nature-inspired it will absolutely turn you into a city girl.

Croatia (the bad)

Everyone loves Croatia but OOF I had a hard time. It’s crazy overtouristed at this point which stressed me out, and the locals all seem incredibly grumpy (although in their defense, I would 100% be grumpy dealing with tourists 24/7 too). But I think it’s worth noting that Eastern European culture is QUITE different from Western European culture so something to know if it’s your first time here!

Turks & Caicos (the good)

If you want a STUNNING and SAFE Caribbean destination - it’s gotta be Turks & Caicos. I sincerely don’t know why it’s not on more people’s lists - it has one of the most beautiful blue ocean water colors I’ve EVER seen! The only downside is that it is decidedly expensive.

China (the bad)

I had a particularly bad time in China because I got quarantined not once but TWICE many years back when the country was concerned about Swine Flu, and the conditions of quarantine for a high school girl were traumatizing. I do want to give China a second try as the food is SO good, the culture is SO rich, and it is just a stunning place with people who are so enthusiastic about sharing their wonderful country. But I might not do it solo - if you have blonde, red, or curly hair, or are a POC, you tend to get swarmed by people to take photos, and as an introvert that felt so uncomfortable so I’d definitely want a friend with me to help with the overwhelm.

Did any of these surprise you too? I love hearing people share their authentic travel experiences - sometimes just knowing what to expect can turn someone else's negative experience into something positive for your own trip.

But I also very much hate being negative on any country or specific place, because I do feel like sometimes our experiences as travelers are VERY personal and can depend on sooo many factors, a lot of which we can't control.

So I always want to say - take my experiences with a grain of salt and I FIRMLY believe that YOU have to experience a place FOR YOURSELF to truly know what it is like.

Have you been to any of these countries? What was your experience? Do you want me to make a part 2 to this piece?! Let me know in the comments!

Leave a comment

About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

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He leans in uncomfortably close and with a leering smile says “it must really be nice to have a sugar daddy.” It’s day 118 of my 2+ year long solo world trip, and I’m getting REALLY tired of reading this line typed by keyboard warriors on my latest Instagram post, but hearing this in person is truly a new level of hell.

“Oh yeah …” I say weakly with a tepid smile - as if he told a joke - drawing my body back. At this point in my life, I’m well experienced as a solo traveler, but today I’m just too damn tired to bother with some sort of comeback.

And sadly, this is line is just one of many I’ve heard over the years. As someone with a public social media account and a decent sized following documenting my solo travels, I think I’ve really heard it all. I’m sharing the ones that have popped up the most because it’s truly wild what people feel comfortable saying - and I know I’m not the only one who’s heard some of these egregious comments. And if I hope hard enough, maybe it’ll make someone else at think think a moment before jumping into any assumptions.

“So rich dad, huh”

Yes, because it’s 1973 and obviously I have no money of my own. This is a variation on the sugar daddy line, and I’m sure it’s playing on some insecurity of the audacity of a woman to not only pay for her own travels, but be “wealthy” enough to do so - while the commenter sadly is not traveling.

Even more jarring - getting this comment on a post about Thailand, a famously very budget-friendly country. Yes travel can be expensive, but it can also be wildly affordable. And what you don’t see on my Instagram is the LIFETIME’s worth of savings, the long work hours at my previous 9-5, the budgeting, the side-hustles, and the time I simultaneously effectively had 2 full-time jobs. So if anything too - rude to give a man credit for my hard work.

“It’s too dangerous, you shouldn’t go there”

This comment is always, ALWAYS, without fail, from someone who actually has NOT been to said dangerous place. And I really hate to say that when I was younger, I sadly DID let this keep me from visiting one of my now-favorite countries - think about how many more years I could have been visiting it!

As a female solo traveler, for sure a #1 question I get about so many countries is “is it safe there?” As much as I wish I could accurately rate it - the truth is is that safety can be quite subjective. With my travel experience, it takes a lot to rattle me now, so what feels safe to me might not feel safe to someone else. So I’m always of the thought that you should experience a place FOR YOURSELF before judging its safety level - and not listen to anyone else (even me).

And to anyone who hasn’t been there - don’t make a judgement UNTIL you have physically been there. We hear all kinds of (let’s face it) propaganda on the news, and so many places are sensationalized BECAUSE that’s a more interesting story. Let YOU be your own judge of a place’s safety, and please don’t let someone else’s misconceptions stop you from a solo trip.

“Where is your husband?”

With a wedding band, without a wedding band, the populous is quite concerned my theoretical husband isn’t RIGHT THERE with me in that EXACT moment. You never know - maybe he got food poisoning and is back in the hotel room and unfortunately for you, I still have the confidence to do part of a trip alone. Or maybe he doesn’t exist at all - and I really don’t love the assumption that every woman past a certain age MUST be partnered up at this point.

“When are you going to stop being selfish, settle down, and have kids?”

Okay to be fair to men, I’ve unfortunately received this one from women too. I’m a childfree solo traveling woman, and truthfully, I will actually never settle down. Because travel is my job, and even if it isn’t, I wouldn’t stop traveling anyway (with or without a kid). I won’t argue whether or not I’m being “selfish” (because I’m not changing any minds already set) but even if it is - why not let a woman - for once in the history of the world - put herself first.

I am proud of the fact that I am truly the FIRST woman of my bloodline who could CHOOSE to do this for herself. To choose to travel. To choose whether or not to have children. To choose a job that enables me to travel. I also don’t think any less of someone else’s choices, because we each are living our own lives. For all we know, this is our one and only life, so why not choose what is right for YOU.

“Are you single?”

How many women have heard this one?! “Ask me anything” I write on my stories so my audience can ask for travel tips to a specific place, how to take self-portraits, where I’m headed next, what I’m doing at home, etc. But EVERY single time, without fail, there’s at least one “are you single?” That’s also not counting the number of men boldly sliding into my DMs, uninvited. It’s at the point that I know certain “keywords” in my DMs that just get an immediate block.

I don’t know what it is, but something about my solo travel seems to signal that I’m obviously available AND desperate for a boyfriend. Because apparently it’s hard to imagine a woman thriving on her own, she must always be on the hunt for companionship.

“Lucky you”

A bitter laugh, a grimace emoji to accompany this one. If I waited for luck I would have gone to zero countries. It isn’t luck that I travel so much but savings, hours spent researching and planning, booking, double checking, working, dragging myself out of bed in the early hours to trek across the globe, putting myself outside of my comfort zone to try new things, new foods, and meet new people, and choosing to do it all over again. I won’t say that travel isn’t a privilege, because I absolutely have passport privilege, white privilege, and privileges I probably haven’t even realized yet. But waiting on luck instead of MAKING your own luck and just making the DMN TRIP HAPPEN no matter what (cue solo travel) will always leave you bitter and stuck.

“Well don’t walk alone at night”

Look, I appreciate the sentiment and possibly the well-wishes of this one, but at its core it is 100% mansplaining to me. Every woman in the world has been trained by life, the world, and others to do a myriad of a million little checks and actions to (hopefully) ensure our safety. We are hyper-vigilant, hyper-aware, and chronically stressed by always being “ON”. I’ve had trips where I felt such a deep, unending exhaustion just from my hyper-awareness during the day - even if I didn’t do much else that day.

So yeah, not walking alone at night I fear is common sense. And actually … there are places in the world where it IS 100% safe for women to walk alone at night. I’ll let the women make up their own minds where they feel safe to do so.

“You’re brave”

Am I??? Surface level, this one feels like a compliment. But to me it always felt a little back-handed. It’s the assumption that solo travel is outside of the normal range of experiences and actions that women take, and therefore something novel to comment on. Yes, solo travel has absolutely made me MORE brave, and I HAVE done things I’d consider “brave” (or possibly stupid) - but those are small moments and not just me existing as a solo traveler. And it frustrates me, because it is yet another way to place solo travel outside of the sphere of accessibility for women, who might believe you HAVE to be brave to solo travel. Believe me, I still get scared, I cry, I absolutely get anxious, but I’m not letting any of that stop me from solo travel because I know it’s not bravery, but just a simple choice to show up.

“Well she’s ugly anyway.” “Stupid.” “Cringy.”

***Insert some other insult about my appearance, voice, clothing, experience, knowledge, etc.*** The hate comments on social media will floor you if you’ve never jumped into a solo female traveler’s comment section. Insults slung around just for maximum impact, just to assuage a fragile ego, just to try to put a woman back down a peg with cruelty.

I’m truly grateful to be in my 30s now, because every year IDAF more, but I HATE thinking about all the women out there forming their sense of self and being met with hate for no reason other than the fact that she dared to travel by herself. (Tip: from one woman to another (from a female mentor of mine!) - add a “hidden word” or “blocked” list of words on your social media account. It’s not perfect, but it can hide some of the comments at the start, and it is a huge mental health save.)

The world is already hard enough - can we please just be nicer to each other? Can we please let women travel where they want to travel, with whomever they do or do not want?

AND can we please stop commenting these lines, please and thank you - signed, a female solo traveler.

Have you received any of these lines before? Did any of these surprise you? I’d love to hear YOUR stories and experiences in the comments!

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Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

I am NOT letting you walk away from ANOTHER solo trip without photos of yourself, so sit down, notebook out, and camera on because we’re taking photos of ourselves without partners, without friends, and (mostly) without strangers.

My qualifications: I’ve been to 50+ countries and of those, I’ve visited 30+ solo – so I’ve had to learn how to take photos of myself through trial and error (an exercise in humility, truly).
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So I do know just how excruciatingly uncomfortable it feels at first, but TRUST me, it’s one of the MOST rewarding parts of your trip to come home with amazing memories with YOU in the shot!
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And just because you’re traveling solo doesn’t mean you can’t get STUNNING photos of yourself – so I’m sharing my best tips because us solo travelers stick together (metaphorically of course haha).

I won’t make you wait any longer - let’s get into it!

Setup a tripod

Whether that’s a phone tripod or a camera tripod, try to buy one that has a wide base and a bit of weight to it so it doesn’t blow over in the wind! You can even get a little magsafe, fold-up tripod for the back of your phone - we really don’t need to go crazy with it.

BUT I’d say the taller the better for more flattering angles, so one that extends to (almost) your height is ideal.

Use a remote or timer (or intervalometer if you’re feeling fancy)

Bluetooth remotes are a great tool for phone photos, and you can use a timer for either your phone or camera. The downside is that a phone camera usually maxes out at 10 seconds, and a camera timer maxes out at 30 seconds, which means I hope you can run & pose fast, my friend. My tip would be to COMBINE these options - so use a Bluetooth remote WITH a 2 or 5 second timer - because that gives you time to hide the remote (expert move right here).

BETTER: my personal favorite tool is an interval timer (like the LensBuddy app for phones) or an intervalometer. My camera has a built-in intervalometer, but you can buy one to attach to your camera too. What it looks like is you set up 1) when the photos should start (e.g. in 45 seconds or 2 minutes), 2) what the interval should be between photos (I usually use 2-3 seconds) and 3) how many images it should take (10, 80, 100+, the world is your oyster).

Be patient

I wish I had a dollar for every person who asks me “how do you get a photo without anyone in it” because the honest answer is 1) get up for sunrise (no one likes this) and/or 2) be patient (people still don’t like this).

Because sometimes no matter what you do, you just can’t avoid other people being in the shot. BUT if you wait just a few minutes, you’ll probably get a quick gap and thus an opportunity to get a photo! It can sometimes just take time but you might actually be surprised with the window of opportunity that presents itself.

It’s okay if people stare at you (really)

When you’re taking a photo of yourself, it’s easy to feel like people are judging you, but 9/10 times they are actually ADMIRING you. And this is coming from someone not just using a cutesy phone tripod, but a big girl camera + giant daddy tripod situation that is a WHOLE THING. However, I MORE often get asked if I can take someone else’s photo for them too than any sort of ridicule. People will see you in action and think “wow, that’s so cool, I want that photo too!”

And if someone IS judging you - just remember, YOU are the one who will walk away with epic photos AND more importantly, you’ll never see them again! Just do you and if you truly feel uncomfortable, it’s also okay to pack up and try again somewhere else or on another day (I still have off days!).
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But … keeping your phone/camera safe?!

Another top question I get: “aren’t you worried about leaving your camera on a tripod?” Surprisingly, no! I’m usually not.

But I do try to take photos of myself early in the morning before others are around. I’ve also physically walked away from people to be on my own or find a different area to take photos in. AND because I do still have trust issues, I have all of my stuff tagged with Airtags / Chipolo trackers (on my camera, backpack, etc.). You can also share your FindMy phone location with a friend!

That being said, I also think it’s smart to do a quick safety check in of - who is around you, is it busy, does it FEEL safe to you. Because I’d rather you skip the photo just this one time than risk your gear. I’ve definitely shown up and felt much more uncomfortable than I expected setting up my gear, so I packed up and moved on.

Try out a drone

Here’s the thing: you can just SKIP the tripod situation all together and use a drone! It’s just a way more extra version of a tripod, but the added bonus is you can get EPIC and super unique shots. Some of my favorite travel self-portraits are from my drone!

Tip: there’s actually an interval timer and/or normal timer feature on many drones, so you can even avoid having the remote in the frame if you want. NGL I can be lazy and just leave it in, but I’ve also been INSANE and SWAM to a photo spot, so leaving the controller behind can be ideal sometimes too.

Ask another traveler

While this isn’t my first choice - because how many times have you asked a stranger for a photo and they somehow choose the WORST possible way to capture it(?!).

BUT try offering to take their picture FIRST to break the ice. And then be specific when it comes to your own ask: show the person how you took their image and describe it (e.g. “with my feet at the bottom of the frame”, or “if you can just hold the phone at your waist level”). Make sure to also ask them to take a TON of photos (“button mash!”) while you move around. If you’re using your phone, live or burst mode on can really help too.

Figuring out how to pose

Save pose inspiration (shameless plug: like the tutorials on my Instagram or from my free mini pose guide here) to get started. Keep it really simple at first, and aim to find 1-2 go-to poses that always look good and that you always feel comfortable in.

You can also try using MOTION instead of static poses - it will look a LOT more natural and less like you’ve stiffly memorized a pose and now you’re a deer in the headlights panicking (speaking from experience here). Motion can look like - walking, twirling, adjusting your hair or outfit, putting on sunglasses.

Remember that it’s a PROCESS too - it can take a few times to get the pose you like & feel comfortable in! I truly believe that being photogenic is a SKILL just like any other that you CAN learn with practice, because I absolutely went from train wreck to full-on model mode. That being said, it DID take time, so you do have to be willing to put yourself out there and be a bit vulnerable so that you can learn. But WOW is it not the most rewarding thing ever when you just NAIL a pose and you’re feeling sky-high confidence!

And just remember - were you an EXPERT when you started solo traveling?! Of course not - but you learned, made mistakes, shook them off, and got to a place where you LOVED solo travel and felt SO grateful you tried at all.

And just have fun with it!

Dance around, laugh at yourself if you feel silly, and remember how excited you’ll be to have beautiful memories of your travels with YOU in them!

And trust me, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be addicted to getting photos of yourself!

If you enjoyed this post and want more travel photography tips, you can grab my free travel photography guide here.

And of course make sure to (((SUBSCRIBE))) for more posts like this!

Let me know if you have any questions or requests for tips on anything photography, solo travel, or posing related! I’d love to hear from you in the comments ⬇️

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About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

This year, instead of having a relaxing Euro summer by the Mediterranean, drinking Aperol Spritz from a gorgeous balcony overlooking the ocean, I decided why not climb some MOUNTAINS in Norway instead?!

And not just any mountains in Norway either, but the mountains at the very tippy top in the Arctic Circle - where you have to take at least two little hopper flights (AFTER your 2-3x international flights) to even reach the islands.

Because I have zero chill whatsoever, I picked out hikes almost EVERY single day of the trip, which ALL easily hit over 1200+ feet of elevation gain … but only over a distance of 1-2 miles (ie STRAIGHT UP A MOUNTAIN).

Naturally, I need to get in shape quick. I have already been lifting weights at the gym consistently for over a year, but there aren't a ton of extremely high mountains nearby where I'm currently living to train at.

And I’m pretty much one bad day away from a knee injury semi-constantly from what I fondly dub my “old lady runner knees” (cross country & track really did me in), so I also knew I needed to be proactive in getting in the RIGHT kind of shape to help protect my knees for this specific activity. TIP: whether you have “good” knees or “bad” knees, I’d highly highly recommend bringing (or renting) a set of trekking poles for any hikes with elevation - these are the pair I purchased for my trip (affiliate link) - because these have legit saved my knees in the past.

So to help prep for intense cardio and to hopefully not kill my knees, I found a public staircase in town AND found a RIDICULOUSLY GOOD stair workout video from Outdoor Adventure Training - because this level of cardio does me in every time, but hopefully it’ll make summiting those mountains much easier (I HOPE).

I structured my workout from THIS exact YouTube video (the visuals might be helpful to understand this workout), adapting it into a written-out workout below (and for reference, the staircase I’m using is almost 75 feet of elevation, but you can do this with a single staircase, just do each section three times):

Stair Workout to Prep for Hiking Mountains

Workout from Outdoor Adventure Training

• Single stair steps warm up

  • Walk up the staircase as you would normally, 1-3 times to warm up

  • TIP: Drive through your full foot and from my PT - imagine you are “pulling” yourself up with your top foot, which will help activate your glutes better

• Double stair step up

  • Hike up the stairs skipping every other step

  • TIP: Keep your shoulders stacked over your hips

• Quick feet

  • Head up the staircase by stepping 2 feet per stair OR one foot on each as fast as possible (but also not so fast it’s out of control - we want to be safe!).

  • About halfway, switch which foot is leading OR do this 2x; once with your right foot leading and once with your left foot leading

• Stair sprints

  • Run up the stairs - one foot on every stair or go up every other stair (as in the double stair step up)

• Optional & recommended in initial training weeks: take a quick break after this last cardio and drink water

• Side step

  • Stand sideways on the stairs and sidestep your way up, starting with two feet on the same stair

  • About halfway, switch which foot is leading OR do this 2x; once with your right foot leading “uphill” and once with your left foot leading “uphill”

  • Tip: make sure your knee doesn’t collapse in

• French step

  • Stand sideways on the stairs with one leg up on a stair and one leg on the stair below. With your downhill leg, cross over your uphill leg to the step ABOVE your uphill leg

  • About halfway, switch which foot is leading OR do this 2x; once with your right foot leading “uphill” and once with your left foot leading “uphill”

  • Tip: keep your full foot on the stairs AND hold onto a hand railing to help with balance (take your time here!)

• Bunny stair hops

  • With two feet on one stair, hop one stair up at atime

  • As you progress, hop faster (start SLOW in the beginning)

  • Tip: try to land soft (focus on CONTROL)

  • Optional add-on: bunny stair hops DOWN the stairs

• Single leg stair hops

  • On one leg, hop one stair up at a time

  • About halfway, switch which foot you are hopping on OR do this 2x; once with your right foot hopping, and once with your left foot hopping

  • With practice and confidence, you can can increase your speed as you progress

  • Tip: try to stay in straight line and don’t be afraid to hold a railing to help you balance

  • Optional add-on: single stair hops DOWN the stairs

• Optional but recommended: take a break, drink water

• Lateral double leg hop

  • Stand sideways facing the stair. On two legs, hop one stair up at a time, all the while facing sideways

  • About halfway, switch which side you are hopping up from OR do this 2x; once facing each direction

• Lateral single leg hop

  • Stand sideways facing the stair. On one leg, hop one stair up at a time, all the while facing sideways

  • About halfway, switch which foot you are hopping AND which way you are facing on OR do this 2x; once with your right foot hopping, and once with your left foot hopping

  • With practice and confidence, you can can increase your speed as you progress

  • Tip: don’t be afraid to hold a railing to help you balance

• Optional add on: jump diagonally left and right

• Controlled descents

  • Slowly descend the stairs, focusing on control (imagine at any point you had to freeze and have full balance)

  • Tip: make sure you’re planting your whole food, and allow your knee to come over the toe

• Lateral step down

  • (Opposite of the Side step)

  • Stand sideways on the stairs and sidestep your way down, starting with two feet on the same stair

  • About halfway, switch which foot is descending OR do this 2x; once with your right foot descending “downhill” and once with your left foot descending “downhill”

  • Tip: make sure your knee doesn’t collapse in

Notes and more tips:

• Week 1: do each exercise 1x

  • For reference, the staircase I’m using is almost 75 feet of elevation, but you can do this with a single staircase, just do each section three times

• As you progress, work up to 2x on every exercise, and then to progress to 3x on every exercise. Progress as YOU feel able to - don’t rush moving up just to move up - no one wants an injury!

  • For a single staircase, workup to 6x sets and then 9x sets

• To continue progressing and simulate a hiking backpack, add weight (like a variable weighted vest - affiliate link)

  • Start with 5-10% of your body weight and slowly increase weight each week, working up to (and potentially beyond) your hiking backpack weight

• I’d recommend 4-8 weeks of training if you are already fit and very active, 8-12 weeks of training from an average fitness level, or 4-6 months starting from an inactive lifestyle

• Make sure to hydrate properly! I packed these electrolytes for each hiking day (affiliate link), but they can also help for prep and recovery if you are sweating a lot while doing this workout

• Consult with a physical therapist and/or your doctor before attempting this workout and taking any short of supplement such as electrolytes, as I am NOT a doctor

Let me know if you try this workout too - it is SUCH a butt and thigh burner! But hopefully you find it helpful for getting in hiking shape this summer (or in shape in general for all kinds of adventures!), whether or not you have mountains nearby. And of course if you have requests for future posts, let me know in the comments below!

Leave a comment

About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

I used to take sh*t photos of myself.

I’m talking peak awkward, no posing to be found, just all around horrid images. And before that, I took NO photos of myself. I was a proud landscape photographer, always behind the camera, no image of me to be found.

But when a mentor of mine heard I was posting my photos on social media, she challenged me to take photos of myself and not just landscapes. She was a marketing major and saw the potential before I did. “Brands want to see YOU” she told me vehemently. “If you want to make any kind of living from this, I think you need to show YOU.”

So like a good former 4.0, type-A student, I dutifully gave it a try. I set up my tripod much like I would a landscape photo, set a timer, and ran out in front of the camera.

Aaand it was awful. *I was awful. I tried again.

Still awful. Actually, decidedly worse. I tried again.

STILL terrible, okay. Let’s try AGAIN.

… and somewhere down the line of throwing myself mercilessly in front of the lens (despite the abundant evidence to my considerable lack of any modeling talent), something was beginning to click. And no, the click was not me actually getting good at self-portraits. Because it was something else.

It was the feeling I got looking at this image from my travels where I saw not just my trip, but ME enjoying my trip. And the memories came rushing in so powerfully of how I felt that day, what it was like to be standing there. I started to see the process differently.

Selfies and self-portraits help you remember your travels & memories SO much more powerfully

There’s something about seeing yourself in the photo that brings back EXACTLY how you felt in that moment. It gives you something more to connect to and tap back into that brings your memories powerfully to the forefront.

Self-portraits can also help you recall specific moments or smaller moments you might have forgotten - like a selfie meeting a fellow traveler and having a conversation you might otherwise not remember as time passes.

Part of this memory is that to take a self-portrait at all instead of a quick point-and-shoot is that it forces you to slow down, to set up the shot. Which in turn helps you to be more present in the moment - allowing for that moment to be savored, extended, and given more life.

Self-portraits build confidence

Even if you HATE photos of yourself, please trust me when I say that embarking on a path of taking more photos of yourself WILL build confidence in the long run. It definitely won’t be an overnight change, and that’s okay. As I often tell my posing students, being “photogenic” is absolutely, unequivocally a SKILL that CAN be learned. Yes, some people might start further down the path (as with ANY other skill) but you CAN learn your angles and what makes YOU feel confident.

And honestly - a HUGE part of taking photos of yourself that you actually like is just getting used to seeing yourself. Not shying away, not critiquing from a place of “beauty”, but instead studying and learning: “okay this pose isn’t quite right, so I don’t love this photo, but what if I just changed THIS the second time I try.”

When you focus on the pose, the photo, and take that step back from tiny details you’d otherwise fixate on, it will help you get over the first hump of capturing yourself. And once you get those initial (yes, probably sh*tty) self-portraits out of the way and keep trying, the confidence that flows from this practice is monumental.

Because now you are only judging YOU against YOU and how you can slowly improve how you show up in photos. You get used to you, and you’ll realize things that used to bother you just really don’t anymore. You learn YOURSELF and you learn what makes you feel good, and that confidence only grows.

Self-portraits change your relationship with yourself

The practice of taking self-portraits forces you to spend time with yourself, which honestly isn’t something most of us spend enough time doing. If you aren’t a solo traveler like me, it’s even more important that you set aside time to get to know yourself and embark on this path of self-discovery.

I truly believe that deeply learning yourself leads to loving yourself, and this absolutely changes the relationship you hold with yourself. And since you will be with YOU every day, I can’t think of anything more vital than to cultivate than a love and relationship with yourself that can stand stronger than any outside force.

Self-portraits allow you FULL control over how you are portrayed

As a young women spending time with other photographers, I saw how soo many male portrait photographers approached capturing women from a place of sexuality first and foremost. It was like watching the male gaze in the most visceral sense, and I felt the deepest, most unsettling feeling anytime a male photographer like this would capture me. This feeling further pushed the inner narrative that having photos of myself was uncomfortable, and that I didn’t like it.

And of course, MANY male photographers do a phenomenal job of capturing their female subjects with care (I am a HUGE fan of a boudoir photographer on the West Coast who is incredibly respectful, nurturing, and fiercely protective of consent). But if you have unfortunately encountered the opposite, it can really affect how you see yourself (in a world where we as women are already told SO much about what is “beautiful”).

So when you (as a man / woman / non-binary) take the power back into your own hands and capture yourself, you realize that you get to control EVERY aspect of how you are portrayed. You can choose exactly what you wear, what EMOTION you show (because yes, you can show ANY emotion you want, not just joy!), how much of you you show, and you can control even down to how you like to edit your images to further push the narrative of how YOU want to present yourself to the world.

Self-portraits challenge & build your photography skills & creativity

Reading this - you may or may not be a self-described photographer. But no matter where you are in your photography journey, taking self-portraits (or even just better selfies) absolutely will grow your skills. And when you capture that GREAT photo of yourself - even from a hobbyist standpoint - it is SUCH a rush.

I know for me - even coming from a photography background - diving into self-portraits was still one of the MOST challenging forms of photography I had EVER attempted - more so than landscapes, wildlife, macro photography, and even portrait photography of others. There are just so many aspects to it from the technical skill of even capturing yourself in focus at ALL, to learning the skill of posing and camera confidence, down to how you edit photos of yourself versus other styles of photography.

And nothing, NOTHING has grown my skills or my creativity more, and I still am CONSTANTLY learning, constantly improving, constantly re-challenging myself to capture better images.

Self-portraits allow to you to connect deeply with your community

There is no better way to connect with your community - be that a social media following or your friends and family - than showing YOU. Humans connect with other human faces on a deep, intrinsic level that cannot be matched in any other image. There’s a reason one of the best National Geographic covers of all time was an image of a girl who stares right back into your eyes with a challenge and intensity that is simply unforgettable.

The vulnerability of sharing yourself with the world opens up a door with the viewer that feels real, raw, and deeply authentic. As an influencer, you become vastly more approachable. As a content creator, you become vastly more enticing to brands - who seek to use that connection you have with your audience to better tap into their ideal client’s wants and needs. And simply as a human, you become vastly more relatable and engaging just by being YOU.

Self-portraits will change your life

After teaching a posing workshop at a travel conference, I will forever remember the light and happiness on my students faces when they “unlocked” this new ability to confidently capture themselves. I STILL get messages and tags from people who have FINALLY found the bravery to capture themselves (and actually love the images).

If I could do anything with my platform, it would be to keep imparting this confidence and this pure JOY because I’ve seen first-hand and second-hand too of how it truly IS life-changing.

For me, self-portraits allowed me to have my dream job, and to travel the world. For my friends, it allowed them to love themselves even deeper than they had before - to look upon themselves with so much more kindness. For my students and followers, it’s opened up career opportunities, community connection, self-discovery, and self-growth.

So from the bottom of my heart, I’m begging you. BE F-KING VAIN and take more photos of yourself. Consider this your official permission to take ALL of the selfies because no, it’s not shallow, it’s not truly vain, it’s an expression of SELF, of joy, of knowledge, of love.

NOW GO OUT THERE AND MAKE ME PROUD, MY FUTURE PHOTO BADDIES!

And ofc tag me @roamfreerebecca because I want to see YOU in ALL of your infinite beauty!

Do you take many photos of yourself? Has this inspired you too? Or do you need some posing tips and tutorials from me??? Let me know in the comments! ↓

Leave a comment

About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

If I told you I’ve visited almost 50 countries, 30+ of which I’ve gone to solo, AND I spent over two years solo traveling full-time, you’d probably assume I have it all figured out. I’m sure that’s exactly how my social media looks too - posed, perfected, planned. And yet somehow I am STILL out here making mistakes (turns out being human is hard), which is why I’m sharing some of my solo travel struggles in case they resonate with you too.

Don’t get me wrong either; solo travel is one of the greatest things I do and have done for myself. I will ALWAYS recommend it and I can’t see myself ever quitting solo travel.

But that being said, there are definitely some things I absolutely still struggle with that I’m not seeing enough solo travelers talk about.

Decision fatigue.

Being the only one to choose where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and more is SO so tiring after a while. Every single decision you are managing on your own (amazing I love picking where to go) but that includes all the little things you don’t think about too (no truly what DO I want to eat???). Sometimes all I want is for someone to pop out of a bush, point to a restaurant on a map, and tell me exactly what to order (my new love language?!). Managing every little thing solo is tough, and it can definitely wear on you the longer you solo travel.

Not getting to try all of the food.

Not being able to try multiple dishes at restaurants because I have no one to share with is actually a crime. Yes, sometimes I’ll order multiple dishes, but it’s not super cost effective to do that often (which IS why I love a food tour). So most of the time it takes me FOREVER to sample all of the local food (ALSO why I love doing cooking classes too!). The most tragic example of this recently is when I was living in Spain, where tapas (little plates of food) is a huge thing, but not really something you can try out so well solo (and can we talk about some paellas are a minimum of two people to order?!).

Anxiety.

And I know for me this is also just a personal struggle as well, but the anxiety is so very real, no matter how much I travel - whether that's worrying I’ll over-sleep my alarm or trying to be prepared for all the problems I’ll face. Although thankfully, my anxiety is way less this year than how I used to be, so I do like to credit solo travel for making me a lot more resilient in the face of anxiety. It doesn’t really ever fully go away though, so if that’s something you’re facing too, you’re not alone!

Budgeting - but not in the way you might think.

Solo travel can be EXPENSIVE (mostly because there is no one to split things with AND hello “solo travel tax”) but I mostly save and budget fine. My problem is that my “you only live once” impulsiveness strikes, and there's no one to tell me NO to an expensive tour / experience (the treat yourself energy is BIG with me). It's fine doing this every once in a while, but imagine doing this multiple times over 2+ years of full-time travel. One-in-a-lifetime / you’ll never be here again / you’ll never be this young again - it’s honestly a little too easy to “justify”. Anyone else like this???

Restlessness.

Always wanting to travel when I'm home, but then sometimes home sickness randomly hits and I want to be home when I travel. I miss my dog. I miss my routine. I miss my bed. I miss my regular workouts. I miss getting an easy meal or cooking instead of hauling myself to a new place, a new restaurant, interacting with new people, on and on. But get me home and back on routine and after a couple of weeks … I am absolutely feeling stir crazy. I definitely feel like I “need” to always have another trip on the books (things they don’t tell you - solo travel is soooo addicting).

Getting sick and having to take care of myself.

Truly one of the WORST parts of solo travel is getting sick. Dragging myself out of bed so I can visit the pharmacy and making sure I eat and hydrate when all I want to do is sleep is such a huge struggle. I did start always bringing some emergency medication at least, and I am one of the few people that still religiously wear a mask on a plane (I truly can’t tell you just how much this has cut down on me just getting a common cold). But when you feel sick or tired all you want is someone to take care of you, and unfortunately, for the time being, that person is you.

Missing major events and milestones in friend’s and family’s lives.

I've been feeling like the worst friend / sister / daughter for such a long time now. Missing major life events and even just not being able to physically be there for a friend is truly devastating. And especially as a woman, it always feels extra uncomfortable to “put myself first” and I always wonder if I'm just being a jerk, or if this is a boundary that is OK to set (I know some people are going to have STRONG opinions about this one).

Always having to be on the defensive & hyperaware.

I’m CONSTANTLY aware of myself, my valuables, and what is going on around me. My flight or flight is basically running full-time to make sure I'm safe, which leaves me so so tired at the end of the day. Some days I’m just so tired of simply being perceived in any way, because that means I might be a target and need to be self aware. And the harassment that you sometimes face is a solo woman is TRULY EXHAUSTING. I’m so tired of putting on a fake smile to mask my discomfort just to keep myself safe. I’m so tired of men interpreting basic friendliness as flirting. I’m so tired of clutching my phone on it’s leash like my life depends on it.

LAUNDRY and travel “admin” days.

I swear laundry is the bane of my long-term travel existence. Finding where to do it, scheduling it, waiting for it, figuring out which clothes I’m washing versus wearing WHILE washing them - and doing it all over again. Full-time travel and even longer trips certainly look quite glamorous, but I legitimately had to start scheduling off-days AND “admin” days - because I was behind on booking hotels, I had work to get done, I needed to finish my social media posts for the week, I had to catch up on emails, and so on.

The problems I have at home don't just disappear when I travel around the world.

With solo travel, there are good days, there are GREAT days, but there are also bad days, and some truly awful days (thankfully those are rare!). My depression and anxiety is something I am ALWAYS working on facing and dealing with - no matter what location I’m in. I’ve definitely sat at one of the most beautiful places on earth, watching the sunset, and yet I’m bawling my eyes out. You truly can travel anywhere you like, but you are still YOU and your problems still exist, and facing them while on a trip is quite a challenge when all you want to do is disassociate and enjoy your experiences.

But I truly have never regret taking a solo trip and despite all of these struggles, I would choose to solo travel over and over again.

I know this got heavy in the end, but I truly have NEVER regretted taking the chance on a solo trip, and despite it all, I know I’ll be solo traveling until the day I die. As with anything else, your passions have their good sides and their bad sides, and for me solo travel is ALWAYS worth it. It has changed my life for the better, taught me so much strength and resilience, and the knowledge of just how capable I am still astonishes me. And of course - it means never waiting on someone else to take a trip again!

Let me know if you want a part two in the comments below, or if these are some things you have struggled with as well, whether you travel full-time or short term, solo or not!

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And YES I hear you, because I do still stand behind the fact that yes, you actually SHOULD go to that “touristy” place, because 1) it’s popular for a reason and 2) you should experience it for YOURSELF and form your own opinions (instead of listening to someone else’s).

HOWEVER, if you’re ready to step into your hot girl travel era and are looking to stretch yourself a bit outside the norm, then I’ve got the list for you.

Stop booking what the algorithm told you to - here are all the places you should SKIP and the places you should visit INSTEAD:

Ditch Rome for the Dolomites

Hate on me for this, but Rome is too much for me. It’s stressful, overstimulating, and I feel like I’m always seconds away from someone scamming me or straight up stealing my phone. Rome is incredible, don’t get me wrong, but we’re definitely in frenemy territory (but hey, I’m always open to an enemies-to-lovers arc).

Instead, head a few hours out from Milan to what I think is one of the most BEAUTIFUL places in the entire world (and as someone who started out as a landscape photographer, I can 100% speak to this): the Dolomites. It’s an area with jagged mountain peaks, Gatorade-blue lakes, rolling green hills, and some of the most epic hikes you’ll ever experience. And if that wasn’t enough, it has a fascinating blend of Italian and Austrian culture, which is just so unique. If you love nature, RUN don’t walk to the Dolomites!

Visit Fukuoka instead of Tokyo

Cool city girls, rejoice! Because I swear I’m not altogether anti-city, and I’ve got a great swap for you. Tokyo is AMAZING but - and hear me out on this - FUKUOKA. It’s a rapidly growing city far down on the south island that hardly ANY Americans are visiting. Korean tourists are gatekeeping it, but I need you to experience it too.

Fukuoka is coastal and much more relaxed than Tokyo, but the food scene I SWEAR just about rivals Tokyo because the local specialities are to DIE for. The ramen is the best and richest in all of Japan - Fukuoka is the origin of the Tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, which is a 10/10. Don’t skip the yakitori either! PLUS it’s waaaay more affordable than Tokyo (literally 30-40%+ cheaper fam).

Skip Santorini and head to Zakynthos

Santorini is that girl, I know, I know. But no matter the time of year, you will be sharing this island with every person to ever step foot on a cruise. It’s expensive, packed, and low-key feels like it only exists for the tourists these days.

And what I want for you is to experience an island that is equally as gorgeous (if not more so) that has the perfect balance of tourism infrastructure, and yet feels like you can still have an authentic Greek experience. Zakynthos is hands-down my favorite Greek island, and you truly will not believe how BLUE the water is. A boat trip around the island is a must, and of course, try out the local specialty foods!

Avoid Bali and explore East Java instead

Girl, I love Bali, I really do. But I think I'm actually one of the few who still do, because everyone else who visits reports back to me that they were very disappointed, it felt over touristed (valid), and that it was disappointing and sad to see the trash build up on the beaches.

But I want you to love Indonesia as much as I do, so let me put you onto East Java. It is THE island to visit for all of the BEST aspects of Indonesia - truly staggering waterfalls, volcano views that will absolutely take your breath away, and a lush, vibrantly green jungle covering it all. It’s rugged, much more in tune with a more “authentic” Indonesian experience, and also more budget-friendly than Bali.

Sidestep the Pyramids and stop by Philae Temple

If you want to be blown away EPIC views and not be buffed by crowds, Philae Temple is 100% where you need to go. The Pyramids are of course still worth a visit, but Cairo is CRAZY chaotic, so spend the LEAST amount of time there and instead head to Aswan if you’re ready to live your best Indiana Jones life.

Because I’m telling you - the scale of the Philae Temple is honestly UNREAL (my photo is not doing it justice, trust me), and it will give you the grandiose goosebumps the way the Pyramids will, but you’ll actually feel like you’ve stepped into ancient Egypt and not Egyptian Disneyland. The temple is dedicated to Isis, so it’s giving Cleopatra vibes in the very best way too.

And what is even crazier is that half of this temple was actually underwater, partially submerged in the Nile (and soon to be fully submerged with the building of the Aswan High Dam) - and you can actually see the water lines on the columns! But UNESCO went on a rescue mission and COMPLETELY relocated it, piece by painstaking piece, disassembled and reassembled in some 40,000 pieces to Agilkia Island(!). I honestly still can’t fully comprehend this and it absolutely added to my awe.

Hit snooze on Paris and say hello to Nice

Paris is decidedly on just about EVERYONE’S bucket list. And you truly either LOVE it or absolutely HATE it. It’s iconic, but expensive, crowded, and unfortunately downright dirty in certain spaces. And if you only visited the city and nowhere else, I’d be as devastated as when Europeans tell me they’ve “seen” the USA but only went to New York or Miami (ummm what about our National Parks?!!!).

Say hello instead to Nice, which is what happens when France and Italy have a love child (literally two of the best food groups in the world coming together). Add in a generous helping of sunshine and Mediterranean vibes and you’ve got the perfect Euro summer beach destination. The old town feels a lot more “authentically” French, and the slower pace of life is downright healing. The locals are also massively friendly, which is a welcome change from Paris.

Skip the Galapagos and stop sleeping on mainland Ecuador

Galpagos this, Galapogos that, but let’s be real, I’m not made of money (yet). The Galapagos are spectacular, but WOW are they expensive and quite challenging to get to. And sometimes you just don’t have that kind of PTO, you know!

But Ecuador still deserves your tourism dollar, and trust me when I say it will go SO MUCH FUTHER on the mainland. I am actually in agony with how little people explore mainland Ecuador. It is truly so underrated - because in one trip you could be hiking up the Cotopaxi volcano, birdwatching in Mindo (re: still getting to see wildlife), biking & bungee-jumping in Baños, shopping in Otavalo, and (AND!) get to experience the MOST affordable section of the Amazon river?! Yeah, I think we can safely say sign me TF up.

Bypass Banff and explore Jasper National Park

I will always love Banff, but part of the reason I originally fell in love with it was because of its spectacular, wild beauty. Sadly these days it can feel hard to appreciate Banff’s beauty when you are fighting the crowds at every turn, in every season (no truly, I don’t think a shoulder season even exists here anymore).

Enter Jasper National Park - Banff’s National Park’s rugged older sister. It’s much larger than Banff which means over three times more wilderness (!), and it feels so much more mountainous for it. Jasper also still feels completely wild - where you can run across a moose or bear as easily as an eagle, where you can hike or kayak well away from everyone else deep into the forests, and see so many stars at night you’ll feel like you can touch the galaxy. It’s truly well worth the visit (not to mention driving the Icefields Parkway to even reach Jasper is a gem all on its own!).

What are your thoughts on my skips versus musts?! Do you agree? Are you adding any of these places to your bucket list? Or maybe you have more locations to add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

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About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

Moroccan mint tea is part of a special welcoming tea ceremony

I spent over two weeks in Morocco, and one of the standouts from the trip was the incredible mint tea - but it wasn’t just the tea. It’s a whole ceremony to welcome guests and show a deep level of hospitality. It is a quiet, cultural moment that takes a simple visit to one that almost feels sacred.

Today I’m sharing two different methods - the traditional method I learned from my Moroccan tour guide, and an easier version I adapted personally (since I don’t have the right teapot!) so that you can try a taste of Morocco at home.

Feel free to make this recipe your own - including adding sage or other herbs like oregano or rosemary in addition to the mint (something Moroccans like to do as well!).

Two most important components of authentic Moroccan mint tea

Either way, the two most important pieces of this recipe is to get the “correct” green tea - because it’s not just any green tea, but specifically “gunpowder green” tea from China. Japanese green tea and other types of green tea have an entirely different flavor profile, so while you could use any green tea if you really wanted, if you want to stay authentic, I’d recommend the gunpowder green. I found it at my local tea shop, but it’s easy enough to find and order online.

The second important piece is FRESH mint leaves. Dried will NOT have the same effect or taste! Ideally, you would pluck the leaves from the plant and make the tea the same day (within a few hours of plucking). However, there are a few ways to store fresh leaves if, for example, you’d like to have this tea in winter and don’t have access to fresh mint.

Storing fresh mint

One method is to remove the leaves, wash them, dry, and then roll them up gently in a damp (not soaking) paper towel, and then store that bundle in a ziplock in the fridge. They will last a few days this way.

A second method is to flash freeze the mint - wash the leaves and dry them thoroughly before laying them out on a tray (individually separated, in one flat layer). Stick the tray in the fridge and freeze for 2 hours, then you can place the leaves into a freezer-safe ziplock and store in the freeze. These will last for a few months.

How to make traditional Moroccan mint tea

Servings:

~8-10 Beldi glasses worth of tea

Tools:

• Berrad tea pot (traditional Moroccan tea pot; its notable feature is a long, elegant spout designed for traditional “high pouring” to aerate the mint)

  • OR small saucepan

• 4-8 Beldi glasses (traditional Moroccan tea cups; these are glass, small, and stemless)

• Tray for serving

Ingredients:

• 1 TB loose Chinese Gunpowder green tea

• 3-5 TB caster sugar or more (optional)

  • OR most authentic version: pieces of sugar chipped off an Enmer Moroccan Sucre cone

• Generous bunch of fresh mint leaves (Moroccan mint is the most authentic, but you can use spearmint as it’s easier to find)

• 4 cups boiling water

Method:

1. Wash the leaves: place the tea into the Berrad tea pot (or small saucepan) and add a splash of boiling water (100 mL / ~1/2 cup). Let it sit for a minute, and then pour it into a tea cup (save this - this is the “spirit” or “essense” of the tea, or the core flavor). Add one more splash of water, swirl it around, and discard this wash liquid.

2. Steep the tea: add the sugar (amount depends on how sweet you like it - Moroccans like it VERY sweet and add a giant chunk of sugar) into the teapot. Place teapot onto a stove* over medium-low heat, and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

3. Add the mint: remove the teapot from the heat and add in the mint leaves to the tea.

4. Return the “spirit”: pour the reserved “spirit” water back into the teapot.

5. Mix and aerate: to mix and aerate the mint, pour the tea into a Beldi glass from a height of 12-18 inches**, starting low and raising the teapot as you pour. Carefully pour the glass of tea back into the teapot. Repeat this process 3-6 times.

6. Serve: place the Beldi tea cups onto the serving tray. Pour the tea into individual Beldi glasses by starting low with the teapot and pulling it higher into the air to finish (12-18+ inches) to create a layer of bubbles. As the host, serve the tea from right to left to your guests.

7. Enjoy! As a guest, accept the tea with your right hand. Allow to cool and delicately pick up the glass from the top and slowly sip to enjoy.

Notes:

*For the MOST traditional version, heat the teapot over charcoal or a low flame (I wouldn’t recommend this for non-Moroccans).

**Pouring from this height will create a layer of bubbles*** - if you are not getting this, pour higher! This is also part of the ceremony, as the host pours from a higher and higher height (which is pretty impressive to watch).

***The bubbles in the tea are especially significant in places like the Sahara desert, where the tea is poured so that the entire surface is covered in bubbles - a kind of frothy look - to keep out sand and dirt!

Okay love it, but I don’t have a teapot like that - is there an easier way?!

Now you might be saying - “that sounds like a lot of work” or “Rebecca, I don’t have the right tea pot” (same, because mine can’t go on the stove), so I created an easier take on the traditional mint tea that still tastes pretty authentic.

Easier Moroccan mint tea recipe (no special teapot or glasses required)

Servings:

~4-5 Beldi glasses worth of tea

Tools:

• Any teapot (most ideal: one with a removable infuser / mesh / a way of keeping the tea leaves from pouring out of the stem)

• 2 small (~6-8 oz) tea cups

Ingredients:

• 2-2.5 tsp loose Chinese gunpowder green tea

• 2-3 TBs sugar (optional) - table sugar is fine, caster sugar is better

• Handful fresh mint / ~6-8 sprigs (Moroccan mint is the most authentic, but you can use spearmint as it’s easier to find)

• 16 oz / 2 cups boiling water + additional 1/2 cup separated

Method:

1. Add the tea: scoop the tea into your teapot infuser (or just your teapot)

2. Rinse the leaves: pour 1/2 cup of boiling water over the leaves, and swirl the water to rinse the leaves. Pour this out & discard the rinse water

3. Steep the tea: pour 2 cups of boiling water (200-212° F) over the tea. Replace the teapot lid and steep for 3-4 minutes.

4. Remove the tea leaves: after the tea has steeped, remove the infuser (optional: if your teapot doesn’t have this, just leave the leaves in) so that the leaves are no longer in the teapot (I like to remove the leaves to keep the flavor light and balanced).

5. Add mint & sugar: add 2-3 TBs sugar (depending on how sweet you like it - Moroccans like it VERY sweet) if desired. Sugar is optional BUT I would highly recommend it for authenticity. Add in a generous handful of fresh mint.

6. Mix the sugar and aerate the mint: Pour the tea into a glass, then pour the glass of tea back into the pot. Repeat this process at least 3 times (5-6+ is ideal) to properly mix. To be more authentic, as you pour, lift the teapot higher into the air to aerate the mint and create little bubbles in your glass.

7. Serve: when the tea is mixed, pour the first two glasses of tea. These initial cups will be light and refreshing - enjoy! After you’ve finished these two, pour a second cup into each glass - the added steep time of the mint will make the next two cups INCREDIBLE - the perfect minty, refreshing flavor.

P.S. Chilled Moroccan mint tea is INCREDIBLE in the summer, so I would definitely recommend you try that out as well - doing a slow infusion in the refrigerator.

Are you trying out this recipe?! What did you think? Let me know how you found it in the comments or if you have any questions about this recipe!

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About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

I just wrapped up an in-depth, 2+ week tour of Morocco with G Adventures & National Geographic Expeditions. As a solo travel girlie, I don’t usually do many group trips but this time I had the chance to travel with my parents, so of course I had to say yes!

And the best part about group trips??? Is that you have a local guide with you the ENTIRE time, so of all the trips I’ve taken recently, I can confidently say I learned the MOST on this trip about Moroccan culture, language, food, landscapes, and so much more.

BUT like anyone else who has some pre-conceived expectations about Morocco, there were some things that SERIOUSLY surprised me and I’d love to share them to see if any of these surprise you as well!

1) There are 2 official languages in Morocco. And no, it’s not what you think!

If you had to guess the official languages of Morocco, you’d probably say Arabic, and maybe you’d say French - it was after all, a French protectorate for a time. Or maybe you might guess even guess English. And Arabic - you’re spot on! But the second language? It’s actually Tamazight (Berber), which is an indigenous language of Northern Africa. Over a quarter of the population speak it (!!!), and there are a variety of dialects.

Even more interesting - the written language, which is read left to right (versus Arabic, which is read right to left), is quite unique and if anything, reminds me a lot of the Greek written language. You’ll even see signs written in Tamazight all over Morocco!

One more fun fact: many Moroccans speak Darija, as it was invented as a combination of Tamazight and Arabic.

2) Morocco is more than just desert - and it’s bigger than you’d expect!

Morocco is SOO much bigger then you’d imagine - it’s comparable to the size of California and more than double the size of the U.K.! Since it’s so close to Europe, it’s easy to think it will be similar in size and would be pretty similar throughout in terms of what the environment would be like.

Because I know when I personally imagined Morocco, I definitely pictured something like the Sahara, even though logically, I knew there would be more to it. And it turns out, there are 39 distinct natural ecosystems in Morocco (!) - from the expected desert ecosystems to Mediterranean forests, scrublands, and even coastal and wetlands.

… And you can actually SKI in Morocco!

There are also mountains so high that you can actually SKI in Morocco! Oukaimeden ski resort sits in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where 20 different ski slopes range from 8,500 feet to 10,500 feet.

Even more incredible, the High Atlas Mountains contain the highest point in North Africa - Mount Toubkal, which reaches an impressive elevation of 13,671 feet, or 4,167 meters.

For comparison - the highest point in the U.S. Rocky Mountains is Mount Elbert in Colorado, which reaches 14,440 feet (4,401 meters), and the highest point in the Rocky Mountains in Canada is Mount Robson, which sits at an elevation of 12,972 feet 3,954 meters).

3) Moroccans drink GREEN tea, not black tea - and it’s part of a hospitality practice that is basically an art form

One of the most memorable parts of my Morocco trip was experiencing a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony. It’s truly an art form - showy pours, stunning teapots, intentional preparation - and it’s a practice of hospitality that makes you feel immediately welcomed. You’ll experience a small portion of this at pretty much any hotel you stay at as many present you with mint tea when you arrive, but it’s worth seeking out the full experience.

The mint tea Morocco is known for is made with Chinese gunpowder green tea - not black tea! Fresh mint is key, and what was even more interesting to learn is that depending on the seasons, Moroccans will mix in other herbs as well, such as sage, oregano, or rosemary. I even tried a saffron tea in Morocco at one point!

Also make sure to subscribe and stay tuned later this week - I’ll be dropping the authentic Moroccan mint tea recipe our guide shared with us!

4) That the largest film sets outside of Hollywood … are in Morocco!

I bet if I had asked you where the largest film sets outside of Hollywood are, you absolutely would NOT have said Morocco, but it’s true! Our guide pointed out tons of places where big name movies and TV shows have been filmed, from the UNESCO world heritage site Aït Benhaddou (one of my FAVORITE stops in my Morocco trip) as a backdrop for The Mummy and Gladiator, to Essaouira as the backdrop for an iconic scene in Game of Thrones. Lawrence of Arabia, The Sheltering Sky, Mission Impossible, Casablanca, and many other films have been shot in Morocco.

5) How much the indigenous culture has survived and is thriving

The indigenous people actually make up an incredible 30% to 40% of Morocco’s population, and they have likely resided in Morocco for more than 20,000 years, predating Arab conquests in the area. These are the Amazigh (also referred to as “Berbers” historically), who speak the aforementioned Tamazight language. This was even our tour guide’s first language!

Since 2011 under King Mohammed VI, the Amazigh identity and Tamazight language achieved official recognition. The King also declared the Amazigh New Year (Yennayer) an official paid national holiday in 2023. That’s not to say that the indigenous culture and way of life has been 100% protected and celebrated, but it’s definitely acknowledged quite a bit more compared to other indigenous cultures around the world.

And while many indigenous communities are tied to the land, doing things like managing lands and cultivating crops in oases handed down from family to family, there are some who still practice a semi-nomadic lifestyle, although this is quite a difficult life.

6) AND how much the culture Black & West African people brought to Morocco is acknowledged

As an American unfortunately used to how Black culture is often overlooked and often appropriated, it was refreshing to see our Moroccan guides candidly acknowledge and make a point to discuss instruments and a specific styles of music that was created by formerly enslaved Africans. In Morocco, Marrakech served as a hub for the Trans-Saharan Trade, which included African slaves. Many descendants of enslaved West Africans, known as the Gnawas, developed distinct spiritual music and traditions that preserve the memory of their ancestral journey.

In Essaouira, there is an annually held Gnaoua World Music Festival, which features Gwana and international artists. It’s free to attend, and as many as 500,000 people from North Africa and all over the world have come to hear the musical fusion of jazz, pop, rock, and contemporary World music. There’s also art exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and other cultural activities to preserve Gnawa heritage and foster connections between Moroccan and international artists. And in 2009, the festival was recognized by UNESCO! So if you get the chance, try to time your visit to Morocco with this amazing festival for a unique experience you won’t get anywhere else.

7) The oldest (continuously functioning degree-granting) university is in Morocco!

The University of Al Quaraouiyine, located in Fez, Morocco, has been recognized as the world’s oldest continuously functioning degree-granting institution (!). And what I loved the most - it was founded by a woman, Fatima Al Quaraouiyine. After inheriting a large sum from her father, she decided to dedicate her entire inheritance to her community by building the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in 859 CE. She notably also ensured that the institution was open to scholars and students from all backgrounds. Over many centuries, the mosque grew into a major Islamic learning center, and it’s still open for study today.

8) That there are ostriches in the Sahara!

Like other countries in Africa, Morocco historically had all of the animals you’d classically imagine on a safari: lions, elephants, and more. But because of climate change and anthropogenic factors, these animals went extinct in Morocco. However, there has been a recent push to reintroduce animals, which means that in the Sahara, you can actually find and see the North African red-necked ostrich, and more uncommonly, the addax (an antelope), and the Dama gazelle.

Note: DESPITE what other tourists are doing, please do NOT feed any wild animals you encounter! I was disappointed to see many people feeding the ostriches we encountered. This could mean they no longer view humans as a threat and approach vehicles, where they could be run over, sick from eating something they shouldn’t, become a danger to people, or something worse. Keep wild animals wild!

9) Oases are not what you think.

Okay this one might just be me (and my dad) because I had this very Hollywood (or maybe cartoony) idea that an oasis would be like a few palm trees and a pool of water, but in Morocco, oases are more like entire palm FORESTS - some so big that an entire river runs through them!

10) How valuable camels actually are

A man at the market jokingly said to my father “Nice daughter, how many camels?”. We laughed and then I asked my dad how many camels he thought I was worth - which prompted us to go find the true value of a camel. And it turns out, they are worth EASILY four figures or more (!!!). So unfortunately for me, I’m not worth as many camels as we originally thought!

Also - camel leather is MUCH lighter than cow leather (also goat leather is a thing!).

At one of the markets, a vendor handed around two bags: a camel leather bag, and a cow leather bag. It was honestly SHOCKING how light the camel leather bag was - it almost FLOATED in your hand, while the cow leather bag was quite hefty. And in case you want to try out more leathers - you can find goat leather in markets in items like scandals, which are honestly fantastic because you don’t need to wear in goat leather like you do with cow leather.

11) Morocco has the second oldest ruling dynasty in the WORLD

Morocco does currently have a king, King Mohammed VI, who has ruled since 1999, as part of the the ‘Alawi Dynasty. Moroccan dynasty dates ALL the way back to 788 AD (!) with the founding of the Idrisid dynasty - which makes it second only to Japan for the oldest continuous monarchies in the world. Even now, the king retains broad executive powers and reserves direct control over defense, security, and foreign diplomacy.

Which one of these surprised you the most too?

Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!

Leave a comment

About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

At the start of 2023, I booked a one-way ticket to Mexico …

… intending to travel the world, starting in Central America. My longtime life dream was to travel the world for a year, and making the jump in was the most difficult but also the most rewarding choice of my life.⁠

Of course, one year became two (!), and from Central America I made it to South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and finally, the Middle East.

It was a life-changing, amazing journey full of incredible adventures and astonishing social media growth (0 to 30k on a brand new account!), but it was also some of the most challenging and stressful years of my life too.⁠ It’s both opened and closed doors, but I don’t have any regrets choosing this.
⁠

So today I’m sharing are the top lessons I learned from my years of traveling the world solo:⁠

⁠✍️ You will miss your family and friends SO MUCH, and you will also miss the small comforts of home & routine⁠

⁠✍️ The people in your life may not “get it”, but that’s okay, this journey is your own, and you don’t need anyone else’s approval but your own

✍️ You will feel the most intense guilt for missing birthdays, family time, and important moments in your friends and family’s lives

⁠
But you will NEVER regret choosing yourself and having the bravery to pursue your dreams⁠

✍️ You will grow so much as a traveler and as a human - becoming incredibly in tune with your body, your mind, & your intuition⁠
⁠
✍️ BUT you will still get sick, and honestly it'll happen more often than at home

✍️ You won’t realize that there will be weirdly specific, small differences in each country, but it will make you grateful for things you once took for granted (like throwing toilet paper INTO the toilet and not a bin!)

You’ll also experience loneliness & homesickness, but you’ll also become confident, skilled, & feel the MOST joy you’ve ever felt⁠

✍️ You'll get to try the most amazing foods, & discover new things you love (the four cooking classes I did abroad are still some of my favorite memories)⁠

✍️ You will meet the most incredible people and make lifelong friends⁠

You will miss home when you travel, but then you will feel restless and want to travel when you’re at home - but you CAN want both (learning the balance is key)⁠

⁠
✍️ You will finally learn to become present in the moment, and enjoy time with yourself⁠ (eating alone is not as scary as it seems, I promise!)

✍️ Travel WON’T fix all of your problems, & navigating problems ALONE gives you the worst decision fatigue⁠

⁠
BUT you will never know just how capable you are and just how extraordinary your experiences can be - if you never start in the first place⁠

Have you ever considered full-time and/or solo travel? I would love to hear your thoughts and reactions to this! Leave me a comment, question, or request for future topics!

Leave a comment

About the Author

Hey there - I’m Rebecca! I was born in Germany, grew up in Oregon, and am currently living on the East Coast of the United States. I’m a world traveler & photographer turned content creator & writer - who spent over two years traveling the world solo! Here on Roam Free & Ramble I share personal, relatable travel stories & thoughts, actually helpful travel tips, and meaningful moments.

💌 If you want to connect outside of your inbox, come say hello on Instagram!

P.S. feel free to like or comment on this post so more Substack users can find this newsletter!

Subscribe now

Hey there, I’m Rebecca!

I am a travel & outdoors photographer, blogger, & content creator, and of course an avid wanderer! I spent over two years full-time traveling the world solo, and I’ve almost been to 50 countries. My mission now is to inspire adventure-lovers & solo travelers to take their bucket list trip.

On my Instagram and on my blog I share educational & relatable content about female solo travel, adventure travel, photography, and outdoor & hiking adventures …

But HERE on Substack, I’ll be sharing:

All of the travel stories, HONEST thoughts on travel, messy actions, and hard-learned tips that I haven’t been able to share ANYWHERE else. It’s the most personal, honest, raw version of myself. While my blog newsletter is all of my formal, educational content - this newsletter instead is wholly me as a traveler and as a human.

Of course I’ll still share travel tips and need-to-know info here and there (like when visa requirements change or a new travel trend emerges), but I will also be sharing smaller, intimate moments & thoughts: from recipes I’ve learned from cooking classes abroad, to the travel stories I’m reading, to what inspires my travels, to what I still struggle with as a traveler, and more.

I want to build a community of travel lovers who don’t want to see just the glossy, polished version of travel.

I want to know - what are your HONEST opinions on the latest place you visited? What challenges have you faced? What EXPERIENCES have you loved - not just the countries?

In turn, I’ll be sharing my own opinions and takes (have we had the same thoughts?!).

So this space is for the travel lovers who want to hear real travel stories, who want to connect with and support other travelers, who are open to sharing tips and being honest (as kindly as possible).

Here’s what you can expect:

Weekly newsletter posts of my travel stories, inspirations, and thoughts, and quick travel tips & vital travel updates on Notes.

And if you choose to subscribe, here are the benefits of the different subscription options:

Free subscribers:

• Access to all public posts

Monthly subscribers:

• Subscriber-only posts

• Access to the FULL archive

• Post comments and join the community

Annual subscribers:

• All of the benefits of monthly subscribers at a 50% lower cost than paying monthly

VIP Membership (for bonuses & anyone who wants to support me more as a creator):

• All of the benefits of monthly subscribers

• PLUS discounts on masterclasses, courses, ebooks, & more

• First access to group trips

• AND exclusive posts & bonus content

Ready to join?!

If you are ready to join the Roam Free & Ramble community and get access to all of my travel stories, tips, and more, hit the button below!

Subscribe now

P.S. It’s free to join (unless you want more - in which case you can get exclusive content for just the cost of a single latte per month!)

Can’t wait to share more soon!

And if you have specific requests or want to get in contact with me, I’d love to hear from you!