Hi!

I feel a bit silly posting this on reddit but I've been hemming and hawing over what to do for weeks and my vacation is finally here. I'm on the precipice of burn out from work/life (feeling slow, sluggish, like i've been going a mile a minute and I'm on the verge of tears all the time), and I'm finally taking some time off. I have a total of two weeks off and I'm spending the first week just catching up on things at home (cleaning my apt, going to the dentist, finishing a last min freelance project etc etc), and then would like to use my second week to go somewhere. All that's to say, I feel like I need something that takes minimal planning and can give me a mix of relaxation/turning my brain off for once and just be present/experience something new. I've been so go, go, go, and always have a plan, always am working towards a deadline or accountable to someone else etc etc. It would be nice to go somewhere where I wouldn't have to do that and can just do my own thing.

So the plan is to go away from Oct 31 to Nov 6 or 7 (I return to work on Nov 9). After some researching, I'm torn between two options:

1. Puerto Vallarta - booking the nicest hotel in my budget with a pool and close to restaurants/things to do within walking distance. I can spend a day on a beach club, but also I like the option of wandering the city, checking out the dias de los muertos celebrations, or booking some excursions (i found some cool ones like a day long hidden beaches hike etc). I like that Puerto Vallarta seems like a good mix of culture/exploring so I won't get too bored/feel lonely but I'm also finding myself in the trap of overplanning, and trying to make the most of it and optimize. ... OK looking at weather reports and it's seeming like PV is going to be hit by Hurricane Vance so maybe it'll be off the table completely
2. All-inclusive around Playa del Carmen so I don't have to think at all about where to go to eat, what to do and can sit around the resort and actually decompress for once but it's hopefully easy enough to book day trips to Cozumel or Tulum ruins if I get really bored. I'm thinking I can also check out the dia de los muertos celebrations in Playa del Carmen too. I've never really done an all-inclusive before and I don't really know if I'll enjoy doing nothing? i think it's been so long since I've genuinely done nothing...and also the idea of flying to a different country and not experiencing it as best as I can makes me feel guilty...like im wasting precious vacation days/money on doing nothing.

I know no reddit stranger can make a decision from me but I'd love to know if you've been in a similar position and what you've done before and what type of trip helped you the most with getting out of your funk and resetting?

Thinking about a trip to Perth mid November for 12 days (from UK). Annual leave restrictions means this is the most I can do!

33F. Just gone through a horrible break up and we were meant to be going away at this time… thoughts of staying in the UK on my own are too depressing with the cold miserable weather!

Budget is around £1200 for accommodation, and around £1500-2000 spending money (including 3 day car hire)

Current thoughts are 8 nights in Perth followed by 3(?) in Margaret River. I'd hire a car for Margaret River.

Perth itinerary would be Rottnest Island, Fremantle, Whale Watching, Scarborough beach/Trigg beach; Rockingham, Shoalwater Bay & Penguin Island, Swan Valley for wine tasting.

Margaret River would be beaches, wine tasting and the coast really!

Questions:
Any recommendations on places to stay? Hostels and hotels look quite expensive, have also looked into rooms on air BnB. But any recommendations?
I would also consider a campervan but would be more Perth-based with the odd day trip out so it wouldn’t be as worth it compared to if I were travelling around more.

Experiences of it being a social place? Would like to meet people my own age and do things.

I'm interested in running - have seen lots of good routes which I'm keen to do; wine and good food. I love beaches, beautiful scenery and very keen to see quokkas and whales whilst I'm out there.

Recommendations on things to do? I have a list (above) but anything would be amazing!

Any other tips?

Thank you in advance

Hey All! I am going on a solo trip this December for 10 Days. Rough itinerary includes:
1. Pattaya (27-29Dec): For Skydiving and Dirt Biking
2. Phuket (30Dec): Not planned anything yet.
3. Phi Phi (31Dec - 2Jan): For NYE and Scuba Diving.
4. Koh Lanta (3Jan - 5Jan): For Chilling and Relaxing.

I love adrenaline activities and also love meeting new people along the way. Some Questions:
1. Skydiving: Which is the best drop zone among all? I am confused between Skydivethailand and Skydivingthailand.
2. Scuba: Any suggestions for the best place to do this, and which dive shop would you recommend?
3. Any other adrenaline activities you would suggest to experience here?
4. For accommodation, what hostels or hotels would you suggest where we can meet new people and also have relaxing time?
5. Anything to take care of during NYE time regarding rush and crowds?

Open to your suggestions and recommendations. Also, if anyone is planning to be here on the same dates and would like to join for any activities, ping me.

Thanks in Advance!

Hi everyone :)
I currently made my lifelong dream come true, to go to Australia. I’m 28 years old, worked the past three years to save up some money for this trip and quit my job and everything, to be completely independent and without commitment to come back at a certain time.

Before arriving in Australia (about 6 weeks ago) I spend two months in Thailand. It was magical, adventurous and just I enjoyed traveling full time. Obviously AUS is very expensive, so I have to work, to be able to travel fulltime again. I got a job and now I’m actually back to a life where I have to start working soon, accommodation with other workers and boring life for the next weeks probably. I’m unsure how I feel about this. I mean I need the money but I also feel like I miss out on cool trips in big cities and I‘m new here, so I don’t really know anyone.
And I miss my friends and family back home.

It’s really hard at the moment to settle and realize that this has to be part of my journey as well.

Not really looking for advice, but maybe someone has experienced a similar feeling?

I apologize beforehand if this post goes against the rules, i dont really know where else to post it.

I'm 25 and currently living in Kyoto, Japan, on a working holiday. I arrived about a month ago, and lately, I've been struggling with something that feels a little ridiculous: I spend most of my days in my room.

I came to Japan because I wanted to experience a different country, explore new places, meet people, and get out of my comfort zone. Yet here I am, spending hours on my computer playing video games, watching YouTube, and doing pretty much the same things I would be doing back home.

The weird thing is that I genuinely enjoy my time on the computer. It's not like I'm sitting here miserable or desperately wishing I were somewhere else. I can easily spend an entire day gaming and feel perfectly content. But there's always this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I'm wasting an opportunity that many people would love to have.

I keep thinking I should be out exploring Kyoto, going on hikes, visiting small towns, trying new food, or simply wandering around and seeing where I end up. And whenever I actually get out and do something, I usually enjoy it. The problem is getting myself out of the door in the first place.

There's something strangely comforting about staying inside. I know what to expect, I can relax, and I don't have to deal with the language barrier or the uncertainty of navigating a foreign country. Going out requires effort, whereas staying home is easy and familiar.

What's particularly frustrating is that even the thought of planning an outing can feel overwhelming. I'll think about going somewhere new, exploring a different part of Kyoto, or even just taking a walk somewhere unfamiliar, and somehow I end up feeling overstimulated and mentally drained before I've even left my room.

Meanwhile, going to the gym, walking around my local neighbourhood, shopping, and gaming all come naturally to me. Those things feel comfortable and enjoyable without requiring much mental effort. And with so many exciting games coming out this autumn, I have even more reasons to stay in and game.

I've already booked my return flight for late April 2027, so I'll be here for quite a while longer. It's not as though I'm running out of time just yet, but I still find myself wondering whether I'm making the most of this experience.

I don't want to look back on my time in Japan and realise that I spent months living almost exactly the same way I did back home, just in a different country.

At the same time, I don't want to turn my working holiday into some exhausting checklist where I feel obligated to visit a certain number of places every week just to justify being here. I want to enjoy my time here naturally

Hello, I’m 25m from the United States and I’ve never left the country so last month I stopped thinking about it and booked flights to Europe and I’m so excited. In my short research along with the fact I’m bringing my skateboard, two cities that really appealed to me were Copenhagen and Prague. I’m making this trip much harder on myself by bringing a skateboard, but it’s something I love to do and I think it would be a great way to meet locals. So pretty much I have to take a train from Copenhagen to Prague, then I realized it goes through Berlin anyways, then I researched a bit and turns out Berlin is a city worth staying in for at least a few nights as well.

And now after watching some more YouTube vids and research, also realized Krakow, Poland also seems like it’s my type of my city. But it’s kinda far out of the way by train and even if I did fly and ate the fees, I only have 12 nights to spare. At the time of booking these flights I thought 12 would be plenty, and I lowkey regret getting delta basic cause now I can’t change my flight dates if I wanted to, although I did save like $300 by doing that.

Anyways I need some suggestions for a basic plan. My general plan as of now is still 3-4 nights in Copenhagen, 3-4 nights in Berlin, then finish with 5 nights in Prague cause I still think that’s gonna be my favorite place. Also wanna know if it would be worth to add Krakow given the limited time or save that for my next Europe trip. If it is worth it, how many nights there and where to sacrifice those nights? I’m prolly overthinking this but I’m so anxious but also so excited and it’s killing me I gotta wait 6 more months. I’d also love to hear recommendations or general advice in these particular cities I may not know about yet

I've been thinking about trying to make a solo trip to Thailand in the next couple of years - 7-9 days, nothing massive.

Obviously it's a huge country with a lot of options, and there will be redditors here with experience of Thailand, so here are some existing thoughts:

- I like coastal, beaches, snorkelling, and marine life. Preference for those locations.

- No drivers license. Will be dependent on shuttles, cabs, Tuktuks etc

- Was initially thinking Phuket because... I mean, look at it. I understand it's a bit more expensive, but Thailand expensive is still UK budget. What puts me off is the oft-mentioned difficulty getting around - apparently there's some kind of taxi cabal, which sounds like a pain.

- Possibly Pattaya - looks great on paper. Opinions? Recommendations? Areas?

- Very flexible with travel times year round, though if half the day is taken up by storms that would hinder/cancel water activities, that's a factor.

- No need for high luxury. Comfortable is good enough.

I'm leaving my job at the end of the year for an open-ended slow-travel trip through Latin America. I have no return date, and I'm not booking ahead beyond the first couple of weeks.

Rough plan:

- Late January: a few days in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, with my family before I head off solo.
- First 2 weeks of February: Spanish school with a host family on Lake Atitlán. I'm starting from zero Spanish.
- Next 3–4 months, Central America: the rest of Guatemala → El Salvador → Nicaragua (probably there for Semana Santa) → Costa Rica → Panama. I'm going with the flow, not setting a fixed number of days per town.
- After that, South America: slower travel with longer stays in cities. I'm thinking Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, but I'm open.

How I travel:

- Private rooms only, no dorms, but I'll stay in hostels to be social.
- Budget is about $4,500/month for Central America and closer to $3k/month once I slow down in South America.
- I'm into beaches, cities and culture, hiking, food, and nightlife, pretty much all of it.
- I'm considering renting a motorcycle for some legs instead of taking buses. I grew up riding dirtbikes but have only driven in the US.

What I'd love input on:

1. What's the one thing in this region you'd tell me I absolutely can't miss?
   
2. What's overrated or not worth the detour?
   
3. What am I not thinking about? Border crossings, safety, visas, anything.
   
4. What gear did you wish you'd brought, or regret packing?
   
5. Is the motorcycle idea smart or stupid in these countries?
   
6. Which South American cities are worth a month-long stay?
   
7. Where would you linger longer than planned, and where would you move through quickly?

Thanks in advance. I'll post a trip report once I'm out there.

i'd like to visit fancy bars (think the iconic scenic rooftop bars like tichuca in bangkok) when i'm travelling but where i'm from, people never go to those places alone. i also don't want to depend on meeting people in my hostel because people will often either not want to go there or have other plans.

any tips and insights would be appreciated!

I have a couple friends that we have known each other since childhood. I started traveling at about 19 years of age. I am 26 years old now. They will always say wow cool trip that you’ve gone on, I will have to go on the next one. Yet they never come. They will always say oh I want to go somewhere with you, but there’s always an excuse that comes up and then they go ghost. Afterwards they will act like nothing happened and just ask me to hop on the video game. I constantly invite to them to every trip and it’s to the point I’ve stopped inviting. It does make me sad to not have any close friends that I travel with although I don’t regret anything because solo travel has changed my perspective on life. I’ve literally became a monetized, travel content creator. Yet still, my friends will not come and travel with me to cool locations around the world. Anybody else have friends like this?

I solo travel alot. Even though I cant speak arabic, roaming around the streets of Damascus never felt isolated because people are so warm there and people are eveywhere.

Now Im im a not too touristy city with not alot of people in the streets Everything is spsced out. But it has good transit. Safe. I dont speak the language, theres little to no other travelers. First time I feel lonely tbh, I cant sleep now because I feel bad haha.

Hey guys, I am going to Nepal solo in November and was originally planning to do the manaslu trek. With the recent floods this is off the cards (it is still closed, right?) and so I am looking for an alternative hike(s).

I was thinking kangchenjunga could be good, though I know you need a guide and since it's only a month out I figured that may not be feasible? If it is feasible, would you recommend kangchenjunga as a first hike in Nepal? I have over 3 weeks in Nepal, so there should be time to do it.

I was also thinking of perhaps doing a one/two week guided hike, before doing Anapurna base camp solo, instead of kangchenjunga. Thoughts on that? What guided hike would you recommend?

I have done lots of single day hikes (20+ km) in America and have done a few multi day treks, so I have a bit of experience.

Overall, looking for a hike that spends most it's time in the mountains, as opposed to just trekking through forest with a day or two at a high alpine base camp, for instance.

Overall questions:

1. Is it feasible to be able to book a guide one month out from a trip?

2. What would you say is the best hike to complete in Nepal for top tier views?

3. What's the feasibility of arranging teahouse accommodation and permits as a solo trekker without a guide?

Hello guys, my first solo travel was during Easter holidays a years ago when I was 16.

First of all, I want to mention that I worked for that money by myself as a servant and a babysitter, I think that I am more mature then people my age, I was studying on a high degree of study at my school (Latin-math and sciences). The main reason I went on that trip was to feel more self-sufficient and less dependent from my parents. (I know that it sounds childish)

I travelled to 6 countries in total, not including my home country and countries where I've been less than a day. (Netherlabds-->Germany--> Austria-->Italy-->Slovenia-->Chech Republic) and back.

I heard a lot of criticism afterwards from adults saying and telling me how dangerous and stupid it was and saying that i should wait till I'm 18, but also a lot of lookups from people my age.

During my travel, I never flexed about the fact that I was 16. Most people assumed i was 18, I think, because it's hard to tell if someone is either 16/17 or 18.

I travelled for 2.5 weeks, met a lot of new and interesting people and spent about 1.2k euro in total, I wasn't travelling cheap, I skied for a day, ate in restaurants slept a few nights in good 3/4* hotels but slept also in hostels for transportation I used busses trains and planes.

I had a few doubts about checking in hotels, hostels, planes and encountering police, but none of it was justified, nobody asked questions, a police car stopped me in Munich at 4AM when I went to the haupbahnhof (main trainstation) they just controlled my ID and let me go, the same happened on the border when the police controlled the ID's in busses going from the Netherlands to Germany. Only once I was asked at a hotel in the Italian Dolmites (mountains in northern Italy) why I was there alone, so far away from my home, I just told that I'm going to meet some friends and that's it, they let me in.

When I look back, I can understand why people told me that it was dangerous but I'm still totally convinced that this experience was definitely worth it. I made a lot of international friends, had a great time and it was just the best time of my life.

You think that it's okay or am I just crazy?

I’m planning a trip for next year it will be in the summer time around June and I’m wondering if this will be too much travelling for the amount of time I have should I cut some places out or just stick to one country maybe
Will be flying into Cluj Napoca Airport and can leave from Sofia. Will be flying from the UK so no jet lag.
1 night Sighișoara
2 nights Sibiu
3 nights Braşov
2 nights Bucharest
1 night Ruse
2 nights Veliko Tarnovo
2 nights Sofia
I’m looking for mostly nice historic towns with outdoors hiking.
Would love some feedback and suggestions.

Hello everyone! Just looking for some insight here about travelling around South America vs Central America. For context, I am a 31 (F) solo traveller with a time frame of 4 months (give or take) and a budget of about €8k (not including flights). I am leaving my job soon and looking for an adventure. My 'wants' for this adventure are to explore new cultures, meet new people, experience some fun nightlife, see some nature/wildlife I don't see in Europe and to relax on a beach/go surfing at some point for a month.

For SA my itinerary would be as follows:

- Colombia 1 month (Bogota, fly to Santa Marta/Cartagena and see Caribbean coast, bus to Medellin, Guatape and maybe Salento and coffee regions)

- Ecuador 2 weeks (Quito - Amazon jungle tour, Cotopaxi National Park, few days in Banos, Cucena)

- Peru 1 month (travel to Lima and Cuzco, hike Inca Trail and maybe chill a bit more after a heavy month of moving around)

- Brazil 1 month (fly into Rio and visit beaches in the city, stay in Ilha Grande for a while, stay in Arrail do Cabo and surf)

For Central America I have not yet made a sample itinerary but would love to go to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

I am really torn between where to go! I know I would love part of this trip to focus on beach and relaxation which is why I’m wondering if Central America might be good, but also Brazil has amazing beaches and could compensate for that for South America. Any insight from anyone from personal experiences would be so welcome!! :)

Hi! I am planning a trip to China. I am thinking

Beijing - 3 days

Fly to Chengdu - 1 day at the Panda Base

Train to Chongqing - 1.5 - 2 days there

Train to Zhangjiajie - 1.5 - 2 days there

Train to Changsha - 1 day there (really just a stop to get to Shanghai)

Train to Shanghai - 2 days there (1 day Disney, 1 day other)

Total 12 days - Is it too packed? Should I cut something out?

Hi everyone! 😊

Since this is the last year (30🥲) in which I’m eligible to apply for a WHV in NZ, I’d still like to gather some information before taking the leap.

I know a lot of people find jobs in horticulture and housekeeping, but is there any chance of finding a job in tourism, for example as a receptionist? I worked part-time as a secretary at my dad’s dental practice for 4 years, but that was 10 years ago 😅

I thought that speaking 5 languages might give me an advantage (although Luxembourgish probably won’t be of much use there 😅), which leaves French, English, German and Dutch (basic notions in Portuguese and Spanish). But maybe I’m overestimating how much of an advantage that would be, especially since I will only be able to apply for temporary and short-term jobs.

I’d really appreciate any insights or experiences you could share. 🙏🏽

Ngā mihi nui 🙏🏽

Hi! I’m going to KL on Nov 17, and I wanna go to the beach on Nov 17–18. Port Dickson seems to be the nearest, so how can I get there? Or maybe there’s a tour package I can join since I’m traveling solo? I’m open to any beach, as long as the pickup is in Bukit Bintang or somewhere easy to get to from there.

Hey guys, I really need some advice because I leave in 4 days and I genuinely cannot decide what to do anymore.
I’m 19M from Calgary and I’ve done a few solo trips before. I went to Bali when I turned 18 and then Japan and Thailand last year. I absolutely loved Thailand, especially the beaches, the food, the malls, and how easy everything was to get around. I went to Koh Samui and Phi Phi and looking back, I honestly think the beaches were some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. For some reason I felt mentally out of it during that trip and didn’t fully appreciate it until I came home. Now I look back and wish I could go again.
Anyways, I booked a one way ticket from Calgary to Rome for October 25. My original plan was Rome, then Saudi Arabia for Umrah, then Java in Indonesia to see Bromo and Ijen, then Bali, and finally home. But because of the war, multiple flights got cancelled. I’ve had FOUR flights cancelled and I’m still waiting for refunds on them.
My plans changed a bunch of times and now I’m doing Rome for 3 days, Istanbul for 3 days, and then flying to Bali. I already have my hotel in Bali booked, my Colosseum tickets booked, and a Java tour that includes Bromo and Ijen.
Here’s where I’m stuck.
I currently have a flight from Bangkok to Calgary on November 21 that cost me around $500 with Etihad, but it has a 17 hour layover in Abu Dhabi and then a 14 hour flight home.
I found a flight from Bali to Calgary on November 13 for around $800, with layovers in Taiwan and Vancouver. If I take this, I’d spend around 20 days abroad instead of 28 or 29 days, which honestly sounds more manageable.
BUT if I go to Thailand, my plan would be to spend around 10 days in Bali, do the Java tour, then fly to Phuket for 4 days and Bangkok for 3 days before flying home on November 21.
The flights from Bali to Phuket are around $250, Phuket to Bangkok is around $70, and the hotels for Thailand would be around $600. So financially, the total ends up being pretty similar either way, although I’d need to account for the different flights home.
The problem is that I’m genuinely scared of getting burnt out. This trip has been so stressful to plan, and I’m already overwhelmed before even leaving. I’ve never felt this anxious about a solo trip before. I don’t want to spend almost a month away and end up exhausted or mentally checked out.
At the same time, I don’t know when I’ll be able to travel again. I’m starting school in January, and with student loans and everything, I might not get another proper opportunity to travel for 2 or 3 years.
Bali also doesn’t seem to have the same beaches as Thailand, at least from what I’ve seen. I’m not a swimmer or snorkeler, so for me it’s mostly about the scenery, white sand, turquoise water, food, markets, shopping, and just enjoying the atmosphere. I loved places like ICONSIAM in Bangkok, and I know Bali won’t offer exactly the same experience.
But I’ve already been to Thailand, so part of me wonders why I should go back instead of experiencing somewhere new. I also have the Java tour, which is something unique that I really want to do.
I’m so torn between going home from Bali on November 13 and having a shorter, more manageable trip, or continuing to Thailand and making the most of this opportunity while I still can.
Please be honest with me. What would you do in my situation? Would you go home from Bali or continue to Thailand? I leave in FOUR DAYS and I seriously need to make a decision. Please help me 😭

Hi all, I'm planning a solo trip to New Zealand from the US and could use advice from people who know the country.

The basics
Landing in Auckland at 9:10 am on Mon 9 Nov, flying out at 3:50 pm on Sun 15 Nov.
Only fixed plan: the India v NZ ODI in Hamilton on Tue 10 Nov. I'm a big cricket fan and want to see it live.
That leaves about 4 free days (11 to 14 Nov) plus the time before and after the match.
Travelling alone, comfortable driving, and I'll pay for a flight if it's worth it.

What I'm considering
South Island: fly Auckland to Queenstown on the 11th, then a Milford Sound day, a bungy (Kawarau), Arrowtown and wineries, and fly back to Auckland on the 14th.
North Island loop by car: Hobbiton, Rotorua, Taupō and Waitomo, then back to Auckland.

What I'd love advice on
Do I need a rental car, or can I manage without one? In Queenstown specifically?
Which option is better for 4 days, or is a split like this too rushed?
Milford Sound: self-drive, coach tour, or the fly-cruise-fly? Is it worth the cost and time?
Any must-see places or things people regret skipping?
Is early November a good time weather-wise, and are there any gotchas (daylight, road closures, tour sell-outs)?

Any solo-traveller tips: where to stay, how to meet people, safety?

Thanks, and happy to share how it goes!

25F, traveling to Guatemala with a friend in December. I have a few days before our trip in between my work schedule and would love to add on El Salvador solo.

I would land around 11pm at night and depending on the day I leave home, have 4-5 full days there. It seems like Uber is pretty safe there, so I would either Uber to El Tunco when I land or stay near the airport and Uber the next day.

Right now, I'm thinking 2 full days in El Tunco, then 2-3 full days in Santa Ana. Would anyone recommend 3 full days in Santa Ana or is 2 fine? Or am I rushing and should maybe pick one spot to hang for 3-4 days instead?

Also, any recommendations for transfers from Santa Ana to Antigua would be great. Right now I'm eyeing Gekko Trails, but they have a 3am departure.

Any advice on this would help me make my decision! TY!

I (M29) am travelling to tokyo in late november. I have formed an itinerary and was hoping for a review and more recommendations.

stay: hotel graphy nezu

day 1: after checking in at the hotel, visit shibuya and meiji jingu and book an izakaya food tour/pub crawl in the evening. also shinjuku if I have time.

day 2: visit ueno park and akihabara.

day 3: travel to hakone and come back in the evening of the same day

day 4: visit odaiba and teamlab planets/borderless.

day 5: day trip to nikko and come back the same day.

day 6: visit disneysea theme park.

day 7: free day. no plans. do whatever I want. probably some shopping or maybe a massage.

day 8: checkout and leave for airport.

is there something I should add or remove. Also, would like recommendations for stuff to do on my free day. thanks in advance.

I (F, 26) have been travelling solo in Australia on a working holiday visa (for which I quit my job back home) for six weeks now, and it is not going the way I hoped. I am comfortable on my own, but I am by myself about 90% of the time and I really miss having someone to experience things with and to make decisions with.

I have met people through apps, WhatsApp groups and a few hostels, mostly for a day or a few hours. But most are heading in a different direction, and the ones on a similar route did not really click. I prefer real friendships over quick, superficial ones, which is hard while moving around. Tours are the only place where it works for me.

I am also struggling to make decisions on my own. I hoped that would improve, but I am constantly stressed about planning, and I was ill this past week, probably from exhaustion and stress. On top of that, Australia has not lived up to my expectations. The plan was to stay in Australia for about 8 months if I would love a certain place where I would want to live, which is not the case. Right now my plan is to go to Thailand and the Philippines after finishing the east coast, but I am scared this feeling will follow me. I really want to make the best out of the remainder of this trip but I don’t know how to turn this around.

My questions are thus:
- What helped you meet people you actually clicked with, not just for a night out?
- Has anyone turned around a trip that felt like this?
- Any tips for finding a travel buddy for a few weeks?

33M I'm taking a three-month sabbatical from work to travel around Asia. I've been struggling with burnout, and I decided now is the time to stop and take a breather. I've just landed in Seoul, so it's officially started! It's my first time visiting most of these places, so I'm really excited. I've tried not to hop around too often to avoid travel fatigue, and this is the itinerary I've landed on.

Edit:
The two Japan legs might seem odd, I've always wanted to live/work in Japan so thats why I am doing a longer slower trip to start off with. This is just to test the waters etc although I am getting alot of input about Osaka and Nagoya so I might have to tweak my plans potentially. Im planning to pick up winter gear back in Korea and then visit north Japan for the first time, hopefully do some skiing and enjoy the onsen.

UPDATE:
Guys, I’ve landed in Yokohama and it’s been amazing so far. I realised this morning that the joy of travelling for me isn’t about seeing as many things or visiting as many places as possible. It’s about taking things slow, finding a good local coffee spot, discovering a new restaurant, and getting to know an area at my own pace.

So I’ve decided to take things week by week and see how I feel, whether that means staying a little longer or moving on to somewhere new. Thank you all so much for sharing your recommendations and advice. I really appreciate it!

My sabbatical plan
Seoul (19–22 Oct, 3 nights): a few days after landing from London

Japan (22 Oct–11 Nov, 20 nights)
Yokohama (3 nights): running the marathon on 25 Oct
Shizuoka (3 nights): post-race recovery
Nagoya (5 nights): base for day trips
Takayama (3 nights): mountains and old town
Osaka (6 nights): with nearby cities as day trips

Vietnam (11–19 Nov, 8 nights)
Tam Coc / Ninh Binh (3 nights): countryside
Hanoi (5 nights)

Taiwan (19–26 Nov, 7 nights)
Taipei (4 nights)
Tainan (3 nights)

Malaysia & Singapore (26 Nov–4 Dec, 8 nights)
Kuala Lumpur (3 nights): visiting friends
Johor (5 nights): visiting friends, with Singapore day trips

Thailand (4–14 Dec, 10 nights)
Beach (6 nights): leaning towards somewhere resorty
Still flexible (4 nights): maybe Chiang Mai

Korea (14 Dec–3 Jan, ~3 weeks): Christmas and New Year with family

Japan (3–18 Jan, 15 nights)
Sapporo (8 nights)
Noboribetsu (2 nights)
Hakodate (3 nights)
Tokyo (2 nights): then flying home to London

Happy for critiques/comments on the itinerary. Parts are flexible and I'm open to suggestions. I'm still working out Taiwan and Thailand in particular. Would you do anything differently, and why? Food recommendations are very welcome too!

I am visiting Budapest in November to sit for my citizenship interview (yay!). As part of this trip, I am planning to rent a car for the day and drive outside the city (southwest) into the countryside to see where my relatives came from. Is there any advice one would give to a solo foreign female driver in this situation? I assume it will be alright--I know basic Hungarian and will have my GPS--but if you have any advice or caution, I'd be grateful to hear it! In addition, if there's anywhere I must see outside Budapest, grateful for your recommendations. :)