Tips and Tricks, Sights and Sounds of Solo Travel

Published: Sun, 05/05/19

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TIP OF THE MONTH

Be Transported to Finnish Lapland

The unique and calming sounds and atmosphere of Finnish Lapland are now available free to listeners around the world for the first time ever. Sound of Lapland blurs the lines between artist, instrument and medium, exploring the natural and local soundscapes of Finland’s northernmost region, the largest part of the happiest country on Earth. Accompanying videos reveal the natural landscapes behind the soothing sounds. Whether for inspiration for your next solo trip or relaxation right now, you can listen to the Sounds of Lapland here.

GREAT TRAVEL LINKS

Travel will change for the better this year—here’s how. Volunteer travel, sustainability, seeking out less-visited destinations, following the routes of famous explorers, astrotourism, experiencing destinations more deeply through immersion in the culture: all of these indicate that travelers are interested in more than just a holiday. Here are intentional travel trends identified by National Geographic this year.

20 of the Most Beautiful Villages in France Looking to get out of the cities and explore the French countryside? Have you considered Brittany, Normandy, Alsace, Languedoc, or Dordogne? From a fairy tale fortress in the Loire to a clifftop stronghold in Provence, these charming, historic villages make perfect bases for exploring rural France.

How to Photograph People When You Travel (Without Being Disrespectful) To travel is to be driven by the enduring passion for seeing unfamiliar places. This interest in experiencing other cultures often translates to the desire to document them, which is where important questions surrounding privacy and respect for local people tend to arise. From AFAR, a professional travel photographer shares tips and etiquette for documenting local culture in a respectful way

The most clicked-on link last month:

Travel Lessons from a Hawaiian Volcano Consumer Advocate Christopher Elliott shares travel lessons learned by a volcanologist who led one of the response teams during last year's volcanic eruption in Hawaii. According to Rick Hazlett, here are three lessons a shield volcano in the middle of the Pacific can teach us about being a better traveler.

Do you need a bit of help to develop your travel skills, build solo travel confidence, or cultivate money strategies so you can travel more?

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You can also see them on the Solo Traveler Deals page.

Looking for solo travel resources?

Check out Cool & Useful for great trip planning resources.

We're updating it with unique travel stuff every month.

READER PHOTOS

We love to publish travel photos submitted by readers. Join our community of more than 240,000 travelers from around the world: simply "like" our Solo Travel Society Facebook page and you're in! Upload photos any time, along with a caption telling us a bit about what is in the picture. Click on last month's photos below to get the full effect and see where they were taken.

TOP POSTS ON SOLO TRAVELER

Here are the top new articles published on Solo Traveler in April.

Happy 10th Anniversary to the Solo Traveler Community!

It’s our 10th Anniversary this week. Happy Anniversary to all of us and thank you for being a part of the Solo Traveler Community!

Solo Travel: How to Save on Shoulder Season Travel

You can always save a bit here and a bit there on travel. But you can really SAVE on shoulder season travel. Here are our top tips.

Culinary Travel: Top Tips for Food and Wine Travel Planning

A bit of research can really pay off for solo travelers who enjoy the culinary side of their trips. Here are my best tips for food and wine travel planning.

Solo Holidays: 12 Travel Themes for Going Alone

Do you want to plan your solo holiday around a theme? Here are 12 themes that will make your solo adventures all the more enjoyable.

How to Manage Medications While Traveling

Traveling with medications takes a bit of thought. Here’s how to carry, buy and manage medications, including schedules, while traveling.

And the #1 most-read post in April overall?

Solo Female Travel: Advice from Women Who Know

Solo female travel can be a bit of a challenge if you've not done it before. That's why we've put together this category on Solo Traveler specifically for women who want to travel alone. It's designed to point you to the most relevant information for female solo travelers.

DESTINATIONS

In April, we featured destinations in Spain, Italy, France, and Ireland. Have you traveled solo to a destination that you loved and would recommend to fellow travelers? Consider submitting your story and photos via our easy online form. We love to publish your stories!

Solo Travel Destination: Andalucia, Spain

Choosing a less busy time of year to visit Andalucia in southern Spain resulted in a such a great trip that this solo traveler plans to return next year.

Rome and Paris in One Trip: Two of Europe’s Top Destinations

Planning a trip to Rome and Paris? Wondering when to go, where to stay, how to travel between them, what to do… here’s what you need to know.

Exploring Ancient Ireland: Loughcrew, Hill of Tara & 6 More Highlights

Combining the peace of walking off the beaten track with the discovery of ancient ruins, medieval towns and castles makes for a perfect few days in Ireland.

And the #1 most-read destination post in April?

Solo Travel Destination: Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a great option for solo travelers, offering a wealth of art, culture, history and beauty. Here are two stories from two separate travelers.

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Going Somewhere?

If you're traveling soon, don't forget...

Going Alone? Travel Insurance is a Must - why I never travel without insurance, how I've used it to recover losses, and how to buy it.
Bare Minimum Packing: Here’s Your Packing List - our ultimate packing check list which I continue to use for every trip.
Five Top Travel Apps Plus a Few More I'd Never Travel Without - These make travel easier.
Readers chose Booking.com as their favorite travel brand in our 2017 reader survey. You can support Solo Traveler by booking your hotel, hostel, B&B or inn through Booking.com here.