Tips & Links, Pics & Posts

Published: Sun, 08/05/18

TIP OF THE MONTH

Best Foot Forward: The World's Most Striking Pedestrian Bridges

A new footbridge held up by two giant hands has just opened near Da Nang in Vietnam. Cau Vang follows in a line of unusual footbridges, seen everywhere from Iowa to India: structures that are noteworthy as architectural statements in themselves, rather than accessories for an already popular location. From The Guardian Travel, here are some weird and wonderful structures around the world worth seeking out in your travels.

GREAT TRAVEL LINKS

No Car Required: Navigating Cities Easily and Inexpensively Gone are the days of standing on a street corner fumbling with paper maps. Now, you can simply type your destination into a smartphone and be guided how to get there using buses and trains, combined with walking. You can see when the next bus or train is predicted to arrive at your nearest stop, and easily figure out where individual routes go and where to connect between routes. From Travelers United, here is a brief guide to some of the smartphone apps and services available to help you navigate an urban area without a car.

Don’t Use Your Phone in the Bathroom — And Other Ways to Keep Your Devices Safe While Traveling Gadgets break when you travel. Luckily, you can buy protective cases that will make your devices virtually indestructible. Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott also has a few helpful strategies that can protect your gadgets even when they’re not encased in plastic. Here are his recommendations for protective gear and common-sense strategies to help keep your technology safe when you’re traveling.

Paris, Chicago and Beyond: How to Have a Luxury Trip for Much Less Than You Think A high-end vacation doesn’t have to mean spending big dollars. From New York Times Travel, here are 10 cities - from Milan to Mumbai, Buenos Aires to Barcelona - where you can have upscale experiences without paying premium prices.

The most clicked-on link last month:

How to Take Better Photos and Videos on Your Smartphone The best camera, as they say, is the one you have with you. While smartphones don’t take photos as well as a dedicated digital camera, you never leave home without your mobile device. I don’t know about you, but my smartphone is the only camera I take when I travel now. From the Toronto Star, here are some quick and easy tips to improve your smartphone photos.

Looking for tours, cruises, and other travel products - without a huge single supplement?

Don't forget to check out our Solo Travel Deals page before planning your solo trip. You may just find exactly what you need there at a great price.

Seeking solo traveler-recommended accommodation around the world?

Have a look at our ever-popular Solo Traveler Accommodation Guide. Containing recommendations for hotels, hostels, B&Bs, and inns around the world - all vetted by solo travelers - the Guide helps you find, review, and book a room all in one place.

Already voted? Great! Now you can return to the Award page anytime you are looking for a list of travel companies that cater to solo travelers.

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THE PICS OF THE WEEK

Pics of the Week are contributed by members of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook. We love to publish travel photos submitted by readers. Join our community of more than 230,000 travelers from around the world: simply "like" our 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.

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TOP POSTS ON SOLO TRAVELER

Here are the top 5 articles published on Solo Traveler in July.

Travel to Learn: What Solo Travel Can Teach Us

Travel solo and you travel to learn! Solo travelers share their insights on what they have learned about the world and themselves traveling alone.

House Sitting Tips for House Sitters and Home Owners

On the surface, house sitting sounds easy and straightforward. But to be successful you’ll want these house sitting tips for house sitters and home owners.

How to Navigate a New City Solo

Some solo travelers are afraid of getting lost. These tips on how to navigate a new city will reduce that possibility and improve your sense of direction.

Single Vacations: Relax and Enjoy!

Single vacations are your chance to go solo, relax and enjoy. Here’s your inspiration for fabulous solo vacations.

Travel Solo to Meet People of All Ages

Meeting people of different cultures happens naturally as you travel, but you can also expand your horizons by meeting people of all ages traveling solo.

DESTINATIONS

In July, we featured destinations in France, Canada, Switzerland, and Japan. 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.

True Relaxation Found Walking Through Vineyards

On a self-guided walking tour of the Loire Valley in France I discovered the truest form of meditative relaxation in the simple process of navigation.

Solo Travel Destination: Zamami Island, Japan

“Come for the sea, stay for the lifestyle,” says this Solo Travel Society member who thoroughly enjoyed her time on Japan’s Zamami Island.

Travel Solo on a Self-Guided Walking Tour: Seeing France Slowly

Travel solo on a self-guided walking tour and the world slows down. In my case, I saw France at the speed of my feet. Here’s how a self-guided tour works.

Solo Travel Destination: Zermatt, Switzerland

The iconic Matterhorn, glaciers, and goats strolling the main street: this Solo Travel Society member fully enjoyed the sights on her solo trip to Zermatt.

Whitewater Rafting on the Ottawa River

A solo traveler makes the most of an incredibly hot Canadian summer weekend by enjoying whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River.

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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.