I rarely had good experiences traveling with other people and, yes, I know that I am the common denominator here. To make it fair, I am unsure how others managed to travel with them, too! Perhaps they are accustomed to arguing, which is something I have experienced and still witness frequently.
I was told I needed to change or adapt, or I would travel along forever. Well, looky here, it’s working for me, and you’re probably still arguing over where to go for dinner!
So many people cannot even go out for dinner themselves, let alone visit another Country!
I learned this skill (yes, I think it is a skill) while traveling for work for many years. If you never went out, you sat in the hotel or apartment every night, which was no fun. I would even go to the movies myself.
How cool is it not to have to share the popcorn? You know you always want the last little bit, so don’t be judging me. 😁
I found an article on Hostelworld.com that inspired me to write about my hostel experiences. As of this blog, I have stayed in Hostels in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, London, Austria, United Arab Emirates, and on my favorite Hawaiian Island, Oahu, in Kona.
The Hostelworld articles dig in a lot deeper; their blogs can be found here:
I am just going to use a bunch of their fancy data and compare it to my travels in this blog.
First off, how cool is it that the top solo travel Country is Japan? I have booked a trip there in February 2026 for a month, and then off to South Korea for another month. I honestly had no idea how popular it was while traveling SE Asia, and I cannot wait!
I have been to ten of the sixteen on the list below! I will knock out four more on my next two trips!
That leaves New Zealand and Iceland at the top of my bucket list according to the experts! 😎
Let’s look at some of the stats of solo travelers from this blog.
I know what you have been thinking since you started reading this blog, and I have been told the same thing. Aren’t you a bit old to be staying in Hostels? You would be surprised by some of my experiences.
I 100% agree, as I do not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable during their travels. There are a few personal rules that I try to follow when booking a hostel. First, I will book a studio instead of a dorm, so I have my own space. Secondly, I will only book a dorm room if a studio is not available or the price is just too high for my budget. A single bunk bed in some Countries can cost over $50, so you can imagine the cost of studios or hotels.
I have also noticed that I am not the only traveler who is older, especially in Europe, where I often see older couples staying in a studio or even a one-bedroom if available.
Another stigma with hostels and travel in general is the general safety and comfort aspects.
I had only had an issue once staying in a hostel, and that was in Orange County California. I will NEVER again trust a hostel in in California, as it was a BRUTAL experience.
How many of you can say you also had a brutal stay at a higher-dollar hotel? It happens!
If you’re a solo traveler, I really hope some of this information helps you try it at least once! I would love to hear from you via the homepage contacts if you need any advice as well. Make it unforgettable! 🤙🏻
Some of my worst vacations have been spent with others, while some of the best times of my life have been solo.
Take it for what you will, but watching people bicker nonstop just does not look fun. I have been there and seen it happen too many times. Imagine getting yelled at like a puppy dog in public! HELL NO!!
There can be a lot of reasons to travel solo, but here are the top three that fall in line with mine:
Hostel travel makes it so much more affordable and easy to meet like-minded people, too!
You’ll save a lot of money on accommodations, and food and drinks will be cheaper. You’ll get all the knowledge needed to plan your days right there. There are often discounted excursions that can be booked too.
