solo travel – MLE Travel Diary

Why Do I Solo Travel? Day 1 in the Philippines

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

In March I solo traveled to the Philippines, spending one week in Palawan, specifically Coron and El Nido. It was my first time in Southeast Asia and my first true solo trip in a long, long time.

Which, honestly unexpectedly, resulted in a whole lot of negative self talk and intrusive thoughts questioning my decisions when I arrived. I wanted to share these thoughts and my reflections in case you ever find yourself having the same thoughts.

You’re not alone!! What you see on Instagram is usually a highlight reel, and doesn’t always show the full picture of the ups and downs that is what travel is truly all about.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 7:00 AM

As I sit at breakfast having just arrived the night before, I think to myself, why the heck am I here. And, why do I feel this urge to travel so much to the extent that it brings me to the Philippines, all alone??

While I’m waiting for my veggie omelette to arrive, I have an internal debate with myself about whether or not I wish I was with someone else on the trip.

Does being alone help me immerse myself more fully in the moment?
Or does it isolate me and enable me to stay inside and fall asleep at 6:30 pm, like I did last night?

I decide that I prefer the freedom of getting to do what I want and waking up on my own terms this morning. But that I would enjoy having another person here for peace of mind.

I haven’t felt unsafe being here in Coron, but it’s always a strange, unsettling feeling being somewhere new and unfamiliar.

Ironically, I’m probably less safe when I go for a run back home around Santa Monica, but I digress.

A small, flying insect comes close to my elbow, pulling me out of my thoughts. I swat it away, praying it’s not a mosquito that will infect me with the dengue fever.

I’ve been taking my malaria pills religiously the past few days, and am covered head to toe in both lightweight clothing and 12-Hour Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent. But that’s about the most I can do to protect myself against dengue.

It’s funny, the things you realize you take for granted about home when you travel.

I take a bite of my veggie omelette, reminding myself that this is just the beginning.

And that to travel is to push myself into moments like this, where I sit in a new place, questioning everything, and somehow feeling more alive because of it. I can't wait to see where the next week takes me.

Have you ever had similar thoughts when solo traveling? Let me know in the comments!

Be sure to follow along on Instagram for more travel content.

mariss

The post Why Do I Solo Travel? Day 1 in the Philippines first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

How to Find a Good Hostel: 8 Tips Every Solo Traveler Should Know

MLE Travel Diary — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Thinking of staying in a hostel on your next solo trip, but not sure what to look for to find a good hostel? I wanted to share my top 6 tips that I’ve learned from my experience traveling and staying in hostels all around the world!

These tips will help you narrow down your options and find a good hostel to stay at, regardless of what you’re looking for.

Hostels are a great option to save money when traveling solo, but I also love them for when I’m traveling with other people since you can make so many friends by staying in a hostel!

This post may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you. I make sure to only link products and retailers that I use myself and recommend. Thank you for your support! Learn more.

1. Get a good hostel recommendation

One of the first things I do when trying to find a good hostel is check to see if I have any friends or trusted travel bloggers that have visited the place I want to visit. And if so, checking to see where they stayed and if they liked it.

This way you can get an honest review of the hostel vibe and decide if it would be a good fit for you!

When finding a travel blogger you trust, I recommend looking for someone who has a similar travel style to you. For example, you like the locations they visit, the types of activities they do, or their overall vacation vibe.

2. Read hostel reviews

I always make sure to read the hostel reviews on Hostelworld and Google to get a sense of other people’s experiences and mostly what the negative reviews are complaining about.

You’ll want to keep a specific eye out for things like cleanliness issues, bed bugs, noise, quiet hours, atmosphere, air-conditioning, security and safety concerns – both in terms of location and personal belongings.

I usually try to find a good hostel that has at least 200 reviews and is rated at least an 8, ideally a 9, out of 10 on Hostelworld.

Keep in mind that every place is going to have at least one negative review – the goal isn’t to find a hostel with only positive reviews. The goal is to find a good hostel that you have reasonable assurance is doing the best job they can and will take responsibility to fix any issues that may arise.

3. Look at photos

Look at the photos provided by the hostel, as well as the ones posted in reviews. This can give you a sense of the hostel’s cleanliness and sleeping arrangements.

I highly recommend checking to see if you’ll have a curtain for sleeping. Even if you’re not sensitive to light when you sleep, it’s nice for privacy reasons.

4. Prioritize location

Above anything else, I would prioritize location of the hostel. Even if something is slightly more expensive, you want to make sure of the following:

1. Neighborhood safety: The hostel is located in a good, safe area that meets your safety standards.
2. Proximity: The hostel is close to the attractions you want to visit.
3. Public transit: The hostel is easily accessible or close to public transit like the bus/metro.

The location can really make or break your trip; the first time I visited Paris I didn’t like the arrondissement I was staying in. Which honestly caused me to dislike the entire city – since I’ve been back I’ve had way better experiences staying in nicer locations!

5. Pick a hostel that has the vibe you're looking for

Different hostels have really different atmospheres and vibes, which can totally alter your experience depending on what you’re looking for.

If you want a social hostel, look to see if they host events like trivia or bar crawls. Also, if they have a bar in the hostel, this is a pretty good indicator that the hostel will be more social.

This is great if you’re wanting to make friends and party in the city you’re visiting! I stayed in more social hostels in my 20’s and loved them; there was also something going on and I met so many people this way.

If you want a quieter hostel, avoid hostels with these types of things.

6. Look for free breakfast

While free breakfast is not a necessity, this is a really nice perk and another great way to meet people staying in your hostel. Also, who doesn’t love free food?!

When I visited Portugal, I stayed in a hostel that had unlimited crêpes for breakfast every morning and OMG. They were amazing, I still think about those crêpes!!

Remember to check reviews to see if the food is actually good or not.

7. Make sure there's stable wifi

When you’re trying to find a good hostel, especially if you’re a digital nomad or using an eSIM, make sure that the hostel will have a good wifi connection. You don’t want to burn through all of your data or run into issues trying to work.

Also, think about whether or not you’ll need a VPN for security, especially if you’re using a public Wi-Fi network.

8. Most hostels have private rooms

One thing I didn’t realize when I first stayed in a hostel is that a lot of them actually have private rooms if you have a more flexible budget or aren’t totally comfortable sleeping in a room with strangers!

This is also a great option if you are traveling with someone else. With your own room, you will have privacy, but still get that social aspect with hostel activities or common areas.

Have you ever stayed in a hostel? Let me know if you have any other questions on how to find a good hostel in the comments!

And be sure to follow along on Instagram for more travel content and tips.

mariss

The post How to Find a Good Hostel: 8 Tips Every Solo Traveler Should Know first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

4 Simple Tips For Solo Travel And Why You Should

MLE Travel Diary — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Let me start off by saying I am a huge fan of solo travel and think everyone should do it, at least once. I think you learn so much about yourself, plus other benefits I’ll get to in a bit.

It definitely gets easier, the more you do it, but I know how nerve-wracking it can be the first time you plan a solo travel trip!

I traveled solo through Europe for the first time in the summer of 2021, going to Barcelona, Paris, Lagos and Lisbon. Using my personal experience, I’ve compiled 4 of my best tips for your next (or first!) solo travel trip.

And make sure to keep reading for why I think everyone should solo travel!

Tips For Solo Travel

1. Do your research ahead of time

Research the place(s) you are planning to go thoroughly before you get there. You want to have a good understanding of the culture, customs, language, and any potential dangers. This can also help you avoid uncomfortable situations in the moment!

For example, a big difference between America and other countries is our tipping culture. In fact, tipping is actually seen as rude in other countries, so make sure you challenge what might be “normal” to you.

Having an understanding of where you want to go, and where everything is on a map is also a must. Tourists are known for looking lost and confused; you don’t want that to be you!

I think it also takes away from the experience if you are constantly looking down at your phone when exploring a new city. You can check out my collections of Google Maps destinations for inspiration when planning your trip.

Also, I would highly recommend sharing your itinerary with someone back home ahead of time. This way, there will be someone who has a general sense of where you are and how you can be reached in case of an emergency.

2. Make sure you have a way to stay connected

Some standard phone plans include international service, so definitely check with your provider before starting your trip. I would advise getting a local SIM card, or paying extra for the international phone plan while you’re abroad. You never know when you will be in a situation you need to get out of, and need cell service to help you.

You can also get a portable Wi-Fi device. I won’t deny that the international phone plans can get expensive, and often only allow 1 GB of data per day.

To help reduce your cellular usage, research cafes and other public spots that have free Wi-Fi you can log onto throughout the day. I’m a huge fan of staying disconnected while you’re traveling, but always having the option to get back online whenever you want.

3. Use Apple AirTags to track your suitcase

These are awesome when it comes to keeping track of your luggage, especially checked bags! I also like putting these in my purse at night / fanny-pack during the day when I’m out walking around.

It gives me peace of mind to know that in case I forgot a a bag somewhere, or if it got stolen, I would be able to track it. You can buy a single Tag here or the 4-pack here on Amazon.

4. Stay in a reputable hostel or other safe accomodations

When I solo traveled, I stayed exclusively in hostels for two main reasons. Firstly, it’s a great way to meet new people and make friends. There’s safety in numbers, and you can find people who want to explore the same sights as you!

Secondly, most hostels have fairly strict security measures. In all the hostels I stayed in, there was a front desk, building access code and no outside guests allowed after curfew (usually 9 or 10 pm). This made me feel more at ease, as I knew I always had a secure home base to return to.

Make sure you do your research ahead of time; get recommendations from friends or other travel bloggers you trust! Feel free to always reach out to me as well; I have lots of recs and other advice I can offer.

If you can afford to stay in hotels alone, these are also a great option for the same security reasons I mentioned before.

Why You Should Consider Solo Travel

Last but certainly not least, the why behind solo travel! First and foremost, I think spending time alone is one of the best ways to learn more about yourself.

This past summer I moved to Boston for 3 months on my own, and had at least 3-4 hours every single day of “me” time. I got to discover new things about myself, and refine what makes me happy and what I want out of life. It was a very transformative experience; you can read more about it here!

Additionally, you get to be selfish, but not in a negative way. You truly get to prioritize yourself first, do what you want to do, and go at your own pace. That being said, it’s great to stay open-minded to new experiences and be willing to try new things.

Lastly, it gets you out of your comfort zone and opens you up to experiencing different cultures. The more you get out of your comfort zone, the more confidence you build to do it again.

I think a lot of my self-confidence has come from solo travel, reassuring me that I can do whatever I set my mind to! Here are some of my favorite moments from my escapades:

Any questions or comments? Feel free to drop a message in the comment section below, or send me a DM on Instagram! Always here to help support you and your next adventure!

mariss

The post 4 Simple Tips For Solo Travel And Why You Should first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.