The Solo Trip Diaries by Thafael

22/12/2022

I was watching the movies Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 with my hubby and kids few weeks ago and I have to come to realize something really interesting…

in both movies they insist on the fact that you CAN DO whatever it is but under one condition: BELIEVE .

Sometimes we watch these movies and we tell ourselves: “Ah ! if only my wishes could come true so fast”.

Well your wishes might take some time to come true and might not come to manifest instantaneously like in these movies

but we a little patience ,with belief and with feeling good ...they will come forth.

We should take this wonderful time of the year, to remind ourselves that BELIEVING AND FEELING GOOD is the surest path to being, doing or having whatever we want.

It’s so simple , yet we have such a hard time practicing it.

Maybe it’s because when we were kids, our parents or others thought us that we can’t have all that we want or we can’t be whoever we want…

No matter what we were told , it’s never too late to change it and believe in the MAGIC OF LIFE

Life IS truly magical … just like Christmas ;)

Have a lovely Christmas

Arielle

PS: Believe ❤️

16/12/2022

Of course there are many towns across the US that resemble the ones in the Christmas movies .

But this year , our favorite Christmas town will be ….

Leavenworth in Washington!!!

This small town is two and a half hours east of Seattle.

Many tourists visit it every year especially during the holiday season for its Christmas and Oktoberfest festivities and Bavarian architecture.

Everything you can think about Christmas will be in this town:

Roasted chestnuts, carolers, marching bands, snow, a downtown illuminated by more than 500,000 Christmas lights, and Santa of course…

Talking about Christmas magic …

You can also ski down the mountainside, take horse-drawn carriage rides and stop by the annual Christkindlemarkt for nice handmade gifts and steaming cups of Gluhwein.

This is definitely a must visit for Christmas :)

I's adding it to my bucket list !​​

Did you ever go to a town that you fell in love with for its Christmas magic?

Please share with me by replying to this email

Have a great Christmas!

Arielle

13/12/2022

Christmas is almost there ...

Are you excited ?

We know how traveling during this period can be hectic so I thought about sharing a few tips to keep you happy during your travels.

(By the way read until the end because I will share with you an awesome Christmas movie I watched ... I just fell in love with that movie... )

1/ Book now (if you haven’t done it yet)
For Christmas travel, the best deals is on December 21st

2/Take an early flight
Between crowded airports, bad weather, canceled flights, we see it all during the holidays.
When you take the first flight in the morning you don’t need to worry about your plane being delayed from another flight …

3 /Consider less crowded airports.
Try your best to avoid large crowded airports such as JFK, CHICAGO , MIA..

4/ Apply for TSA precheck
In June 2021, 97% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than five minutes at airport security.Travelers with TSA PreCheck can use dedicated security lines, keep their shoes on and leave their 3-1-1 liquids and laptops in their bags. These benefits are available when flying on dozens of airlines at over 200 airports. You can get more information and apply on this link.

5/ Arrive EARLY at the airport
Imagine if you miss your flight , you surely won't be able to find an available seat on another flight. Plan to be there 3 hours before your flight.

6/ Don’t wrap gifts before you fly
Don’t wrap your Christmas gifts, regardless of whether you’re putting them in your carry-on luggage or checked baggage. If the TSA decides to inspect them, they will have to unwrap all of them. Bring your wrapping paper and tape in your bag so you can wrap them when you arrive at destination.

Hope this helps

Soooo the movie I watched is called The Noel Diary , it just came out on Neflix last week and I just fell in love with the story , the actors (especially the handsome Jacob), the deep connections...

it's a rom-com (romantic comedy) and it just brought so much joy to my heart ... Even my husband loved it ! (he's not the biggest fan of these types of movies usually...)

Hope you'll love it just like I do...

Enjoy the holiday season and keep up the joyful spirit

Don't forget... you can CHOOSE to be happy so choose wisely ...

06/12/2022

It's that magical time of the year again.

Christmas is right around the corner . In exactly 18 days !

It's the perfect time to go on a solo adventure and experience Christmas around-the-world.

Perhaps you prefer to go somewhere that is not traditional and won't break the bank...

A different kind of Christmas ...

Here are a few suggestions.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Yes, it’s a Muslim country that doesn't celebrate Christmas as we know it. However, Cappadocia in December with snow atop the fairy chimneys is top-tier magical.

Most cave hotels will serve a special Christmas meal for the tourists, but the best part is that it will be at half the cost that you'd expect to pay in Europe.

Riviera Maya, Mexico
If you're not keen on snow, you could head to the warm waters of the Caribbean and enjoy Christmas on the Yucatan Peninsula. Imagine sun, sand, and cocktails.

Do as much or as little as you want.

How's that for a merry Christmas, and it won't break the bank?

Montego Bay, Jamaica
Keeping to the warm Caribbean waters, Montego Bay is another affordable Christmas destination where you can enjoy the sun and warm sandy beaches

while sipping on your Ting Jamaican Grapefruit Soda or Pina Colada...

You can enjoy snorkeling and kayaking in the glorious turquoise waters or simply soak up the rays and relax.

A truly different way to celebrate Christmas

Christmas means different things to everyone.

You don't need to conform to your family traditions if you don't want to.

December is the perfect time to enjoy a solo escape and discover what Christmas means to you.

Happy travels and Merry Christmas :)

01/11/2022

A STRONG WOMAN LOOKS A CHALLENGE IN THE EYE AND …
GIVES IT A WINK

Gina Carey

24/10/2022

It's no secret that a woman traveling alone is in a highly vulnerable state.
The amount of unwanted attention she attracts varies depending on which country she is visiting.
For many cultures, it is unusual to see a woman alone, and it carries many different connotations.
She's easy, she's promiscuous, and she has no one who cares about her whereabouts.
Often, people may simply be curious about your circumstances, but it's best to remain cautious and alert.
There are measures that we can take to help avoid these terrifying situations:
1. Always ensure that family and friends know your whereabouts and plans.
2. Research your destination. Know its cultural norms and expected behaviors.
3. Always dress appropriately for the country in which you are traveling.
4. Avoid going out alone at night.
5. Don't overdo the alcohol, as this can lead to you making crucial mistakes.
6. Avoid taking offers of rides or accommodation from strangers.
7. Stay alert and follow your intuition.

With sensible planning and being vigilant, you can enjoy safe and happy travels

17/10/2022

Look at this place guys …

To Sua might be the most magical place you’ll ever swim.

It’s 30 metres deep and accessible via a long ladder where a long platform sits for easy access in the pool The ladder is available for diving to practice your cannonballs
The turquoise waters of this salty swimming hole is surrounded by lush gardens.
Overlooking the ocean is a small beach known as Fagaon

HOW TO GET THERE?
To Sua is located in Samoa, a small island country in the central South Pacific Ocean. It is made up of an archipelago of nine islands.

29/09/2022

A little tip for today : Make sure you bring these when you are traveling solo:

- An antitheft crossbody handbag
- Power bank to charge your phone since you’re going to take a lot of pictures
- A universal power adapter/converter : watch out not to burn your hairdryer or other electronics. You can read this to know what to do when connecting your electronic devices in another country .
- Comfy shoes
- Comfy clothing
- Toiletries/cosmetics bag with mini size bottles .(Don’t forget your sunscreen )
- An emergency pouch with some extra cash , your passport, travel copies, contact lists: leave it at the room safe . If you room doesn’t have a safe leave it at a safe at the concierge.
- A medical kit with vitamins, pain relievers, prescription drugs if you have any , some Imodium in case you’re traveling to a country where food poisoning is a strong possibility

Did I miss anything ? Feel free to add more in the comments :)

26/09/2022

Have you ever wondered why you feel like you are not getting what you truly desire?

I read this book not long ago called “Ask and It is Given” by Esther Hicks and I think it is my moral duty to share it with as many people as I can. (I have no affiliations with the authors of this book)

Maybe you have read it already or maybe not. I have read many books about the law of attraction and how to attract in your life what you really want but it is the first book that made me really understand the process of how everything works in this amazing universe

I strongly recommend you read it and you can read The Secret from Rhonda Byrne after that (If you haven’t yet ). They complement each other well.
I actually read The Secret many years ago but I truly understood the essence of it all and started applying it after reading Ask and It is given.

These books teach us something so simple to do in order to have, be and do whatever we want but for some reason we keep on complicating it or just not use it.

Maybe because it’s too good to be true ???

Like a fairy tale ? Could life be a fairy tale if we choose to ?

I truly believe so ...

I have realized that everything that hasn’t yet manifested in my life is because deep down I wasn’t attracting them to me because I wasn’t feeling good about them or because I had hidden contradicting beliefs which were opposite of what I desired. For example I would tell myself that I want to have more money but whenever I would be in a situation where I had more “material stuff” than a friend , I would feel embarrassed or ashamed that I had them as if having them was “bad” just because he doesn’t have them… or I would think that some rich people I know are snobs just because they have money… see all of these beliefs are not aligned at all with money being good and great . The only way I can attract it is to think that money is good and great and not feel guilt, shame, or bad of having it …. Or If I complain about the groceries being too expensive... see where I am getting at?

These books have answered so many important universal questions I had, such as why is there suffering in the world, etc… ?

Guys I could go on forever with that discussion because I LOVE talking about these things, but I’ll let you read the books.

I actually decided to create a few weeks ago a new podcast called : “LIFE IS MAGIC, DARE TO DREAM” to document my journey of consciously setting a dream and working towards achieving it by aligning myself as much as possible with these goals.

I am doing this to prove to myself and the world the truth of the law of attraction and how it just makes everything MAGICAL.

If you want to document your own journey as well, let’s do it together !!!

22/09/2022

THE MOST DANGEROUS WOMAN OF ALL IS THE ONE WHO REFUSES TO RELY ON YOUR SWORD BECAUSE SHE CARRIES HER OWN
R.H.SIN

19/09/2022

The first time Hannah ventured off to the UK on her own to discover Europe she honestly wasn’t to sure what to expect. It was exciting and a little daunting to step into the unknown.

Looking back now there were many lessons learned and things she wishes she had known before. Knowing these things would have made her fantastic experiences 10 times better. These are 3 tips she has for you:

1. Do free activities offered at hostels
If you’re feeling a bit nervous to stay in a hostel with lots of strangers you’ve never met, don’t be! It is the best way to meet people and make some travel companions. Hostels offer lots of free activities, such as walking tours and dinners. I didn’t take as much advantage as I should have here. Later on when I was traveling and staying in hostels I learned from this mistake and had a ball! The people working at the hostels have a wealth of knowledge about the area and know lots of fun things to do.

2. You don’t need to have everything planned
Some of the best times I’ve had when traveling have happened when I wasn’t so rigid with my plans. Being a planner and an organized person, on my first solo trip I went overboard with my itinerary and tried to tick off so many things in a day. This meant 25,000 steps later and feeling like I hadn’t really taken things in properly. It is better to sometimes just go with the flow and see where it takes you. You will often encounter more local and less ‘touristy’ experiences this way.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Maybe I was nervous or worried about stranger danger but I didn’t always ask for help on my first trip. When I learned later on when traveling solo to ask for help when needed it led to great things! You can get great tips about local eateries and other fun experiences when you approach locals. Everywhere I have traveled, people are generally so friendly and are more than happy to help solo female travelers. This was so refreshing and restored my faith in human kindness.

Do you have any other advice you can share with the group ? please share in the comments !

15/09/2022

Few parts of the world can claim such a range of natural beauty as Italy,. With steep cliffs rising from an impossibly blue sea ,white-sand beaches and elegant villas, the island of Capri is considered one of the most gorgeous places in Italy.

This is Capri !

3 things you must do when you get there?
- A boat tour around the island
- A day at the beach
- A climb up Mount Solaro

Budget ?
If you are travelling alone to Capri, depending on your expectations, you will pay for an overnight stay from 24 USD for a hostel to 486 USD for a luxury hotel.

So would you like to go there? I would ! Let me know in the comments

12/09/2022

WHY SHOULD YOU TRAVEL SOLO ?

Here are the 5 reasons I found are the most popular :

1/You will be more grateful for what you have and life in general
Being away from family and friends for a little while will make you appreciate them more.

2/You will feel more confident
When you travel alone you have no choice but to overcome the difficulties that arise while traveling, which enables you to discover your true strength. Increased confidence and fearlessness result from knowing you can handle anything that comes your way.

3/You have TOTAL COMPLETE FREEDOM
You can do what you want , when you want and how you want it . No one to think about or satisfy , just yourself. It's great to be selfish sometimes!

4/You will become more social .
This is especially great for introverts so they can get out of their comfort and talk to new people

5/You get to know yourself and self reflect
You discover who you really are when you are by yourself because you have to face challenges and fears by yourself and see what you really are capable of. Taking decisions for yourself , by yourself and being away from your people make you see what you are truly made of.

WHAT'S YOUR REASON ??? Tell us in the comments

08/09/2022

I'm doing it
for me

05/09/2022

An oasis in the middle of America if you are looking for a total relaxation , immersed in NATURE .

Hey guys , I was surfing the net when I came across this PLACE in Costa Rica and just had to share with you. This is my kind of place: beautiful boutique hotel, in complete nature and waterfall , with what looks like great food. I looked at the prices and it looks like it starts at about 350$ per night . they even have wellness packages and massages on a river! . I am adding this to my bucket list!

Here is the link : https://oxygenjunglevillas.com

I have no affiliations with them and I have no reviews from them. I just want to share it with you as I loved the pictures and what I saw. By the way if you guys found any great places online , please share with us.

Picture from https://oxygenjunglevillas.com

01/09/2022

IMPORTANT: WATCH FOR YOUR CARRY ON SIZE AND WEIGTH SO YOU DON'T PAY EXTRA FEES.

Hey you guys! I was reading someone complaining in a group the other day about having to pay $50 each time to have her small carry on checked because of the weight and the airline made people put their bags in those boxes to make sure they fit. If you are traveling to Europe you can even risk not being able to bring a carry-on into the cabin at all. To make sure you don't get surprises , verify the policies of the airlines you will be using so you know exactly the weight and size accepted .

I found this great link online , where you can see the size and weight allowed for different airlines. For extra caution I would go directly to the website of the airline and look at their bag allowance policies.

https://www.minaal.com/blogs/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-european-carry-on-sizes

Hope that helps ! and if you are traveling soon , HAPPY TRAVELS !!!! YAY😆

European carry on size restrictions and weight limits are notoriously stingy, so we took the time to collect the 16 major carrier guidelines into one place.

29/08/2022

What do you prefer: staying in your comfort zone or challenging yourself every now and then?

I used to LOVE my little comfort zone until I realized that the greatest things in life lie outside of this zone of comfort. One of our fundamental psychological demands is the need for personal growth and development, therefore if we don't actively work on ourselves, it can have a negative effect on our mental wellbeing.

We were brought into this world to evolve and to grow.

Have you ever asked yourself : if you don’t try new things how will you know what you are capable of? Don’t you want to achieve more, be more ?

Well if you don’t that is totally ok (there are no judgment here)

But the magic happens outside of your comfort zone !

When I decided that I had to do certain things even if I feared doing them, my life started shifting slowly for the better and I started dreaming way bigger and seeing myself doing things I would never think I would do.

Going solo on a trip to a foreign country, and meeting new people is such a great way to create new experiences that keep you reengage with the world.

When faced with unexpected occurrences in a solo trip, you become more resourceful at surpassing these challenges alone and you train yourself to be prepared for life’s unforeseen obstacles.

When you actually go on that trip or overcome any challenge you were not sure you were equipped for, you have the certainty that you can do ANYTHING! Empowerment at its best!
So what’s your next challenge???

Tell me more in the comments

20/08/2022

Hey guys ! I visited last week this amazing waterfall called Saut Mathurine in the south of Haiti. I took some pictures and videos and thought I would share with you. I loved the sound of the water falling and the feel of the water wind on my skin...

09/08/2022

DARE TO LIVE THE LIFE YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED !

28/07/2022

Sardinia !!!

Sardinia is an island of Italy.

Wether you love nature, the city or beaches, this destination is great for you

Why do many native Sardinians live past 100 years of age?

Sardinia is known as a Blue Zone for this reason.

A spectacular, rugged coastline, secluded beaches with turquoise waters, unique archeological sites , charming cities and small towns, and a vast array of flora and fauna make this Mediterranean island a natural paradise.

The lifestyle is laid-back, and the cuisine is pure and healthy.

Sardinia is a magical destination for anyone seeking sun, sand, and tranquility.

Getting there???

You can fly to Sardinia from most major Italian cities, as well as from many European cities. Another option is the ferry. Ferries are available from mainland Italy, as well as from Sicily, Spain, and France.

Budget ???
The final cost of your trip depends on what you do, when you visit and the places you choose to visit – for example Costa Smeralda is an expensive destination.

I don't know about you but i think this might be my next destination ! Fell in love...

Would you consider going there ? Let me know your thoughts

22/07/2022

GUESS WHERE THAT IS ???

White sand and clear waters ...

12/07/2022

1 EURO = 1 US DOLLAR
Do u know what that means ?!?!
Tell me in the comments

05/07/2022

Secrets to spending less than $1000 on your next solo trip…

If you follow this plan, you will be spending less than $1000 on your trip without starving yourself or compromizing on the experience…
Let’s dive right into it…
The first thing you must do to stick to that budget is to subdue the craving for shopping or living in an exotic destination…
I know some solo women travelers fancy expensive places, lavish dinners, and staying at the best travel destinations…
Which dries up all the money.
Instead of that, you should look for safe, secure & affordable accommodation for your next trip.
And it shouldn’t be an exotic, 7-star hotel.
But hey!

2nd thing you should do is to plan your trip in advance and save up on the last minute booking surcharge……

And lastly, look for places that are exquisite, unique, and don’t cost an arm and a leg to visit…

You’ll get tons of options…

If you want more of these tips, check out the one of its kind community for solo female travelers in the comments…

28/06/2022

TIPS TO GET AROUND CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS IN AIRPORTS THESE DAYS

Travelers are back on track this summer 2022 for both local and international flights as covid restrictions dissolve more and more globally. The travel season this summer will be the busiest since the Covid-19 epidemic started.
However, recent weeks have seen a lot of chaos in American airports. The airline travel sector is severely disrupted each day by thousands of cancellations and delays caused by workforce shortages, which infuriates passengers.
If you are travelling these next days or weeks , follow these TIPs to avoid ruining your vacations.

1- ALWAYS fly the first flight in the morning so you have all day to be rebooked if your flight is cancelled since morning flights don't cancel as often as late flights
2- Schedule long layovers with a minimum of 3 to 4 hours
3- If you have booked tours or special events in the country/city you are visiting make sure you arrive few days before . Even if it means spending more money on the ticket and hotel
4- Before your flight, download and use the airline's app. It has everything, including the ability to change flights, obtain boarding tickets, monitor bags, and observe impending planes.
5- Avoid connecting to any New York airport . You have a good chance of your flight being canceled or delayed there.
6- Get travel insurance for your flights and accommodations.
7- Don’t book with third party travel websites , it will be hell if you have to rebook with them. Book directly with the airline or hotel.

23/06/2022

WHAT ABOUT Uber, taxis, metro stations, and night trains WHEN U TRAVEL SOLO???

Of course, you need to get around the new city, and there are many travel options, but which one is the safest? Traveling around in the daytime shouldn't be a problem, but when it comes to the evening, your chances of facing an issue, increase.
Traveling on a night train leaves you open to unwelcome advances. If you fall asleep, you may wake to half your belongings missing. If you have to travel at night, a bus may be safer as there is less movement and more surveillance.

Taxi or Uber? Uber is cheaper, and there are no surprise charges at the end of your trip. Also, you can see the rating of your Uber driver.

Sometimes, Uber isn't available, and you have to depend on taxis. The problem with taxis is that often they are not official taxis. Therefore, no way of tracking the ride if something goes wrong.

What about metros? Metro stations in most international cities are sleazy and especially dangerous at night. Try and avoid night travel by metro.

Don’t even think about hitch-hiking.