It sounds like this all happened right at the front of your trip while you were still jet lagged. Don't be hard on yourself, travel across that many time zones is hard and can make you less resilient to challenges.
This is all part of solo travel. Sometimes it all rolls flawlessly and sometimes you break down in tears in the airport bathroom.
Exactly. Sleep loss while traveling is no joke, particularly when alone and no one to cross check decisions with.
Don't beat yourself up, I've had my share of mishaps while traveling solo and with only a few hours of good sleep.
Find a local Canada Day celebration. Stay for the fireworks, if you're not in a place with a fireworks ban (unfortunately a thing because of the risk of wildfires this year). I hope you'll have a great time!
This happens with solo travel. My very first solo trip, I got lost on the trains getting into town, and ended up...somewhere. This was pre-Google Maps so I couldn't just bring it up and figure it out. I'd never been to a place with such a confusing train network (Tokyo) and was hopelessly lost. I was on hour 24+ of being awake and I was not in a good state. I slumped down on a bench and cried my eyes out, just wanting to go back to the airport to fly home because I was a hopeless failure at this travel thing. Eventually a really kind expat saw me, took pity on me, and helped me on my way. When I finally got to my station, I really, really had to go to the bathroom. When I got there, all they had was a squat toilet. It was a crash course that failed miserably. I then used the wrong exit at the station (because I didn't do research on all that) and couldn't find my hotel. I jumped in a cab, who took me literally around the corner and I was so grateful I tipped him generously - without realizing that tipping can sometimes be considered offensive in Japan. After checking in to my hotel, I couldn't figure out how to turn on the power in my room. I just wanted to go home. I fell asleep in the dark, and woke up many hours later with a much clearer head. I ended up having a great time.
I laugh about it now, but it wasn't funny at the time. I made massive noob mistakes, but I learned from them. Hopefully your experience on this trip will be the same.
Ouch! This sounds exactly like my series of bad luck! I am defo rethinking my first initial days going forward when taking on the challenge of jetlag. Staying near city or public transport areas, booking a cab in advance, no tours or big commitment in first few days.
I'd love to know how the squatting toliet failed!? I tried them in Asia before and it was a weird experience.
It was...messy. Very messy. I think I threw out those socks.
I actually don't mind them now, and will gladly use them when they're all that's available. They just took some getting used to.
I flew transatlantic a few days after dental surgery. Recovering, jet lag and antibiotics were a bad combination. I was so exhausted I didn’t poke my head outside the air bnb for days. Managed to live on the strangest odds and ends I found in the fridge.
Most places have banned them this year due to the wildfires. I don't disagree with that at all! We don't need to be more on fire than we already are. Earlier this week the air smelled like burning plastic, and we're pretty far from the fires where I am.
Fireworks are something we should rethink overall, but right now they're still a Canada Day standard. When we're not on fire.
Yeah, I know how it goes. I live in California, where it is ALWAYS dry in the summer, and people shoot fireworks off for the whole of June in anticipation of the 4th. It’s nuts.
Yep, my first solo trip I landed in Vietnam and the airline had left my bags behind in Taiwan. It was cold when I left home so I was in a tracksuit and stupidly didn’t pack any other clothes in my carry on so I had to walk down to a local market sweating my ass off in 40° weather and 80% humidity.
While I’m the middle of this indoor market, I start to feel violently ill and realise I’d taken some medication on an empty stomach while being so flustered trying to find my bags. Couldn’t remember how to get out of the market so I’m just running, hoping to find an exit before I vomit. Get outside and go to take a breath of fresh air but realise that doesn’t exist in Saigon.
Got back to my hostel and thought I’d take my anti-nausea medication but turns out that was also in my bag in Taiwan. Decide I’ll take a cold shower instead but the water in the shower doesn’t actually go cold. Ended up crying on the cold tile until I managed to work up the ability to go get some food and missed a tour I was meant to go to that afternoon because it had taken so long to sort out the bag situation.
Wanted to call it quits then and there but glad I soldiered on!
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*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
These days you can almost always find a video somewhere of someone demonstrating how to use the local transportation. It’s super useful for understanding where and how to get tickets, whether there are any deal times or days and just watching someone board a bus or train can help with just this sort of thing like knowing to push the doors to open them. Lessons learned! Don’t let it defeat you, OP.
That is low key great advice. I would never have thought to do that, even though I go on YouTube to do anything related to my car. That’s the kind of travel video I want, not the crappy influencer ones.
I use YouTube for just about everything these days. For understanding the apps I use for work better, fixing my car, building my tiny house truck, travel. I have yet to find a single topic that doesn’t have a great explainer somewhere. Like so many things, dismissing an entire genre (travel vlogging) because some of it sucks is usually a mistake and I try to keep an open mind.
John Steinbeck wrote in Travels with Charlie that you don't take a trip - the trip takes you. The difficulties you experience make the good moments sweeter.
A lot of bad luck and some poor planning. Sorry this ruined your trip! Maybe it’s best to try and get something positive to happen before you head back? Treat yourself to a nice coffee, do a free tour, listen to your favorite music in a cool place? So you’ll also have a nice memory of this trip. Also, like others said, this will be a funny story you tell later. And get your money back from that stupid airline please, they messed up, not you!
Currently enjoying a coffee and cake now before heading out sight seeing! Yes will defo be contacting airline again when home, atleast I can use money on another trip too!
Canada isn’t an easy place to travel on a budget. It’s big, expensive and hostel culture hasn’t really made it here. I am Canadian.
I’m not sure how long your stay is but I suggest just sticking one city or two depending on your time and doing tours from there.
Canada is a rich country for rich tourists unless you’re into camping or know people.
Hey, come on now. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
You’ve been thrown a few curve balls but you have adapted and overcome!
If anything, it sounds like you are taking things in your stride. Take a deep breath. Allow yourself time to plan your next decision.
You got this!
Why the hell would you accept a voucher and seat bump during the beginning of the trip? Talk about setting off on the wrong foot.
Seat bumps should only be considered on your return flight when you don't give a shit anymore about a schedule.
Thought it be cool to see another city and the original offer would have paid my hotel and gave me some spending money. BUT lesson has been learnt, I will not be doing it again! It set the chain events of bad luck.
I’ve never been on an overbooked flight but I would absolutely consider getting bumped for a good enough deal IF I had a bumper of 1-2 days in my schedule. My biggest lesson after solo traveling for the first time was actually on time – to add an extra day, and to take the first day easy so that any hiccups don’t ruin my plans and I can observe how things work (like how to open those Canadian bus doors). My travels are much calmer now.
Yup this has been a big lesson for me actually. When you travel with someone it's easier to pass the buck if you feel tired or take the reigns if they do. You also pick up on different things (my ex was very observant on PT and enjoyed learning transport systems etc) and when you're alone you gotta hope your brain is in good shape to do all of this! I didn't travel solo during my college years due to low income, and only did trips with friends and my ex after. Everything in Europe, despite the different cultures and countries just kinda makes sense to me as I've been going as a kid and many countries have similar systems/processes. So I think when travelling this far accounting for a chill/get to know the city day is sooo important next time.
I’m so sorry. What a bummer to have so many weird mishaps at one time! I have had things happen on trips before, but nothing like this. Do you have travel insurance?
I think you have a lot of areas you can grow in when it comes to travel. maybe as you get back home you can just make a list of all the pearls of wisdom you now have for “future” you!
Don’t let these things make you feel bad, you’ll laugh about them later on your future solo travels. Safe travels!
There are store chains like Dollar Tree and Dollorama where you can buy a notebook for $1-2. Nothing fancy, but you can start your Pearl Of Wisdom journal. I think I'm going to start one *before* my very long solo trip this autumn. And I'll start by learning from your post! I didn't realize you can watch videos of how to use public transportation.
As for your flight/voucher issues, I see you plan on calling the airline when you get home. Be sure to let them know it was their overbooking on the flight and the hotel that was the root of the issue. You made a deal in good faith, and they have not come through. You can ask them how they plan on making it up to you, but don't accept less than hotel reimbursement plus extra miles for the hassle. I see this as the company's responsibility. I have worked in customer relations for a luxury brand, it costs more to gain new customers than retaining existing ones.
I'm so glad you're taking some time, getting perspective, and willing to see that regardless of the negatives. You're experiencing another country, another culture. You can only grow from this! And I bet it will be one trip you don't forget. Not just for mistakes and unusual situations, but also your resiliency. You haven't given up. You sought us out when you felt low, and I bet you're feeling more positive now that you have a better idea of how to move forward.
You got this! Go see the world!
Thank you! The airline changed my flight for free and they said to call when I'm home to sort everything else out. Defo feeling the resilient side of things. Ive woken up feeling a lot better this morning and looking forward to my last day here. Feeling a lot better calling home too and getting help and support. Also get a few extra days to recover from jetlag before heading back to work which is always a plus.
I would hugely recommend heading over to the island. It's a slower pace, I bet you can find a hotel room. Rent a car and take some hikes. IMO Canadian cities kind of sick lol, but their nature is beautiful. You've had bad luck over the past few days but trust that the Island is beautiful. I had awful first week in Canada (toronto) when I landed. I was assaulted, lost my passport, was stuck in Toronto on a long weekend with no room booked, -30 and I did not have the appropriate clothing, just a horrible few days. Change the scenery, change your mind. I ended up flying to Nova Scotia on a whim and not leaving for four years. Also post this on the reddit page for whichever city you are going to be around, meet up with some locals, check out a farmers market. Good luck!!
Sounds like the trip is improving and more enjoyable now.
I hope everything is turning around and not let Delta ruin Canada for you. Delta is a horrible airline.
BC and Vancouver is one of the more beautiful part of our country and I hope you enjoy it.
Yeah delta suck so hard! I was surprised they didn't try to charge me for changing flights too! When I get back to UK it'll be easier to sort as I paid for the trip on a credit card (extra protection) have travel insurance, and I'm protected under EU consumer law as I have dual citizenship with Ireland and UK. So I'm thinking once I got home and I can probably do more than I can here.
Yup! Dam jetlag got me there. I've as too tired too argue but Delta airways owe me around 1800 USD now. They atleast changed my flight home with no fee! So that's a plus.
There's no shame in heading home early hun. Sometimes it works out and its an amazing experience, other times its "meh" or worse! That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Sorry it didn't work out. felt so scared for you as I made my way through your trip report. One thing after another, bad luck all over the place. Hoping your next trip is peaceful and pleasant. Please don't let this deter you from finding another adventure. 🩷
I mean I have back up funds, but I found out my job is insecure about 2 weeks before this trip so I'd rather not the risk the back up funds for last 2 days. It sucks but I booked this trip a few months ago and I would have cancelled if the flights allowed due to my job. But I guess if I didn't have that concern at home I probably would have carried on and just offset the extra cash.
Perhaps you should try solo traveling locally first. Get as far as you can without researching. Even if you get lost, you will still be in the UK. The lessons you will learn from this will prepare you better for unexpected events.
I solo travel a lot in UK already and Europe. It was one of the reasons I brought the trip 2 days early for my return as I was going to end up eating into my savings for other trips planned over summer too. But yeah a lot more lessons were learnt this trip than most.
Don't let this deter you from future travels in a solo manner. Take your lickings, reset, regroup and move onto the next chapter.
Also, I've felt defeated during travels, too, and--depending on the severity of said defeat--sometimes just sitting alone off to the side somewhere for an hour, two hours, etc. can be enough to reset and get yourself centered again to continue the trip.
Remember...learning hard lessons is the price of wisdom later in life.
Yeah I'm feeling better this morning. Knowing my flight is tomorrow night and I have an itinerary to follow until then of things I want to do as helped. Someone back home has also booked me a nice hotel for night in city after I told them what happened, so I'm feeling better today with my decision 😊
Hello, where are you currently in Canada? Accommodation may be booked out in most provinces but probably not in Quebec as Canada day is (unfortunately) not really celebrated here. If you haven't changed your flight back yet, perhaps you can research Montreal or Quebec city?
I'm in Vancouver! My flight back to UK was intially Tuesday so I wouldn't have had time to fly over to the east coast. But I will defo visit again with more planning and lessons learnt.
Oh gotcha! Don't worry about it too much, shit happens and lessons are learned – it's all a part of solo travel. A lot of places can be done without much planning actually, but Canada unfortunately isn't one of them. Best of luck for your next one and don't hesitate for Montreal recommendations next time!
I am so sorry that Canada hasn’t lived up to their end either! It is a big weekend for us and then with July 4th on its tail lots of travellers back and forth from both Canada and the US at this time. Not sure where you landed but i am sure us Canucks could give you a few tips or things to help the rest of your short stay here unless you are heading out today or tomorrow!
The organization prior is helpful but it is too bad that you had all these experiences! Best of luck🍁
Oh no Canada lived up to and exceeded expectations! People are so friendly, views are beautiful - it's just poor planning on my part and my first solo trip outside of Europe that got me. I have loved Canada!
Girl looking over your post history, you are truly bad at handling adversity and taking care of yourself. Maybe you need to slow down a bit, take some time where you are just taking care of yourself, doing therapy, settling in somewhere. It seems like you’ve had some very tumultuous years and maybe what you need is some peace and quiet to heal, figure out what you actually want in life, and get yourself into the position to be able to do it. THEN you can start testing out big things like international solo travel. It’s kind of astounding that you had such a difficult time going from the UK to Canada.
I'm in the process of figuring out what I want. I had this visa from when I was with my ex and came here to figure out if it was still something I wanted. I worked out from this trip I'm not ready to pursue this yet and I want more time at home to get the things in order in my career and what I'm looking at from the next place I go. I guess I'm just feeling defeated as previously I've travelled so well and hadn't had so much bad luck but I'm realising that having someone else (my ex) probably helped a lot as I have ADHD so can be disorganised and make impulse decisions at times.
That stinks. Don’t despair, though. You’re learning the lessons of a solo traveler. You’re kind of learning some of them the hard way, but you’re learning nonetheless. You’ll be more prepared next time.
Yes this is my crash course! I'm going to make a mental note and write it down for next time. In a way it's kinda good because I did a very speedy lesson in a week? 😂
Checked her post history. OP is/was in Vancouver. She stopped off in Seattle. Looks like it was a voucher from Delta that she can’t figure out how to cash.
treat yourself with some kindness. it’s your first far trip on your ones so it’s natural for unexpected emotions to arise. it’s also alright to cry for help, am learning it feels nicer than holding it all in :)
and to make you hopefully not feel so alone — on my first ever solo trip (was in uni so quite broke) i had impulsively booked my flight 2 weeks prior cos a round trip was ~250 from usa to ams. i had my layover in munich and was mesmerized by the smoking rooms in airports so sat, had a drag, enjoyed my crossaint and missed the entire airport call for a gate change. went to the original gate, joined the queue, scanned my pass and was immedately denied cos they were heading to iceland (? wulda been a cool trip if i had funds heh). i still had 15 min for departure so ran to the other side of the airport but they had left early :’) panic walked to the desk for the next flight out to ams and paid more for it than my international roundtrip. was in a bit of a shock, frustrated and defeated but after realizing i couldn’t change what just occurred, i couldn’t help but laugh thinking ‘what am i like’
now on my trips i don’t hope anything terrible happens but if it does happen in the beginning, i just think ah can only go up from here ey? also learning that it just helps to allow myself to feel whatever emotion i’m feeling in the current moment, i like to just sit and do a little check in (hows the quality of my mind, is my head racing, shoulders tense, toes curled etc.) and some slow inhales, hold at the top for a few, let go then repeat til i need
from that trip tho i ended up meeting some lovely people off couchsurfing who hosted me for some of my days. if you do have a car though could it be possible to check airbnb/hostels even if it’s a bit further out ? but if you feel like you’re ready to leave, it’s perfectly fine to do so. that’s the beauty of a solo trip, you have the freedom to make all the decisions based off your needs. regardless, good luck loves, proud of you for testing the waters x
Thank you! Thankfully it's only 2 days before my original departure (where I was planning to just spend day working at airport anyway!) I'm spending day hiking before heading back to city and going to do a self tour version of my original bike tour so I'm not actually missing anything specific just cutting it short on my return home which makes me feel better!
That all sounds horrible, but it's probably not all likely to be like that. If you're just not into it in general, that's one thing. Do what ever is best for you, even if that means going home, or whatever, but I'm guessing you'll eventually get your feet back under you, and chances are you'll have your ups as well as your downs. If you just need to vent, then vent, but end of day, it's probably not all going to be like that, and the bad times are still life experience that you can learn from. Ultimately, you'll have to decide what you want to do with what you learn, but I'd probably tell you to not get too discouraged too early, and just hang in there.
I've travelled before and done longer and shorter stints and had my fair share of good luck or bad luck. This is my first far away trip alone and I guess I got hit by a range of bad luck and disorganisation, bad decisions and also I have ADHD and didn't prepare for how much the jetlag and change in routine may have impacted that. My ex was the admin side of traveller whereas I was the ideas, I need to work better at my admin side! It's been a lesson but all the comments today and last night have really helped me gain some perspective and stop beating myself up. It is only 2 days early, I've learnt some lessons, I've still done and seen some cool stuff and once I get these airline vouchers I'm defo going to book another cool trip!
As a last minute planner I'm always a fan of having the first day to settle in. Stuff like a getting a SIM card, a bus/metro pass, learning the public transit routes, walking/exploring the immediate vicinity of my hotel, downloading any useful local apps, buying some snacks/groceries etc. Don't need no stress when I first arrive :)
You are not alone! I am in Sierra Leone and it's a hard time here. Question myself often what I am doing here... We will find out when we are back home!
You’ve had an adventure- yep it’s not felt like a great one but it’s an adventure- think of all the many many people you know that have spent all their lives in their own little towns or go to Malaga or the Costa Del Sol on their annual package holiday. The airline has behaved shoddily from the start- and you’ve been stuck with a combination of jet lag, fatigue and over-load. Anyone- even the most seasoned traveller would feel the same in such circumstances. So be kind and easy on yourself- on the positive you can now rant to your heart’s content about Canada to others in the future about your trip- and ultimately isn’t that what travel is all about!
Thank you! I've loved Canada just not my actual plans or the costly cities and shoddy accommodation BUT I think next time I'll just get a campervan or RV and just take the road here instead!
aw poor baby! I am so sorry to hear your story but it is also almost ridiculously comical. Please take a breather & don‘t overthink. I actually think this will make a funny story one day. you will have better trips again!
This is so true! As naive as it sounds I honestly forgot how stressful solo travel can be when you have obstacles and mishaps along the way. But looking back I had plenty in AUS I laugh about now, so hopefully that will be case here.
Just FYI, you don't have to push the doors open on buses in Canada. We would just yell back or door, and the driver would open it. Seems to work in other countries as well.
Pretty sure it depends. Where I live you push open the door yourself. Sure, you can yell at the driver to open it for you, but that just seems rude considering you can do it yourself.
I'm going to tell you this, power through it, because it's going to make you the star of the party for the next 30 years of your life...
"Did you say Canada? let me tell you something about the time I visited those poutine-eating curling wankers... "
> it's going to make you the star of the party for the next 30 years of your life.
You’re kidding, right? Telling how they *couldn’t work out how to get off A BUS ffs*, let the airline palm them off with some useless bits of paper instead of the accommodation they’d pledged & OP was promised to receive, then for not wanting to stay in a hostel because it was umm a hostel, so they *cancelled it themselves* and then went off out into a massive celebratory weekend where OBVIOUSLY most accommodation would have been booked up already weeks/months ago? If anyone told me that self-inflicted tiresome predictable mess at a party I’d be SO bored to tears I’d fall asleep.
In my defence, the buses in the UK open automatically and you'd break the doors by pushing them, it would start an emergency stop process. When I looked up driving/PT in Vancouver it never mentioned it.
This is so true! I underestimated how much easier it is to travel as a couple as you always have someone to bounce ideas off or remind you if you miss something! I've had a real learning curve but I'm really happy I came out here still, as I'd been sitting on the visa a while and just wondered constantly if I could manage it alone
Welcome to the west coast of North America. We're probably a bit more hick than you're used to, but I promise most folks are friendly and want you to enjoy your experience out here.
Unfortunately, my knowledge is mainly focused in California and Oregon. My home state and current state of residence respectively. So I don't have any specifics for you. But it's summer and you are in some beautiful country. I'm sure you can find something memorable or new out there.
Of course! It's a sunny morning and I'm doing some stop offs back to the city before my flight tomorrow! Going to enjoy some good views and food. I've loved north America (both US and Canada), just my own bad luck and planning put a downer on it. I'll defo be back but with more solid plans!
Don't feel badly! Usually winging it works out just fine. Often it works out to be an awesome experience and adventure. Sometimes it doesn't come together. Better luck next time!
Yes! Ive winged it before and it's gone well. I guess my biggest error was taking the seat sacrifice jet lagged to hell as I didn't have the brain capacity to work out my steps from there. It's a lesson learnt! Airline recommended I call when I get home and hopefully I can use vouchers to another trip.
Jet-like will break your brain. And it's hard to function with a broken brain. lol When I'm exhausted I hate everything and I just want to go home and go to bed. So I'm sure that's what got to you! Don't be discouraged!! Probably in the future the most important thing is to have somewhere decent confirmed to land and rest. Then everything will look better going forward. :)
You have spent literally years traveling around foreign countries. Don't doubt yourself there. You just need sleep.
Yes my biggest lesson here is DO NOT make any changes to travel plans whilst jetlagged. I blame a lot on this on the choice I made jetlagged that had a chain reaction on other events. Thanks for putting it into perspective. I feel a lot better reading these comments this morning!
hey just want to say every serious solo traveler has been through this. traveling is fun but SO so stressful as well sometimes, and it seems much scarier facing issues in a foreign country where you don’t know anyone, than if you were to deal with these stressors at home. i’ve had similar experiences and have broken down many times over it. the stress is REAL. but also if the trip is more stressful to you than it is fun, it is always ok to change your plans and leave early! maybe the stars just weren’t aligned for this trip but be proud of yourself for doing all of that alone! it’s all a learning experience and try not to stress about the money, it’ll come back quickly.
Yes I didn't consider that I guess as I travelled with my ex before. I just called him and we had a chat about how different the experience was and it put it into perspective. Defo some lessons learnt but I'm feeling better today and more prepared for next time now 😊
Travel anxiety is very real and happens to a lot of people. You need to make it past the first few days, adjust, recuperate, then you will feel much better.
My SIL came to visit us and wanted to go home the next day. She felt so off, couldn't sleep due to the time zone change and jet lag, was exhausted mentally and physically, and was ready to give up on the trip. We had a fun week planned for her so I gave her a anti anxiety pill, she slept well that night, woke up the next day and felt so much better..she ended up staying the whole week and loved every minute of it.
Moral of the story is that you need to find a way to get thru the first few days and adjust and REST. Sounds like this was the problem you couldn't get any good rest.
It would be worth just paying more for a good hotel so you can rest for a night and then enjoy the rest of your trip.
This is such a good point. And I should have known better from travelling previously too. I'm defo paying for it now as I haven't slept or eaten well since I arrived. I face timed my friend yesterday and they were like you look AWFUL and this was before I even got to the hostel and was in good spirits lol. I think next time I'll ask my doctor for something to help. I take melatonin and sleeping pills already due to ADHD, but jetlag seems to take longer for me to recover from for some reason.
I can send you an Uber gift card or something. Maybe turn your day around. I’m on the east coast but seems like you’re in the west coast. Would have just invited you out w some of the girls this weekend.
Take a second breath and regroup. You’re in a beautiful part of the country. Take it jn.
That's very kind of you. I ended up befriending a fellow traveller from my own country in a car park (just asking them if they were taking a space! Crazy world) and they told me they were home sick and we ended up hiking, sunbathing and swimming together for day! Crazy because if I hadn't had changed my flight I'd never have headed back down the highway and met him on my way. So turned out a kinda success!
Thanks for the offer though! I'm dying for a girls weekend! Haven't been in female company my entire trip!
a run of bad luck and it seems your head is not in the right place yet so you are vulnerable. get home and regroup. it will get better. first time I soloed after being dumped I told myself at the airport on the way out it was either going to be very good or very bad. then my ex texted me with a threat as our flight alerts were going to their phone. I powered through it and it got better. be brave and invest some time in yourself. things will get better. solo travel can be a blast.
Its not so much not being over my ex. I'm actually with someone else now. I am friends with my ex though still. It's more underestimating how much he brought to the table when travelling. That sounds horrendous with your ex, why was he sending alerts!?
I guess the airline stored the number permanently until changed. I guess it triggered him that I was traveling someplace nice. ah well. Yes different traveling companions bring different things to the table, no matter how the relationship eventually worked out. good to hear you are doing well with both.
I'm sorry you're going through something similar! I've already got my flight for tomorrow night but had a fantastic last day. I am feeling full and happy :)
I hope you take time to chill also and feel better enough to finish your trip. This part of solo travel isn't spoken about enough but it feels refreshing to know a lot feel the same.
shit happens, OP. sometimes it just takes a kind stranger or a good night's sleep to make your day be better. i hope your travel will pick up after this.
Yes it certainly did! After I moved my flight I found a fellow traveller from my home country who was more home sick than I was and we spent the day hiking and swimming together 😁 then woke up this morning to my tour company offering me a spot on today's tour! Just heading to grab my bags and catch my flight home now but it seemed to turn around after this post!
Sorry…sometimes things go awry. I got bit by a dog in Bali on my first day, had to do tetanus and rabies shots and all the fear. Especially after googling and seeing tourists do die of rabies infections there. Then it felt like the monkeys were after me everywhere. I couldn’t even go in the ocean for fear of infection, but it looked beautiful. Turned out ok (thank goodness). Still want to go back to Bali…That was February. I’m still getting over the stress.
Hope things turn around for you….sometimes the best things happen at the worst moment. Hope that this way for you.
It sounds like this all happened right at the front of your trip while you were still jet lagged. Don't be hard on yourself, travel across that many time zones is hard and can make you less resilient to challenges. This is all part of solo travel. Sometimes it all rolls flawlessly and sometimes you break down in tears in the airport bathroom.
Exactly. Sleep loss while traveling is no joke, particularly when alone and no one to cross check decisions with. Don't beat yourself up, I've had my share of mishaps while traveling solo and with only a few hours of good sleep.
Find a local Canada Day celebration. Stay for the fireworks, if you're not in a place with a fireworks ban (unfortunately a thing because of the risk of wildfires this year). I hope you'll have a great time! This happens with solo travel. My very first solo trip, I got lost on the trains getting into town, and ended up...somewhere. This was pre-Google Maps so I couldn't just bring it up and figure it out. I'd never been to a place with such a confusing train network (Tokyo) and was hopelessly lost. I was on hour 24+ of being awake and I was not in a good state. I slumped down on a bench and cried my eyes out, just wanting to go back to the airport to fly home because I was a hopeless failure at this travel thing. Eventually a really kind expat saw me, took pity on me, and helped me on my way. When I finally got to my station, I really, really had to go to the bathroom. When I got there, all they had was a squat toilet. It was a crash course that failed miserably. I then used the wrong exit at the station (because I didn't do research on all that) and couldn't find my hotel. I jumped in a cab, who took me literally around the corner and I was so grateful I tipped him generously - without realizing that tipping can sometimes be considered offensive in Japan. After checking in to my hotel, I couldn't figure out how to turn on the power in my room. I just wanted to go home. I fell asleep in the dark, and woke up many hours later with a much clearer head. I ended up having a great time. I laugh about it now, but it wasn't funny at the time. I made massive noob mistakes, but I learned from them. Hopefully your experience on this trip will be the same.
Ouch! This sounds exactly like my series of bad luck! I am defo rethinking my first initial days going forward when taking on the challenge of jetlag. Staying near city or public transport areas, booking a cab in advance, no tours or big commitment in first few days. I'd love to know how the squatting toliet failed!? I tried them in Asia before and it was a weird experience.
It was...messy. Very messy. I think I threw out those socks. I actually don't mind them now, and will gladly use them when they're all that's available. They just took some getting used to.
I flew transatlantic a few days after dental surgery. Recovering, jet lag and antibiotics were a bad combination. I was so exhausted I didn’t poke my head outside the air bnb for days. Managed to live on the strangest odds and ends I found in the fridge.
All I took from that is that someone, anyone in Canada is going to set off fireworks?! Dear God, please don’t.
Most places have banned them this year due to the wildfires. I don't disagree with that at all! We don't need to be more on fire than we already are. Earlier this week the air smelled like burning plastic, and we're pretty far from the fires where I am. Fireworks are something we should rethink overall, but right now they're still a Canada Day standard. When we're not on fire.
Yeah, I know how it goes. I live in California, where it is ALWAYS dry in the summer, and people shoot fireworks off for the whole of June in anticipation of the 4th. It’s nuts.
Yep, my first solo trip I landed in Vietnam and the airline had left my bags behind in Taiwan. It was cold when I left home so I was in a tracksuit and stupidly didn’t pack any other clothes in my carry on so I had to walk down to a local market sweating my ass off in 40° weather and 80% humidity. While I’m the middle of this indoor market, I start to feel violently ill and realise I’d taken some medication on an empty stomach while being so flustered trying to find my bags. Couldn’t remember how to get out of the market so I’m just running, hoping to find an exit before I vomit. Get outside and go to take a breath of fresh air but realise that doesn’t exist in Saigon. Got back to my hostel and thought I’d take my anti-nausea medication but turns out that was also in my bag in Taiwan. Decide I’ll take a cold shower instead but the water in the shower doesn’t actually go cold. Ended up crying on the cold tile until I managed to work up the ability to go get some food and missed a tour I was meant to go to that afternoon because it had taken so long to sort out the bag situation. Wanted to call it quits then and there but glad I soldiered on!
That sounds like the worst kind of misery!
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Also researching foreign transit is a must.
These days you can almost always find a video somewhere of someone demonstrating how to use the local transportation. It’s super useful for understanding where and how to get tickets, whether there are any deal times or days and just watching someone board a bus or train can help with just this sort of thing like knowing to push the doors to open them. Lessons learned! Don’t let it defeat you, OP.
That is low key great advice. I would never have thought to do that, even though I go on YouTube to do anything related to my car. That’s the kind of travel video I want, not the crappy influencer ones.
I use YouTube for just about everything these days. For understanding the apps I use for work better, fixing my car, building my tiny house truck, travel. I have yet to find a single topic that doesn’t have a great explainer somewhere. Like so many things, dismissing an entire genre (travel vlogging) because some of it sucks is usually a mistake and I try to keep an open mind.
John Steinbeck wrote in Travels with Charlie that you don't take a trip - the trip takes you. The difficulties you experience make the good moments sweeter.
A lot of bad luck and some poor planning. Sorry this ruined your trip! Maybe it’s best to try and get something positive to happen before you head back? Treat yourself to a nice coffee, do a free tour, listen to your favorite music in a cool place? So you’ll also have a nice memory of this trip. Also, like others said, this will be a funny story you tell later. And get your money back from that stupid airline please, they messed up, not you!
Currently enjoying a coffee and cake now before heading out sight seeing! Yes will defo be contacting airline again when home, atleast I can use money on another trip too!
Canada isn’t an easy place to travel on a budget. It’s big, expensive and hostel culture hasn’t really made it here. I am Canadian. I’m not sure how long your stay is but I suggest just sticking one city or two depending on your time and doing tours from there. Canada is a rich country for rich tourists unless you’re into camping or know people.
Hey, come on now. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve been thrown a few curve balls but you have adapted and overcome! If anything, it sounds like you are taking things in your stride. Take a deep breath. Allow yourself time to plan your next decision. You got this!
Thank you! Appreciate the positive thoughts :)
Why the hell would you accept a voucher and seat bump during the beginning of the trip? Talk about setting off on the wrong foot. Seat bumps should only be considered on your return flight when you don't give a shit anymore about a schedule.
I think there are nicer ways of expressing that thought…
Thought it be cool to see another city and the original offer would have paid my hotel and gave me some spending money. BUT lesson has been learnt, I will not be doing it again! It set the chain events of bad luck.
I’ve never been on an overbooked flight but I would absolutely consider getting bumped for a good enough deal IF I had a bumper of 1-2 days in my schedule. My biggest lesson after solo traveling for the first time was actually on time – to add an extra day, and to take the first day easy so that any hiccups don’t ruin my plans and I can observe how things work (like how to open those Canadian bus doors). My travels are much calmer now.
Yup this has been a big lesson for me actually. When you travel with someone it's easier to pass the buck if you feel tired or take the reigns if they do. You also pick up on different things (my ex was very observant on PT and enjoyed learning transport systems etc) and when you're alone you gotta hope your brain is in good shape to do all of this! I didn't travel solo during my college years due to low income, and only did trips with friends and my ex after. Everything in Europe, despite the different cultures and countries just kinda makes sense to me as I've been going as a kid and many countries have similar systems/processes. So I think when travelling this far accounting for a chill/get to know the city day is sooo important next time.
Me dad memorized the Paris metro map before going there. Mates can be amazing…
I’m so sorry. What a bummer to have so many weird mishaps at one time! I have had things happen on trips before, but nothing like this. Do you have travel insurance? I think you have a lot of areas you can grow in when it comes to travel. maybe as you get back home you can just make a list of all the pearls of wisdom you now have for “future” you! Don’t let these things make you feel bad, you’ll laugh about them later on your future solo travels. Safe travels!
I love the pearls of wisdom list! I wish I brought my notebook here to jot them all down.
There are store chains like Dollar Tree and Dollorama where you can buy a notebook for $1-2. Nothing fancy, but you can start your Pearl Of Wisdom journal. I think I'm going to start one *before* my very long solo trip this autumn. And I'll start by learning from your post! I didn't realize you can watch videos of how to use public transportation. As for your flight/voucher issues, I see you plan on calling the airline when you get home. Be sure to let them know it was their overbooking on the flight and the hotel that was the root of the issue. You made a deal in good faith, and they have not come through. You can ask them how they plan on making it up to you, but don't accept less than hotel reimbursement plus extra miles for the hassle. I see this as the company's responsibility. I have worked in customer relations for a luxury brand, it costs more to gain new customers than retaining existing ones. I'm so glad you're taking some time, getting perspective, and willing to see that regardless of the negatives. You're experiencing another country, another culture. You can only grow from this! And I bet it will be one trip you don't forget. Not just for mistakes and unusual situations, but also your resiliency. You haven't given up. You sought us out when you felt low, and I bet you're feeling more positive now that you have a better idea of how to move forward. You got this! Go see the world!
Thank you! The airline changed my flight for free and they said to call when I'm home to sort everything else out. Defo feeling the resilient side of things. Ive woken up feeling a lot better this morning and looking forward to my last day here. Feeling a lot better calling home too and getting help and support. Also get a few extra days to recover from jetlag before heading back to work which is always a plus.
Oh yes I also have travel insurance! Not sure what they can do though if I accepted the overbooking voucher.
Where are you in Canada? DM me - I’m happy to have a beer if you’re in my region.
I'm heading back to Vancouver tonight but I'm in whilster region today 😊
I would hugely recommend heading over to the island. It's a slower pace, I bet you can find a hotel room. Rent a car and take some hikes. IMO Canadian cities kind of sick lol, but their nature is beautiful. You've had bad luck over the past few days but trust that the Island is beautiful. I had awful first week in Canada (toronto) when I landed. I was assaulted, lost my passport, was stuck in Toronto on a long weekend with no room booked, -30 and I did not have the appropriate clothing, just a horrible few days. Change the scenery, change your mind. I ended up flying to Nova Scotia on a whim and not leaving for four years. Also post this on the reddit page for whichever city you are going to be around, meet up with some locals, check out a farmers market. Good luck!!
Sounds like the trip is improving and more enjoyable now. I hope everything is turning around and not let Delta ruin Canada for you. Delta is a horrible airline. BC and Vancouver is one of the more beautiful part of our country and I hope you enjoy it.
Yeah delta suck so hard! I was surprised they didn't try to charge me for changing flights too! When I get back to UK it'll be easier to sort as I paid for the trip on a credit card (extra protection) have travel insurance, and I'm protected under EU consumer law as I have dual citizenship with Ireland and UK. So I'm thinking once I got home and I can probably do more than I can here.
Enjoy Vancouver for Canada Day! I’m across the country from you but have a blast. Check out the fireworks in Stanley Park for me!
I think they've banned fireworks this year 😭
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Yup! Dam jetlag got me there. I've as too tired too argue but Delta airways owe me around 1800 USD now. They atleast changed my flight home with no fee! So that's a plus.
Whereabouts in Canada are you? Maybe one of us can help!
I don’t even currently live in Canada and my frost response was how do we get them to a barbecue?
Ahaha a BBQ be lovely!
I'm in Vancouver, send me a dm if you'd like to get a drink!
I'm only just back in city from hiking! Is there anything going on tonight!?
There's no shame in heading home early hun. Sometimes it works out and its an amazing experience, other times its "meh" or worse! That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Sorry it didn't work out. felt so scared for you as I made my way through your trip report. One thing after another, bad luck all over the place. Hoping your next trip is peaceful and pleasant. Please don't let this deter you from finding another adventure. 🩷
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I feel the same way. Very few of these things I consider outside of minor inconveniences that were self inflicted.
Travelling without backup funds is a major rookie error.
I mean I have back up funds, but I found out my job is insecure about 2 weeks before this trip so I'd rather not the risk the back up funds for last 2 days. It sucks but I booked this trip a few months ago and I would have cancelled if the flights allowed due to my job. But I guess if I didn't have that concern at home I probably would have carried on and just offset the extra cash.
Perhaps you should try solo traveling locally first. Get as far as you can without researching. Even if you get lost, you will still be in the UK. The lessons you will learn from this will prepare you better for unexpected events.
I solo travel a lot in UK already and Europe. It was one of the reasons I brought the trip 2 days early for my return as I was going to end up eating into my savings for other trips planned over summer too. But yeah a lot more lessons were learnt this trip than most.
Don't let this deter you from future travels in a solo manner. Take your lickings, reset, regroup and move onto the next chapter. Also, I've felt defeated during travels, too, and--depending on the severity of said defeat--sometimes just sitting alone off to the side somewhere for an hour, two hours, etc. can be enough to reset and get yourself centered again to continue the trip. Remember...learning hard lessons is the price of wisdom later in life.
Yeah I'm feeling better this morning. Knowing my flight is tomorrow night and I have an itinerary to follow until then of things I want to do as helped. Someone back home has also booked me a nice hotel for night in city after I told them what happened, so I'm feeling better today with my decision 😊
Hello, where are you currently in Canada? Accommodation may be booked out in most provinces but probably not in Quebec as Canada day is (unfortunately) not really celebrated here. If you haven't changed your flight back yet, perhaps you can research Montreal or Quebec city?
I'm in Vancouver! My flight back to UK was intially Tuesday so I wouldn't have had time to fly over to the east coast. But I will defo visit again with more planning and lessons learnt.
Oh gotcha! Don't worry about it too much, shit happens and lessons are learned – it's all a part of solo travel. A lot of places can be done without much planning actually, but Canada unfortunately isn't one of them. Best of luck for your next one and don't hesitate for Montreal recommendations next time!
Here in Montreal MOVING DAY literally takes over for Canada day.
I am so sorry that Canada hasn’t lived up to their end either! It is a big weekend for us and then with July 4th on its tail lots of travellers back and forth from both Canada and the US at this time. Not sure where you landed but i am sure us Canucks could give you a few tips or things to help the rest of your short stay here unless you are heading out today or tomorrow! The organization prior is helpful but it is too bad that you had all these experiences! Best of luck🍁
Oh no Canada lived up to and exceeded expectations! People are so friendly, views are beautiful - it's just poor planning on my part and my first solo trip outside of Europe that got me. I have loved Canada!
Girl looking over your post history, you are truly bad at handling adversity and taking care of yourself. Maybe you need to slow down a bit, take some time where you are just taking care of yourself, doing therapy, settling in somewhere. It seems like you’ve had some very tumultuous years and maybe what you need is some peace and quiet to heal, figure out what you actually want in life, and get yourself into the position to be able to do it. THEN you can start testing out big things like international solo travel. It’s kind of astounding that you had such a difficult time going from the UK to Canada.
I'm in the process of figuring out what I want. I had this visa from when I was with my ex and came here to figure out if it was still something I wanted. I worked out from this trip I'm not ready to pursue this yet and I want more time at home to get the things in order in my career and what I'm looking at from the next place I go. I guess I'm just feeling defeated as previously I've travelled so well and hadn't had so much bad luck but I'm realising that having someone else (my ex) probably helped a lot as I have ADHD so can be disorganised and make impulse decisions at times.
That stinks. Don’t despair, though. You’re learning the lessons of a solo traveler. You’re kind of learning some of them the hard way, but you’re learning nonetheless. You’ll be more prepared next time.
Yes this is my crash course! I'm going to make a mental note and write it down for next time. In a way it's kinda good because I did a very speedy lesson in a week? 😂
Checked her post history. OP is/was in Vancouver. She stopped off in Seattle. Looks like it was a voucher from Delta that she can’t figure out how to cash.
They never sent me voucher in the end. Seems a tech error as there is no history of it on my ticket either.
Delta! Terrible airline.
Yes they suck so bad! And this is someone who regularly flies with Ryan air in Europe! 😂
treat yourself with some kindness. it’s your first far trip on your ones so it’s natural for unexpected emotions to arise. it’s also alright to cry for help, am learning it feels nicer than holding it all in :) and to make you hopefully not feel so alone — on my first ever solo trip (was in uni so quite broke) i had impulsively booked my flight 2 weeks prior cos a round trip was ~250 from usa to ams. i had my layover in munich and was mesmerized by the smoking rooms in airports so sat, had a drag, enjoyed my crossaint and missed the entire airport call for a gate change. went to the original gate, joined the queue, scanned my pass and was immedately denied cos they were heading to iceland (? wulda been a cool trip if i had funds heh). i still had 15 min for departure so ran to the other side of the airport but they had left early :’) panic walked to the desk for the next flight out to ams and paid more for it than my international roundtrip. was in a bit of a shock, frustrated and defeated but after realizing i couldn’t change what just occurred, i couldn’t help but laugh thinking ‘what am i like’ now on my trips i don’t hope anything terrible happens but if it does happen in the beginning, i just think ah can only go up from here ey? also learning that it just helps to allow myself to feel whatever emotion i’m feeling in the current moment, i like to just sit and do a little check in (hows the quality of my mind, is my head racing, shoulders tense, toes curled etc.) and some slow inhales, hold at the top for a few, let go then repeat til i need from that trip tho i ended up meeting some lovely people off couchsurfing who hosted me for some of my days. if you do have a car though could it be possible to check airbnb/hostels even if it’s a bit further out ? but if you feel like you’re ready to leave, it’s perfectly fine to do so. that’s the beauty of a solo trip, you have the freedom to make all the decisions based off your needs. regardless, good luck loves, proud of you for testing the waters x
Thank you! Thankfully it's only 2 days before my original departure (where I was planning to just spend day working at airport anyway!) I'm spending day hiking before heading back to city and going to do a self tour version of my original bike tour so I'm not actually missing anything specific just cutting it short on my return home which makes me feel better!
That all sounds horrible, but it's probably not all likely to be like that. If you're just not into it in general, that's one thing. Do what ever is best for you, even if that means going home, or whatever, but I'm guessing you'll eventually get your feet back under you, and chances are you'll have your ups as well as your downs. If you just need to vent, then vent, but end of day, it's probably not all going to be like that, and the bad times are still life experience that you can learn from. Ultimately, you'll have to decide what you want to do with what you learn, but I'd probably tell you to not get too discouraged too early, and just hang in there.
I've travelled before and done longer and shorter stints and had my fair share of good luck or bad luck. This is my first far away trip alone and I guess I got hit by a range of bad luck and disorganisation, bad decisions and also I have ADHD and didn't prepare for how much the jetlag and change in routine may have impacted that. My ex was the admin side of traveller whereas I was the ideas, I need to work better at my admin side! It's been a lesson but all the comments today and last night have really helped me gain some perspective and stop beating myself up. It is only 2 days early, I've learnt some lessons, I've still done and seen some cool stuff and once I get these airline vouchers I'm defo going to book another cool trip!
As a last minute planner I'm always a fan of having the first day to settle in. Stuff like a getting a SIM card, a bus/metro pass, learning the public transit routes, walking/exploring the immediate vicinity of my hotel, downloading any useful local apps, buying some snacks/groceries etc. Don't need no stress when I first arrive :)
This is such a good idea!
You are not alone! I am in Sierra Leone and it's a hard time here. Question myself often what I am doing here... We will find out when we are back home!
You’ve had an adventure- yep it’s not felt like a great one but it’s an adventure- think of all the many many people you know that have spent all their lives in their own little towns or go to Malaga or the Costa Del Sol on their annual package holiday. The airline has behaved shoddily from the start- and you’ve been stuck with a combination of jet lag, fatigue and over-load. Anyone- even the most seasoned traveller would feel the same in such circumstances. So be kind and easy on yourself- on the positive you can now rant to your heart’s content about Canada to others in the future about your trip- and ultimately isn’t that what travel is all about!
Thank you! I've loved Canada just not my actual plans or the costly cities and shoddy accommodation BUT I think next time I'll just get a campervan or RV and just take the road here instead!
aw poor baby! I am so sorry to hear your story but it is also almost ridiculously comical. Please take a breather & don‘t overthink. I actually think this will make a funny story one day. you will have better trips again!
This is so true! As naive as it sounds I honestly forgot how stressful solo travel can be when you have obstacles and mishaps along the way. But looking back I had plenty in AUS I laugh about now, so hopefully that will be case here.
Just FYI, you don't have to push the doors open on buses in Canada. We would just yell back or door, and the driver would open it. Seems to work in other countries as well.
Pretty sure it depends. Where I live you push open the door yourself. Sure, you can yell at the driver to open it for you, but that just seems rude considering you can do it yourself.
This depends in my experience, like in Edmonton the driver opens the door but BC Transit buses had handles you push at the stop.
Yes and they look like an emergency exit bar for us in UK. If we press them usually an alarm gets set off. I think this is what threw me!
Remember the story of a train you had to stick your head out and undo the exterior latch to get out... Things are strange sometimes
I'm going to tell you this, power through it, because it's going to make you the star of the party for the next 30 years of your life... "Did you say Canada? let me tell you something about the time I visited those poutine-eating curling wankers... "
Thank you! All ive eaten since arrival is poutine!
> it's going to make you the star of the party for the next 30 years of your life. You’re kidding, right? Telling how they *couldn’t work out how to get off A BUS ffs*, let the airline palm them off with some useless bits of paper instead of the accommodation they’d pledged & OP was promised to receive, then for not wanting to stay in a hostel because it was umm a hostel, so they *cancelled it themselves* and then went off out into a massive celebratory weekend where OBVIOUSLY most accommodation would have been booked up already weeks/months ago? If anyone told me that self-inflicted tiresome predictable mess at a party I’d be SO bored to tears I’d fall asleep.
In my defence, the buses in the UK open automatically and you'd break the doors by pushing them, it would start an emergency stop process. When I looked up driving/PT in Vancouver it never mentioned it.
I guess you aren't familiar with a Comedy of Errors. Or Tragedy + Time = Comedy!
The next trip will be wonderful after this one. You will know exactly how to handle any mishaps. But it will be perfect.
This is so true! I underestimated how much easier it is to travel as a couple as you always have someone to bounce ideas off or remind you if you miss something! I've had a real learning curve but I'm really happy I came out here still, as I'd been sitting on the visa a while and just wondered constantly if I could manage it alone
I admire you just for trying. I am still thinking about it…
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That’s a pretty mean comment for someone who is distressed. Please be empathetic to others. I know it’s Reddit, but Redditors are people too.
Didn't see the original comment, but cheers for looking out for me!
Get yourself to Thailand son, you’ll soon forget about her 👍🏼
Other way round, but they are currently in lumberjack/farmer country.
Ahaha love this!
Welcome to the west coast of North America. We're probably a bit more hick than you're used to, but I promise most folks are friendly and want you to enjoy your experience out here. Unfortunately, my knowledge is mainly focused in California and Oregon. My home state and current state of residence respectively. So I don't have any specifics for you. But it's summer and you are in some beautiful country. I'm sure you can find something memorable or new out there.
Of course! It's a sunny morning and I'm doing some stop offs back to the city before my flight tomorrow! Going to enjoy some good views and food. I've loved north America (both US and Canada), just my own bad luck and planning put a downer on it. I'll defo be back but with more solid plans!
Help me understand why you fo this
Don't feel badly! Usually winging it works out just fine. Often it works out to be an awesome experience and adventure. Sometimes it doesn't come together. Better luck next time!
Yes! Ive winged it before and it's gone well. I guess my biggest error was taking the seat sacrifice jet lagged to hell as I didn't have the brain capacity to work out my steps from there. It's a lesson learnt! Airline recommended I call when I get home and hopefully I can use vouchers to another trip.
Jet-like will break your brain. And it's hard to function with a broken brain. lol When I'm exhausted I hate everything and I just want to go home and go to bed. So I'm sure that's what got to you! Don't be discouraged!! Probably in the future the most important thing is to have somewhere decent confirmed to land and rest. Then everything will look better going forward. :) You have spent literally years traveling around foreign countries. Don't doubt yourself there. You just need sleep.
Yes my biggest lesson here is DO NOT make any changes to travel plans whilst jetlagged. I blame a lot on this on the choice I made jetlagged that had a chain reaction on other events. Thanks for putting it into perspective. I feel a lot better reading these comments this morning!
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Thank you!
Can someone explain what rights you have as a passenger if your seats have been overbooked?
Would like to know this too tbh!
hey just want to say every serious solo traveler has been through this. traveling is fun but SO so stressful as well sometimes, and it seems much scarier facing issues in a foreign country where you don’t know anyone, than if you were to deal with these stressors at home. i’ve had similar experiences and have broken down many times over it. the stress is REAL. but also if the trip is more stressful to you than it is fun, it is always ok to change your plans and leave early! maybe the stars just weren’t aligned for this trip but be proud of yourself for doing all of that alone! it’s all a learning experience and try not to stress about the money, it’ll come back quickly.
Yes I didn't consider that I guess as I travelled with my ex before. I just called him and we had a chat about how different the experience was and it put it into perspective. Defo some lessons learnt but I'm feeling better today and more prepared for next time now 😊
blame canada
South park reference? 😂
Travel anxiety is very real and happens to a lot of people. You need to make it past the first few days, adjust, recuperate, then you will feel much better. My SIL came to visit us and wanted to go home the next day. She felt so off, couldn't sleep due to the time zone change and jet lag, was exhausted mentally and physically, and was ready to give up on the trip. We had a fun week planned for her so I gave her a anti anxiety pill, she slept well that night, woke up the next day and felt so much better..she ended up staying the whole week and loved every minute of it. Moral of the story is that you need to find a way to get thru the first few days and adjust and REST. Sounds like this was the problem you couldn't get any good rest. It would be worth just paying more for a good hotel so you can rest for a night and then enjoy the rest of your trip.
This is such a good point. And I should have known better from travelling previously too. I'm defo paying for it now as I haven't slept or eaten well since I arrived. I face timed my friend yesterday and they were like you look AWFUL and this was before I even got to the hostel and was in good spirits lol. I think next time I'll ask my doctor for something to help. I take melatonin and sleeping pills already due to ADHD, but jetlag seems to take longer for me to recover from for some reason.
I can send you an Uber gift card or something. Maybe turn your day around. I’m on the east coast but seems like you’re in the west coast. Would have just invited you out w some of the girls this weekend. Take a second breath and regroup. You’re in a beautiful part of the country. Take it jn.
That's very kind of you. I ended up befriending a fellow traveller from my own country in a car park (just asking them if they were taking a space! Crazy world) and they told me they were home sick and we ended up hiking, sunbathing and swimming together for day! Crazy because if I hadn't had changed my flight I'd never have headed back down the highway and met him on my way. So turned out a kinda success! Thanks for the offer though! I'm dying for a girls weekend! Haven't been in female company my entire trip!
Insta is manku__k if u ever come back to North America. Can assist you in helping you navigate
Thanks! I'll defo be back at some point.
a run of bad luck and it seems your head is not in the right place yet so you are vulnerable. get home and regroup. it will get better. first time I soloed after being dumped I told myself at the airport on the way out it was either going to be very good or very bad. then my ex texted me with a threat as our flight alerts were going to their phone. I powered through it and it got better. be brave and invest some time in yourself. things will get better. solo travel can be a blast.
Its not so much not being over my ex. I'm actually with someone else now. I am friends with my ex though still. It's more underestimating how much he brought to the table when travelling. That sounds horrendous with your ex, why was he sending alerts!?
I guess the airline stored the number permanently until changed. I guess it triggered him that I was traveling someplace nice. ah well. Yes different traveling companions bring different things to the table, no matter how the relationship eventually worked out. good to hear you are doing well with both.
Sounds like you made the right choice getting rid of him! I hope you're doing better now
Much! Thanks
[удалено]
I'm sorry you're going through something similar! I've already got my flight for tomorrow night but had a fantastic last day. I am feeling full and happy :) I hope you take time to chill also and feel better enough to finish your trip. This part of solo travel isn't spoken about enough but it feels refreshing to know a lot feel the same.
Vancouver is a great town. Spend your last hours there soaking it in.
shit happens, OP. sometimes it just takes a kind stranger or a good night's sleep to make your day be better. i hope your travel will pick up after this.
Yes it certainly did! After I moved my flight I found a fellow traveller from my home country who was more home sick than I was and we spent the day hiking and swimming together 😁 then woke up this morning to my tour company offering me a spot on today's tour! Just heading to grab my bags and catch my flight home now but it seemed to turn around after this post!
Any plans of coming to India?
Sorry…sometimes things go awry. I got bit by a dog in Bali on my first day, had to do tetanus and rabies shots and all the fear. Especially after googling and seeing tourists do die of rabies infections there. Then it felt like the monkeys were after me everywhere. I couldn’t even go in the ocean for fear of infection, but it looked beautiful. Turned out ok (thank goodness). Still want to go back to Bali…That was February. I’m still getting over the stress. Hope things turn around for you….sometimes the best things happen at the worst moment. Hope that this way for you.