A converter for my chargers. Most of Europe and Central Asia uses the same type of plugs, but this type is different from US and UK plugs, among others. Getting an international converter which can change between 3-4 types, or a set of converter blocks will save you from relying solely on power banks and USB ports. You also don’t want to worry about searching for converters at your destination! Take care of it before you leave for your trip, and you can keep using it for many trips to come.

And on that note, a power bank! You never know when you’ll visit a location without plugs at all, or when you’ll be out in the city all day, so save yourself from getting lost and bring a reliable, charged power bank.

An eye mask and earplugs. As is the case in most hostels, people will be coming and going at unpredictable hours. They might have an early flight to catch, or be out partying until the early daylight hours. Prevent multiple wakeups by using an eye mask to block light, and if you wake up easily from noises, bring earplugs. Maybe bring a few pairs in case you lose one of the plugs (worst situation to be in)! You can also use these on planes, trains, and any other mode of transportation you happen to find yourself using.

A microfiber towel. This has saved me more times than I can count when the hostel up charges for towels, when I want to take a quick dip on a hike, or when the weather is so nice I just need to lay on some grass in the sun. These towels fold up small and are light, and they dry fast so you can use them multiple times per day! Most full-size towels also come with a smaller towel that you can use to wash your face or wash dishes.

Some cash in the local currency. While some people might warn you away from exchanging money at the airport, there are many countries that still heavily rely on cash. Leaving the airport with at least $50 in local currency can save you the headache of wandering around a new city looking for ATMs, and you can always use this money for souvenirs if you find that credit cards are accepted at most places.

A physical sim card or esim. This is one of those items that you can take care of in country, but if your phone is newer you can purchase an ESIM before you even leave for your trip. I like Airalo because they have multi-country packages with easy top-ups if you use all the data, but there are many options out there! (You can use my referral code FELICI1911 to get money off your Airalo ESIM purchase if you decide to go with that company)

Thanks for reading! Did I mention everything you thought I would? Let me know your travel non-negotiables down in the comments.

1. Booking the all-female dorm in a hostel.

Or, if the price is insanely different to get an all-female room, I’ll book the mixed dorm and do my best to get a top bunk. While this doesn’t guarantee 100% safety, it does help me sleep a bit better at night. And as any traveler will tell you, sleep is THE most important aspect of your travels. Continuing with the sleep theme…

2. Not revealing where I’m staying.

If I’m chatting with someone on my trip, I never ever tell them which accomodation I’ve booked. I might say something vague like the area of the city or simply lie and say I’m staying with friends. You never know what someone’s intentions are, and you can never be too cautious with what information you reveal to strangers. The same goes with telling people what I’m planning to do next that day. I don’t want others to know where they can find me later on- am I paranoid? Maybe a little, but I also enjoy the individual experiences I have and don’t want random people tagging along.

3. Bringing a knife or other small self-defense object.

I always check the laws of a place I’m traveling to before bringing my self-defense objects, but most countries permit small, foldable knives for protection. I only bring these when I’m traveling by train, or when I’m checking a bag, but it helps me to feel safer when walking alone. Some girls I’ve met also bring pepper spray on their trips.

4. Not drinking.

I choose to not drink when I’m alone anyway, since I don’t see the point in not combining alcohol with a social setting, but when I’m solo traveling I definitely don’t drink to keep my senses on the alert. If that’s not your thing, and you can function on high alert after a few drinks, then this point isn’t for you, but I choose to save drinking for times when I’m with my friends and we can look out for each other!

5. Working out when I’m at home..so I can run away if I ever need to.

This point is more of a pre-travel topic, but I run and do cardio when I’m not traveling to keep my heart and lungs in shape… just in case. I also tend to gravitate toward wearing sneakers or other shoes I could easily run in. Luckily, I’ve never had to run away from anyone (I have had to run to get my passport but that’s a story for another post), but it never hurts to be prepared! If you’re a pro at running in heels you can totally opt for less comfy shoes to match your outfits, but my preference is usually sneakers.

5. Last, but not least..post after the fact!

When I’m traveling, I post a few stories of the big sights I see, but try stay away from any identifiable or locational pictures until I’ve already left the city. This helps protect you while you’re on the trip, as well as making sure people don’t know exactly when your house or room are empty.

If you found this post helpful, let me know! I’d love to hear from you about where I should travel next and what other topics I should cover. Just write to me at feliciacarrara@gmail.com or on Instagram @felcarrara.

1. Not reading hostel reviews and just going for the cheapest one.

I booked most of my hostels using Hostelworld which has a great rating system, but I didn’t pay attention to some of the reviews of hostels. At my first stop in Amsterdam, I chose the cheapest hostel and ended up getting bed bugs on my VERY FIRST day!! I had also booked the hostel for a few nights so I had to suffer through knowing I was being bitten for a few more nights. Most of the time, reviews are kept very recent and other travelers will report any issues with the hostel, so be sure to check these in the app or on the hostel’s own page.

2. Traveling between cities too often and not taking rest.

Over the course of 21 days, I hit 12 cities in 5 countries!! They were all extremely beautiful, and definitely worth visiting, but next time I would travel to fewer cities and spend more time in each. I was spending on average two to three days in each location, with travel by train or bus between each. This was EXHAUSTING and definitely took away from being present in each city I visited. I also ended up hitting the ‘Best of’ points of each city (ie the most popular museums and restaurants) and didn’t dig into the deeper history and culture of the places I saw. Additionally, switching places so frequently is more expensive than spending four to five days in each place before moving.

3. Not utilizing free resources like Guruwalk as a starting point for planning.

Now that I’m a more experienced traveler, I schedule a FREE Guruwalk guided tour to hear about the history and best restaurants of a new city as my first activity upon arrival. Many of these tours are given by locals who have a real passion for their city and can show some of the best spots in their area. From there, I can decide if the places I researched in advance are worth visiting with my remaining time on the trip! This has saved me so much time wandering around not knowing if a restaurant has authentic cuisine as well as knocking a few popular monuments off my list right off the bat. You can also meet travelers with similar interests as you among the group and team up to explore the city afterward. Schedule your FREE tour here!

Liked what you read and want to plan your own trip? Contact me at feliciacarrara@gmail.com, schedule a consult, or follow my journey @felcarrara on Instagram.

*Disclaimer: I have used affiliate links in this post. These come at no extra cost to you and I may earn commission from these links. This helps support my travel business and allow me to keep producing content for you!

and I’ve been traveling the world since I can remember. My parents always prioritized experiences over gifts around the holidays, so I’ve spent many hours in a car watching the landscape go by, in a plane looking down at the clouds, and sleeping on passenger trains.

I’m currently in university studying International Relations (go figure), so my passion is traveling on a budget and seeing some of the less-explored parts of the world.

Two summers ago, I spent 3 weeks backpacking in Central Europe, hitting 5 countries and spending under $4k for all expenses (airfare, food, hostels, and experiences). Since then, I have developed even more of a passion for helping others to explore the world with the money they have now instead of waiting until their ‘million dollar break’ to discover the globe!

See below for some snapshots of that trip Can you guess some of the places we went?

How I can help you?

The aim of this blog is to tell you all about my travels- starting from a few years ago and progressing up to the present moment and (hopefully) beyond! I’ll give you recommendations for my favorite cities, eateries, and accomodations all for FREE. All I ask is that you share my blog with your fellow travelers and respect the locals and nature wherever you go.

Follow along with my journey live on Instagram here.

If you want more (and personalized) guidance, visit my Thatch page for some guides or a consultation call.

And lastly, thank you SO much for being here. I hope you can find inspiration for your next trip in these posts.

Bye for now,

Felicia