Hey adventurer! 👋 

Happy Friday from Vietnam, I hope you’ve had a wonderful week!

What’s been happening?

I’ve ‘moved’ to Da Nang in Vietnam (for a few months) 🇻🇳 

I left Ireland at the end of February, flew into Ho Chi Minh and played a Gaelic football tournament, and then flew to Da Nang to move into a 2-bed apartment (2 mins from the beach) with my friend whom I met in Chiang Mai in October.

A crazy sentence to type, but I find my life is always a bit of a rollercoaster.

The first week in Da Nang consisted of finding lots of coffee and food places, playing volleyball, training for the ½ marathon in Da Nang next Sunday, catching up with old friends and making new ones. Oh, and working… 💻

I’ve been busy, but enjoying my time. A lot!

Although this week, I feel a little tired - lots of running, lots of socialising and lots of decision-making will do that!

So, I’ll try go easy for the weekend. No promises, though!

Let’s talk solo travel prep…

I recently shared a reel with 6 things I do before a solo trip in collaboration with SafetyWing - my favourite travel medical insurance.

They offer two insurance options:

1️⃣ monthly travel medical insurance for mid-to-short-term travellers

2️⃣ a comprehensive monthly health package for long-term nomads

The best parts of getting cover with SafetyWing:

• you can start the cover at any point of your trip

• you can opt in to a monthly subscription OR buy a set period of cover

So what do I actually do to prepare for a solo trip?

I know planning a trip can feel overwhelming, and while planning an itinerary can sometimes be fun, there’s also a lot of admin to do.

Here’s a rundown of things I do before every solo trip 👇

💴 First off, I always make sure to carry some euros or dollars on me. SO many places in Asia (and elsewhere!) don’t accept cards, and ATMs can be hit-or-miss, or have huge fees, especially in airports. So, exchanging cash can be a handy way to get money right away when you arrive - just make sure to check the exchange rate on Google and negotiate (if it seems like a place that will negotiate).

Next up, I NEVER leave home without travel medical insurance. My go-to is SafetyWing, and I can't recommend them enough. I actually had to use it when COVID hit, and I had to book a last-minute flight home from Cambodia cause I couldn’t get back into Vietnam. You never REALLY think you’ll need insurance, but when you do, you’ll be SO glad you have it.

Usually, before I head off, I get an eSIM for data as soon as I land. There’s nothing more frustrating than arriving in a new country and realising the airport WiFi is just not working - I had this happen to me several times 😩 With an eSIM, I’ve got everything set up, and I’m good to go from the moment I step off the plane.

The next thing I do is plan how I’m getting from the airport to my accommodation. I always double-check if I need a taxi app (and download it), figure out the public transport options, or sometimes pre-book a lift in advance. It just makes arrive much smoother, especially if you can’t connect to the internet at the airport.

When I travel, one thing I do without fail, is finding the best specialty coffee shops in my destination. I always use Google Maps to star the best rated spots close to where I’m staying. Because let’s be real – I may be a little bit of a coffee addict. I also star any cool places I want to visit while I’m at it.

Lastly, I always do a quick culture check before I go. Just a little research into local customs, etiquette, and any no-gos will save you from awkward situations. It’s amazing how far a little cultural knowledge can go. And don’t forget to do a quick check on how to say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’.

Solo travel is honestly one of the best things you can do, but it’s SO much easier when you’re prepared.

And, I can’t stress this enough - please get travel insurance before you go!

Happy travels! ✈️

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Ev x