I left the US to start over after a tragedy — and fumbled through 5 classic first-timer mistakes

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Author Melanie Gordon smiling with trees behind her
If you're traveling solo for the first time, especially after a significant life event, I hope this helps you avoid some of the pitfalls I fell into.

Melanie Gordon

Disappointing photos show what it's really like to backpack across Europe

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A cluster of arms holding phones to capture a tourist attraction in Rome
Business Insider's reporter expected an Instagram-like backpacking adventure in Europe, but the reality was much less glamorous.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I booked budget Airbnbs in small towns while backpacking Europe and found 2 hidden-gem destinations I'd never heard of

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A composite image of the author in a cap and blue polo standing in front of a tub-shaped brown building with trees and grass in the background and a sunlit field in front of houses with mountains in the background
Business Insider's reporter booked Airbnbs outside major European cities and found some hidden gems in Germany and Switzerland.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I regret spending 2 weeks in Europe traveling to 6 different places. Next time, I'm choosing quality over quantity.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author stands in front of the Colosseum in Rome
Business Insider's reporter took a two-week backpacking trip through six cities in four European countries.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I backpacked across Europe for the first time, and 10 things surprised me about the 2-week adventure

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author stands with a backpack on in front of a train in Italy
The reporter backpacked through Europe for the first time in 2022.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I backpacked across Europe for 2 weeks. Booking Airbnbs in small towns to save money was the most unexpected highlight of my trip.

Tech Insider : Travel
A composite image. Left: A tree-covered mountain with green grass meadows, houses, and a body of water below. There are clouds just below the tip of the mountain.

I crowdsourced travel tips for my 3-month European vacation. I ended up on a stranger's boat shrimping in Norway's fjords.

Tech Insider : Travel
Gabe Escobar said yes to a message from a shrimping company in Norway asking him to come along on a day at sea.
Gabe Escobar said yes to a DM from a shrimping company in Norway asking him to come along on a day at sea.

Gabe Escobar

I backpacked across Europe for 2 weeks and slept on trains and in budget Airbnbs. 10 things surprised me about this type of travel.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Two images: Left: A sunlit field with homes in front of a mountain. Right: The author in her backpack stands smiling on a train platform on the right with people boarding a white and red train on the left
Business Insider's reporter took a one-week solo backpacking trip in Berlin and Vienna, sleeping in budget Airbnbs and shared train cabins.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Disappointing photos show what it's really like to backpack across Europe

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Left:  young smiling backpacker checking city map on smartphone with downtown buildings behind here. Right: The author in a black backpack walks next to a train with other travelers around her
Business Insider's reporter expected an Instagram-like backpacking adventure in Europe, but the reality was much less glamorous.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I'm backpacking the world while working as an online therapist. I have a steady income, but I'm exhausted.

Tech Insider : Travel
Girl hugging an elephant.
Carolina Villafuerte has been travelling the world as a digital nomad since December 2022.

Carolina Villafuerte

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