Explore with Gaia | Authentic Solo Travel Guides & Stories

Explore by Countries

Every country has a story, and here you’ll find the places that left the biggest impression—whether through food, culture, landscapes, or the people I met along the way.  Each country guide includes what actually worked (and what didn’t), real costs, transportation reality, where I ate, what surprised me, and honest assessments of whether something’s worth your time and money. If you’re planning a trip and want to know what a place is actually like beyond the Instagram version, or if you’re trying to decide where to go next, start here. These are the countries that earned their place in my memory—and I’ll tell you exactly why.

Travel Experiences

I’ve always believed the best travel stories come from actually going somewhere and figuring it out as you go—not from reading guidebooks that all say the same thing. This section is where I share the places that actually changed something in me, whether that’s standing in front of a painting I’d only seen in books, getting completely lost in a city I thought I knew, or discovering that the “must-see” attraction everyone raves about isn’t always worth the hype. 

City Guides

Some cities hit you the moment you arrive—others take days to reveal themselves. This section is about the cities I’ve actually walked through, gotten lost in, returned to multiple times, or wished I’d spent longer exploring. These aren’t the polished tourism board descriptions. They’re what I figured out by being there: which neighborhoods actually matter, where locals eat instead of where guidebooks send you, what’s worth the entrance fee and what’s overhyped, and the small details that make a city feel like more than just another stop on an itinerary.

Recently Visited Cities 

Movies Shot in Different Countries

Travel Tips and Resources