Solo Trip Review: Cartagena was incredibly safe and welcoming. I went during Holy Week and Colombians from other cities flocked to Cartagena. For me, things were a bit crowded (especially for during the pandemic) but that only made the nightlife even more exciting. Speaking of nightlife, there are legal sex workers everywhere so be aware if someone seems too friendly. Also, during the pandemic, dancing in clubs/lounges is prohibited. They are still open and fun, just no dancing. The spas there are amazing and affordable. I visited the spa at the Hyatt Regency in Bocagrande and got the cocoa massage. It was like a cocoa scrub that made me smell amazing and feel even better. Also, the view there is unbeatable. Speaking of hotels, Bocagrande is definitely the Miami Beach of CTG, but there are vendors everywhere and the traffic is brutal. The culture spots are near where I stayed, in Getsemani. You'll see everywhere that Getsemani is the place to be for a real CTG experience. Finally, my most important recommendation is to visit Palenque. Its the first free city in the Americas and was founded by Africans (the word "slaves" is not used there, which makes sense). I felt incredibly proud to be Black there and everyone was welcoming. Other Notes: I was told to avoid North Cartagena (mostly residential, closer to airport) by a Colombian. Try a Colombian cocktail class (found on AirBnB) with Romario. Cafe Del Mar doesn't take reservations so if you want to take a sunset picture, plan to stand in line for a while. Cabs are very cheap and Ubers are even cheaper so don't worry about "oh but we'd have to take cabs all day" + everything is really close. The restaurants are all beautiful, but the cuisine isn't the best. A Colombian told me that Cartagena does not have very spicy food and that they prefer creamy dishes. There's cream in everything, which I disliked, but the seafood is amazing and fresh. This would be a great destination for a girls trip and solo trip (especially if you want a "Stella Gets Her Groove Back" kind of trip. Because the men there admit that they are flirty, but they are also some of the most beautiful men I've ever seen)

In terms of where to stay, I spent half of my time in Old Havana and the rest on the Malecón. This was a really great decision. The first 3 days, we were walking distance from all the historical monuments, amazing restaurants, and the activities we booked. The last three days we were on the water and it was truly such an amazing view. These days we also did half-day trips to Viñales and Veradero. These are absolute must-see places. Link to my oceanfront AirBnB: https://abnb.me/hCtXKzOOS1

There’s absolutely no way you will be bored in Bali. My only regret, in terms of adventure and things to do, is that I didn’t keep in mind the long commute between Bali destinations. When you’re making your itinerary, please note the time it’ll take to get from one place to another. Most days, I was leaving before sunrise. Also, keep in mind that some temples have very long lines that will eat up a lot of your time. Overall, I was busy from dawn to dusk and I still missed some things. I booked this trip with Chidi Ashley Travels and it was not as advertised. I eventually got my deposit back because so many activities were cut and the accommodations were lacking. Bali would make a good destination for solo travelers, also. When there’s so much to do, traveling alone might make things easier when making an itinerary.

I visited Tulum for a week to relax and to get more in tune with myself. This was my first solo trip and one of my least expensive trips. Most tips you can find on any travel blog but here are some lesser known tips: Casa Malca charges $50 to enter, but this can be used on your tab to be used on drinks and meals (3 restaurants on site). • tomato.mx is a GREAT way to order food late at night when you don’t want to wander around an unfamiliar city. It’s a cheap delivery service and has great choices. • Burrito Amor was my absolute favorite restaurant there. • Take pictures of the cab number and license plate and ask how much will the trip cost before entering the cab. • Cabs can be an expensive way to get around town. Find a hotel that offers free bicycles, like Elements does. • Use AirBnB Experiences to support small local businesses, like a pottery class or a private manifestation session. • MUST DO: even if the beachfront hotels are a bit out of your price range, just stay for half of your vacation then move into downtown Tulum for cheaper rates afterwards. That’s what I did and it was the best decision I made the entire trip. • Book a photographer for a photoshoot because you may not want to worry about taking photos throughout your entire trip. With my photographer, we spent six hours going to all the top Instagram spots and I was set for the rest of my vacation.