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Solo Travel Stories: Thailand During COVID vs. Portugal for Self-Discovery | We Should Move Here Travels

Brittany and Josh share their solo travel adventures at very different points in life, comparing Josh’s loosely planned trip to Bangkok, Thailand in early March 2020 with a chaotic COVID-era return flight, and Brittany’s recent solo trip to Aveiro, Portugal focused on rediscovering independence and confidence. Josh describes arriving at midnight without phone service or a plan, navigating safety concerns, exploring temples and markets, and how the experience sparked his love of travel and food tours while highlighting the need for more awareness and planning. Brittany recounts initial fear and decision paralysis giving way to comfort, self-reliance, and practical safety habits like delaying location-based social posts and preparing a “white lie” if asked about being alone. They discuss being alone vs. lonely, the value of independence within relationships, and recommend being safe, doing research, and booking a food tour early.

00:00 Solo Travel Intro

00:59 Pandemic Return Chaos

05:13 Thailand Trip Setup

07:16 Midnight Arrival Shock

08:54 Bangkok Streets Survival

11:14 Exploring Food And Temples

13:08 Lessons And Safety Tips

19:29 Brittany Solo Trip Begins

21:34 Fear And Finding Confidence

24:46 Turning Point Question

24:59 Arrival Nerves

25:54 Finding Confidence

28:01 Alone Not Lonely

29:02 Solo Safety Tips

30:54 Meeting People Abroad

32:50 Eating Solo

36:02 US vs Abroad Safety

39:14 Future Solo Travel Plans

42:45 Independence In Relationships

45:45 Final Advice And Wrap

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