I created the “Travellers’ Tales” section to give other travellers an opportunity to talk about their travels on my blog. Today I would like to introduce you to Natalie, a travel blogger from Canada . She blogs at Natalie Explores .
I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales” , fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.
I’m Natalie, a 31 year old from Nova Scotia Canada. I started travelling with my family when I was little, but I wasn’t bitten by the travel bug until I was 18 when I went to New Zealand on a working holiday visa. Now, the travel itch is insatiable! I work full time, but love to travel as much as I can.
Just recently, I decided to start going on solo trips. This has opened a world (no pun intended!) of possibilities for me, and it has given me the freedom to travel even more! I now write a travel blog so that I can help people who also work full-time plan their next adventure.
My earliest travel memory is when I was 8 and went to Poland with my family. It was my first time on a plane, and I remember being so excited!
The last place I travelled to was England. It was my first solo trip since I was 18, and I didn’t know what to expect. It turned out to be an amazing experience. I stayed in a hostel and met other solo female travellers, explored the country, and learned so much more about myself.
The best thing that I did in England was visit all of the Harry Potter locations. I am a huge fan, and seeing the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play and visiting the Studios was so special for me - I was teary eyed the entire time!
London
Getting married in Punta Cana. I was so grateful that my family and closest friends were able to go. We were there for a week, and spending so much quality time with the people I love most in the world was something I will cherish forever.
My favourite travel destination is Iceland. I went with my husband at the end of September, and we both fell in love with this gorgeous country. The landscape is so diverse, and it felt so safe. We saw volcanos, waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, and swam in hot lagoons. We were lucky to see the Northern Lights too!
While in Iceland, rent a car and just drive around. It will give you the freedom to explore the country on your own time. Making a stop at the Blue Lagoon is definite must, I loved it so much I went twice!
If I am going to a city, I love to travel solo so that I can go at my own pace and enjoy the hustle and bustle without worrying about losing someone in the crowd. If I am going to a place where there is lots of hiking or scenery, I prefer to travel with my husband since he loves to hike too, and we can enjoy it together.
I can’t go on a trip without my external charger. When I travelled to Peru with a group of friends, we got separated and couldn’t find our accommodation. My phone was at 5% battery life since we had been travelling all day. Luckily, I had an external charger with me so that I could still use my phone to use offline maps. If it wasn’t for that external charger, my phone would have died and I would probably still be in Peru trying to find my way around!
Machu Picchu
Whenever I travel somewhere new, especially as a solo female traveller, my safety is the most important. I always make sure I have a reliable way to and from the airport and am staying in a safe neighbourhood. A little bit of research can go a long way.
There’s so many places I would love to visit. The more places I see, the longer my bucket list gets! If I had to pick just one, I would say that I would love to visit Japan. I love the culture and the food. The countryside looks like a fairytale and the cities look so futuristic.
Thank you, Natalie , for sharing your fascinating adventures with us!
I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales”, fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.
Who will I feature next? I’ve got an exciting line-up ahead. Make sure you subscribe to the free newsletter so you don’t miss out on some exciting travel tales.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
