1. What camera gear do you use?
Sony a6000. Photography has always been a hobby of mine, but I’m still learning the functions of the camera. However, after reading many reviews, this turned out to be a very good all-around camera for beginners, without breaking the bank. The models after this one are also very good, but of course will be more expensive. I used to carry around my old Nikon d3000 everywhere, but being that this Sony is mirrorless, it’s very light and small enough to fit anywhere — perfect for travel. On some occasions, I also use my GoPro, for wider angle shots.
For all my solo travelers: Invest in a tripod! They come in handy when you need to get a good photo of yourself and don’t want to ask someone or don’t have anyone around. If you want something small, I suggest going for a Joby GorillaPod. The legs grip around different surfaces allowing for more flexibility. If you don’t mind carrying around something bigger, I use a tripod by Manfrotto, purchased at B&H. It’s under $100 and very sturdy. While I don’t find the same one on their site, I’ve linked my tripod below. It’s currently available at Best Buy.
2. How do you edit your photos?
I think having a good quality camera is only half of producing a stunning image. I’ve gotten some beautiful photos on my phone and by simply editing them, they look as if they were taken with a professional camera. I use a mix of different editing apps on my phone, and they’re all free. I mainly use Lightroom for iPhone. The app itself is free, but I also chose to purchase the additional features for just $4.99 monthly. With the additional features, you can select certain areas of the photo to edit without affecting the entire thing. I also occasionally use Snapseed, Photoshop Fix, and Retouch. To get certain effects, I also use Lens Distortions (to add light flares), Bazaart and Picsart (for mounting photos on top of one another or adding additonal graphics).
3. Where do you shop for travel outfits?
While I shop at pretty much any retailer, my go-to for vacation clothes is SHEIN. Being that I like to shoot at different locations when traveling, I try to wear different outfits, and this can get expensive. However, Shein has super affordable clothes and they’re very good quality. I love getting dresses from them, especially for countries where I have to dress extra modest.
4. Do you plan your own trips?
Most of my trips I go on by myself, but once I’m at my destination, I join either daily tours or weekly tours. To date, the only trip I’ve done completely solo, like with no guided tours/transportation is Portugal. I’ve been to Europe three times already, so I felt safe enough to plan everything myself. Other than that, I always research different websites.
Airbnb, aside from being one of my faves for finding affordable accommodation, also lists different experiences you can sign up for. You can find anything from photo tours, to guided tours to performances. I had a few days free in Spain before the start of my tour, so I booked an awesome flamenco show in Madrid at Teatro Flamenco.
You can also find lots of single or multi-day trips on sites like Viator or Expedia. I used these sites during my time in Mexico City. The day trips include a guide and transportation, and the groups are fairly small. You can check out my Mexico City itinerary, based on the day trips I took here: https://mybucketlistjourneys.blog/7-day-mexico-city-itinerary/
Another company I like is Expat Explore. I’ve only traveled with them once so far, but they have tours in almost every continent. If you’re new to traveling solo, I definitely suggest joining a tour with them!
Lastly, most of my trips have been organized by travel bloggers I follow on Instagram. They tend to do different group trips more than once, so you get to have familiar faces on multiple trips!
5. Accomodation suggestions?
Hands down, Airbnb and Booking.com. Many affordable options, just always make sure to read reviews and Google the location before booking anywhere.
6. How do you get around if you’re traveling solo?
This depends on your budget. Luckily, Uber is available in many parts of the world, but you can’t always afford to take a cab everywhere … it adds up. Don’t be scared to use the public transportation (of course do your research, some places it may not be safe to do this). I used to be scared, especially in places where I couldn’t speak the language, but I started using the app Rome2Rio. It lists all the options you have to get from Point A to Point B, along with the costs of each one. It also details the stops and the stations, so even if you don’t speak the language, you can still figure out how to get to your destination, anywhere in the world, with the app. As another alternative, Google Maps is always helpful as well. Aside from directions, I like to use Google Maps to see the street views of the neighborhoods I am staying in, so once I get to my destination, most of the area is familiar to me already.