How to travel solo on a budget

10 Mar 2025

A night in a female-only, six-bed dormitory in a Langkawi hostel cost only $8 in August 2023. Upon arrival, the writer met an Australian tourist who invited her to a night market. They rode there on a scooter, splitting costs for satay, fried jackfruit, and a Nutella-stuffed doughnut. For Jaedyn Choo, a third-year student at SP, hostels make solo travel more affordable than traveling with friends. “When I travel with friends, sometimes they want to stay in hotels or eat at nice cafes,” she said. “But in a hostel, most people are on a budget too.” For those who prefer privacy, many hostels offer private rooms. Communal areas with board games and couches provide social spaces. In high-cost destinations, hostel kitchens help save money. While in Lucerne, Switzerland, the writer saw a $35 salad on a menu but instead cooked pasta for $9 using hostel facilities.

[The Straits Times]