About Tom Solo Travels
Welcome to my Solo Travel blog
Get Inspired and Motivated with my Solo Travel Blog
Hey, I’m Tom Lejava – a solo travel blogger based in the UK, and for the past 7+ years I’ve been quietly getting on with one of the most rewarding things a person can do in their 20s: exploring the world alone.
Over that time I’ve visited 22+ countries across Europe and Asia, accumulated more flight miles than I care to count, and built a solo travel blog that’s rooted in one simple idea – real advice for real people who want to travel but aren’t quite sure where to begin.
Whether you’re planning your first trip abroad alone or you’re a seasoned solo traveller looking for your next destination, you’re in the right place.
Tom Solo Travels exists to help you travel smarter, more confidently, and without spending a fortune – or sacrificing the experience.
Who is Tom Solo Travels?
Tom Solo Travels is a mid-range solo travel blog run by me, Tom Lejava, a UK-based solo traveller who has explored 22+ countries over 6+ years. The blog covers honest destination guides, hotel reviews, and practical solo travel tips – written from real, first-hand experience, with no fluff.
I started this blog because I couldn’t find the content I actually needed when I started travelling solo in 2019. I noticed that most travel writing falls into two camps: ultra-budget backpacker content or aspirational luxury trips that bear no resemblance to real life. I didn’t fit either.
I’m a mid-range solo traveller. That means I’ll happily pay a bit more for a clean, well-located hotel, but I’m not booking business class or staying in five-star resorts every trip. I want to experience a destination – its food, its streets, its character – without burning through my savings.
And like most of you, I fit travel around a full-time 9-to-5 job. My trips happen in annual leave windows, long weekends, and the occasional bank holiday extension. That context shapes everything I write – because I know what it’s like to plan a trip with limited time and a real budget – I’ve been there, done that!
How I got started with solo travel
My first solo trip wasn’t a grand, life-affirming decision – it was just a trip across the pond to Paris. It was, honestly, a case of nobody else wanted to go. I had a week off work, a destination in mind, and no one available. So I booked it anyway.
What I discovered on that trip changed the way I think about travel entirely. Travelling alone forces you to engage with a place in a way that travelling in a group rarely does. You talk to strangers. You make decisions based on your own instincts. You get lost and find something better than what you were looking for.
Seven years and 22+ countries later, I can honestly say that solo travel has been one of the most formative things I’ve done in my 20s. I’ve visited destinations as varied as the beaches of Koh Samui, the medieval streets of Vilnius, the coastal city of Liepāja in my native Latvia, and the chaotic, brilliant sprawl of Bangkok.
My travel style - what mid-range solo travel really means
Mid-range solo travel is a specific sweet spot that doesn’t get talked about enough. Here’s what it means in practice for me:
I usually stay in 3-4 star hotels or well-reviewed boutique properties – comfort and location matter
I eat a mix of local street food and sit-down restaurants – I’m not eating at the hotel every night
I research transport options but I’m not always hunting for the cheapest possible option
I plan the big things (flights, accommodation) but leave room for spontaneity on the ground
I travel sustainably where I can – supporting local businesses, avoiding over-touristed spots
The mid-range approach is about getting the most out of a destination, not just the most out of your wallet. It’s also the style that works best when you’re travelling solo, because good accommodation in a safe, central location makes an enormous difference to how confident and comfortable you feel.
What you'll find on this solo travel blog
Everything on Tom Solo Travels comes from my own trips. I don’t publish press trip puff pieces or write about destinations I haven’t visited. Here’s what I cover:
Destination travel guides – practical, first-hand guides to cities and regions across Europe and Asia
Hotel reviews for solo travellers – honest assessments of where I stayed, what worked, what didn’t
Solo travel planning advice – how to budget, what to pack, how to stay safe, and how to actually enjoy travelling alone
Blog posts from the road – unfiltered stories, lessons learned, and moments that remind me why I keep doing this
Check out my latest blogs
Frequently Asked Questions...
Mid-range solo travel means travelling independently without being tied to either a tight backpacker budget or a luxury spending level. It typically involves staying in 3-4 star hotels, eating a mix of local and restaurant food, and prioritising comfort and experience over finding the absolute cheapest option.
Just like anything else, solo travel is safe when approached sensibly. The key factors are researching your destination in advance, choosing well-located accommodation, staying aware of your surroundings, and sharing your itinerary with someone at home. The vast majority of solo travellers – including across Asia and Europe – experience no safety issues. I share honest safety notes in all my destination guides.
Not at all. Most people start solo travel with no experience at all – that’s the point. Starting with a well-connected city destination (Bangkok, Lisbon or even Paris) makes a solo first trip much more manageable, with good transport links, plenty of English speakers, and lots of other travellers around.
Careful planning, booking flights early, and being strategic with annual leave. I write about budgeting in detail across the blog, including my Bangkok 14-day cost breakdown which covers exactly what mid-range solo travel in Southeast Asia costs in 2026.
Absolutely – I’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a question, a collaboration idea, or just want to say hello, you can reach me via the contact page or drop me a message on Instagram (@tomsolotravels).
Let's explore the world together
Solo travel isn’t about being alone – it’s about being free. Free to go where you want, when you want, at whatever pace suits you. That’s what draws me back to it trip after trip, and it’s what I hope to help you discover through this blog.
Whether you’re still on the fence about your first solo trip or you’re already planning your next one, I hope Tom Solo Travels gives you the information – and the nudge – you need.
Start exploring: head to the Solo Travel Hub for planning guides, browse Destinations to find your next trip, or check out the latest hotel reviews to find somewhere worth staying.