Travel guides
Solo travel guides.
Complete city guides, day-by-day itineraries, things to do and where to stay - all in one place. These are my 12 travel guides, written for solo travellers with real costs in GBP.
Browse by country
Where do my travel guides cover?
12 guides across 7 countries so far. Tap a country to see its guides, or head to my region hubs for the bigger picture.
All guides
Every travel guide on Tom Solo Travels
Filter by region or type of guide, search for a place, or sort by newest. Itineraries show how many days they cover.
No guides match that yet - try another search, or show every guide.
City guideNewThe Complete Guide to Jūrmala, Latvia
Latvia's seaside resort town, a 30-minute, €1.50 (about £1.30) train ride west of Riga - beaches, wooden villas and where to go.
ItineraryThe Ultimate 3-Day Travel Guide to Koh Samui
Thailand's best-known island often divides opinion. Here's how to spend three days there and decide for yourself.
City guideSolo Traveller's First-Timer Guide to Koh Samui
Why Koh Samui is one of the best places in Thailand for first-time solo travellers, and how to plan your first visit.
ItineraryPorto 5-Day Itinerary: What to See in Porto in 5 Days
My five days exploring Portugal's charming second city, planned out day by day for first-time visitors.
ItineraryHow to Spend 4 Days in Lyon: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
One of France's most underrated cities, where Roman ruins meet riverside wine bars - four days, planned for you.
Things to doTop 8 Things to Do in Lyon: Best Free & Paid Activities
France's gastronomic capital is often overshadowed by Paris - these are the eight things I'd make time for.
Things to doTop 12 Things to Do in Bangkok (2026): Paid & Free Attractions
Temples, street food, markets and rooftops - the best paid and free things to do in Bangkok.
Where to stayTop 15 Best Hotels to Stay in Hanoi: Budget, Mid-Range & Luxury
Where to stay in Hanoi on any budget, from good-value guesthouses to luxury hotels.
Where to stayTop 15 Best Hotels to Stay in Bangkok: Budget, Mid-Range & Luxury
The Bangkok hotels worth booking, by budget and area - from my research for my own trip.
City guideThe Complete Guide to Vilnius
One of the largest preserved medieval old towns in Europe, with a thriving creative scene.
City guideThe Complete Guide to London
The UK's capital and one of the most dynamic, diverse cities in the world - from my home city.
City guideThe Complete Guide to Liepāja
A seaside city on Latvia's Baltic coast and the place I grew up - my guide to the city I call home.
Trip kits
Planning a trip? Start with the right guides
Pick a destination and I'll line up every guide, review and post you need to plan it, in the order I'd read them.
Trip kit
Planning a trip to Bangkok?
5 reads to plan it.
- Things to doTop 12 Things to Do in Bangkok (2026): Paid & Free Attractions
- Where to stayTop 15 Best Hotels to Stay in Bangkok: Budget, Mid-Range & Luxury
Also on the blog
Solo travel in ThailandTrip kit
Planning a trip to Koh Samui?
3 reads to plan it - including a 3-day itinerary.
- City guideSolo Traveller's First-Timer Guide to Koh Samui
- ItineraryThe Ultimate 3-Day Travel Guide to Koh Samui
Also on the blog
Solo travel in ThailandTrip kit
Planning a trip to Lyon?
4 reads to plan it - including a 4-day itinerary.
- ItineraryHow to Spend 4 Days in Lyon: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
- Things to doTop 8 Things to Do in Lyon: Best Free & Paid Activities
Also on the blog
Solo travel in EuropeTrip kit
Planning a trip to Porto?
3 reads to plan it - including a 5-day itinerary.
Also on the blog
Solo travel in EuropeTrip kit
Planning a trip to Latvia?
2 reads to plan it.
Trip kit
Planning a trip to Hanoi?
1 read to plan it.
How I write them
What makes these travel guides different?
Every guide is written for solo travellers on a mid-range budget - people with regular jobs who want to make the most of their time away.
Built from my trips
Most of my guides come from places I've travelled to, and two are about home: London, where I live, and Liepāja, where I grew up.
Quick answers first
My newer guides start with a quick answer or TL;DR, so you get the essentials in seconds before the detail.
Real costs in GBP
I give prices in pounds (and the local currency where it helps), so you can budget without converting everything.
Kept up to date
I update guides when prices, rules or places change, and add new ones as I travel - the newest is Jūrmala.
FAQs
Travel guide FAQs
Quick answers about my guides and where to start.
What travel guides does Tom Solo Travels have?
There are 12 guides so far, covering 7 countries - Thailand, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, the UK and Vietnam - with more added as I travel. They include complete city guides, day-by-day itineraries, things-to-do guides and where-to-stay guides.
Which guide should I read for my first solo trip?
If you're heading to Asia, start with my First-Timer Guide to Koh Samui - it's one of the easiest places in Thailand for a first solo trip. In Europe, my Porto 5-day itinerary plans a first visit day by day.
How many days do I need in Porto, Lyon or Koh Samui?
My itineraries cover 5 days in Porto, 4 days in Lyon and 3 days on Koh Samui. Each one is planned day by day, so you can shorten or stretch it to fit your trip.
Where should I stay in Bangkok or Hanoi?
My Bangkok and Hanoi hotel guides each list 15 hotels across budget, mid-range and luxury, with the best areas to stay in so you can pick the right base for your trip.
Is Jūrmala easy to visit from Riga?
Yes. Jūrmala is Latvia's seaside resort town, a 30-minute train ride west of Riga that costs about €1.50 (around £1.30), so it works as a day trip or a relaxed overnight stay.
Are the travel guides free?
Yes - every guide on this page is free to read. If you want something more detailed for Bangkok, my Bangkok Travel Guide is available in the shop.
Found your guide? Now plan the rest.
Use my free tools to budget your trip, or find your next destination with the quiz.