Solo Travel Talk with Astrid

Oh, sweet irony—you leave your home to see new things only to be greeted by crowds, lines, more crowds, and people wherever you go! Over tourism, popular sights, lines, uncomfortable crowding—all of these factors can make it seem like it's not worth it to go anywhere. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements doesn't like crowds either and has some tips for managing crowds, lines, and overstuffed destinations. Listen to this episode...

No fooling around: we're diving into the dark heart of travel hassle in this episode of Solo Travel Talk. When people gripe about travel hassle, are they really just saying flying is a hassle? Flying is a hassle. We used to get dressed up to fly, but these days the flying game is all about managing the misery. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements has filled this episode with tips for preparing for and managing the flight portio...

Is hassle blocking you from pursuing the travel you want to experience? Do you get filled with a mild (to severe) sense of dread when thinking about hitting the road? Astrid Clements, founder of Astrid Solo Travel Advisor and The AstridTravel Club, brings you the new Solo Travel Talk podcast series—The Hassle-Free Travel Series. On this inaugural episode of the series, Astrid shares the key elements of making travel hassle-free plu...

BONUS: The AstridTravel Club has an amazing slate of trips planned for 2020!  On this episode of Solo Travel Talk, Astrid will share the inspiration for the club, what the club offers, and how to know if membership is right for you. We also speak to Madeline Freret—the marvelous Madeline, who is a trip facilitator and the force working behind the scenes to make the ATC member experience wonderful. The AstridTravel Club brings toget...

It has happened again: Astrid is flexing her superpower of hotel selection, even in Japan. The Hotel New Otani is elegant, with traditional gardens, onsen, restaurants, concierge, beauty and thoughtful touches throughout. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements is famous for getting a high-quality hotel for her travels, since in the Astrid Travel philosophy your hotel is your home base; a home away from home. On this final episode...

Japan is famously not "religious" yet there is a sense of spirituality that permeates throughout. From cultural touchstones, to shrines and temples, talismans, even manners and customs all seem to carry a piece of the spiritual life of Japan. Our solo travel advisor Astrid Clements sensed it on her recent trip to Japan and trust us when we say the spiritual energy had its impact.

• Solo Travel Talk was recognized by Feedspot in ...

Japan seems to be a country and a culture that appreciates reflection and beauty. These values come together in a unique way when it comes to the gardens of Japan. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements loves exploring gardens on her adventures, and what a treat were the gardens she viewed in Japan. One part aesthetics; one part philosophical ideals, Astrid is going to transport us, through the magic of podcasting, to the spectac...

Japan may seem so different to Westerners, and there are lots of tropes and maybe even stereotypes about Japanese culture and the potential to clumsily cause offense. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements is astute at acclimating herself to a culture before she travels, and her recent trip to Japan was no different. I'm producer Catherine O'Brien. What should you do? What is taboo? Astrid shares all as we explore Cultural Do's a...

If you have been following your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements' podcast series on Japan, you know how much Astrid enjoyed exploring the country; seeing all the natural beauty; dining on phenomenal foods; learning more about the culture. But—Astrid has also mentioned that Japan solo travel has some challenges, too. The language barrier is real; banking needs some planning; and if you can believe this—wifi can be hard to get! Th...

We love food tours, yes we do… and your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements had a fabulous foodie time on her trip to Japan. Of course, food and culture walk hand in hand—Japan is no different. Astrid's take was that Japan is a serious about their food as the French (the apex of food appreciation in Astrid's opinion.) There is philosophy behind Japanese eating as well: traditionally taking an item from the land; one from the sea. (...

We interrupt this Solo Travel Talk Japan Series to bring you some exciting news: your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements has launched The AstridTravel Club. On this episode of Solo Travel Talk, Astrid will share the inspiration for the club, what the club offers, and how to know if membership is right for you.  The AstridTravel Club brings together several elements that Solo Travel Talk listeners will appreciate. Affordable luxury...

If you heard our first show in the Solo Travel Talk Japan Series, you know that your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements had a long visit with a thorough itinerary. Japan offers so much culture, natural beauty, amazing cuisine, architecture, and much more. Astrid visited major metropolitan areas, some more traditional cities, and made sure to include Hiroshima as a destination. Since this was such a fabulous trip, Astrid had a toug...

Solo Travel Talk returns!! (With a twist….) Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements spent several weeks in Japan and came back with a passion to persuade everyone to put Japan on their MUST visit list! Perhaps you haven't considered Japan as a destination—too expensive, too hard, too far—whatever your reasons, Astrid is here to explain how Japan is more accessible than ever.  This trip had quite an impact on Astrid, and she's here...

The travel industry is always trying to improve and solo travelers especially can benefit from some of the trends shaping up to take hold in 2019. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements has a keen eye for what solo travelers should know, what they should ignore, and what to get in on right away! This version of "Astrid's Solo Travel Trend Watch" is sure to get you prepared for the year ahead.

Some of the questions answered on the...

Savvy solo travelers are all about maximizing their experiences, and knowing how to use stopovers can be a seriously powerful tool at your disposal. Who better than your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements to explain it all! What a stopover is, how to use it, who offers them—all that and more on this episode of Solo Travel Talk.

Some of the questions answered on this show include:
- What is the difference between a layover and a st...

Astrid Clements has revealed in many (MANY!) of her podcast episodes that one of her super powers is picking hotels. On Astrid's recent trip to Paris, this super power was on display! The Hotel Raphael, located in the 16th Arrondissement of Paris is the utmost in refinement and elegance-- all while meeting Astrid's "affordable luxury" standard! Escape to the beauty and class of this boutique hotel plus hear some of Astrid's tips fo...

Solo travel has been evolving quickly in the last few years, even though your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements has been going solo for some time now! As more and more people are becoming aware of all the possibilities that await the solo traveler, some of that attention can make it appear that solo travel is merely "having a moment," making it a fad instead of a true shift in how we experience the world. On this 100th episode of...

Zoom in on a map of Paris and you will notice a spiral configuration of lines dividing up the city. The Arrondissement system of neighborhoods is one of the defining elements of the character of Paris. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements spent time in the 16th Arrondissement and has some advice, some stories, some recommendations… the full Astrid report.

We love sharing the most innovative and informative content to get you ou...

For many of us, getting a stash of small bills is part of the pre-trip planning routine since we will be tipping all the various helpers that we encounter on our travels. However, tipping is NOT universal. Your solo travel advisor Astrid Clements has some tips and advice on how to handle gratuity with grace no matter where your solo travels may take you. How much? To whom? Where?? When to say "keep the change" and more on this epis...