Unsure if I should cancel/change my trip

Oh, that’s too bad. My daughter, who usually travels solo, often stays in hostels for the same reason.

I don’t have any real travel advice on location - just to say it’s your vacation and you should do what you feel good about and can afford. There’s no reason to stick with a plan and then be miserable or sad. Give yourself permission to change your plan (or stay with this one). :)

But if I were mom (not knowing how long you have been there or where you planned to go next nor where you fly home from), I might say to hang another night (maybe rent a motor bike today and see the island) and do a little looking for a place that seems to be calling you. Or where you can find a hostel that suits, now that you know this might be your travel preference for now.

I agree... keep on the journey and don't be afraid to find a different place... as my wife has said, "The judge didn't sentence you." (Meaning don't be afraid to try something new and scary. )

As Winston Churchill supposedly said, "Never give up."

Naxos isn’t a mainstream Greek island, so I would look to head to Crete or Corfu that are more lively. Probably easier and cheaper than trying to get international flights at the moment.

Another way to get a little social interaction could be to join a group doing a day tour of some sort.

There's no good reason to spend vacation time doing something you don't want to do. If you aren't liking a place, move on. You can check out early, it's done all the time. Spend a little time figuring out your next move, then make it.

There's no good reason to spend vacation time doing something you don't want to do. If you aren't liking a place, move on. You can check out early, it's done all the time. Spend a little time figuring out your next move, then make it.

That’s true. I’m going to see how today goes. If I don’t feel better I may look to go elsewhere!

Naxos isn’t a mainstream Greek island, so I would look to head to Crete or Corfu that are more lively. Probably easier and cheaper than trying to get international flights at the moment.

I tried looking at hostels in Crete after your advice but none of them are in the 2 main cities. Most are 17-20 miles away. Which I guess isn’t a big deal if I rent a car. Like I found a hostel in a city called Rethymno which is an hour drive from Chania. But 0 hostels in Chania for my potential dates. Corfu didn’t have anything for my dates.

Should I give Crete a chance with accommodation being an hour away from Chania?

Islands that have a thriving hostel scene I don’t want to go to (Santorini, Mykonos) because it’s crazy there due to so many people or I’m not interested in partying.

The cost to fly to either of those islands is identical in cost to flying to Budapest or somewhere else. Budapest for example had plenty of hostels.

I’m gonna give it a day and then decide. I appreciate the advice!

Blaire, that's one of the reasons I always travel solo - it gives you the flexibility to travel when and where you want. A long time ago when I was traveling in Greece, I felt the same way. I really wanted to visit Greece but once I got there, I did not enjoy my time as much as I thought I would, and I was feeling a little depressed. So I left a week early, made my way to Patras and took an overnight ferry to Brindisi, Italy and spent the next 2 weeks traveling through Italy.

I was so glad I did this - I loved Italy, met so many people there and had a wonderful time. I'm not saying you should leave but I am saying that there is a reason for traveling solo. You do not have to stick to your original plan - you can embrace the flexibility and find someplace that you love. :)

Come to Budapest. I am guessing you are young. You will fit right in.

fly to Budapest or another big city you haven't been to! (i feel the same way sometimes and therefore understand what you are going thru. change. tickets may be reasonable to certain cities).

As others have said, take a day in Greece to lay around on the beach and whatever. Use that time to research cheap flights and hostels with availability. You are in an amazing position to be able to do exactly what you want and fly to a place that aligns with your parameters. One question I do have though, is where is your return flight home? Make sure that wherever you fly to has an affordable flight or a train ride back to the airport you need to use to get home.

I guess trying to book hostels peak season on Greek islands at short notice maybe tricky. Heading to a city may give you more availability, but it’s a very different kind of holiday.

I do not know if these ideas will work for you on an island (as opposed to a bigger city), but when I travel solo, I often take a food tour. Food tours usually have a small group of people and it gives you some companions for a meal while tasting great food - often in locations that you would not discover on your own.

Other day tours are also good places to meet people and have some companionship, even if only for a few hours. My own son travelled for two months on his own in Europe, met some interesting people on a free walking tour and ended up hanging out with them the rest of the day. He also signed up for a group food tour and turned out to be the only customer - but had a terrific time with his “private” guide and wonderful food.

fly to Budapest or another big city you haven't been to! (i feel the same way sometimes and therefore understand what you are going thru. change. tickets may be reasonable to certain cities).

I don’t remember where but I read a post about how flying to Poland can help support Ukraine? I think I’m going to fly to either Budapest in Hungary because it looks awesome. But also Krakow in Ukraine looks amazing and has the benefit too. So leaning towards that!

As others have said, take a day in Greece to lay around on the beach and whatever. Use that time to research cheap flights and hostels with availability. You are in an amazing position to be able to do exactly what you want and fly to a place that aligns with your parameters. One question I do have though, is where is your return flight home?

Hi Kelly,

I booked a changeable flight from Athens back home. I looked and I can change it for a $3 fee to fly from Budapest, $5 from Krakow, and $27 from London. So it isn’t too bad I could just pay that minimal fee and change my return flight.

As of now I’m going to spend tomorrow by the beach deciding where to go and then gonna book my flight.

Good plan and all good destinations!

Thanks for the advice guys! It seems like sometimes stuff like this happens. I guess it’s the nice thing about solo traveling, can do whatever I want :)

blair, we certainly don't condone you visiting a hostile location. Get it? haha!

😂 I literally laughed out loud

I agree...move on! Budapest sounds great. I first travelled to Europe alone and remember that lonely feeling before I discovered hostels. That was FORTY years ago, but I still remember that feeling. Glad you are flexible. Move on and have a great time!

Call me when/if you get here and I will point you towards the "entertainment"