wanderlust and a rucksack

Collecting memories and passport stamps

Welcome to wanderlust and a rucksack

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October 8, 2025

Hostel Meals Inspiration

We all know the struggle of arriving at a new hostel, wanting to just sleep but knowing you need to cook. And you probably shouldn’t go out and get another gyros* or burek* for the sixth time in…
Read more: Hostel Meals Inspiration
September 26, 2025

Is Solo Travel Worth the Social Media Hype?

For me, solo travelling this summer began as a trip starting in a familiar place to see if I actually liked travelling alone. Unfortunately for my bank account, I’ve realised that as well as trips with friends, I…
Read more: Is Solo Travel Worth the Social Media Hype?
September 23, 2025

Your Backpacker Guide to Budapest

I loved Budapest and intend to return with some of my friends ASAP. It had an amazing culture, felt safe to travel around, good public transport links, plenty of activities, lively nightlife, tasty food. Genuinely, what more could…
Read more: Your Backpacker Guide to Budapest

With both personal travel stories and plenty of ‘how to’ guides for you to be able to make the most of your travelling

wanderlust_and_a_rucksack

Caitlin 🩵
Collecting Memories and Passport Stamps
A girl exploring the world
Links to blog posts on my highlights
#travelblogger #travel

If you need a sign to solo travel it’s here 🩵

If you need a sign to solo travel it’s here 🩵🌎✈️

Unfortunately for my bank account, I’ve realised that as well as trips with friends, I need to fit more solo travel into my life and it does live up to the hype it gets on social media. However, solo travel is definitely a challenge to make that first step and book the flight or bus.

FINALLY both jumping on this Instagram trend and getting out my article on my thoughts on solo travel (link in bio and copied below)

https://wanderlustandarucksack.com/2025/09/26/is-solo-travel-worth-the-social-media-hype/

Caitlin ✈️🌎🩵

#travelgirl #travelblogger #travel #summer #backpacking #travelcontentcreator #solotravelgirl #solo #solotraveller #traveler #newchapters

The Balkans is one of the best places to start bac

The Balkans is one of the best places to start backpacking - it’s beautiful, friendly and cheap and has plenty of hostels with people solo travelling.

I first started backpacking properly last year starting off in Sofia, Bulgaria and went on my first big solo trip this year, starting in Montenegro (going on a really weird loop round) and then finishing in Greece after going in literally every direction and doubling back on myself a bit.
Expect to be eating burek nearly every day - felt like a change of diet when I tried apple burek rather than the normal option of feta vs meat.

The Balkans also has the perfect mix of some places that don’t feel as touristy as Italy or Spain but still good enough transport links and a range of hostels that can suit whatever you want - mix of party and hiking hostels anyone?

If you’re looking for the your next place to discover - go to the Balkans. As always, loads of posts on my blog on this, for each country, a few weeks itinerary and some hostel recommendations.

Caitlin 🩵✈️🏝️

#balkans #backpacker #backpacking #montenegro #albania #greece #bosnia #northmacedonia #croatia #balkan #balkantrip #travelgirl #travelblogger #travel #europe #easterneurope #travel #travelinspo

One of the best countries in my opinion for solo f

One of the best countries in my opinion for solo female travellers, backpacking group trips, a great first place to start backpacking and SO MUCH MORE!!!

Finally got a post out to put together a quick route for you on how to travel to my favourite places in Montenegro!

Podgorica > Ulcinj > Kotor > Perast > Budva

Link in bio to my blog as always or copy and pasted below to the exact page.

Caitlin 🩵✈️🏝️

https://wanderlustandarucksack.com/2025/09/13/your-one-stop-guide-to-planning-your-montenegro-trip/

#montenegro #travelblogger #travelgirl #backpacking #balkans #kotor #kotormontenegro #travel #europe

Life is meant to be lived. Travel. Hike. Swim. Liv

Life is meant to be lived. Travel. Hike. Swim. Live.

#travelgirl #girls #travel #travelcontentcreator #backpacking #hiking #outdoors #nature #albania #live #authentic

Lake Bled, Slovenia Perfect for a September geta

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Perfect for a September getaway or to add to your inter railing list. One of the best places for swimming, sociable hostels and a perfect break from the business of cities.

Post on Lake Bled up now!

https://wanderlustandarucksack.com/2025/09/01/lake-bled-backpacking-guide/

Link in bio!

🩵✈️🏝️

#travel #lakebled #summer #septembertrip #travel #travelvibes #eurosummer #lake #bled #slovenia #travelslovenia #slovenia🇸🇮 #wanderlust #backpacking

Reminder to see the world if and when you can 🩵

Reminder to see the world if and when you can 🩵🏝️✈️

To anyone new: welcome to my blog of adventure travel and backpacking featuring lots of hiking, underrated cities and places to connect with the world.

#travelgirl #travel #travelcontentcreator #summer #backpacking #travelblogger #adventure #inspiration #travelinspo #travelling

Day 6 - Budva 🩵✈️🏝️ Nearly at the end

Day 6 - Budva 🩵✈️🏝️

Nearly at the end of the Montenegro travel blog series (days 1-4 are up on the blog!!!)
Next country… CROATIA!!!

#travelgirl #travelblogger #travel #solotravels #solotravel #traveldiaries #travel #travelcontentcreator #backpacking #montenegro #budva

Montenegro day 5 - new destination! This day for

Montenegro day 5 - new destination!

This day for me was definitely when solo travel started to feel real - having left my friends in the last hostel and genuinely started wondering if I was just really lucky that first time. However, saw someone from my hostel on the beach and then feeling completely social again. @high_hostel_budva was also a great place to stay and watch sunset from the roof here! (The walk was worth it for the views!)

At this point, still loving solo travel!

🩵🏝️✈️

#budva #montenegro #solotravel #solotravelgirl #solotraveldiaries #summer #travelcontentcreator #backpacking #travelblogger #travelgirl #travel #eurosummer #travelblog

Genuinely didn’t realise how difficult it would

Genuinely didn’t realise how difficult it would be to leave such an amazing hostel. I met so many awesome and interesting people here who made me fall instantly in love with solo travel. @piratebackpackersulcinj definitely coming back!

What may also need to be added here as a solo travel tip 2 - make sure you have plenty of time to get to your next hostel, it’s not fun to chase the last of the light to try and make it before sunset trust me. Even if your first hostel is so good you just want to stay as long as you can.

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#solotravel #travelgirl #travelcontentcreator #summer #travelblogger #travel #backpacking #montenegro #ulcinj #budva #kotor #eurosummer #europe #traveldiaries

Post of these expanded on my blog coming on Friday

Post of these expanded on my blog coming on Friday!

My first stop off for my solo travel in Montenegro was Ulcinj - https://wanderlustandarucksack.com/2025/07/07/the-hidden-gem-in-montenegro-thats-not-kotor/

If you’re going to Montenegro (and it’s the perfect place to start solo travelling!) make sure you stop off in Ulcinj!

#ulcinj #solofemaletraveler #solotraveller #travelgirl #travelblogger #travel #summer #travelcontentcreator #backpacking

More info in caption 🩵✈️🏝️>>>> Sociab

More info in caption 🩵✈️🏝️>>>>

Sociability
After my first big backpacking trip in 2024, one of the things I’d noted down was that the hostel experience was heavily reliant on who I met. Now obviously you can’t guarantee that you’ll meet people you get on really well with, but choosing a hostel that suits you, has events organised to meet people and fits your vibe means you’re so much more likely to meet people you’ll want to explore with.

Organised Events
Okay this is very much linked to the sociability above but events (especially free/cheap evening events) are such good ways to connect with people in the hostel. Think free cocktail mixing classes in Vienna to sunset beach trips in Montenegro. Hostelworld is a great place to look and see if these exist (they’re called ‘linkups’).

Food
Free breakfasts? Free dinners even??? Sign me up. Even if the hostel is a little bit more expensive you’ll probably save money on eating out or cooking especially if you’re travelling solo.

Location

As someone who has travelled solo, location is a massive factor in terms of safety as well as convenience. For me, the closer it is to the centre and the busier streets, the better.

Price

Obviously, budget does have to come into it somewhere. I’ve stayed in a massive price range in terms of hostels, from paying as little as 6 euros for hostels in North Macedonia to 36 euros a night at Lake Bled. What I’m trying to say is that it really depends on your country (and continent), city and what you’re willing to pay for.

More information and posts at: https://wanderlustandarucksack.com/2025/07/08/hostel-green-flags/

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#hostels #solo #solotraveller #travelgirl #travel #backpacking #backpack #hostellife #eurosummer #summer #travelblogger #travelcontentcreator

Day 2 in Ulcinj, Montenegro! Blog post out on Ul

Day 2 in Ulcinj, Montenegro!

Blog post out on Ulcinj on my blog.

More about this in the bio on my blog, but I have decided to move from a mix of generally just ‘what to do in places’ and ‘where to visit’ to a more personalised approach as-well. With AI, it’s so easy to find what to do immediately but what I always look for are the personal stories and experiences - hence why I’ve moved more to this type of content both here and on my blog 🩵✈️🏝️

#ulcinj #montenegro #travelgirl #travelblogger #solotravels #solotraveller #travelblogger #backpacking #balkans #traveldiaries

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