About Susan Moore

Hi! I’m Susan Moore, a passionate solo traveler and creator of Solo Trips and Tips travel blog. My journey into solo travel began with a seven-month adventure through Southeast Asia in 1993, and since then, I’ve been hooked.

This love for solo travel led me to transition to remote work in 2015, allowing me to explore the world at my own pace while sharing my experiences to inspire others to enjoy traveling alone.

Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I now reside in Texas. My early travel experiences included family road trips to Vancouver Island, camping in Banff National Park, and backpacking through Europe in my twenties.

However, it wasn’t until I embarked on my first solo trip at almost thirty that I truly discovered the joy of traveling alone. That initial solo journey through Southeast Asia was a turning point, leading to countless solo adventures in various countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, and Turkey.

For seven years, I road-tripped across the United States and Canada, living in short-term rentals and immersing myself in the diverse landscapes and cultures.

In 2023, I celebrated a milestone birthday with a solo month-long trip to Italy, exploring the cities of Bologna, Cinque Terre, Florence, Milan, Rome, and Venice.

I have prediabetes (since 2019), so I have to be careful with my diet, stay away from high-glycemic foods, and do a lot of walking to help regulate my blood sugar levels. You can read more about my experiences traveling with prediabetes.

 

My first solo trip

Traveling solo offers unmatched freedom and self-discovery. Without waiting for others or compromising on plans, I can fully embrace each destination.

My first solo travel experience began in January 1993, when I left Calgary, Canada for 7 months of travel alone in Southeast Asia. There was no internet back then, and I didn’t know anyone in the countries I planned to visit or anywhere else in Asia!

After watching a National Geographic special about Ubud Bali, I knew I had to visit Indonesia and spend some time in Bali. After talking about my travel plan with friends, they convinced me I should quit my job and travel.

Southeast Asia is a great choice for solo travelers, for one thing, because there are so many other travelers in Asia. One big reason there are so many people traveling to Southeast Asia is because it’s cheaper than traveling to the United States or Europe.

I spent time exploring Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Just me and my Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring travel guide. Traveling there without the internet back in 1993 was challenging but also deeply rewarding. Today, while I appreciate modern conveniences like Google Maps, I fondly recall the thrill of navigating new places with just a guidebook.

Since I had only lived in Canada at that point in my life, I was in awe during my travels in Asia. All my senses were treated to new and exciting experiences.

Sitting at my desk, I easily visualize images from my travels and smile. Playing back the memory of snorkeling for the first time on the island of Gili Air in Indonesia will always bring me joy. Tasting nasi goreng and tofu for the first time.

Conversations with locals and other travelers helped to mold my beliefs and stir my curiosity. Engaging in enlightening and educational conversations is a common thread among travelers.

Through my blog, I aim to empower and inspire others to experience the joy of solo travel. Join me as I continue to explore the world, one solo adventure at a time.

 

Solo travel builds confidence

I lived in Austin, Texas from May 1999 to September 2015, but I am originally from Calgary, Alberta. I have also worked in Siberia and Nigeria, two places that not many people have the chance to visit.

Applying for an accounting job working in Russia was something I would never have done had I not already traveled all by myself for several months in Southeast Asia.

You see, travel builds confidence. The idea of working in Russia sounded exciting, although I had no idea that I would be working in Siberia rather than someplace just a little more cosmopolitan. Say, St Petersburg or Moscow? Those were the cities I had envisioned when I saw the ad in the newspaper and sent in my resume.

In Austin, I daytraded for a living for six years. Afterwards, I started my bookkeeping and QuickBooks training business. Being an entrepreneur offered me a lot of flexibility, and I made a conscious decision to travel solo more often.

This is one of my favorite quotes about solo travel:

“Solo travel not only pushes you out of your comfort zone, it also pushes you out of the zone of others’ expectations.” – Suzy Strutner

 

Solo Trips and Tips Nomadic Life

Planning this nomad lifestyle experiment was a process for me, and it took several years from inception to completion. Really, the first spark to light up my wannabe nomad moment occurred after returning home from my first solo trip.

Thanks to all the technological advances in communication and computing, I am now able to keep in touch with my clients and work while traveling all around the globe.

On September 30th, 2015, I packed up Yar-Yar (my 2009 Toyota Yaris) and began a new chapter in my life. After exploring the possibility of living a nomadic life, I decided to take a chance and become location independent. I am calling this my nomad lifestyle experiment.

When I started dreaming about being a nomad, I thought I would leave the USA to travel around South America, but I changed my mind. I decided to keep my car and take a long-term road trip around the USA and Canada for at least a year.

Maybe two years.

Perhaps ten years…. or not!

In September 2022, I celebrated 7 years of roadtripping around the United States and Canada! And after 7 years and 2 months of roadtripping, I decided to return to Texas in November 2022. I’m living in New Braunfels for now!

I’m looking forward to future adventures around the globe and sharing the photos and stories with you!

Where Have I Traveled

I have traveled to 26 countries so far. I have lived in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Louisiana, Texas, and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. I also worked in Raduzhny, Russia in Siberia.

Countries Visited

• Argentina
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• France
• Germany
• Jordan
• Indonesia
• Italy
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Panama
• Russia
• Singapore
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Türkiye
• United Kingdom

 

Provinces Visited in Canada

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

States Visited in United States

While I have set foot in 43 states, I’m only including on this list the ones that I actually spent some time visiting, so 34 so far.

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wyoming

 

Giving Back

I believe in sharing my good fortune with others. Every year, I donate to causes that make a difference in people’s lives. Some of my favorite charitable organizations are:

SmileTrain transforms lives by offering cleft surgeries around the world. Several years ago, I had minor surgery performed in Austin, TX and my doctor gave me a brochure about SmileTrain, and I started making monthly donations.

Doctors Without Borders is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. They provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or who are excluded from healthcare.

Kiva: I recently started a Solo Travelers team on Kiva (please join the team!) so we can group our efforts to make a bigger impact. Kiva makes microloans to entrepreneurs around the world.

Please consider donating to these charities (or another one of your choosing) and helping other people around the world.

I wish everyone safe and happy solo travel adventures! If you have any questions, you can reach me at my contact page or drop a comment below.