Last summer, I spent a few days in Lyon, and it quickly became one of my favorite cities. Maybe it’s the way the heart of it is wedged between two rivers (I think I could be happy just wandering back and forth across bridges all day), or the winding cobblestone streets of Old Lyon, or the Roman amphitheaters sitting atop a hill overlooking the city.

In my last post, I gave some packing tips and said I wouldn’t give you a packing list. Well, this isn’t a comprehensive packing list. But after enough trips, a few items have earned permanent spots in my bag.

I’ve never been a big fan of generic packing lists. Packing is a personal process, and you’re usually the best judge of what you’ll need for a trip. Instead of giving you a checklist that may or may not fit your travel style, I’ve gathered some general packing tips that can help you pack smarter and more confidently.

Solo travel allows you the freedom to do what you want, when you want, without worrying about what your travel companions want to do. It can be scary, but those fears don’t have to be insurmountable, and like anything, it gets easier the more you do it. Here are my tips for traveling solo.

One of the first solo trips I planned was to Brussels, Bruges, and Amsterdam. Whenever I told people where I was going, I was often met by a puzzled expression and the question “Why Brussels?” Bruges and Amsterdam are always popular, but Brussels?