Lori Barbely
Hi, I’m Lori, the Chief Travel Officer for Mostly Solo Travel! I created this site for solo (and would-be solo) female travelers. My goal is to inspire your trips, give you practical advice on how to plan, and to ease your fears so you can explore the world on your own.
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Serengeti Safari: Know Before You Go
Booking a Serengeti safari can feel complicated and overwhelming—trust me, I’ve been there! I definitely learned a few things along the way, so I’ve compiled this list of things to know before you go so that ou can learn from my mistakes! Types of Safaris Before you start planning your safari it’s important to know that there are two different types of safari experiences: point-to-point driving safaris and fly-and-drive safaris. Both types can provide excellent safari experiences, but it’s important to know the difference and choose the type that’s right for you! Point-to-Point Driving Safaris On a point-to-point driving safari, you’ll spend almost every night at a different hotel and…
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Olerai Lodge, Arusha, Tanzania
Opened in early 2019, Olerai Lodge is a former family home that has been transformed into a boutique resort but kept its cozy, homey atmosphere. With 14 guest rooms, it’s an intimate escape nestled among an acacia grove against the backdrop of the Mount Meru, Olerai Lodge. I stayed at Olerai Lodge on my first night in Tanzania before embarking on my five-day safari and this gorgeous property was a wonderful surprise! I was obsessed with how beautiful the surrounding land was, how comfortable and chic the room was, and how fantastic the service was! It was a beautiful introduction to Tanzanian hospitality and I could have easily enjoyed spending…
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Travel Books: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
The Paris Apartment Author: Lucy FoleyPages: 384Published: 2022 Caution: Spoilers Ahead! I picked up The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley at the airport before a long-haul flight. This suspense novel was a quick and generally fun read and a great way to pass the time on a long flight! Broke and alone, Jess needs a fresh start so she convinces her half-brother, Ben, to let her crash with him for a while. In his apartment in Paris. When she arrives, Jess discovers two things: Ben is nowhere to be found and his apartment is nice, really nice. His neighbors, however, are not so nice. The setting and the premise give…
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Learning Italian in my 40s
I never thought I’d be learning Italian in my 40s, but here we are! It’s been a process that I’m thoroughly enjoying and it’s challenged me to use my brain in ways that I haven’t in quite some time! I’m nowhere near fluent, but in about six months I’ve made some conversational progress so I’m sharing my story along with some tips and tricks for learning Italian! Background In Junior High and High School, I took three years of Spanish as it seemed to be the most practical of the few languages my school offered. I did…okay…ish. It took me a long time to wrap my brain around conjugating verbs…
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Safari Hotels in Tanzania
After my time in Kenya at Giraffe Manor, I headed to Tanzania for the next part of my African journey: safari! Here are the safari hotels in Tanzania (plus a few in Zanzibar) where I stayed during my weeklong trip! Olerai Lodge Formerly a family home, Olerai Lodge opened as a hotel in 2019. Set among an acacia grove this sun-soaked hotel is surrounded by lush greenery and is an absolute delight! This unexpected gem of a property was my favorite way to start my Tanzania trip! From sundowners at the circular fire pit to the cozy cottage nestled among flowers, the property was beautiful and the service was stellar!…
