Susana Gambin Meeson
Would you like to introduce yourself?
My name is Susana Gambin Meeson, I am 22 years old, from Spain, and I recently graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first class degree in Business Management and Marketing in July 2025. I have always loved learning about and experiencing new cultures, and have a strong passion for travelling so I knew it was something I wanted to do at some point in my life.
So, after completing my degree and graduating, I knew it was the perfect time to take some well-deserved time off and do what I have always dreamed of doing, exploring the world.
@Susanagambin_
How did you decide on where to travel in your most recent trip?
When deciding where I wanted to go on my travels I was in 2 minds at first. I wasn’t sure whether to go and travel around South East Asia (SEA), which seems to be a much more common and popular travelling destination among backpackers, or instead go and explore Latin America, a part of the world I hadn’t had the chance to go to yet.
There was something about Latin America that was really calling my name but a lot of people around me were trying to sway me towards going to SEA instead (always with the best of intentions) as they thought this was a much safer travel destination for a solo female backpacker.
Latam hasn’t got the greatest reputation, with lots of its countries/areas being classified as unsafe with high levels of crime and this worried a lot of my close friends and family, especially as I was planning on going on my own. But despite all of this, I was still very much drawn to Latin America and knew that this is where I wanted to go on my trip.
What did you learn about yourself or people on your travels?
I feel like I learnt so much about myself and others while on my travels, especially as I was travelling on my own. When you are solo travelling you spend a good amount of time on your own which means you have a lot of time to reflect and sit with your thoughts. This allowed me to think about my future, about what I want in life, and in my career once I went back home.
Not only that, but when you are travelling on your own there is a lot of planning and organisation that goes into it and there is no one else there to help you or do it for you, and things aren’t always easy and straightforward with things not always going your way. Because of this, I learnt so much about patience and resilience and learnt that things may not always turn out as you expect but everything will be okay and will eventually work itself out.
What are your top 5 travel essentials?
I’d say my top 5 travel essentials during my 4+ months of travelling were:
Packing cubes: living out of a backpack can be challenging but packing cubes help you stay much more organised.
Physical bank cards: at home I am not used to using physical bank cards as I use my phone to pay for everything but when travelling in less developed countries you need cash everywhere you go so it is important to always carry a bank card so you can always get money out of an ATM when you need it.
Kindle: there will be many hours of travelling and down time so I always carried my kindle around with me to help pass time
Air tag: super important to be able to track your bags and important personal belongings
Carabiners: I underestimated the use of carabiners before starting my trip but I found them it so useful to be able to hang things off my bag when travelling from place to place
What was your favourite country in south/central America?
It’s quite hard to choose just 1 country of the 7 I visited, those being: Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico, as each country was special and amazing in its own way.
However, if I could only pick 1 country to be my favourite as I whole it would probably be Peru. I would recommend Peru to pretty much everyone. Peru is a country that has so much to offer depending on what you are looking for. It is such a diverse country with the most incredible landscapes. In Peru you can find beaches, deserts, oasis, mountains, jungle, rainforest, cities etc. There is so much to do and see, whether you like surfing, hiking, or just wandering around a city. The people in Peru are also super kind and friendly and it also has some of the best food out there. What I personally loved about Peru was the nature and the number of hikes I did while I was there. The lakes and mountain ranges you come across are the most incredible I have ever seen.
Where do you want to visit in the future?
There are so many countries I want to visit in the future, I don’t even know where to start. I thought that after travelling I would be crossing countries off my list but it did the complete opposite! There are so many more I now want to visit, including some in South and Central America that I didn’t get the chance to go to while I was there. While travelling you meet some incredible people that have been to the most amazing places so you just keep adding to the bucket list!
The number 1 country on my list at the moment is probably Japan. I haven’t had the chance to explore much of Asia yet and I am really intrigued by Japanese lifestyle, culture, and food and would love to go to experience this for myself. I also really want to go somewhere in the Arctic Circle as it looks absolutely stunning and an amazing experience.
What advice about life would you give your 17 year old self?
The advice I would give to my 17 year old self would be to always be yourself and to not be afraid of what other people think.
At 17 you are highly influenced by your peers, social media, family, and everyone around you, which means you sometimes aren’t true to yourself and pretend to be someone you are not just to fit it and be accepted, but with time you learn that if people don’t accept you for your true self than they are people you don’t want in your life. The people who truly value you will do so just the way you are.
To add to this, you shouldn’t be afraid of what other people think. Everyone is always going to have an opinion and it’s not always going to be a good one, but you can’t please everyone. There is always going to be someone who thinks badly of you or disagrees with you no matter what you do, so you might as well do what makes you happy regardless of other people’s judgements.
Once you begin living true to yourself and doing what makes you happy then you’ll be fulfilled.
Any tips or suggestions on solo female travel?
My tips or suggestions on solo female travel is first of all to do your research and be prepared before you go. Research your first destination thoroughly, as this will make you feel less anxious and more comfortable once you arrive before you find your feet. Don’t just look into the tourist highlights, but also research neighbourhoods, transport links and local customs. There are loads of online forums, YouTube videos, and TikTok pages that give you all the backpacker ins and outs of each location and even suggest the perfect itinerary for you. I spent hours checking these out before I headed on my trip just so I could feel more prepared and had a rough idea of the places I wanted to visit.
A tip when it comes to meeting people is to join walking tours, hostel group chats and activities or stay in female-only hostel dorms where you’ll guarantee to meet other travellers in the same position as you.
Finally I would suggest having some sort of plan or itinerary but allowing space for spontaneity. Some of the best moments happen unplanned.
What advice would you give to young women who want to travel but are not as confident as you?
First of all, confidence doesn’t come before you travel, it comes during your travels and because of it. It is normal to be scared before traveling on your own, and this is a good thing as long as you don’t let that fear take over and stop you.
Practical tools like a crossbody anti-theft bag, a portable charger, a personal alarm, or sharing your location with a close friend or family member can make a big difference to your confidence, knowing you have different means of staying safe and being cautious.
I’d also say to not let other people’s fear become your limit and be what stops you. Often, well-meaning friends or family will be worried and might project their own anxieties on you, making you doubt yourself and your plans. Listen to these worries respectfully, but make decisions based on research and your own instincts.
And finally, just be cautious and don’t do anything you wouldn’t do at home. As girls we learn from a young age to not walk on the streets at night alone, not to accept any drinks from strangers, and to be weary of our surroundings. As long as you keep doing this on your travels, there is no reason why you should have to feel unsafe.
@Susanagambin_