My Story
It started with a one-way ticket to Lisbon and a backpack that was slightly too heavy. That was seven years ago, and I haven't stopped moving since. My name is Ulyssea Dickey, and I trade comfortable routine for open roads, mountain passes, and conversations with strangers who become friends.
I didn't grow up traveling. My parents took one camping trip a year, if we were lucky. My first real experience with independent travel came at twenty-three, when I booked a solo trip to Portugal after a bad breakup and a moment of what I can only describe as aggressive self-improvement. What was supposed to be two weeks turned into two months. What was supposed to be healing turned into a completely new life.
Today, I've visited forty-three countries across five continents. I've slept in monastery guest houses, night trains, homestays where the family didn't speak English and dinner lasted three hours, and exactly one five-star hotel in Singapore where I spent more time marveling at the bathroom than sleeping. Every trip has taught me something different about the world and, more surprisingly, about myself.
Why I Write
When I started traveling, I kept meticulous notes. Journal entries，记录我在哪里吃过最好吃的炸鱼薯条（葡萄牙辛特拉的咖啡馆），我在摩洛哥迷路多少次（太多次），以及我在泰国北部学会骑摩托车花了多长时间（两周，但谁在数）。
My journals became the foundation for this website. I started writing about my experiences because I couldn't find honest, practical solo travel content online. Too many sites were either sponsored fluff or advice so cautious it missed the point entirely. Solo travel isn't about being safe in a bubble—it's about engaging with the world, taking calculated risks, and growing through the process.
My goal with Ulyssea is to give you both: real, grounded advice that keeps you safe and the encouragement to actually go. The world is less scary than it looks from your couch, and I want to prove it.
My Travel Philosophy
I believe in slow travel. I've seen people race through six countries in ten days and come home exhausted rather than refreshed. That's not travel—that's a highlight reel with a terrible soundtrack. I prefer to stay in one place long enough to learn the name of the woman who sells bread at the corner shop, to understand why the local festival matters, to get lost and actually find my way back using memory rather than GPS.
I believe in budget travel without martyrdom. You don't need to eat only instant noodles to afford adventures. You need to be thoughtful—about when you eat out, where you stay, how you move. Some of my best meals have been $2 street food. Some of my worst expenses have been overpriced tourist restaurants. The skill is learning the difference.
I believe solo travel is for everyone. Yes, even if you're shy. Yes, even if you're anxious. Yes, even if you're over sixty or under twenty. The alone-ness isn't loneliness—it's freedom. You go at your pace, see what you want, and discover what you actually think when there's no one else's preferences in the room.
What You'll Find Here
On this website, I share detailed travel guides based on real experience, not recycled press releases. I write honestly about the challenges of traveling alone as a woman, including the uncomfortable moments I've had to navigate. I've created free travel planning tools because I believe good preparation shouldn't cost money.
My articles cover everything from solo female travel to packing strategies to budget techniques. I try to write the articles I wish I'd found before my first big trip—the ones that tell you both the good stuff and the stuff no one wants to admit.
Get In Touch
I read every email that comes through my contact form. If you have questions about a destination, want advice on planning your first solo trip, or just want to say hello, I'd love to hear from you. I especially love hearing from people who've used my advice and had it actually work—or didn't work, because then I can make things better.
Safe travels, and see you on the road.
