๐งโโ๏ธ Our 2026 Bali tours are LIVE (& better than ever!) + Free carry-on in the EU
Published 26 days agoย โขย 7 min read
Hi Reader,
I am loving summertime in Spain.
Yes, it's hot, perhaps a little too warm sometimes, even for someone who has lived in the Tropics for 20 years, but it's also bright, vibrant, electric and full of live.
Everyone is in a good mood and you can hear the laughter and happiness all around.
I can't think of a better place to spend summer than in Southern Europe. We live for this. We wait all year for this. And when it arrived, we sure make the most of it.
As you are reading this, I am at a winery with the group of guests on our Barcelona & Beyond tour. We are enjoying a nice tour of the vineyards, which have stunning views down to the sea, followed by a wine pairing, blind-tasting experience put together by two creative foodies just for our group. What a wonderful way to start this Tuesday!
In this week's email ๐ฉ:
Our 2026 Bali tours are live and better than ever with small changes to the itinerary we had this year. I always look for ways to improve our itineraries. Destinations change, hotels close and others open, restaurants change hands, tourists move...and we do our best to always bring you the best possible experience. The trip of a lifetime that you always dreamed of.
The EU is set so scrap carry-on baggage fees, so everyone can bring onboard a 7kg suitcase for free. But is this really free?
The US now requires visa applicants to turn their social media profiles public to decide their admissibility to the US.
Join us in Bali in 2026
Bali mood board
Our first 3 tours to Bali are almost sold out (1 SPOT opened up on our October trip).
We are returning in 2026 with an even better itinerary that spends a bit more time in the quieter parts of the islands that are still largely local, and less in the crowded streets of Ubud.
Our itinerary dives deep into the Balinese culture and way of life. We'll learn about food that feeds the soul, offerings that feed the heart and beliefs that feed the soul.
We'll take you where the beaches are black and empty, where the shadows of the volcanoes are never too far and where the spirituality of the island is most alive.
During the dry season, but avoiding the super busy months of July and August when European summer holiday makers fill the already packed roads and traffic is unbearable.
๐ชท No ticking off Instagram spots, let's dive in! We won't be visiting any of the places that have become "instafamous" and have been created exclusively for photos.
Bali is a place of natural beauty, and we believe in supporting authenticity and culturally relevant spots, not just the ones which make for pretty photos.
No swings, no nests, no photos with mirror reflections, no feeding fish for photos, no staged water purification ceremonies. We have chosen to focus on Bali's heritage, culture and meaningful sights instead.
We'll visit important temples like Gunung Kawi and Besakih, which you will rarely see on Instagram because they aren't photogenic, with an expert guide.
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๐ฑ Wilderness of volcanoes and waterfalls: Bali is a volcanic island with 3 active volcanoes and we will make the most of this naturally stunning landscape by chasing waterfalls, going on Jeep tours of the lava fields and enjoying black sand beaches.
We'll get wet and wild and have the best time in the lush jungle.
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๐ Food and foraging: Bali has become the test bed for vegan, healthy and innovative food in Southeast Asia thanks to the island's natural bounty and the many pioneering chefs who promote the use of indigenous ingredients and a healthier way of eating.
We will go on a foraging and cooking class in the forest with an awesome up and coming female Balinese chef and taste many local dishes through the week, including a couple of plant-based meals that that will showcase Bali's role in the movement and an Indo-Dutch festive meal from colonial times.
๐โโ๏ธ Wellness & spirituality: Balinese people are deeply spiritual and a philosophy of wellness is inherent to the island. We will focus on our own wellbeing throughout the trip.
Sunrise and sunset yoga sessions, 2 spa treatments, sound healing, natural locations away from pollution and noise, and an optional water purification ceremony with a Balinese priestess.
We will also learn how to prepare jamu, the Balinese tonic that inspired kombucha and is used to heal the body inside out.
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๐ Beach time: Bali is an island so we will also get to spend some time in the water, on the beach and making the most of the fun beach club culture.
All our hotels but the one in Ubud will be by the beach and there will be plenty of time to enjoy the black sand beaches and the north and east, plus 2 nights at Seminyak's most glamorous and famous beach club, Potato Head, the one that started it all, where you can relax to chill out music from live DJs and enjoy beautiful people watching.
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โจ Luxury hotels: As always, we will stay at some absolutely gorgeous and award-winning 5* hotels and resorts on this trip. I have personally handpicked each of them after visiting and staying at many. I have been to Bali 14 times and stayed at numerous luxury properties so I could choose the best.
We'll be spoiled at a coffee plantation up in the clouds with an infinity pool that has topped the best hotel pools in the world ranking, a traditional hotel by the beach, one of The World's 50 Best Hotels and a stunning property among rice fields that belongs to the Balinese royal family. Only the best for you!
Bonus: For the last 2 nights at Potato Head, everyone will get their own room!
Spirituality will permeate everything we will do: You don't have to be a religious person to appreciate the calm and respectful spirituality of Balinese Hinduism. Observe it and learn from it, or participate in its practices.
Shared accommodation with another solo traveler so you don't pay single supplements. Or upgrade to have your own room. Everyone will get their own room for the last 2 nights.
Practically all inclusive, with all the entrance tickets, guided visits, spa treatments, tips, workshops, and meals.
Exclusive experiences not available to the general public. Connect with a local foraging expert, a farmer, a priestess, and sound healer, and the many Balinese women we will get to meet.
Off the beaten path: This word gets thrown around a lot but rings true for this tour (and many of our other tours). Bali is huge and tourism concentrates around Ubud, we will explore the parts nobody visits and enjoy empty beaches, waterfalls and roads from day 3.
First came the compensation for delayed or cancelled flights or for being denied boarding. Now is the turn for luggage rules with changes that would bring free carry-on bags for everyone, free seats for carers and for accompanying parents of children up to the age of 12.
In a recent press release, the European parliament announced that the Transport and Tourism Committee has approved a set of measures that will make air travel more uniform for all.
The measure will guarantee a free carry on bag measuring 100cm total and weighting up to 7kg to be allowed onboard free of charge. This is on top of a personal item that should already be included for all passengers.
I love the idea of a free carry on bag because I almost always travel carry-on. But realistically speaking, this just means airlines will raise the prices of all tickets, instead of allowing segmented pricing and making passengers pay for what they want.
It will also make boarding even more chaotic and potentially delay flights because airlines won't even know who is bringing a carry on and won't be able to control the number of them onboard. If everyone brings one, there will be no space in the overhead bings and they will have to be checked in, within the subsequent delay this causes.
So, personally, I don't like this measure and prefer to bring the ticket price down and let passengers decide who wants to pay for a bag or not.
But I applaud the continued effort by the EU which is setting the tone for other government bodies like the US to follow suite on things like compensation for delayed flights.
Last availability for 2025
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Here are the last few spots left on this year's tours:
๐ 1 (mostly) SINGLE SPOT opened up on our previously sold out Tuscany trip 31 August to 7 September => BOOK TUSCANYโ
๐ 1 SPOT left on our Amalfi Coast tour 15 to 19 September => BOOK AMALFIโ
๐ 1 SPOT opened up on our previously sold out Bali tour 11 to 19 October => BOOK BALIโ
๐ 1 SPOT left on our Australia tour 12 to 23 October => BOOK AUSTRALIAโ
๐ 2 SPOTS left on our Xmas markets tour 22 to 29 November => BOOK XMAS MARKETSโ
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=> You can also see the FULL CALENDAR of tours with all the destinations.
In case you missed it
Interesting travel news and conversations in the group:
Porto is implementing a ban in the sale of alcohol from 9pm to 8am in the city center so as to reduce the public drinking parties that are common in Portugal and Spain. Read more.
A Brazilian tourist died after falling off while climbing Rinjani volcano in Indonesia. More here. These are sad news, but also a reminder to not underestimate the power of nature and to be prepared. June is not the best month to attempt the 3,700m / 12,000 feet climb and the day of was an extremely cold and foggy morning. The summit is typically done in the dark to arrive for sunrise, and visibility was poor.
The US State Dept. issues a statement earlier in June to remind traveler to be careful when using dating apps in Mexico as there has been a recent increase in the number of kidnappings of women whose families are extorted for money in exchange for their release. These are linked to dating apps. More here.
The US is now requiring visa applicants to turn their social media channels public and share them in their applications so they can used them to "establish admissibility to the United States under US Law". Official statement here. This applies to those needing a visa, not citizens from the visa-waiver program (eg Europe, Australia) but it may become part of the ESTA application too.
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I hope you have a lovely rest of the week wherever you are.
Remember to forward this email to a friend who may find it useful!
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Take care,
SFT Co-Founders
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Solo Female Travelersโ C/ Europa 18 5-2, Sitges, 08870
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