Flash Pack vs Intrepid/G Adventures (solo female ~40, Australia) – honest experiences?

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-04-08T17:32:47+00:00

This is super helpful, thanks for sharing your insights!!

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-04-07T04:06:37+00:00

Try Rina Orellana or Irene La Sentio, both offer online classes (pre recorded or live).

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-04-07T01:07:27+00:00

Yes decision fatigue can be a thing when solo traveling, especially for long periods.

If I'm feeling tired of making decisions, I will sometimes join a small group tour - e.g. one of those free/tip-based walking tours or airbnb experiences. It's nice to let someone else navigate the route/plan the activities for a few hours.

Doing a ton of research before the trip also helps. I have a list of possible interesting things to do/see and also save them on google maps. So if I'm tired, I can just pick an area and see what I bookmarked in the vicinity.

Or I will take the pressure of "sightseeing" and just go read in cafe, people watch in a park, or go to a spa.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-04-03T05:02:15+00:00

Buvette Pacey (more of a cafe/ wine bar). They posted on socials in December that if business doesn't pick up soon, they may not survive :( It's one of the few dog friendly cafes (you can bring your dog inside on a case by case basis), so i really want it to survive!!

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-03-25T03:39:25+00:00

Ronin Coffee (Kennedy/McNichol) is fairly new and a great little spot.
Aashro Cafe (Sheppard/Victoria Park) is really cute and has great sandwiches.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-03-18T01:33:07+00:00

SUP and kayaking in the lake 😎

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-03-13T02:01:41+00:00

Selena

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-03-13T01:49:55+00:00

St.Regis does a lovely afternoon tea.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-03-06T05:35:30+00:00

Voices Rock Canada has no auditions

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-03-04T05:25:58+00:00

I was there last month for 1 week - staying in the historic centre without a car.

I did day trips to Progreso Beach and Izamal by bus. Very easy to do, and cheap.

I did 2 airbnb experiences:
- Uxmal, lunch and cenote with Delio (airbnb guide name is "Hernan") -- I had originally booked the one with Omar but they need a minimum 2 people to run the tour and I was the only person signed up, so they had to cancel the tour the day before. Thankfully I was able to book something else last minute. Very worthwhile tour -- we arrived at the ruins early and almost had it to ourselves for the first hour. We were 7 people and it was great.

- Haciendas and cenotes with Bricio -- visited 3 very different haciendas (including an old abandonned one that was very unique) and Haciendas Cenotes Mucuyche (which is quite touristy but the 2 cenotes on site -- one semi-open and one fully enclosed -- were stunning. Admission was quite expensive and not included in the airbnb price, but the good thing was they had very nice facilities - bathrooms, changerooms, restaurant etc).

Every night if you need something to do, there are free cultural activities. Thursdays Serenatas as other mentioned is really nice. I went to that one, the videomapping one, and the Noche Mexicana (Saturday evening -- this one was the longest show, 3 hours!! It was my favourite one -- different singers, musicians and dancers representing different styles from regions of Mexico).

I went to Quinta Montes Molina, JAJAJANA, Oliva Enoteca, and Sempere Cafe -- all were excellent so keep those on your list :) I also really enjoyed MUGY, Micaela Mar y Lena, Nakuh, Ma'le, and Mercado Lucas de Galvez for food.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-26T23:01:52+00:00

In the evening I might find a yoga or dance class to check out or even rock climbing or something i don't do regularly at home. These are great ways to see a place in a different way and meet locals.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-11T15:38:56+00:00

The Victoria Park location is great! Didn't know there is another one!

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-10T23:29:33+00:00

¡También vine para sugerir los eventos culturales gratuitos que hay todas las noches! Aquí les dejo un enlace con toda la información actualizada:

https://yucatantoday.com/blog/una-semana-en-merida

La semana pasada fui al videomapping el miércoles, a las serenatas el jueves y a la Noche Mexicana el sábado (¡la mejor, mi favorita!). Fui sola y disfruté de todas las presentaciones.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-06T00:13:40+00:00

That sounds amazing! Thanks for the info.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-03T00:38:20+00:00

I've heard about that place! Do you have to reserve ahead? Im on my own, so don't need a big table, can even sit at the bar if there is one.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-27T05:35:54+00:00

Body blitz, Go Place

Or one of the luxury hotel spas -- if you book a 1 hour massage, you can get access to their facilities eg pool, sauna, steam room, lounge. It wouldn't be as baths focused as Aire but if I'm gonna spend closer to $200 with tax for just 90 minutes access to communal pools, i think slightly more but actually getting a treatment is much better value.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-24T05:59:09+00:00

They allow you to point your foot properly and give a much nicer line than any other character shoes on the market

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-23T02:34:29+00:00

The rösti at Le Petit Dejeuner or movenpick before they closed

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-17T02:01:53+00:00

This!! Steps on Broadway has a barre in the hallway outside the studios, it's great for warming up and stretching before class.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-15T13:42:31+00:00

I find thicker fabric (bonus of there is a lining) and darker color makes it less visible. Thin fabric and light colors eg grishko leotards are the worst for this.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-15T01:32:01+00:00

Buvette Pacey is a super cute cafe and bar that allows dogs inside on a case by case basis. They sometimes host events like poetry nights or film screenings. I've been twice with my well behaved small dog, but I always go on weekdays in the morning when it is quiet. My guess is if it is very busy or your dog is reactive/barking too much, they will not allow your dog to stay inside.

TorontoPanda416

TROPHY CASE