Ieva sitting on a stone lion statue

Hi, I'm Ieva – and I'm here to help you take your first trip.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of traveling abroad on your own – unsure how to get around, where to start, or whether you’ll figure things out once you land – you’re not alone. I created One love to roam for people just like you.

You don’t need a tour guide, a group trip, or someone to lead you by the hand.
You just need the basics – a destination, somewhere to stay, and a way to get there.
The rest? You’ll figure it out, step by step. I’m here to show you how.

Get beginner-friendly tips

How it started

My first “real” trip – not a school excursion or a weekend nearby – was a two-week journey through Italy.. My mom organized everything: trains, routes, accommodation. It was the early 2010s, before travel apps became second nature. I even considered printing paper maps before a coworker told me about Maps.me and offline navigation.

That trip made a big impression on me. I discovered I loved metro systems. I loved figuring out directions in foreign places – the signs, the platforms, the quiet feeling of finding your way when everything is unfamiliar. That love of logistics stayed with me.

Train in Milano Central station with a group of people standing nearby
A moment from my very first trip to Italy

Why I believe travel is simpler than it seems

Many people have told me, “I always drive everywhere, but in Italy I wouldn’t know how to take a bus or train.” They imagine it’s complicated just because they’ve never done it before. But most things turn out to be easier than they seem. Signs make sense once you see them, locals are usually willing to help, and most apps do half the work for you.

I get it – even I sometimes walk in the wrong direction before my map calibrates. But I believe travel doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. It’s okay to wander, to miss something, to improvise.

I find joy in solving small travel puzzles – and I want to help you feel confident doing the same.

A woman holding a white Japanese Spitz in her arms at Camogli harbor, with colorful waterfront houses, small boats, and people walking in the background.
Enjoying a sunny day in Camogli with my fluffy travel companion.

How I travel now

These days, I travel at least once a year – usually with my mom. Italy remains one of my favorite places to return to. Last winter, I took my dog and rode trains all the way from Lithuania to Italy – just the two of us (my mom joined for the trip back). I’ll be sharing tips from that journey here soon.

I don’t always make strict plans. Sometimes I forget to book tickets in advance and miss a museum. Sometimes I leave things open on purpose. Travel doesn’t have to be a checklist – it can be something you enjoy at your own pace.

My small travel quirks

  • I take a photo with a lion statue in almost every city I visit
  • I collect Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in different languages
  • I love figuring out metro systems in new cities
  • I usually prefer nature over cities – if a trip includes at least one hike, that’s the part I remember most

Places I've been

Europe

  • Austria (Vienna)

  • Belgium (Brussels)

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Croatia (Omiš, Plitvice, Podstrana, Split, Trogir, Zagreb)

  • Czech Republic (Kutná Hora, Prague)

  • Estonia (Saaremaa, Tallinn)

  • France (Èze, Nice, Paris)

  • Germany (Berlin)

  • Greece (Crete, Santorini)

  • Iceland

  • Ireland (Dublin)

  • Italy (Amalfi Coast, Bellagio, Bergamo, Brescia, Cinque Terre, Desenzano del Garda, Florence, Genoa, Capri Island, Como, Lecco, Lucca, Milan, Naples, Padua, Peschiera del Garda, Pisa, Pompeii, Portofino, Rapallo, Rimini, Riva del Garda, Rome, San Gimignano, Siena, Sirmione, Treviso, Venice, Verona, Vicenza)

  • Latvia (Bauska, Cēsis, Ezere, Jūrmala, Karosta, Kuldīga, Liepāja, Limbaži, Līgatne, Pape, Riga, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Ventspils)

  • Lithuania

  • Monaco

  • Montenegro

  • Poland (Kraków, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Warsaw, Wieliczka, Zakopane)

  • Portugal (Madeira)

  • San Marino (San Marino)

  • Spain (Barcelona, Fuengirola, Granada, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Ronda, Setenil de las Bodegas, Seville)

  • Switzerland (St. Moritz)

  • Ukraine (Kyiv)

  • United Kingdom (London, Wales)

Asia

  • Georgia (Akhaltsikhe, Borjomi, Kutaisi, Mestia, Stepantsminda, Tbilisi, Ushguli, Vardzia)

  • Thailand (Ao Nang, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Khao Sok, Phi Phi)

  • Turkey (Alanya, Konakli)

Africa

  • Egypt (Hurghada, Luxor)

If this sounds like your kind of travel, stick around – you might be closer to your first trip than you think.

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