Michalah Francis The Solo Traveller

Michalah Francis The Solo Traveller 🍒 Just a Cape Town local on a mission to see the world.
☀️ Living, laughing and loving my way through life.

The hidden costs South Africans forget when planning a trip to Europe ✈️Schengen VisaThis is a must-have if you're trave...
16/01/2026

The hidden costs South Africans forget when planning a trip to Europe ✈️

Schengen Visa
This is a must-have if you're travelling with a South African passport.
Cost: R2550 per person

Train Seat Bookings:
Not all local trains include seat select so if you want to sit down while travelling from city to city, you'll need to pay a bit extra.
Cost: R50-R150 per seat per person

Baggage Upgrades
Most local flights include carry-on only so if you want to check-in luggage you'll need to cough up some cash.
Cost: between R250-R1000 per checked bag.

City Tax
Most European cities have the European Tourist tax, also called 'city tax' and it's payable when you check-out.
Cost: between R10 - R280 per night or a percentage of the room rate.

Public Toilet Fees
Free toilets? Forget about it once you leave South Africa.
Cost: R10 - R20 per use

ATM/Transaction Fees
Unless you have an international bank account, your local bank will charge you transaction and ATM fees each time you swipe abroad.
Cost: Between 1.7% to 3% of each swipe

The more you know, the better you can prepare and the less you can spend on unexpected costs.

16/01/2026

So you're South African and you want to book your first Euro Summer trip but you don't know how much it will cost or how much to budget for your European trip, I'm here to help ✈️

For this example I'm taking a closer look at how much flights, accommodation and activities will cost for a trip to Italy in the Summer. Whether you need help planning your EuroSummer budget or figuring out what a EuroSummer costs, this trip guide will help 👏🏼👏🏼

15/01/2026

So you've seen this yacht at the V&A Waterfront and always wondered what the experience costs? Let's get into it 🛳

Here's exactly how much the mirage yacht costs for a 1-hour cruise and a sunset cruise in Cape Town. If you're looking for the perfect Summer activity, this is it 💯

And if you're looking for even more Cape Town inspiration, activities and travel guides, then you're in the right space 👋🏼

Cheap visa-free places you can visit with your South African passport 🇿🇦Not sure about you but Spur is my number 1 trave...
15/01/2026

Cheap visa-free places you can visit with your South African passport 🇿🇦

Not sure about you but Spur is my number 1 travel destination in 2026 😂😂😂 You don't normally find the words "cheap", "visa-free" and "South African passport" in the same sentence so if you have any travel tips for our green passports, don't be shy to pass them on!

15/01/2026

Here's everything I'd do in Cape Town this Summer if I had an unlimited budget 💰

If you're looking for the perfect Cape Town Summer itinerary then this is it 😍 It's everything you could possibly do in the Mother City to have the time of your life.

From Table Mountain to V&A Waterfront and all the wine farms from the south to the north, this is everything on my dream Summer Cape Town bucketlist 🇿🇦

My 2026 Travel ResolutionsBecause I want this new year to be a big year 🫶1. Play tourist my own city, Cape Town2. Plan a...
05/01/2026

My 2026 Travel Resolutions
Because I want this new year to be a big year 🫶
1. Play tourist my own city, Cape Town
2. Plan an international meal night
3. Go on 12 solo dates
4. Sample 3 new foods
5. Plan a group trip
6. Try something in South Africa I've never tried before
7. Get lost in Cape Town
8. Say "yes" to every opportunity
What's the one thing you absolutely want to do in 2026? Let's share our goals and remind each other that we're capable of absolutely anything 🫶

02/01/2026

When the sun's out in Cape Town, so are we 😊😊There’s truly no better feeling than Cape Town on a sunny day ☀️

Are you out and about this weekend?

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Things I did alone this year 🥂Life is short and the world is wide and I want to make some memories. If we waited for eve...
31/12/2025

Things I did alone this year 🥂
Life is short and the world is wide and I want to make some memories. If we waited for everyone else to be ready we'll wait our entire lives. So do it scared but do it anyway because you deserve the very best out of life 🫶💓🫶

2025 was definitely my year of solo adventures, will 2026 be your year of doing things by yourself?

My 2025 Wrapped 🫶Just a South African girl who wants to see it all. Here's my 2025 travel highlights and all the places ...
30/12/2025

My 2025 Wrapped 🫶

Just a South African girl who wants to see it all. Here's my 2025 travel highlights and all the places I went to as a solo female traveller.

If you were looking for a sign to book that trip, take that leap and finally leave South African to explore, this is it!

From MSC cruise ships to local South African spots and Italy, I'm so grateful for everything I got to experience in 2025 🤍💓🤍

If you need travel inspiration and an extra boost of confidence to help you take your first solo trip you're in the right place! From travel itineraries to booking guides and solo trip tips and tricks, I'm sharing it all 👏🏼

30/12/2025

🫶 GIRL MATH 🫶
If you book your 2026 Euro Summer trip now, it's basically free because you paid with 2025 money 😂

I'm just a girl trying to justify that next adventure 😂

Things I didn't expect at Disneyland Paris as a South African 1. The price of snacks Mickey Waffles cost R120 and a cake...
30/12/2025

Things I didn't expect at Disneyland Paris as a South African
1. The price of snacks
Mickey Waffles cost R120 and a cake pop R67. Whatever you're budgeting for food, double it!

2. You'll walk A LOT
There are 2 parks with more than 50 attractions across both park & you need to walk to them all. You'll clock 20–30k steps a day easily so be prepared.

3. Pack deep heat
Just trust me, Your legs, feet and thighs will thank you.

4. There are more adults than kids
Solo travellers, couples, friend groups, totally normal. If you want to go child-free, this is your sign to take the leap.

5. You'll WANT to buy ears
They're everywhere but cost around R700 each so pick carefully

6. It's hotter than you think
25°C in Paris feels like 30°C in Cape Town. There's no ocean nearby and no cool breeze. So when it's hot, it's HOT.

7. It's colder than you think
Don't let the blue skies fool you, there winter's are freezing. 15°C in Paris feels like 7°C in Cape Town. Pack layers because you'll need it.

Is Disneyland Paris on your bucketlist? Comment your dream destination below!

If you want to know how to book a trip to Disneyland Paris, how to budget for a Disneyland Paris hotel and holiday and everything you need to know about , I'm here to help!

Hi, I'm Michalah 👋🏼 A South African solo traveller sharing her trips, tips and everything else along the way.

30/12/2025

The ultimate guide on how to book Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Paris Hotels and How much Disneyland Paris hotels cost for South Africans ✈️

This is Part 2 of Mzansi goes to Mickey, where I'm showing you where to book a Disneyland Paris hotel, how to book it and how much you'll pay.

If you've ever wondered how to book a Disneyland Paris, in part 1 o explained how to get a Shengan Visa for France in South Africa, how to book an appointment at Capago, how the Capago visa process works, what you need for a Shengan Visa, how much a Shengan Visa costs in South Africa, how much flights cost to Paris from South and how to get to Disneyland Paris from Paris Airport Charles de Gaulle ✈️

By the end of this series, you'll know exactly how to book that Euro Trip 🧳
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