In 1988, Time magazine declared Medellín “the most dangerous city in the world” in 1988. But in 2013? The Wall Street Journal dubbed it “the most innovative metropolis on the planet.” And visiting for myself, I can definitely see why.

It might sound cliché but it's true: traveling solo teaches you a lot about yourself and the world. When I went abroad, I wasn't planning on traveling solo much (if at all). But I ended up doing most of my travel alone, and I don't regret it for a minute.