Lauren Quinn is a travel-addicted freelance writer. She’s actually not that lonely, but does love traveling sola.
Raised in Oakland on punk rock, malt liquor and Marxism-Leninism, Lauren has traveled independently (and once illegally) to over thirty countries across five continents. She’s been detained by the Venezuelan police, kicked it with the Colombian military, been kicked out of St Peter’s Basilica and spent the night in a Mexican cemetery. She has a penchant for abandoned buildings, street art, tattoos and 12-step meetings.
Lauren’s work has appeared in 7×7 and San Francisco Chronicle, and on websites including Nerve, World Hum, Huffington Post and Hi-Fructose. She is a writer for Vela, a frequent contributor at Matador, and posts from this blog are syndicated on lonelyplanet.com. She was a Spring 2011 Glimpse Correspondent, and holds a BA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.
Lauren has inflicted herself on the following locations:
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Lauren Quinn is a writer and traveler currently living in Phnom Penh. Lonely Girl Travels is a blog of her sola travels and expat living.
Hey, just wanted to say that I think what you’re doing is amazing. Also, you’re very cute.
I hope everything turns out alright for you.
yo chica. bored at work and finally reading your blog (yes, i’m a great friend!) i’m living vicariously through your travels. keep it up! love you.
hey. i followed the matador (twitter) link to your website and am glad i did. loving your writing!
I am at a loss for words. I don’t know what the blogesphere is about. But damn, the girl can write. I’ll have to check her out on MyFace.
I am so glad that our cyber paths crossed as well. We even have similar tastes in layouts
Love your blog and can’t wait to read more!
I love your story, writing, site, everything. That settles it; I’m adding you to my blogroll.
Yea! Thanks for the add. Couldn’t comment on your “About” page, but we’ve got a few things in common. Maybe one day, the travel gods will arrange for our paths to cross, to do yoga to Nina Simone in NYC or Argentina, followed by a gorging on vegan cupcakes? It could happen…
I didn’t know how else to contact you, so I had to post this here… feel free to delete (after you read it!
I tagged you in the 3 Best Travel Secrets game. Here is my post:http://milesofabbie.com/2009/12/02/my-3-best-travel-secrets/
If you accept the challenge of sharing your 3 Best Travel Secrets, here are the instructions:
Congratulations, you’ve been chosen to take part in Tripbase Blog Tag!
Here’s how it works:
1. Publish your top 3 travel secrets on your blog Can be anywhere in the world – a hidden travel spot, an incredibly tasty restaurant or a great budget hotel, whatever!
2. “Tag” 5 more travel bloggers
Anyone you think will have some great tips and who’ll be happy to take part.
3. Forward this email on to your 5 chosen bloggers
Let them know that they’ve been tagged and pass on the Blog Tag mantle!
4. Email Katie @Tripbase
Email katie@tripbase.com with the URL of your blog post to ensure your travel secrets are included in the final post.
The aim of this game is to unite travel bloggers in a joint endeavor – to create an amazing list of top travel recommendations across the globe to share with the entire online travel community.
The final list of all our travel secrets will be published as creative commons and shared with travel bloggers across the Net.
Let’s try and make it to 100 travel secrets (at least)!
Happy travel tagging!
Katie.
Ps. If you’d rather not take part, that’s no problem. Just let me know and I’ll replace your tag with someone else.
PPs. Confused? Email katie@tripbase.com to clear up any gray areas
Hi Lauren! I blog over at Brooke vs. the World, and I just started a monthly newsletter called Female Travel Underground. The goal is to discuss some offbeat topics that pertain to girl travelers, and I think you would have a lot to add given your interesting travel resume
You can check out the newsletter section of my site, or email me, for more info – will be looking for submissions and all that good stuff soon. Cheers!
Hey, do you have an email address? I want to contact you
BTW, nothing creepy, it’s writing related 
I totally intend on holding you to the “nothing creepy” part. And the “writing” part. Especially that.
Just wanted to talk to you about Cuba. I just returned from there and took a different approach to addressing whether or not I traveled there at the US Customs desk.
Also going to Morocco in a couple weeks so I wouldn’t mind picking your brain. I didn’t see an email or contact link on here so if you have the time please get back to me. Thanks, and keep writing.
I just found your blog via @lesleytellez and huzzah! It rocks.
I am a Petaluma girl living in Asia (NOT teaching English) and though I am looking forward to returning home after 5 years abroad, I often suffer your itchy foot syndrome, fernweh in my case…
Either way, so glad I found your site – it is going on my blogroll for sure.
a
Loving your writing lonely gurl, the sparrow story was poetry!
sigh, you’re writing is lovely. i found you over at world hum, and so glad i did. consider yourself blogrolled.
I am just in awe… I admire and envy you..
GREAT site, Lauren, it’s good to see a fellow K2 theme advocate! I’ve been using it for a few years but I’m considering jumping ship. Anyway, just wanted to leave something positive, and not be one of those that just sneaks around quietly!!
If you want to stick a link from me to you, just whack your details in the T-Bag Directory over on my site. Nay worries. Keep it up
Glad I found your blog, awesome photos, I appreciate the off-beat perspective of the world. I’m a graphic designer and was wondering if you might have any photos of run-down, seedy motels to share for a project I’m working on.
If not, no worries…happy traveling!
Hi! I would like to swap links with your site. My blog is http://www.travelocafe.com. I’ve already added you under my “Links” section on my page. Thank you!
I’m also looking for guest bloggers. Please let me know if you’d be interested in being featured on Travelocafe.
Regards, Laura
i came across your grottaglie post amidst my scrambling for some closure on this year’s fame festival. i will be attending as well.
it would be nice to have a word with you before the departure, exchange contact information, etc.
thats all for this about page comment.
best,
greg
I’m not a blogger but I LOVE LOVE LOVE checking out blogs on food and travel…………yours is my fave by far!! AWESOME! Take care and happy travels
Lauren,
I also enjoy your blog a lot, and I’m trying to get my own hotmess of travel writing into a nice and easy-to-read format on the these-here internets. I was wondering if you had any tips or the like? This you recommend doing? Things I should never do in a million years? Or if you know of any brilliant resources that google hasn’t pointed me towards yet?
Anyways, if you have a second, my email is my.my.micah@gmail.com
Thanks!
happy trails,
Micah
Hi Lauren,
I too am a solo traveler and sometimes “lonely.” Love your writing style, you’re quite talented.
Keep up the great work.
Ciao,
Mike
Great stuff, particularly that about abandoned buildings and street art. Really makes me want to get of my ass and write more.
I think you’d be great to travel with.
I’ll be back again!
i read a bunch of different travel blog, but yours is so refreshing.
It’s awesome to see someone with a punk background write about photography, travel, street art and most importantly, abandoned building!
I got so excited when i saw posts about that!!
I’m finally moving to Oakland at the end of the winter (from the east coast of canada) to be with my husband.
One last trip and then it’s time to move!
Hey Lonely Girl,
Congratulations on being in the top 100 travel blogs; such an awesome place to be. A couple of months ago I splintered my production company, Nomading Films, into a Film Festival.
And so The Nomading Film Festival was born!
Based out of Brooklyn, NYC, NoFF is a two day festival celebrating the love of travel, and the media produced from these trips. We’re planning a massive party with local food and beer and, of course, prizes (yet to be solidified but will include trips and gear.) We’re at the stage of getting the word out and would love any help we can get, from friends to friends of friends to flyers we’ve printed out, to bloggers who are in the thick of it.
If you have any ideas on how we can best get the word out, I’m all ears!
Thanks,
Best,
Josh Wolff
nomadingfilmfest.com
PS: Amazing photos, btw.
Hey Lauren,
Love your blog – especially the post about the Coral art in Hawaii….amazing!
I was wondering if you offered any advertising to sites in the travel vertical or accept guest bloggers?
Best,
Gisele
Hi Lauren,
I’m starting an online blog magazine called Avant-Garde. I am looking for original works from guest bloggers and I stumbled across your article “Love in The Time of Matador: Romantic Roman Rendezvous Foregone for Self Love” and thought it was smashingly beautiful. Your writing style and content is fantastic. I was hoping to obtain your permission to feature your article on my site and if you’re interested, have you contribute future works.
A little about Avant-Garde:
“Avant-Garde is an online blog magazine about everyday living featuring people and subjects that cross conventional norms. Discover a new consciousness that fuses the ancient and modern, the esoteric and reason. Our mission is to gather innovative people from all around the world to discuss personal and spiritual growth. Join the Avant-garde and be part of the movement to nourish and advance our society.”
The magazine will feature print and broadcast on topics pertaining to: Mind + Body + Spirit, Life & Style, Relationships, Art & Culture, Travel, and World Issues.
The Avant-Garde website is still being developed, but as soon as it’s up and running I can link you. Please let me know if you’re interested in contributing. Regardless, I wanted to pay my compliments to you and your writing. I will be following your blog.
Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you,
Anna Asterina
Is the Lonely Planet featured blogger patch new? Never noticed it before. Whether or not it is, congrats. I don’t claim to know how blogsherpa works, but it seems like something worthy of envy…
No, it’s not new, I just couldn’t get the link to work for 2011 badge. Finally got around to figuring it out…
Love your blog! Keep on rocking.
liking your blog, but you REALLY need to throw up some social media buttons so people can find and follow you — and a RT button that works with your address/handle in it. Arrggggg.
Show me how and I’ll do it. I’m a writer not a “social media ninja.”
Mighty fucking good blog. Been to alot of these places you blog about and you are right on! Your style,edge,insight and grittyness is a welcome relief from the “Lifestyle” crowd working some of the same travel paths.
I love this blog! I feel like if cody diablo didn’t write screen plays and she traveled instead, it would end up a lot like this. (in the best way)
Hey Lauren! I can’t find your email anywhere…it sounds like you are crazy moving etc. but I am part of a film crew making a doc about Vandy Ratana and the group of artists he works with, we thought maybe you might be able to help us spread the word. I won’t post anylinks here but if you have a sec we would love to get you involved! ps. I think what you are doing is right on! -Alta, altaration@gmail.com
Virginia and Bud Matthiesen were my aunt and uncle.I think you are spot on about them I would like to buy the collage.They inspired me in life…Jana
I completely agree with the comment that your writing’s “style,edge,insight and grittyness” is so refreshing. It’s so interesting reading all of your insights on your travels… Thanks! -Shelly
Go to Brazil to see street arts
Just discovered your blog. Your writing is wonderful – thank you! I’m currently in Phnom Penh if you’d be up for food/coffee/chaos sometime.
Happy to have found your page! I’m always looking for inspiration and I got that much just from your write up
Looking forward to reading what more you have to say, thanks for that!
-Jade