how i started solo traveling
People always ask me if I prefer traveling alone over traveling with others, and I don’t think either is necessarily a preference. It’s more that if I want to go somewhere and no one else can join me, I will always go alone. However, one thing that remains true is that when I’m on a trip with other people, I sometimes wish I had alone time, and when I’m on a trip alone, I sometimes wish I had company. I guess that’s just life.
I first started solo traveling in 2015 when I was 21 years old and I haven’t looked back. It is an incredibly liberating and rewarding experience but also extremely scary. In fact, I still get nervous every time I get ready for a trip by myself. So, if you’re a first-time solo traveler feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, don’t worry; you’re not alone! And if you’re like me, it never goes away. But it doesn’t need to control you.
Little-known fact: I was so terrified of pickpocketing in France (and Europe in general) that I bought several pieces of “secret compartment” gear to hide my valuables. The scarf I’m wearing in the photo on the left has a secret zipper that held my cash and credit cards ☠️. I mean, seriously?! I went way overboard with things like this because there is a lot of scary information out there about traveling alone, especially as a woman. I even had a little bra clip to keep my credit cards— I mean, WHY is that even a thing?! HOW would I access my cash to pay for something at a cafe if it’s clipped to my undergarments? “Hi, yes, thank you for the croissant, hold on, let me undress myself to pay for it.” Unfortunately, yes, I thought everyone was out to get my money 🤦🏽♀️. The moral of the story is that you don’t need any special gear. You just need to be smart.
Why solo travel?
I started traveling alone because I was really bored. Yes, really. After college, I moved to a tiny town in France called Vierzon to teach English. This experience shaped me in many ways, including the fact that it forced me to travel by myself. You see, Vierzon is quite small—it has a population of 25,000 people, it’s a small countryside town with a few restaurants and stores. And I knew I couldn’t spend every weekend there for a year. That’s when I learned the magic of high-speed trains, budget airlines, and hostels, and my world changed. I discovered how logistically easy and affordable it was to travel among European cities. But the only issue was that since I didn’t know anyone else, I had to do it alone. I had to build the confidence to go after what I wanted. This was incredibly hard because I was always someone who wanted company to do anything—even as a little kid. I remember my mom took me to get tennis lessons, and after the first day, I quit because I didn’t have a friend to do it with me. And that theme has followed me throughout my life. So, if you’re thinking, “But you’re probably a very confident person who’s always done things alone,” Think again. I did not used to be the person that you see on social media. I became her by simply doing it. By simply doing all the things that I said I would do. Alone. So, if you’re still here, here are my top tips for traveling solo.
Tip #1: Embrace the loneliness
Yes, you will be lonely at times. The sooner you come to terms with it, the better of an experience you will have. The trend I see on social media from a lot of these solo travelers is that they’re “never lonely.” I am sorry but that’s a load of bull. It’s impossible to not feel lonely when you’re traveling alone. But the key is to embrace and keep happy and satisfied in your own company. It was during the lonely times, like lonely train rides and dinners, when I really got to know myself. I felt like I discovered who I really am through traveling alone — not the person that I was putting out for the world to see.
Tip #2: Be open and inviting
I told you to embrace the loneliness, but also know that you will meet people if you’re open to it. That means you can’t be glued to your phone or constantly displaying your RBF if you want to connect with others. And no, I’m not telling you to smile more. I’m telling you to engage more. Engage with the people around you, talk to the locals, ask questions, and show genuine interest. Be open and inviting—unless your intuition tells you otherwise. Strike up a conversation at a café, join a group tour, or even ask for directions (even if you don’t need them!). You never know who you might meet or what connections you might make. Traveling solo doesn't mean being alone all the time; it means being open to new experiences and friendships. So, take that leap and put yourself out there. But keep your wits about safety and always listen to your gut about any feeling.
Tip #3: Be smart
Trust your intuition. Let me say that again: trust your intuition. This ties in with top #2—if your instincts are telling you to leave a situation, do it, you don’t need to be open and inviting. There’s probably a good reason for it. I once took a Bolt in Thailand that felt incredibly sketchy. The driver was constantly on his phone, seemed lost, and his car was making strange noises. I initially planned to go to a beach 45 minutes away, but something told me to change my destination to a beach just 10 minutes away. I listened to my gut, knowing something was off, and immediately changed my plans. After that situation, my next Bolt driver turned out to be a great guy, and I ended up hiring him for the rest of my trip around Phuket. It was the perfect outcome! Your intuition always knows, and it’s always guiding you on the right path. Listen to it.
Tip #4: Just do it
Sometimes, it comes down to just doing it. Like I mentioned before, I had no choice but to travel solo because otherwise, I would’ve been stuck in a small town, bored and miserable. I had to make a choice: be miserable or face my fear. If you’re reading this, you’re likely faced with a similar situation: miss out on what the world has to offer or face your fear. I hope you choose facing the fear because there is so much to see in this world. It is a really big world out there and it can be so beautiful. While you might start your journey simply to cross items off your bucket list (as I did), the most rewarding part will be the journey of self-discovery that comes along the way. The personal growth, self-reliance, empowerment, and introspection you gain from traveling alone are experiences that words can't fully capture. I hope you realize you are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for.
Solo travel changed everything for me. It gave me space to meet myself in a thousand new ways, and it reminded me that I’m capable of more than I ever thought. If you’ve been craving something more, like, more clarity, more freedom, more you, this might be your sign. Whether you want to plan your first solo trip or simply need help easing into the idea, we’’d love to help you build a European experience that’s just for you. Visit our website to start planning a trip that matches the version of you you're becoming.