Things I Learned From Solo Traveling

Now that I’ve been on various solo trips across Europe and the Americas, I thought I’d share a few things that I’ve learned along the way.

TRUST YOURSELF

When you’re traveling alone, you’ll be making decisions at every turn, big and small. Where should I visit? What should I eat for lunch? Should I walk down that street? You will quickly find that following your gut and intuition is going to be key. Every decision you make carries a lot of weight and you have to learn how to trust yourself.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE
I would consider myself an introvert and was constantly described as quiet growing up. Despite that, I have always made friends while solo traveling. Whether it’s asking someone to take a photo and striking up a conversation afterwards, talking to someone while waiting in line, meeting people on tours or staying in a coliving space, it’s been easy to meet others.

GAIN CONFIDENCE
Throughout your travels, you’ll step outside of your comfort zone. From making friends and approaching strangers to visiting unfamiliar places and participating in new activities, your confidence will grow and you’ll find yourself being rewarded by the challenges. I truly think that my confidence grows with each and every trip.

DON’T WAIT ON OTHERS
This is so important! Don’t wait around for anyone. Solo travel is one of my favorite ways to explore because when it comes to all the decision-making, I’m only taking me, myself and I into consideration. I can book flights last minute, change destinations, extend stays and do whatever I want without worrying about anyone else. Most of all, I’m not sitting around and missing out on seeing the world.

I always see people saying, “I could never do that!” when it comes to solo travel, but I’m here to tell you it’s worth it and you can. Stop waiting and book the flight. You will learn so much, open yourself up to new cultures and experiences, meet new people, gain confidence and truly live.