For my first solo trip, I chose New Zealand – far enough to spark the thrill of adventure, yet close enough to feel manageable. So, just before my 22nd birthday and a year after my mental health crisis, I took the leap. Little did I know, this trip would mark the beginning of my torrid love affair with solo travelling.
Partying On My Own
With just one night in Wellington, you’d think I would’ve made some plans. But, after a day of exploring, I was tired and settled in for the night, reading my book in bed. Until my roommates invited me to go clubbing with them. I hesitated at first, but quickly decided to get changed, put a bit of makeup on and join them.
We spent hours drinking and dancing under the flashing lights, surrounded by sweaty, heaving bodies. In the thrall of this all, I realised how far I’d come in just a year (an odd time for introspection but that’s where my brain went). I felt on top of the world: I was in a new country, dancing with a bunch of strangers. Nothing could get me down, not even all but one person from the group disappeared. The club was closing, and it was time for us to find our way home, with two dead phones and no sense of direction.
In hindsight, this was definitely a moment to stress a bit, but thanks to a handful of vodka lime sodas, we found it hilarious. We wandered around trying to retrace our steps from earlier that night. Through a lot of laughing, we somehow made it back to the hostel. Looking back, this was a risky situation, and not one I would allow myself to end up in again. Now, I always make sure my phone is charged and I have a plan for how to get home safely after a night out.
That night, albeit slightly touch and go at the end there, is what inspired my love for solo travel. I had so much fun partying with strangers and then going our separate ways the next day. I could recover from my hangover however I wanted, and that time it was by sleeping in the back of my rental car (don’t get me started on early checkouts). That night, the whole world opened up to me. All of a sudden, I had become someone who could travel solo. And enjoy the hell out of it.
Why I Chose Solo Travel
To be honest, I was just sick of waiting for someone to join me on my adventures. There was too much of the world I wanted to see to wait for someone else. One day, it just clicked. I didn’t need anyone else. My trip to New Zealand confirmed that I was capable of exploring the world on my own.
Starting Small: Why New Zealand Was Perfect
Starting with somewhere close to home, with a shared language and familiar culture gave me the confidence to handle future solo trips. As I’m writing this, I am living in London after moving here on my own (click here to read about that). I honestly believe that without making that trip to New Zealand, and without those women inviting me out clubbing, I would not be here.
New Zealand was just the beginning. Since then, I have been to 14 new countries. Not all of these trips have been solo, nor noteworthy. Solo travel is not always fun and games, sometimes a trip to Poland becomes a weekend spent alone in your hostel due to a severe storm. You can still make most of a trip like that, by hunkering down in a nearby café and people watching, or planning for your next trip. Trips like that can be discouraging, but then, a trip like mine to Amsterdam comes along, and it reminds you of why you fell in love with solo travel in the first place.
Unforgettable Experiences and the People I Met Along the Way
Adventures in Amsterdam
This trip was one of my best. Four days felt just right, and every moment was unforgettable. I used an app called HostelWorld to book my accomodation and connect with other travellers nearby. Through this app, I met with a nice group of people at a café. We went on to drink, smoke, party and explore together for the rest of the weekend. I didn’t know it at the time, but one of the people from this group, would become my boyfriend just five months later.
Unforgettable Characters
If I hadn’t gone on that trip alone, I would not have met my boyfriend or the other unforgettable characters. Meeting new people, whether they stick around or not, is a huge part of travelling. Sure, you might forget the landmarks, but you’ll always remember the wild stories. Like the Scottish teenager who got arrested in Spain or the man who randomly disappeared and blocked everyone in the group.
Solo Time in Nature
You don’t have to meet people to make a trip worthwhile. Solo travelling means total freedom. It means being able to do a walk in New Zealand for “experienced hikers only”, in jeans and a pair of tatty Nike’s. I was walking around in complete silence, nothing but the sound of sticks and leaves crunching under my feet and birds chirping over my head. Have you ever had a moment where you felt completely free and at peace? This was one of those moments for me. I had put off a journey like this for so long because I was afraid to do it alone, and in that moment, I was so glad that I had finally taken the leap.
How Solo Travel Changed Me and Will Likely Change You
Experiencing new cultures – from the warmth of the Italians to the reserved nature of the Swedes – changes you in unexpected ways. It reminds you that we are just a tiny part of the world.
It is so easy to become tunnelvisioned on your own life. But once you travel, once you start to get a real grasp on just how many people there are in this world, this becomes hard, almost impossible to do. You know too much to tell yourself that only you have struggled with this problem. You’ve seen too much to tell yourself that you are alone in this life.
Solo travel has been truly transformative for me, but it does require a certain level of knowledge and awareness to make it a safe and rewarding experience.
Tips to Make The Trip Go Smoothly
Prioritise Safety
Your destination matters, especially for your first solo trip. Choose somewhere safe and do your research. While my 2am trek home without a phone worked out, it could’ve ended very differently. Don’t rely on luck. Charge your phone, know your route, and try avoid walking alone at night.
Research Common Scams
Make sure you do some research into common scams in whatever country or area you are going to. Scams in London look very different to those in Croatia, so do your research, trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Balance Rest and Exploration
Solo travelling can be really mentally draining. Being in charge and making all the decisions is fun, but also exhausting. So you need to be prepared to take the time to rest and recharge when needed. Don’t be afraid to sleep in, or go back for an afternoon nap. Taking an hour long nap isn’t a waste of time, it’s important to look after yourself while travelling. Taking that time to reenergise will help you to truly enjoy the time you have there.
Saying that, be careful not to use this as excuse to not go meet new people. In my experience, getting out there is always worth it. I have met some truly brilliant people on my travels, and if I had decided that I was too tired, too lazy, too nervous, to go out and meet new people, I never would’ve met my partner that day in Amsterdam.
Solo travel isn’t just about visiting new places, it’s about discovering parts of yourself you never knew existed. From surreal nights out partying with strangers to quiet moments in nature, the experiences will stay with you for a lifetime. I never imagined that a spontaneous night out with strangers or a solo walk in nature could lead me here, writing this in London after a year of incredible adventures. If you’re on the fence, bite the bullet. Start small, make a plan and do your research. Solo travel might just be the best decision you’ll ever make.
Apps I Use and Recommend
Skyscanner: great for finding cheap flights, and includes an option to set alerts for price drops
Been: a fun way to track all the places you’ve visited, as well as everywhere you want to go
Bolt: European Uber, it also tends to be cheaper than Uber in a lot of cities!
FlixBus: booking cheap bus tickets to get all around the continent
Google Maps: super easy to use and you can download the offline map of any city you’re visiting!
HostelWorld: use it to book accomodation, find events at local hostels and join a group chat to organise or join a meet up!
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