3 Things

What I Wish I Knew Before Solo Traveling

If you ever find yourself wanting to sightsee and travel— you feel that something is calling you to go international, and maybe you don’t know why—if you find that there’s no one else to join you on your endeavors, you might be just like me in late 2022.

There’s a laundry list of fears and factors that can hold you back from traveling—I know, I told myself all the same things. 

“I can’t afford it.” 

“I can’t go by myself, especially as a woman.” 

“I’m overwhelmed by everything I’d have to do to get there.” 

“When I arrive, what would I even do?”

 “What if there isn’t XYZ?” 

So on and so forth.

But I promise you, it’s not some giant, mangled, rubber-band ball of a concept. It’s actually fairly simple. Here’s what I really wish I knew before solo traveling.

1. It’s Way More Affordable Than You Think

If you genuinely want to experience a country, for its culture, architecture, for that lightness you feel in your chest, that expansiveness down to your toes. If you want to travel to another country—not just to see some pretty, performative pieces from a resort window—you don’t have to squeeze your whole life savings dry to afford it.

Monitoring your finances and simply being mindful of your options in a country, can make or break your piggy bank. Splurge on the tourist attractions you’ve been dying to see please, but also know that you can ask around and find very cool free spots to explore as well.

Shopping and cooking local produce from a market is just as much of an immersive experience as eating out for every meal is. Quite honestly, what local is eating out that much anyway?

When I visited Costa Rica, I spent less than $1,000 USD for two weeks—including my flight. In Europe, I spent around $4,000 USD for three months;. This included bus fare, airfare (between countries), food, lodging, trinkets, and other miscellaneous items. 

2. Don’t Pack So Much

I wish someone told me not to pack so much. Regardless of whether or not you pack “everything you might need,” some things you just can’t anticipate when packing.

If someone would have said to me “[h]ey put the two styling irons down” or “[h]ow frequent do you really lint your clothes in the states anyways”, I might’ve lived a much better life.

I applauded myself for packing such a versatile wardrobe for my trip to Italy. Clothing that could be dressed up, and clothing that couldn’t be dressed up at all. But honestly, I wish I had only packed a few solid, neutral-toned items rather than a whole closet—because I still had to buy (and wanted to buy) different pieces.

When you’re carrying a backpack from country to country, overpacking will literally weigh you down.

3. Solo Traveling Isn’t as Scary as People Who Haven’t Done It Make It Seem

Some of my best memories—and ironically, the times I felt safest—were with brand-new friends, exploring brand-new places. Grabbing drinks with a girl I met a few minutes before, going on a far day trip with a guy I met a week prior, living with a random family in London a few days after meeting them–you get the point. 

I’m not saying to ignore the fact that bad things can happen, you should be aware and cautious. But most of the time, you’re just as predisposed to those same risks abroad as you are in your own hometown.

You aren’t causing a commotion—plenty of people go on solo trips, especially in Europe where some even view it as a coming of age voyage. More often than not, people would rather help than hurt you. Or they simply don’t care—in the best way.

All in All It’s Within Your Grasp!

Solo traveling teaches you so much—not just about the world, but about yourself. In learning more about yourself, you’ll come to meet so many others who are like you—figuring out life and hungry for adventure.

Above all, I wish I had known how feasible it was for me to travel alone. I hope you know how feasible it is for you too. I hope you know or find out how expansive solo-travel is.

Take your time, invest in your passions, and pay attention for further content. I'll share exactly how I efficiently planned my trips so you can do the same!