Solo traveling is so popular nowadays young women. Maybe a decade ago a women traveling alone was insane and the craziest ideas. Solo traveling is the ultimate challenge for yourself. Whether you drive to a foreign city or travel to another country alone — you are a solo traveler
My first solo trip alone was to Paris. A trip alone has always been a goal for me. The uncertainty and anxiety makes you lose sleep, but pushing through those butterflies changed me life. This time spent with yourself is so crucial to truly understanding your identity. My identity as a black woman is not always as prevalent in Europe versus the United States. My identity as a student is not as prevalent if I speak the local language broken. This time with yourself is nothing more than learning things about yourself.
Three things I learned when traveling solo:
#1You are never lonely you are simply with yourself. Loneliness is easy to avoid when you don’t compare yourself to everyone around you walking in groups. Remember when solo traveling you are independent and you phone is a computer. Trust the government knows and if your spiritual God has your back.
#2Know that you will make mistakes:
When solo traveling in France. I booked a cheap flight to Paris at the beginning of summer attempting to plan a trip, but the airport was 2 hours away from my hostel. At first I thought it was a mistake. When planning I made sure my hostel was closer to where the concert was so I wouldn’t have to walk far late at night and totally forgot to see how far the airport was from the hostel. Ultimately I learned to double check and confirm all modes of transportation and not get excited to buy cheap plane tickets.
#3Confidence is the major key:
Only one knows you are by yourself is YOU. The biggest tip I learned is when you feel anxious to start talking to Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook live. Everything is not worth a meltdown on the train because you are lost or in the airport because your boarding pass is not printed.. yes that was me but I am still here and excited for another trip. This idea is a total demonstration of your bravery.
So alone or lonely?
Not even close, you the baddest boss chick out there