My first solo trip was to Mallorca, Spain, which began with my flight out of Barcelona being delayed by nine hours. By hour six, I had major regrets about booking the trip. I arrived at my hostel past midnight, but woke early the next morning determined to make the most of my time. I decided my first destination would be an underground lake on the other side of the island. My morale was low, especially after my AirPods died halfway through the bus ride.
After hiking deep underground, the tour guide directed me to sit on a long bench facing the water. I was expecting (and dreading) some sort of presentation. But out of the darkness came a little boat with an orchestra playing the most ethereal music. I started crying like a baby by the second song, which is saying something for someone who rarely cries. Everything about the moment was so beautiful, and all my troubles the day before seemed worth it.
My Second Solo Trip
That trip was only for three days last winter, and even for such a short time, I gained confidence in my abilities to problem solve and adapt. All that time in silence, thinking and feeling and seeing unbelievable things, made me feel energized when I returned. I knew I wanted to do another solo trip as soon as possible.
And so, I spent a month solo traveling in Costa Rica this summer, which was beyond anything I could have imagined. Being there a month afforded me a lifetime of stories. I went swimming in the ocean at 1 am with an Irish economics professor, before returning to the club and dancing soaking wet. A 25-year old Argentine man taught me how to weld (with a welding helmet and everything). I spent two weeks traveling with a girl I met the first day I arrived, and can confidently say we will be lifelong friends. I had more interesting things happen in that month than I did my entire junior year at UCSB.
Making Friends
I am truly so glad I went alone. I know if I had gone with a friend, I would have defaulted to their company most of the time. Since I was alone, though, I had to socialize, unless I wanted all my conversations to be with the hostel cat (who was actually a very good listener). You also become more approachable as an individual. I never got close to any pairs in my month of travels; they always seemed to do their own thing, and it felt weird to intrude.
I found that unlike most travel, solo travel is more about the people than the place. I saw the rainforests and volcanos, but also got the rules to a German card game, a marriage offer from a man in Quebec, and a job opportunity at a language school. I could go back to Costa Rica anytime with friends and see all the sights, but the experiences I had with the people I met were truly one-of-a-kind. And I came back with so many stories to share this fall quarter.
When traveling alone, you get the opportunity to be anyone you want to be. No one knows if you are silly or serious, nervous or fearless. You can, briefly, reinvent yourself. I had always considered myself an introvert, but spent most of my days with new people, socializing until late in the night. I did not conform to the idea of who I should be based on what the people who already knew me would expect; I just was. And now, I know I am much more extroverted than I ever thought possible.
Traveling my Way
Another part I loved about going solo was getting to travel however and wherever I wanted. If someone invited me to something, I went. I never had to consult with anyone else. I said yes to almost everything. What was supposed to be a two-day stop turned into a week, simply because I liked the people. As a Type B person, it was my dream scenario. Plus, it’s easy to tag along on anything as only one person.
During my trip, I got to do exactly what I wanted, which is a rare experience. I look back on that time with very few regrets because there was almost nothing I did out of obligation or avoided because the person I was with wasn’t interested. My day-to-day life here involves quite a bit of compromise, so traveling uninhibited was magical. I loved waking up and knowing the day could be anything I wanted it to be.
Gaining Perspective
I learned so much about myself during my time spent solo. I was going into my senior year with zero plans for the future, and I was a bit panicked. While there, I met a hostel owner who used to work as a lawyer. I met a woman in her 40s who had a job on Wall Street until recently and quit to travel. Meeting people outside of the college sphere reminded me there are so many ways to move through life, and going down the wrong path is never the end of the world. I feel so much more at peace with the vast open space I have ahead of me, because I realized what you do immediately post-grad is not make or break.
Traveling solo also causes a bit more bumps in the road. It is challenging to figure out everything yourself, especially in another country. Now though, I truly feel like I can solve any problem put in front of me. The trivial things that used to give me anxiety, like calling my doctor to make an appointment, seem effortless now.
Why Everyone Should Go Solo
There were so many things I avoided before because I thought I needed someone to go along with me. Since traveling alone, I realized how much I’ve missed out on because I was too scared to go by myself. I would have gone nowhere this summer if I waited on a companion. Now, I have no fear about going to the movies or to dinner alone, because I realized I would much rather do it alone than not do it at all.
I would encourage everyone to take a solo trip, even if only for a weekend. You do not need to be in a hostel in Costa Rica to enjoy the benefits. I think it is so important to learn to do things alone, as it will serve you well once leaving college. If I move to a new city where I don’t know a soul, I know I will be able to explore and fill my time. I believe any person who travels solo will come back a little (or a lot) more comfortable in their own skin.