The Joy of Solo Travel

Apr 3

Traveling alone could be the scariest yet most liberating, life-changing experience. Try it at least once. It will stimulate all your senses, inspire curiosity, and teach you about the world and yourself.

I did a bit of solo travel in a few parts of New Zealand. I relished the absolute silence and serenity on my train rides and road trips encircled by hushed postcard-perfect vistas. The random pit stops and side trips along the way afforded me a view of how resident Kiwis go about their daily lives.

The whole point of traveling alone is to have fun and discover new things. Mingle with locals. Soak up the sights and sounds. Taste indigenous cuisine. Delve into something different that you can talk about back home. It is one of the best educational experiences anyone can ever have. It is liberating to explore new places alone. You can go where you please, eat when you want, and delight in an uninterrupted ‘me time’.

Digital native Hannah Tonolete echoes the same sentiments of the benefits of solo travel. She swears by the indelible joy that comes from a place where her entire focus is on lapping up unique experiences, venturing into the unexpected, connecting with the locals and escaping routine. In the last two years, she was able to blissfully roam the streets of Paris (France); Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and Segovia (Spain); Rome, Milan, Venice and Cinque Terre (Italy); and Lisbon and Cascais (Portugal).

“Take the leap! Life is short. Do it scared but do it anyway. But prepare, prepare, prepare. This includes all the research, cannot emphasize this enough. There are lots of uncertainties but the more you prepare, the more assured you become. Adventure is out there! Explore the world, embrace new experiences, and step out of your comfort zone,” encourages the 28-year-old. Here’s her story.

Hannah: My first solo trip was to France and Spain in Oct 2023. I've been seeing how beautiful Europe is all over social media, hearing stories, they're in everyone's bucket list. I've been wanting to go someday for a while but wasn't really taking any active steps like checking flights. One random evening, I just went for it! And thankfully, it was a good time for me financially.

Truth be told, I didn't even think about the fact that I was going to do it alone. I'd say I didn't know solo travelling was "a big deal" (badly put) – that people are afraid to do it, it's sad, boring, and such. Looking back, this unawareness could've gone both ways but it was a blessing to me. I didn't have all these prejudices and external voices. I got to focus on the fact that I'm about to go on a big adventure.

There are challenges for a woman travelling alone. You have to do everything. Research, booking flights, carrying your bags, navigating a new transportation system. And combine those two – figuring out where to go while carrying such heavy bags (I'm an over-packer!) There's barely room for error. You can't oversleep as you might miss your flight. No one's watching your things when you go to the bathroom so you have to take all of them. Trivial stuff often taken for granted with company.

And, of course, safety. You're as careful as you can be but at the end of the day, you never know and you're far away from help.

To overcome the challenges, preparation is key. Resources are available online and I really took advantage of that. Research isn't as complex and boring nowadays. It could actually be super fun if you know where to look. Materials are now not limited to traditional models like long articles. We have YouTube where creators vicariously take you to places. We have informational and entertaining content on Instagram and TikTok.

Also, I made the preparation a part of the experience. I had months to get ready so I took my time. Example, I didn't pressure myself to finish making my itinerary in a day. I didn't want to merely plot items. I made sure each resonated with me. Another one is I didn't shop for clothes in one go. I got pieces every time I could. I didn't want to buy based on urgency and impulse. It was wiser financially too.

As a whole, I enjoyed the process rather than seeing them as tasks. And I remained grateful all throughout. It was not perfect but I refrained from complaining and letting the setbacks get into me. Like my luggage broke because I was running to make it to my train and immediately thought it'd be a funny story to tell. I was lucky to be there and embraced every moment.

After my first solo trip in France and Spain I did "Eurosummer" in Italy, Portugal and Spain in June 2024. Absolutely amazing!!! Beyond the given – breathtaking places, delicious food, vibrant cultures, and wonderful people. I was so happy and thankful to be able to see how big the world is, which really makes you ponder. We are small in the grand scheme and so are our problems.

Every place has a different character. I know there's more to explore in the continent but perhaps the whole Europe experience is the best I have enjoyed so far. It's like a whole nether world unlike visiting countries nearby where we're still interconnected somehow as Asians. I really feel I’m taken into a brand-new environment engaging with its traditions, flavours, people, and way of life.

Overall, I found it wild thinking all these experiences will be stories I can tell years from now.

I’m not done yet flying solo. New York is a dream. There's a reason several great stories are set in New York. Though I want to keep it at the end of the list... keep the curiosity alive. I'm currently hoping for China, Brazil, Mexico, Greece, and Egypt.

The best part of solo travelling is self-discovery – the switch from ‘I'm on my own’ and ‘I have to do everything’ to ‘I can do everything’ – literally anything I want. And being proven that it's true. I did it!

Independence, self-reliance, problem solving, and adaptability – believe it or not – it always works out! The joy of being present, seize the opportunity to immerse yourself without distractions. Self-discovery - make the most out of your freedom and deepen your understanding of yourself.

I totally agree with Hannah. From my New Zealand experience I can definitely say that traveling solo is therapeutic. It heals the body, mind and soul. It provides introspection and self-reflection – allowing time to process our thoughts without any distraction.

To quote the legendary serial traveler Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Debbie | ws

Good Read: The Pros and Cons of Travelling Solo | Solo Travel and Mental Health

Debbie Reyes-Coloma

The Joy of Solo Travel

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