My Journey as a Solo-Traveler

TLDR: I’ve traveled to 8 countries on my own. Life’s too short, go take the solo trip. 

 Solo traveling is intimidating. But it’s also one of the most freeing adventures I’ve ever been on.

Let’s backtrack a little.

The truth is, growing up, I was very shy and timid. I remember I would always be worried if someone new wanted to spark a conversation with me, clung to my family members for safety and protection, and would avoid any type of attention or spotlight. Fast forward to today, I’ve definitely grown out of that shell I once had. I am able to make conversations with strangers easily, I’ve traveled with strangers, I’ve moved cross-country and to another country alone, and I am no longer afraid to ask or speak up when I need help. I love putting myself in new situations where I can meet new people and share life experiences. 

How did I get here?

It obviously took time. I think my extrovertedness started to show up towards the tail end of high school. The more confident I became in myself and my personality, the more I wasn’t afraid to dim my light anymore. Surrounding myself around people who loved both the introverted and extroverted sides of me certainly helped.

After leaving my hometown to attend university, I found myself spending more time alone than I ever had. And that’s when I came to learn the concept of ‘master-dating,’ which is simply ‘going out alone’ per Urban Dictionary. I would intentionally (and unintentionally) eat meals alone at school and learn to be okay with that quiet. 

Along with being part of the generation where the ‘Living Alone Series’ became all the hype, I watched and learned how many other 20-somethings spent their days on their own. And I don’t want to over-glamorize being alone, as it can truly get lonely at times. But one thing I realized as I was navigating through the unfamiliar and immersing myself in new environments, was my self-assurance growing. It helped unlock the potential within me where I always knew this ‘brave and confident’ version of me existed and I wanted to see her thrive.

So, more than ever, I was eager to put myself out there. 

Now for a little trip down memory lane. 

I went on my first adventure in 2016 when I decided to study abroad in Berlin, Germany the summer before my senior year in college. I wasn’t as nervous as I should’ve been, going on my first flight alone and to the other side of the world… but I’m sure it had to do with the adrenaline and the excitement I had to explore Europe for the first time in my life (!!)

So there I was in July 2016 with a plane ticket and a dream, I mean isn’t that how all great stories usually start?

I spent most of my days wandering the streets of Berlin on my own after class, looking for the best currywurst or quenching my thirst with an ice-cold lager. I actually did little to no research prior to picking Berlin to visit, other than knowing a couple of friends who had visited prior. But I easily fell in love with the city - it is the ultimate melting pot of history, art, and personality. The weather was fantastic, the people were kind and friendly, and the neighborhoods I wandered brought me a lot of peace. I can’t wait until the next time I get to be back in Berlin.

By the end of my two-month trip, I had visited 8 other countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom) with old and new friends. It was truly a summer I would never forget and quite possibly when the travel bug officially bit me. 

In October 2018, I decided to go visit a dear friend of mine in New York City. We had caught up, after many years, in our hometown and she had extended the offer to come stay with her if I ever found myself visiting NYC. I was intrigued and excited about this opportunity as I fell in love with New York the first time I visited, so I messaged her that I wanted to make it happen. I made plans to meet up with friends who lived in the city, wandered around to touristy spots and eats on my own, and experienced NY nightlife for the first time (which is really something else). This would be my first solo trip, outside of traveling around California, in the States. 

In March 2019, I embarked on a spontaneous trip to Spain with two of my friends. They told me about the ridiculous ticket prices and within a couple of weeks, I booked mine to join them. The round-trip ticket to Barcelona was only $340 from Los Angeles so it was definitely an opportunity I wouldn’t want to miss out on. 

My friends had to leave as they had school responsibilities to get back to but I decided to spend a few more days in Spain on my own before heading over to Italy. I ate at beautiful restaurants where I just took my time (as someone who is a notoriously slow eater, this was fabulous) and wandered around to my heart’s content. 

It had always been a bucket list item for me to check out the colorful sights of Cinque Terre. I booked my own accommodations and took a train over to Cinque Terre to spend 2 days there. My key highlights were eating heavenly gelato (every day), taking the trains to get through all 5 small towns, and eventually going on an Airbnb Experience to take a sunset boat cruise. Although I was a bit fearful of my experience as I arrived quite early in the morning in Cinque Terre, and didn’t have a lot of plans laid out (spontaneously finding spots to eat and walk around the day of), the final experience of the sunset tour still holds its place as one of the top 10 travel moments of my life. (Here’s the link if you’re interested - currently charging $110 per person).

This is when it clicked in my head that my dreams didn’t have to be just dreams.

Crossing an item off my bucket list item on my own was so satisfying.

My next solo trip lands me in Taiwan in December of 2022. I had traveled to Taiwan many times since I was young with family but had never gone by myself. I never really considered it because I figured it would be tough with my Mandarin being as proficient as a second grader’s (actually I’ve heard them speak, that’s giving me too much credit). Once I found out that the borders were finally open to tourists again after 3 years, I knew it would be incredibly fun to go visit again and see my extended family (and work on my Chinese). I was able to visit the cities of Taipei, Yilan, Tainan, Taichung, and Kaoshiung during my time there with family and friends.

It helped that I had been to Taiwan a number of times, so I had a general idea of geography and how to navigate around the country. I will say that Taiwan locals are friendly and the public transportation is pretty self-explanatory so I find it to be a great starter solo-traveler destination. I spent many of my days at a coffee shop working or reading, eating at night markets, trying new bars, and going on weekend excursions to neighboring towns. Feel free to check out my 24 hours in Taipei blog post if you’re looking for recommendations. 

After my 10 days in Taiwan, I headed to Tokyo, Japan in January of 2023. I had been to Japan a couple of times before with family and I had asked some friends if they were interested in joining me for this trip. Unfortunately, due to work and personal commitments, they were not able to come. I had the same mindset around travels as before where I said ‘It’s ok, I’ll just go on my own!’ This Japan trip was easily one of my favorite trips to date. The food in Japan is truly next level: I had lots and lots of sashimi (my favorite!), ramen, yakiniku, wagyu, convenience store goodies, and more. Additional highlights included visiting Tokyo Disney Sea, Nintendo World, onsens, and jazz bars. The number of unique experiences I had truly made it top tier.

As you can likely spot the pattern, I love going on Airbnb Experiences to meet other solo travelers. This time around, I went on a standing izakaya tour in Osaka where I had such an amazing time eating and drinking with new friends. (Here’s the link if you’re interested - currently charging $40/person). One of the main reasons why I think solo traveling can be so fun is the ability to make new friends that you would’ve otherwise never met - for instance I made friends at jazz bars, friends I would experience nightlife with, friends that would invite me to their salon to get my hair done, friends I would go to Nintendo World with, and so on. Japan is also at the top of the list for friendly solo-traveler destinations as the locals are incredibly kind and there are many restaurants where solo dining is common, and also advantageous because of the tight spaces and limited seating, and transportation is extremely convenient. I’ll have to make a dedicated Japan post later on as there is so much more to share!

The most treasured moments of my solo trip to Japan were the moments I found complete peace in my internal world. With the amount of alone time I had, I spent much of it journaling away. In the absence of constant distractions, I had the opportunity to really look within - to unearth dreams, ambitions, and aspirations that had been buried under the weight of routine. It was during these moments of quiet reflection that I was able to clarify my life values and discover my truest self.

As I continued my time in Asia, in May 2023, I had thrown the idea around of finding and visiting my friends who moved to Singapore. I actually asked one of my friends on Monday evening if I could stay with them that same week. Thankfully, they were open in their hearts and schedules to take me in. So, I stayed in Singapore for about four days. I wandered to Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, China Town, and Tiong Bahru, along with plenty of hawker stalls and malls. I had to have a bite of all their infamous dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice, chili crab, laksa, hokkien prawn mee, kaya toast, satay, and more. And Singapore really did not disappoint with the food options!

I was interested in checking out Malaysia while it was a short plane ride over so I spent a week in Malaysia, splitting my time in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. I experienced some of the most delicious meals in Penang along with getting fantastic beach-front views. In Kuala Lumpur, I went on an Airbnb Experience to see Batu Caves, Petronas Towers, and other memorable sights. (Here’s the link if you’re interested - currently charging $45/person).

I’d like to wrap up my little trip down memory lane with some key mottos and tips: 

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. It’s corny but it’s true. The moments I feel most alive are when I push that envelope to try new things. When you open yourself to new experiences, you will also experience new feelings with that unraveling.

The truth of the matter is - the more you open yourself to what life has to offer, the more that life will show you exactly what you may need. Anytime I met someone new in my life, even if I knew our friendship would only last the 4 hours of the tour we were on, I always learned something from them. Whether the lesson was about how I can better myself in social interactions or just listening and learning about their unique life experiences, I always found myself a little more curious about the world and life itself afterward.

Life is short. Money is a renewable resource and unfortunately, time is not. The best time to start ‘living’ is today. I have no regrets whenever I reflect back on the traveling I’ve done in my life. Yes, a lot of money was spent but the memories that I’ve made are truly priceless. It’s my personal life dream to continue to travel and explore the world as much as possible so this is why I believe it’s well worth both the investment of time and money. 

TIPS:

Tell people where you’re going! Whether it’s turning on Find My Friends or sharing your Airbnb/ accommodation addresses, I always make sure I informed family members and friends where I was headed in case anything happened and they needed to know where I was. It’s also important to let people know if you’re headed to somewhere where cell reception is shotty, so they don’t freak out if they’re having trouble reaching you. Safety should be your #1 priority, especially if you’re going solo.

Get an early start. As a female solo traveler, it can get a bit sketchy and intimidating to wander in the evening. If this is a concern for you, I would recommend getting up early to take advantage of as much daylight as you possibly can.

Learn local lingo. If possible, this would be a great segway for you to make friends with some locals. Just learning how to introduce yourself and some basic phrases can make all the difference.

Plan ahead (at least a little). I think that it is important to have accommodations booked and a general idea of where you’re headed. If you want to keep your days open and have loose plans, I’m all for it because that is exactly how you will open yourself to spontaneity, but planning will save you time and potential headaches while you’re on the trip.

Spend less time in your head and more time in the world. The pre-trip anxiety is very real. Create an exit plan if you really need to go home as that is certainly an option but also remind yourself about all the positive experiences that could come out of the trip if you do stay (and weigh those options if you ever need to). Depending on the environment and your personality, being out alone for extended periods of time may induce anxiety. I try to gear activities that I know will bring me peace such as walking around in nature, taking a dance class, or visiting a local coffee shop and people-watching.

Check-in with yourself. One of the best parts about traveling alone is that you get to dictate exactly what you want to do each day, with no other competing priorities or agendas to worry about. It was always important to mindfully check in with myself on how I was feeling after each day. For instance, if I had a lot of fun socializing but I could see that my physical battery was slowly giving way, I would make sure I slowed things down for the next day so I wouldn’t experience any type of burnout.

So whether or not you are a solo traveler already, I hope my journey was interesting and helpful as you find your own footing. This is truly just the scratch of the surface as I continue along this journey myself but I will continue to share my findings as I adventure onwards. Please message me if you ever have any questions. Safe travels!