Okay, real talk: who else has secretly dreamed of ditching the group chat, grabbing a backpack, and just… going? 🙋♀️ Two years ago, I finally did it—booked a one-way ticket to Lisbon with zero plans and maximum existential crisis energy. Spoiler: it changed my life. But let’s rewind.
The ‘Why’ That Changed Everything
I used to think solo travel was for “cool girls” with Instagram-perfect braids and an encyclopedic knowledge of hostels. Me? I got lost in my hometown grocery store. But after a breakup left me rethinking… well, everything, I stumbled on a study saying solo female travelers report 60% higher self-trust levels post-trip. Sixty percent! Suddenly, my fear of eating alone felt like a math problem I could solve.
Safety Isn’t Boring, It’s Freedom
Let’s address the elephant in the hostel dorm: safety. My mom’s frantic texts (“BUT WHAT IF A PIGEON ATTACKS YOU IN PLAZA MAYOR??”) weren’t entirely wrong. But here’s the hack: safety rituals = confidence boosters. I became a pro at:
– The “Local Friend” illusion (texting my Airbnb host things like “See you at 8!” loudly in cafes)
– Anti-theft theater (wearing a crossbody bag under my jacket like a secret agent… of brunch)
– Google Maps offline mode (my savior in Marrakech’s maze-like souks)
Fun fact: Recent studies show women who share their live location with 1-2 contacts are 80% less likely to feel anxious while exploring. I sent mine to my dog’s sitter. Judge away. 🐶
The Magic of Unscripted Moments
Here’s what nobody tells you: solo travel isn’t about epic sunsets (though Lisbon’s Miradouros nearly broke me). It’s about the tiny rebellions—like ordering pasteis de nata at 11 AM “just because” or befriending a Croatian grandmother on a ferry who force-fed me rakija. When you’re alone, you stop performing “you” and start meeting you.
But What About… Loneliness?
Oh honey, I ugly-cried into a paella in Valencia once. But here’s the twist: loneliness became my teacher. Neuroscience shows brief solitude spikes creativity—hence my “crying then writing bad poetry” phase that somehow led to bonding with a street artist over tapas. Vulnerability, it turns out, is the universal language.
Your Turn (No, Really)
Start small: a solo day trip, a dinner date with yourself, or my personal gateway drug—booking a single yoga retreat. Track your “hell yes” moments:
– That flutter when you navigate a foreign metro system
– The pride of haggling at a market (even if you overpaid by €2)
– The surreal joy of realizing you’re the mysterious stranger in someone else’s travel story
Final thought? Solo travel isn’t about running away—it’s about catching up to yourself. And trust me, she’s way more interesting than you think. 😉