Okay girlies, let’s get real – who here has secretly screenshot that Bali sunset post while sitting in their sad beige office cubicle? 🙋♀️ Don’t worry, I’ve totally been the girl who spent more time curating “wanderlust” Pinterest boards than actually booking tickets. But guess what changed everything? That time I accidentally bought a one-way ticket to Lisbon thinking it was a roundtrip deal. (Pro tip: Google Translate ≠ Portuguese expert) 🇵🇹
Let me paint you a picture: There I was, 27-year-old Megan who thought “hostel” meant “hotel with extra steps.” Spoiler alert – it does not. My first night involved a bunk bed that squeaked like a haunted house door and a Canadian roommate who taught me how to shotgun a beer. 🍻 But here’s the magic nobody tells you – that awkwardness becomes your superpower. Three margaritas later (shoutout to Paulo the Portuguese bartender), I realized something revolutionary: Nobody here knew I was the girl who cried during middle school gym class. I could literally reinvent myself daily.
Now let’s talk safety – because nothing kills vibes faster than your mom’s 3AM “BUT WHAT IF YOU GET HUMAN TRAFFICKED” texts. 🚨 Through trial and error (emphasis on errors), I’ve developed the Holy Trinity of Solo Travel Safety:
1. The “Fake Husband” technique (RIP to the imaginary Brian who “just went to get cigarettes”)
2. The decoy wallet (old gift cards + €5 in a pink Hello Kitty coin purse)
3. The “Icy Glare” walk (channel your inner Beyoncé walking through Louvre)
But here’s the tea ☕ – the real transformation happens in those unplanned moments. Like when I got lost in Marrakech’s medina and stumbled upon a grandmother who taught me to make mint tea while gossiping about her nephew’s terrible marriage prospects. Or that sunrise in Santorini where I ugly-cried watching fishing boats, realizing I hadn’t thought about my toxic ex in 72 hours.
Financial real talk? 💸 My “Eat Pray Love” fantasy crashed into reality when I discovered the magic of overnight buses (free accommodation + transportation!) and grocery store picnics. Pro tip: Fancy restaurants are for Instagram – the real magic’s in €3 market empanadas eaten on cathedral steps.
The most shocking revelation? Solo travel made me fall in love with…myself? 🤯 Cheesy but true. There’s no hiding behind friends when you’re navigating Croatian ferry schedules alone. But with each mini victory (successfully ordering vegan ceviche! not getting pickpocketed!), you collect pieces of yourself you never knew existed.
Am I saying it’s all lotus poses and perfect hair? Hell no. There was the Great Budapest Bedbug Incident of 2022 and that time I accidentally joined a German nudist hike. But here’s the secret – those disasters become your best stories.
So to every woman double-tapping travel posts but hesitating: Your anxiety is lying. Start small – weekend solo trip to that weird town nearby. Pack your curiosity, leave room for chaos, and watch how the world mirrors back the badass you’ve always been. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go misspell my name on a Ryanair ticket. Again. 💃
