My Solo Road Trip + Tips and Tricks for Traveling Alone
Hello friends (+ lovers),
I feel very compelled to let everyone know that I have ABSOLUTELY been procrastinating this blog post. Why? Well, there is no real reason to answer that.
I’ve been going through a little bit of change in the past couple of weeks and since my early April solo trip, I’ve had some other priorities to take care of. I’ve been traveling, seeing family, hosting friends, celebrating loved ones, and nurturing a new budding relationship. 😊
All very exciting stuff.
But alas, it is from the emanating pulse and energy inside this Foxtrot coffee shop right now that I am writing this.
That, and my rigid self-discipline to start my blog back up again. It’s been too long!
So, here I am, sitting in my home of Chicago, reflecting on my recent solo travels, and anticipating more to come. I am officially 2 months away from my solo gallivant across Thailand, the farthest I’ve ever traveled from home, and possibly the most epic trip I will ever go on.
Five-years-ago-me would be absolutely shook. The thought of traveling anywhere alone used to terrify me. I’ve always been independent, even as a kid, but it was always in the safety of my comfort zone that I was able to walk along confidently and do anything I needed without assistance. Growing up, my family didn’t travel too much, so it’s safe to say that 1) traveling anywhere further than 200 miles away was FAR from my comfort zone and 2) once I gained the means, I wanted to travel EVERYWHERE.
Yes, my family would fly to Colorado once in a blue moon, and we would drive down to Florida or Tennessee for summer vacation, but we never went anywhere outside of the US. My mom and dad weren’t big travelers and until about 4 years ago, my dad hadn’t even been out of the country.
I would lust for travel. I grew to love airports, randomly, after a few trips to see family, and would count down the days until I could pack my suitcase. I would look forward to big choir trips in middle school, and travel for sports, as well as mission trips in high school. I remember my first trip outside of the US was to Nicaragua for a trip with some of my classmates to volunteer at my school’s sister organization in Managua. I fell in love with the different culture and the emotional experience I shared with my friends who came with.
Fast forward 7 years and I’ve now been to over 15 countries in 3 continents. I’ve swam in the Mediterranean and hiked through the jungles of Central America.
And, no, I will never be satisfied.
I want to go everywhere, and I’ve recently figured out that the option to go alone doesn’t scare me anymore.
I’m not exactly sure what shifted, but I’m happy to say that I plan on traveling solo many more times. Maybe it’s because I’ve found a new sense of independence since fully growing out of my last relationship, showing up for myself first. Grow or die, right?
It was my solo road trip that truly broke me free from my comfort zone and instilled in me a newfound appreciation for spending time alone. From napping when I want, eating whatever I want and letting my present desire be my guide, there is a certain magic that comes from traveling alone that I think we should all feel at least once in our lives.
It’s from that place that I decided to write up this list to inspire us all to never be afraid of losing sight of the shore to venture off into the unknown, on our own.
So, to all of you eagerly independent travelers out there, this one’s for you 😊
Now, for some practical tips, coming from someone who has made some choice mistakes…
Why You Should Say Yes to Solo Travel
1. To get to know yourself
And I mean, REALLY get to know yourself. With no one to distract you from your thoughts, habits, or behaviors, you become extremely aware of the potential frustrations or life epiphanies hiding behind the routine tasks of our normal day-to-day. You are essentially pulling yourself out of your norm and plopping yourself into a new setting. You’re alone. You have the chance to see where your mind is at and how you really feel.
To be honest, I feared this part. I thought I would feel lonely, have FOMO, or feel unanchored. But I was never prepared for how at peace I felt the whole time. It really challenges you to dig deeper and understand your hesitations, your desires, and ultimately what you want. Kinda crazy.
2. To go at your own pace
Hungry? Eat. Want to take a nap? Do it. Want to venture out and explore? No one to persuade. Want to spend the afternoon laying by the pool? Consider it done. Your entire trip is yours. Of course, traveling with someone else makes for good company, but being solo comes with such a sense of peace. You can do what you want, when you want, and however you want.
3. To do things you normally wouldn’t
There’s no need to talk your bestie or your boyfriend into hitting that yoga retreat. There’s no one holding you back from paragliding or white water rafting through the Colorado River. If you want to do it, you can do it solely for your own sense of joy and accomplishment of doing something that might’ve scared you in the past.
4. To ~soul search~
Being an extrovert, I originally thought it was being surrounded by others that I could recharge and learn more about myself. But that’s not me. Not me, at all.
It’s only in the absence of someone else’s presence that I find myself fully able to dig deep into my relationship with myself and truly work on it. Sounds incredibly cheesy but reconnecting with your soul and digging up your deepest desires and fears is refreshing. And healthy! And quite easy with the stimulation of a new location. It inspired me to live a bit more authentically to myself, and to listen to my inner voice, without any distractions from what I thought I “should” do.
Which means, I literally got ice cream every night after dinner. Very me.
5. To meet new people
This more so applies to a solo trip complete with activities that allow you to go out of your comfort zone and talk to others.
I love to hide behind the security of having someone with me, so ever since I’ve decided to travel more solo, I know I will have to push myself to talk to strangers and strike up conversations with locals. When I traveled abroad in college, I only knew two girls in my program, so I had to cultivate new relationships. The amount of core friends I have met that made such a distinct impact on my experience and myself is astounding. I still have good relationships with a lot of people I’ve traveled with, and I am truly looking forward to making even more on future trips.
6. To feel empowered
There’s nothing like navigating your own trip, holding your own hand and taking yourself out to dinner and to see new things to get you feeling all sexy and free in your own skin 😊
7. To do things you don’t usually have time for
Examples: reading, writing, photography, napping, art, yoga, meditation, hiking. Things you normally don’t have time for in your normal day-to-day and may not get a chance to do when traveling with others.
8. To be more present
Being alone obviously has you on higher alert, but it also keeps you more grounded in the NOW. You can tune into your surroundings more, soak in the moment, and bask in the silence, burning a stronger memory in your mind of a trip than if you were to be distracted by someone else’s experience.
Now, for some practical tips, coming from someone who has made some choice mistakes…
My Tips and Tricks for Traveling Alone
· Do your damn research! – I am someone who likes to go with the flow, yes. Some places I’ve traveled were on a sort of whim, and while that can be fun, it can also lead to a lot of confusion, frustration, time killed, or a potentially dangerous situation. It’s best to do some research prior to traveling alone so the terrifying sort of surprises are less likely to happen. Things to keep in mind: transportation to and from places, places to eat, temperature, time changes, local emergency numbers, currency exchange, safety of the places you are staying, etc.
· Set an intention for your trip 😊 – What do you want to gain from this experience? It can be anything from pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone, escaping your daily routine, finding peace and quiet, seeing something new and exciting, reconnecting with yourself, meditation, exploring new places, etc. I find having an intention of the trip minimizes the overwhelm of trying to achieve too many things in one trip. If you achieve your main goal, everything else is just icing on the cake.
· Tell someone where you’re going. – This may be a given, but make sure someone back at home has the address, phone number and location of where you’re going. I know that we’re all looking for a sweet escape, but it doesn’t hurt to keep your family or close friends updated on a basic idea of where you are to ensure your safety.
· Bring lots of books and take lots of pictures 😊 – Keep a book in your bag at all times. You will have so much free time. It’s especially fun at dinners, as opposed to being on your phone. Trust me, you’ll look so sexy and mysterious. And get creative! The self-timer photo is your best friend, and there are infinite objects to use as a make-shift tripod. I love to have memories of the places I’ve been to look back on. So, take lots of photos- one day you’ll be able to show your daughter how cool her solo-adventuring mom used to be (and hopefully still is).
· Be alert, but also be open! – Talk to people. Ask people to take your picture and return the favor. Use your head, but don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with locals or other solo travelers you see sitting at the bar. Be safe but be friendly! You never know who that person could be, how you could relate to each other, or what they recommend doing around the city you’re visiting.
· Download podcasts and make yourself a playlist. – This is a tip for those who are driving (to keep yourself awake), but also, play your playlist throughout the trip. Put your favorite songs on it, and watch as time goes on, how you’ll hear a certain song and be instantly transported back to this once in a lifetime trip.
· Take some time to reflect! – It’s not often we get to pull ourselves outside of our routine and put ourselves into a new area with new scenery and fresh perspectives. Traveling alone is the best time to meditate, reflect and reevaluate our lives and the direction we’re heading. Once you get home, you’ll feel so recharged and maybe inspired to start making some major changes. Or not! That’s the beauty of it.
· Soak it up, babe! - This is your life. Stretch your arms up high and awaken from the daze. Life is so short; take this time and revel in it. Notice the lush green of the grass, the cotton candy color of the sky, the ornate architecture, the sweet and the savory of the food. Open your eyes. Take some time to smell the roses, for real.
And as I sit here, typing the last bit of this post, I leave you with this last bit of wisdom: don’t just see these solo-wandering days as the adventure, but realize that your whole life is ahead of you, and this is just one chapter. You have so many opportunities and chances to create your own happiness and then change your mind and find it in something else. There is no on and off button. No pause. No fast forward. There is so much we haven’t experienced yet. So, whether you’re jumping a plane or jumping into bed at the end of the night, live each and every day with wonder. See the bliss that every moment gives you and shake your mind and body up from the deeply grooved routines that keep us believing we need a vacation from our lives. Take charge of your life.
And, let me know where you want to go on your next adventure in the comments below 😊
All the love <3 Talk soon,
Hannah
