My very first solo trip wasn’t exactly planned as a grand adventure – I boarded a long-haul flight to New York City to meet my then-boyfriend (now husband). That journey felt like a small but empowering milestone: navigating airports, flying across the Atlantic Ocean, and relying on myself for the very first time. I was excited (and a little nervous) about the journey ahead. Once I landed, the solo part ended quickly, since we embarked on an incredible 7-day road trip from New York to Southern California together (a story I’ll share in detail in an upcoming post).
But it wasn’t until a few years later, during a three-week solo trip to Brazil, that I truly fell in love with traveling on my own. That trip gave me a new sense of freedom, independence, and confidence. It was the beginning of something bigger – the start of many more solo trips around Europe and the UK, where I now live.
So, what makes solo trips so special to me?
1. You move at your own pace
One of the greatest joys of solo travel is setting your own rhythm. You can wander peacefully without rushing, pause for as long as you like at a museum or viewpoint, or stop for a rest whenever you feel like it. There’s no one else’s schedule to follow – just your own.
2. Freedom to follow your instincts
Traveling alone means you decide when and where to go. Want to wait for the perfect moment to capture the sunset? You can. Want to wake up before sunrise to watch a city come to life? Nothing is stopping you. These little choices are where the magic of solo travel really shines.
3. Space for self-connection
When you’re on your own, you naturally connect more deeply with yourself. Without distractions, you notice more – the smells, the sounds, the atmosphere of a place. Solo travel gives you the chance to reflect, recharge, and simply be present.
4. Exploring what you truly love
As much as I adore traveling with family and friends, solo trips give me the chance to explore places that might not be on anyone else’s wish list. Sometimes it’s a city, a historic site, or even a hidden corner of nature – destinations that matter to me, even if others don’t quite share the same interest.
5. Building confidence
Every solo trip is a reminder that you’re capable of more than you think. Navigating new cities, handling unexpected changes, and making decisions on your own all help build resilience and confidence that carry over into everyday life.
Solo travel doesn’t mean being alone all the time – it means having the freedom to choose. Sometimes that means enjoying peaceful solitude, and other times it means meeting new people along the way.
Looking back, I smile at how my journey began – with a single flight to New York. That first taste of independence led me to Brazil, and since then, countless solo adventures have become part of my story. And trust me, once you experience the joy and freedom of traveling on your own, you’ll want to plan the next trip before the first one even ends.
Have you ever considered taking a solo trip? If so, where would you go first?