Travel

Solo travel is not scary at all, this is how you take the first step

By
A woman stands with her arms outstretched in a green field in Cappadocia, with rock formations and dozens of hot air balloons in the background.
My friends are constantly going abroad to study. One is leaving for Valencia and the other casually decides to live in Helsinki for half a year. All alone, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. Don’t call me. Don’t get me wrong: I think it would be amazing to really get to know another culture, to have your own rhythm, and to be completely free from everything and everyone back home. But alone? I already get a bit stressed at the thought of figuring out which metro I need to take in a big city by myself. And apparently, I’m not the only one. Despite my (largely unfounded) fear, solo travel is becoming increasingly popular among women. But how do you start when it seems super fun, while at the same time you’re already getting palpitations just thinking about it?

The safe exciting combo

If leaving the Netherlands for half a year sounds a bit too ambitious for you, starting small is really not a silly idea. It can literally be small: a weekend away alone in the Netherlands. Maastricht, Texel, Deventer, who cares. It’s not about how far you go, but that you experience a bit of what it’s like to be on your own. You can also make it easier for yourself by choosing a place that already feels familiar. Maybe you’ve been going to the same campsite in southern France since childhood or you know exactly what the boulevard in Málaga looks like. That makes such a difference. You don’t have to walk around with Google Maps in your hand all the time, but can just exist a bit on autopilot. Knowing the language helps more than you think. Are you someone who actually remembers something from Spanish in high school? Then traveling alone through Spain suddenly feels a lot less intimidating. Even if it’s just the thought that you can order a coffee or ask for directions.

Summer camp for adults

If it’s mainly the solo aspect that you find intense, a group trip might be more your thing. And no, I don’t mean a mountaineering camp with Anita and Ben wanting to hike a rock at six in the morning. There are so many trips nowadays for people who want freedom but don’t want to be completely on their own. It’s never wrong to be with someone who has researched which neighborhoods you should avoid. The nice thing about those kinds of trips is that you decide how much alone time you actually want. One day you join in on all the activities, the next day you retreat with a book by the pool. No one makes a fuss about it, because most people are there with a similar idea. And there are really hundreds of variations. We all know surf camps by now, but there are also trips centered around tennis, yoga, sailing, hiking, or just enjoying good food and wine. Do you want half days of activities or a schedule that you need to recover from? Share a room or absolutely not? Three days or three weeks? There’s something for everyone.

Reviews are your travel buddy

If you decide to throw yourself into the deep end, reviews can be surprisingly reassuring. They tell a story that an official description never will, and fortunately, there are usually more than enough of them. Is it a nice neighborhood? Did other women feel safe there? Are you secluded in the mountains without reception or just cozy next to a coffee shop? Those are the things you want to know before you leave. Research from Airbnb even shows that 63% of young women prefer to have contact with a host beforehand. This makes them feel more secure and allows them to navigate a city with more confidence. And that makes sense. A good host can give you tips about the neighborhood, transportation, and nice spots where locals go. That gives you a bit more peace of mind before you arrive somewhere with just yourself and a fully packed suitcase.

Solo, but not quite

And let’s also stop pretending that a solo trip means you have to completely shut yourself off from the world. It’s called solo travel, not a silent retreat. You’re allowed to talk to people, and that often makes it nicer. It’s usually not even the location that’s exciting, but just the idea that you’re alone. And even then, you don’t have to jump in completely. Someone can easily come by for a few days. A friend who joins you for the weekend, your sister who comes for dinner, or someone who happens to be nearby. That takes some pressure off while you’re still mostly on your own. And otherwise, FaceTime still exists. I think a lot of people immediately think of complete isolation when it comes to solo travel, while it actually mainly means that you decide how your trip looks. It’s your party after all.

I don’t see myself suddenly leaving for six months to the other side of Europe anytime soon. I’m really not brave enough for that yet, but the idea of something smaller is starting to sound less scary. Just a weekend away by myself, after I’ve of course obsessively read all the reviews. Who knows, it might end up being so good that Valencia suddenly doesn’t feel so far away anymore.

SOURCE: Airbnb