Solo Travel: the good, the bad, the necessary. Here are 10 ways to find familiarity in the unknown
1. Excitement over feaR
For years, the idea of solo travel both fascinated and scared me, but my fear won out and kept me from trying it. Then one day recently I realized that what I actually should be scared of is missing out on big life moments because of that fear, and that was something I couldn't stomach. You wouldn’t wait to drink if you were dying of thirst, and you wouldn't turn down a freak job opportunity when it's offered, so why not travel if you want to travel? If I could make a solo move to NYC at age 23 having never been on a train, I figured I could certainly travel alone in my early 30's.
2. Find a landmark and make it yours
Every destination has a memorable landmark which you can use as your compass. For me, they are usually massive fountains in the middle of a memorable plaza. Each outing I would journey a little bit further away from my original landmark until I identified new ones all over the city and knew exactly where I was. I found comfort in these landmarks every evening in Lisbon, and they made me feel safe as if they were my lighthouses guiding me home.
3. Hanger is a real thing
My first few days alone in Portugal, I found myself going hungry because I couldn't read or understand menus. I walked in and back out of at least 5 restaurants one evening before accepting defeat and going home hungry. I received many stares from locals, and I felt stupid. It was frustrating. The next day I found a few restaurants, cafe's and eateries recommended by TripAdvisor and pinned them on my Google map. All of them had some menu items listed in English and all were good. Having these as a backup plan made me feel more secure - and kept me full!
4. Sit and "be" with yourself
My first day alone in Barcelona I found a cafe in a plaza (near a fountain!) where there was live music and an open table. I sat by myself and ordered a glass of wine and grilled veggies with goat cheese. No phone, no distractions, just completely present. I'd never truly done this at home unless I was waiting for someone else to join me. It wasn't the best meal I had there, but it was the most memorable because I pushed myself to do something outside my comfort zone. It took me some time to be able to do this, but I found that I absolutely loved the freedom of it.
5. When in doubt, point it out
Don't know where you are or need to pee? Use your hands and make gestures - when in doubt point it out. Most train stations and information booths have free maps which you can collect to help you navigate around or point to for help. They work wonders when you don't speak the local language. And as you stand there pointing and gesturing and inevitably feeling like a monkey, reconsider Darwin's theory of evolution and laugh at yourself.
6. If you want to turn left, turn left
Keeping your landmark in mind, turn and wind along pathways and explore. Turn left if you want to turn left, stop if you want to stop, and eat when you want to eat. The beauty in being alone is doing whatever your mind and body tells you to do. Nothing you do is wrong.
7. Free walking tours are a Godsend
Almost every city I've ever visited advertises a free walking tour that are easily found. Often you can sign up for them online. Every one I've done has been amazing! In a few hour's time, you can see a lot of the city's highlights and learn a bit about its history and culture. This is also an easy way to meet people and get local recommendations from your guide. They're the first thing I do when alone in a new city.
Guided tours can be expensive, but also another amazing way to fill your day. You'll forget you're alone, because you’re not! Viator, TripAdvisor, and AirBnb also offer some great local recommendations.
8. Push yourself
Do things you wouldn't normally do: listen to music you don’t think you’d normally, like, try food you wouldn't normally eat, and have conversations with locals. Even if you end up hating all three, you've at least experimented with something new and broadened your horizons.
9. Shopping, the universal language
I stumbled upon this adorable boutique in Seville, Spain and felt like I was back in NYC.
If I ever find myself ready to give up, or missing home, I find a clothing store and walk inside. It's an easy way to find equilibrium and forget where you are, geographically speaking. The frustration you carry into the store will quickly dissipate and your decision-making is focused on “Should I buy this or that?” That provides a comfortable familiarity in an otherwise unfamiliar locale.
10. Write it down
Take a few moments each day and journal what you did, what you saw, or things you learned. It's a great way to not only remember the day’s activities but also to continue a dialog with yourself. By the end of your journey, you'll see how much you've accomplished and be proud. These lists are also great to send to friends vacationing in the same location later on.
