Do you ever want to travel with friends that would also love to travel, but they never actually commit to taking a trip with you? The urge to explore is so strong you think, why can’t I just go by myself? As a solo traveler, especially as a young woman, there are definitely some risks to consider. Where do I start? Can I handle it on my own? Will I get lonely? Will it be enjoyable without my friends or family? Will I have trouble communicating? What if I get lost? Will I be safe? These are all valid concerns, especially as a first time traveler. I would definitely recommend traveling with a buddy—it is a preferable way to go for safety reasons, but it’s totally possible to travel on your own and have an amazing experience!
Traveling Abroad
When traveling abroad, it’s important to make sure you’ve done your research. Do you know where you want to visit? What kind of things do you want to do and see? Do you want to go on any tours? What kind of transportation will be needed? Where should you stay? How much will this cost? What kind of currency will you need?
Take the time to find what is right for you and your needs. I can be pretty laid back and I’m also not the best planner. I would rather figure out where I want to go and find a way to have someone else plan everything out so that all I have to do is sign up and pay and not have to worry about anything. There are touring companies out there that are meant for this kind of convenience.
Of course, when you get to where you’re going you don’t necessarily have to follow their itinerary, but keep in mind if it’s on the itinerary and you’ve already paid for it it’s probably worth it to experience. Also, most tours don’t last the entire day (unless you’re traveling to a different city). Most likely you’ll go on a tour and then you can do whatever you want for the rest of the day. Planning everything on your own is an option if you want complete freedom in your travels. It’s helpful to look at other websites for itinerary ideas, reviews on where to stay and where to play.
The company I went with, EF College Break, provides a tour director that stays with you for the entirety of the trip, hotel/hostels, transportation, and guided tours. Traveling in groups can help keep the costs down because most places offer discounts to large groups. Also there is safety in numbers!
Traveling with Strangers
I was confident in the tour company I chose for my first solo trip abroad. I was excited to be somewhere new and meet new people. But I was also nervous about traveling with strangers. What kind of people was I about to meet? Would our personalities clash? What would it be like to be with these people practically 24 hours a day for 12 days? I decided not to worry about it, the trip was paid for, this was an exciting moment for me, and I was ready for an adventure.
My first solo trip abroad was to Peru, and with being in a foreign place, I needed to be aware of the language barrier—but luckily I know enough of the basics of Spanish to get by. I flew out of Miami by myself, and I met my fellow travelers when I arrived in Lima. The initial ‘finding’ of my tour group was nerve-racking. Entering a foreign airport that you kind of have to guess where to go to find baggage claim and find people you’ve never met definitely gave me anxiety. Honestly, I had no clue where to go and I went up to random groups of people that looked like maybe they spoke English to see if they were part of my travel group. When I finally figured out where to go, I easily found my group because they were holding a sign with the tour company’s name. Sometimes it’s too easy to feel overwhelmed and get flustered about things, that we forget to just take a breath and use common sense. I’ve learned that when entering an uncomfortable situation, it’s better just to relax and take it as it comes. If there’s no present danger, you’re probably going to be okay. 
The travel group was 15 people ages 18-28, and initially everyone seemed friendly and polite, like new people usually are. It was nice to find out that there were a couple other solo travelers a part of the group. The first day was filled with small talk and a walking tour around the area of our hotel. The first night we had a group dinner where we had drinks and got to loosen up a little. We were better able to feel each other out and learn what we all wanted to get out of the trip. The great thing about being in a group is that you will find a few people that are on the exact same page as you and want to do everything you want to, and you just hit it off right away like you’ve always been friends—you just have to be open to it. The first night I roomed alone because my trip roommate missed her connecting flight to Lima. 
The next day I met her and we got a long great. Fortunately our group was on the smaller side, and everyone was generally really awesome, so it was easy to find a buddy to explore the city with. For example, there was an opportunity to go on a horseback riding tour—it didn’t really interest me, and I wasn’t alone. Two others in the group didn’t want to go either, so instead we took our time getting lost in the city!
New Trip, New Travelers
I decided to rebook a tour with EF College Break because I had such a good experience. But would this next trip be as great? How would it be with this new, larger group of travelers? My second solo trip abroad was to Spain, and I didn’t go in with any expectations. I mean, how could I? I’ve never been there and I hadn’t met these people before. (well, to be honest, my one expectation was to strut like I mean it… like the Cheetah Girls).
Like my last trip abroad, I left from the Miami International Airport by myself and met my fellow travelers in Barcelona! When I landed, I applied what I learned from my past experience, and I calmly made my way through customs and baggage claim. I easily found my group—holding a sign of course. This time the group was much larger, about 35 people. I was curious about who I would end up bonding with the most.
Coincidently, my trip roommate also flew out of Miami. We were inseparable the whole trip! We vibed really well together and were always on the same page. We wanted the same things out of the trip: to go to all the tours we signed up for, explore cool spots, and experience the city’s daytime culture and exciting night life. There was also a small group within the bigger group that wanted to experience the Spanish nightlife, so we’d often all go out together. It was nice to have a buddy to leave the party early to rest up for another day full of adventure—and a 7am tour.
Tension
With such a big group there were bound to be moments of tension. Some people would be ready early for a tour, and perceive everyone who would show up on time as being late and holding the whole group back. Or if a group of us was heading out to experience the nightlife, and we ended up passing the ‘time sensitive’ people heading back to the hostel for the night, they would look at us with judging eyes and ask if we would be ready in time tomorrow. So maybe I was part of the “party group” but you know what, we were never late for a tour. 
Even though some people tried to create drama, it’s best to not let it get to you. Don’t let it take over your trip. Some people just like to stir the pot. But you’re not traveling for them, you’re traveling for you. It wasn’t a surprise that personalities clashed, but the tension was often unnecessary. The best thing to do is not to feed in to it. Keep a positive attitude and remind yourself why you went on this trip. And remember, after this trip you’ll never see these people again.
Over all, this second trip was amazing and I did meet many wonderful people that got along pretty well. I would not trade that experience for anything, and would love to revisit Spain again with the people I’ve met!
Your trip is what you make of it. Expect to be late and expect things to go wrong, because they will. But that doesn’t mean that anything is ruined in anyway. Say you woke up late and missed your tour, instead of getting upset and letting it ruin your day or trip, see if anything can be done about it. If not, then there are plenty of alternatives. Sometimes traveling abroad is about getting lost, expecting the unexpected and making the most of it. If you’re traveling to a new place, remember it’s new to you! Take it all in and find positivity and beauty in the little things.
take it with almond milk or, when it’s seasonal, pumpkin spice! And let me tell you, it’s not the sugary chemicals you get at *other* places. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this coffee shop is… but one last thing, I suggest the pistachio muffin!
Locals are passionate about keeping our beaches clean. Because of their efforts not only do you get soft, sugar-like sand, you will experience minimal litter on any Marco beach. You will also find that the beaches here rarely crowded, so it’s always a fun and relaxing experience.
Arrive Away 