If you think about it, the idea of travel in general seems totally unnatural. Stepping into a big metal machine that flies through the air, emerging on the other side into an area of the world that is completely foreign to you, where they may not speak your language, and finding your way around. One could argue that the very nature of travel is to step out of your comfort zone. While the idea of going with one other person or a group seems more comfortable, there is no better way to learn the most about the world, and about yourself, than through independent adventure. We spoke with two professional solo travelers who shared their experiences, their anxieties, and the lessons-learned along their journeys.

Be Prepared

Whether you decide to embark on a solo vacation for adventure, for cultural exploration, or for self-reflection, it is important to be prepared. A backpacking trip is best with light luggage, but always make sure to carry the essentials, like a quick-dry towel and a travel sheet. Taylor Fuller, of “Travel Colorfully,” has backpacked through several continents, and noted the importance of a destination plan to ease the stress of arrival.

“I will always book at least one night of accommodation so that I always have a place to go the day that I arrive,” said Fuller. “I stay at a lot of hostels.”

Besides making sure that you have packed succinctly, mental preparation is equally important to alleviate any pre-solo travel jitters, such as fear of safety in a foreign place, or getting lost abroad. Travel blogger Jacklyn Shields, of “Get Lost With Jackie,” has traversed the globe by herself, and knows these anxieties all too well. She offered some advice for how to prepare mentally.

“I read a lot of blogs. Alyssa from ‘My Life’s a Movie,’ Kiersten from ‘The Blonde Abroad,’ and Kate from ‘Adventurous Kate’ really got me through that first trip,” said Shields. “I think that seeing these other young women doing what I was attempting to do gave me the confidence I needed to do it. I don’t know if I would have been so apt to travel by myself if I didn’t know that other women were doing it safely.”

Jacklyn Shields, of “Get Lost With Jackie,” stands outside the Palace of Versailles.

Fuller also had her fair share of worries before her first solo travel experience, but maintained the fact that her independent ventures have helped her grow. After traveling with six other women, she described her evolution of self through solo travel.

“It’s definitely taken me out of my shell. I used to be really introverted and not really comfortable talking to strangers, and now I talk to anyone,” said Fuller. “After having a built-in friend group, and then having to sit in a hostel [alone] and spark up a conversation was really hard for me the first time. Now, the first person I see I start talking to immediately.”

Fuller has also noticed a development of a higher sense of safety while abroad, which she said she owes to solo travel.

“Beforehand, even traveling in groups, I was always afraid to do certain things. I think because I’ve traveled by myself, I’m more aware of my surroundings,” she said.  “Sometimes I feel safer being by myself than I do in a big group, when you kind of have your guard down.”

Taylor Fuller, of “Travel Colorfully,” sits in the open-air yoga studio at Maderas Village in Maderas, Nicaragua.

Solo Travel: Keeping Your Head

While safety is a priority for most anyone who is traveling, Shields agreed that you would be doing yourself a disservice to travel alone with constant anxieties. It is natural to feel a sense of unease in a place where you don’t know anyone – or anything – around you. She offered some helpful tips for the moments of concern.

“Have a really good relaxing music playlist, and have it downloaded so you don’t have to use Wi-Fi, which can be really expensive,” said Shields. “I could walk around the city and have fears and anxieties a few minutes before that, but I could just put on that playlist and it would just bring me to a comfort space while completely out of my comfort zone.”

Once you are able to let go of the worry, solo travel offers the chance for experiences that you may not have had with a group, as it forces you to interact with your surroundings. Not having a set schedule, or anyone to compromise with, allows for complete immersion in your travel experience, and the chance for fulfilling spontaneity. Both Fuller and Shields recalled accidental findings and moments with locals that they may not have run into if they had to compromise their itineraries with travel mates. Shields fondly described one such incident where a stray dog started following her while on foot on the Amalfi Coast.

“I walked past a restaurant and there were people sitting outside talking, and they said ‘Is that your dog?’ and I was like ‘no, I don’t know where it came from,’” she said. “So I just chatted with them for a little bit and then went on my way.”

After a two-hour walk, and canine companion still in tow, Shields walked past the same restaurant, where the patrons she first spoke with were still sitting. They joked about her four-legged follower, and asked her to join them for dinner. They talked well into the night.

“If I had planned that day out to-a-T, there’s no way I would have ever stumbled upon those people,” said Shields, who remains their friend. “I think if I was with someone else, I would have been less likely to not only sit, but sit for so long.”

Accepting Differences

It should be noted that while letting your guard down while traveling can be rewarding, the world is full of people with different ideologies, cultures, and customs than what you are used to. Fuller and Shields both spoke of experiences that were less than ideal, but expressed, in one way or another, that the solution is in your approach. Fuller described an incident in a hostel in Panama in which her flexibility (that she attributed to solo travel!) worked out in her favor.

“I walked in and these old French men were in the room not wearing clothes, and it was just really uncomfortable for me as a female solo traveler. I have no problem staying in a room with older people, but like, put on some clothes,” she laughed. “So I just went downstairs to the front, and unfortunately they couldn’t move me because the hostel was full. I ended up just leaving because I felt uncomfortable. ”

If the image of French senior citizens in the buff is not enough to get you to hop on a plane for a solo trip, then we’re not sure what will. But in case you need that last push, Shields offered some words of encouragement.

“Just book the ticket. Once you book the ticket, you are committed, even if it is something small,” said Shields. “I think that there is a whole other world for you to discover on the other side of that solo trip, and you will look at the world completely differently.”

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