This year of 2017 has definitely been life-changing for me. One of the most pivotal moments was my first solo trip to Amsterdam. To see what I learned from my first solo trip read more below!
1. Be confident
I didn’t think I needed confidence for a solo trip but I quickly realized that I did! I had to be confident on venturing out on my own. I had never gone on a vacation by myself and it was kinda intimidating to do it. Having confidence within was key for me to not only step onto the plane, but to also plan and enjoy the whole week on my own in another country.
2. Have no fear
Similar to having confidence, having no fear is important to travelling on your own for the first time. I remember leaving my hotel room on the first day in Amsterdam. I was so scared! Thoughts of people staring at me wondering why I was alone, to getting lost ran through by brain. I almost turned around to head back into my hotel room. As soon as these thoughts ran through my mind I knew I had to get tough and face my fears! I immidently took a big gulp and headed out to explore. Best decision ever!
3. Go with the flow
If you have a type A personality this one is for you. Let loose and go with the flow! I’d say that I’m definitely a planner and had planned all of the activities that I’d do while in Amsterdam. But something happened…As I started exploring and getting to know the city more and meeting so many locals and fellow travellers I quickly realized that at times, I wouldn’t be able to do things as planned. Going with the flow allowed me to meet new people, visit new restaurants and visit another country (Brussels).
4. Explore
Exploring is key to having fun while on a solo trip. Everyday that I was in Europe I made it a point to go out to experience something new. Doing this gave me the opportunity to not only learn about the country I was visiting but also provided me with the opportunity to immerse myself with the culture, engage in tourist activities and meet new people.
5. Safety first
This part is self explanatory. Always being aware of where I was, the environment, and who was around me was of utmost importance while traveling alone. I tended not to stay out late if I was out on my own and I only had drinks that I purchased myself.
6. Have some cash on you
Not every store you go to will have an interact or credit card machine available. I always made sure to have some cash on me. It’s also important to have some cash on hand in case of emergencies!
7. Enjoy your own company
This was by far one of the most important lesson I learned from my first solo vacation. It’s so important to enjoy your own company while solo travelling. On some days you’ll find yourself alone and doing things on your own. You have to be ok with your own company.
8. Have fun!
It was an amazing time in my life when I decided to travel on my own. By far it was definitely one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. I had so much fun getting out of my comfort zone and exploring a county on my own!
xo,
Eseeri
