What Solo Travel Taught Me About Confidence, Fear, and Freedom

Let's talk about a topic that is becoming increasingly popular and what I've learned from it.

Just you, a plane ticket, and an adventure ahead! At least that's what we caption our Instagram post.

When in reality, it's more like learn confidence while traveling, don't let fear consume you, and are we really sure we like the freedom?

So let's talk about some things you can do while traveling independently without having a internal crisis about it all.

1. CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE

I just know some of you just cringed reading that. One reason being the checked baggage fees airlines are charging. If you're like me it's I am on my $5000 trip in my $10 Walmart dress, do you think I am going to be paying $100 for checked bags?

Here's my issue. There I am sitting at the airport waiting for my flight and I decide to sit down at restaurant and have some preflight food and beverages. Now, I have to use the restroom. If you haven't noticed the restrooms are not in these airport restaurants, meaning either leave your comfy setup with food and drinks because you have to grab everything and bring it with you, OR take the chance the person next to you isn't listening to the 10380 announcements of not leaving packages or baggage unattended and trusting when you ask them to watch it, that you aren't trying to set you both up on the no fly list for life. It personally causes me unnecessary stress to make that decision, so when I don't have my gorgeous new baby blue roller bag with me it's a lot easier to tell the waitress, I'll be right back and bring just your backpack and purse with you. Those people are working hard so we can't be asking them to watch our things vs. just telling them that they know not to clear your table. When you have less things to carry around you can move a lot easier.

2. Learning Confidence

There is something liberating about doing things all by yourself, but for people like me who get a little self-conscious sometimes, it can also be daunting. You don't have the distraction of conversations with others in your party to keep you from looking around at all the people and wondering things.

Listen very carefully, YOU WALK AROUND LIKE YOU OWN THE PLACE!!

You can be thinking a 10932 different things, you walk with your head held high, eyes forward, and focused on getting to your destination. Act like you have not a care in the world, because you are rocking this. (You really are though!)

3. Safety

I'll tell you what I tell people all the time, when I wear heels, I am easily over 6 feet tall, broad shoulders, and you better have eaten your Wheaties trying to pick me up, add in my pent-up anger and I wish a MF would.

But I am not naive to the fact being a woman alone in places can get dangerous very quickly. I highly suggest investing in some be headphones that have settings like be aware mode.

My Favorite is linked below:

https://amzn.to/42DWxwP

You'll be able to jam out and hear what's going on around you so no surprises.

Also, share your location with your family or friends back home while checking in periodically including plans you have for that day. If you book with Worth the Miles Travel, you can even send them your travel itinerary.

A scary but true fact as well is wearing a smartwatch with GPS locating technology, for they have proven more than their worth if something does happen in piecing together timelines.

Don't ever put yourself in a position where the time being had is clouding your decision-making skills. You start to feel like you're having too good of a time, there's your cue to head back to your room.

DO NOT TELL PEOPLE YOU ARE TRAVELING ALONE!

Now this is where the FEAR from the headline comes in. Please have a little bit every now and again to keep yourself safe.

4. FREEDOM

I truly believe you won't know what you are capable in this life until you try it. There is a sense of Freedom from all the roles you might play in your normal life when you travel by yourself. You get to leave it all behind and just be you. I always get amazed when I go to a conference by myself and the way I get to introduce myself. I don't have to answer Lane's Mom, Matt's Wife, Paul/Liz daughter, I just get to simply answer Sam and that's all I am known as. It is empowering. Do it more often.

Now I know some of these things might not resonate with everyone and that's ok too. I don't ever want the unknown to keep you from experiencing this amazing world. Because it really is that.

So even if everyone backs out of the plans, no one else can get the time off, or doesn't want to go where you want to, Go Anyway! Being alone can be scary, but so can regrets.

As always Take the Trip

-Samantha

Owner/Agent

Worth the Miles Travel