Solo travel isn’t just a trip—it’s a quiet transformation. It’s where confidence sharpens, intuition strengthens, and the world mirrors back parts of you that you didn’t know were waiting to be discovered.
I’ve always been the friend who travels with a group or brings someone along. My thinking was simple:
“If you’re going to pay for a hotel, you might as well bring a friend. Travel is much more fun with people you love.”
And that is true. Group trips are beautiful.
But there are moments in life when you owe yourself a solo journey—and I highly recommend taking it.
My recent solo trip to Paris changed me. I have never felt more inspired, more free, more focused, independent, or self-reliant than I did walking those Parisian streets on my own.
🚇 Public Transportation vs. Taxis: Why the Metro Became My Best Friend
On group trips, you usually have:
- a personal driver
- a tour guide
- a friend who “figures it out”
On a solo trip, you are all of those people.
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is how you move around:
public transportation vs. taxis.
I highly recommend choosing public transportation.
Why?
- It’s often safer than hopping into random taxis in a foreign country.
- You feel a stronger sense of security being around other people.
- You get to learn about the city and how it breathes.
- Little “mistakes” turn into unexpected discoveries.
If you’re not a city person and you’re used to driving everywhere, this can feel intimidating. But trust me: it gets easier.
Ask the bus driver.
Ask the metro worker.
Ask someone at the station how to read the map.
And yes—Google Maps is your silent travel companion.
On my first day taking public transportation back to my hotel in Paris, I was confused. I live in New York and understand our chaotic MTA system, so I assumed Paris would be similar.
It’s not.
Paris is actually simpler in many ways. Most metro tracks have their own dedicated train line, so you don’t have multiple lines fighting for the same track like in NYC (unless you’re going outside of Paris).
Once a metro worker showed me how to read the line maps posted plainly on each platform, everything shifted. It became a game changer.
By the next day, I was moving like a Parisian—strolling, switching lines, and getting to my destinations on time, without getting lost or stressed.
👂 Stay Alert: Take Off the Noise-Cancelling Headphones
One of my biggest safety rules for solo travel—especially on public transportation:
Take off the headphones.
Stay present. Listen. Observe.
- Hear the hum and clatter of the trains
- Listen to the mix of voices and languages
- Watch how people move and interact
Not only does this keep you safer and less “obviously touristy,” it opens you up to human connection.
You might:
- catch a warning glance that something isn’t right
- notice someone watching you a little too closely
- or even strike up a conversation with a local who gives you the best tip of your entire trip
Staying alert isn’t about being paranoid. It’s about being awake to your surroundings.
🌱 Flexibility = Unexpected Magic
One of the greatest joys of solo travel is flexibility.
You’re not negotiating with anyone else’s mood, energy, or schedule. You can follow your curiosity wherever it leads.
On my first day out in Paris, I sat down for brunch and opened the tea menu. One tea caught my attention: Mariage Frères. The scent was incredible.
When I looked at the tea bag, I noticed it listed the address of the store that sold it. Right then, I decided:
“I have to go there.”
So I did.
Walking into the Mariage Frères store felt like stepping into a temple of tea—rich aromas, beautiful tins, a sense of ceremony in the air. I bought my new favorite tea (and a few others), and I regret not buying more. When I later checked online, the prices were much higher than what I paid in-store. Now, each time I brew it at home, I’m not just drinking tea. I’m savoring a memory.
That’s the gift of flexibility on a solo trip:
- an unexpected tea shop
- a side street you suddenly wander down
- a recommendation from a stranger
These moments add depth and vitality to your journey.
🛡️ Safety & Boundaries: Especially for Solo Women Travelers
There’s something else you need to be mindful of when traveling solo, especially as a woman: the questions people ask you.
Innocent-sounding questions like:
- “Are you traveling alone?”
- “Are you married?”
- “What do you do for a living?”
- Never share your hotel location.
- Boundaries are protection — not paranoia.
may seem casual, but how you answer them matters.
My approach: be quick-witted and protect your privacy.
- “Are you traveling alone?”
→ “I’m here with friends.” and then redirect: “How about you?” - “Are you married?”
→ “Yes.”
No extra details necessary. No stranger is entitled to personal information about your life, relationship status, or travel arrangements. You’re already taking a risk by being in an unfamiliar place—there is no need to increase that risk by oversharing with people you don’t know.
Give yourself:
- privacy
- protection
- and permission to say less, not more.
Stay alert. Be discerning. And trust your instincts.
Your Intuition Is Your Oldest Passport
You can master every safety rule, but the most reliable compass you have is the one you were born with:
If your spirit whispers no, listen.
If something feels off — it is.
If a person feels strange — they are.
Intuition is the first safety tool every woman carries.
Solo travel simply teaches you to trust it more deeply.
In the End…
Solo travel will ask you to:
- be more aware
- be more resourceful
- be more present
But in exchange, it will give you:
- confidence
- independence
- unforgettable stories
- and a deeper relationship with yourself
Traveling with loved ones will always be beautiful.
But a solo trip?
That’s where you meet the version of you who can handle so much more than you ever imagined.
