In September 2019 I took a solo trip to Budapest and Vienna.
The thought of travelling on my own for the first time made me feel a bit apprehensive. But I’m glad I went. Doing whatever you want to do, eating where (and when) you want to eat, going where you want to go – or simply doing nothing – is strangely liberating when you’re used to fitting in with what your travelling companions – even those you love dearly! – want to do.
But can also be a little unsettling. Sometimes I found it hard to decide what to do and would have welcomed suggestions! At other times I felt a bit isolated. But those feelings didn’t last long – there was always someone to talk to – and at the end of the trip I felt that I had passed a little test, a test of my own ability to live in a foreign country for a few days without any of my usual support systems.
Everyone should go for a solo trip abroad, even if it’s just for a weekend. You learn a lot about yourself and, if you’re like me, it will make you appreciate your friends and family just a little bit more when you get back.
