Here’s the truth: sometimes I am scared. Sometimes I overthink everything. Sometimes I spiral before a big trip, imagining everything from getting lost in a foreign city to being the awkward solo diner again. Anxiety and solo travel aren’t mutually exclusive—in fact, they’re old travel companions of mine.

But I’ve also found ways to manage it. If you’re an anxious traveler or even just a little bit nervous about going solo, this one’s for you.

You’re Not Weird for Feeling This Way

First things first—feeling anxious about solo travel doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it. It just means your brain is doing its very best to keep you safe. It’s totally normal to worry about the unknown. I mean, you’re putting yourself out there in a totally unfamiliar place, possibly where you don’t know the language, the customs, or even how to buy a metro ticket. That’s a lot.

But with time, practice, and a few little mindset shifts, travel can actually help with anxiety, not make it worse.

The self efficacy I’ve built from solo travel has helped me have so much more confidence in myself than I could have otherwise gained had I never bought that one way ticket.

Read Next

The Best Places to Solo Travel in the USA

Start Small and Go Easy on Yourself

You don’t have to start your solo journey with a remote mountain trek in Patagonia. My first solo trip was to Thailand, which—yes— may seem big and bold, but I chose it because it had a well-worn backpacker trail and tons of friendly locals. Pick a destination that feels manageable. Somewhere that’s known for being solo-travel friendly, with traveler infrastructure in place and easy ways to get around.

Also, give yourself grace. It’s okay if the first night is weird. It’s okay if you cry a little on the plane (been there). Just because it’s uncomfortable at first doesn’t mean it’s wrong—it means you’re doing something new and growing in the process.

Pre-Plan the Stressy Stuff

Anxiety loves uncertainty, so remove as much of that as you can ahead of time.

• Book your first few nights’ accommodations in advance. Knowing you have a safe place to land helps immensely.
• Download Google Maps offline and mark places you want to visit. I also star interesting restaurants, cute coffee shops, and metro stations.
• Have a rough itinerary but stay flexible. Plans help soothe anxious minds, but rigid ones can add pressure.

Think of this as pre-paving your runway so takeoff feels smoother.

Read Next:

25 Unexpectedly Awesome Solo Female Travel Destinations

Travel Tools That Calm My Nervous System

Let’s talk tools, because I love a good hack.

• Noise-canceling headphones: They block out overstimulating environments and help me feel grounded in airports, just be super aware of when you use them – walking around a busy city that’s known for pickpocketing is a time to be aware of your surroundings, so earbuds out.
• Meditation apps like Insight Timer or Calm: Even five minutes of deep breathing in my hostel bunk can hit reset.
• Journaling: I jot down thoughts when I’m spiraling or when I need a little perspective. Something about seeing the worry on paper helps shrink it.
• Therapy or coaching: I’ve done phone sessions on the road, especially during long trips. Having support is not weakness—it’s smart.

Meeting People Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming

If social anxiety is part of the picture, the idea of meeting strangers while traveling can feel like a lot. I get it.

Here’s what’s helped me:

• Stay in places with built-in community. Hostels (which will feel comfortable up until around age 30), boutique guesthouses, or even yoga or women’s retreats offer easy ways to connect.
• Use Bumble BFF or Meetup. Both are great for finding other solo travelers or local events.
• Take a class or walking tour. You get to meet people and do something structured, which makes conversation easier.

You don’t have to become the life of the party. You just need one solid connection to feel less alone.

Give Yourself Permission to Opt Out

You don’t have to say yes to everything. You don’t have to climb the volcano at 4 a.m. just because everyone else is doing it. You can skip the big group dinner if your social battery is dead. You can order room service and watch Netflix in your hotel bed.

Solo travel is the ultimate permission slip to do exactly what you need.

The Beautiful, Brave Payoff

Here’s the magical thing that happens when you travel solo with anxiety: You start to trust yourself. Every time you navigate a new city, figure out public transport, or simply enjoy a day on your own terms, you collect evidence that you can do this. You’re building emotional resilience and confidence in the most beautiful way.

Traveling alone has never “cured” my anxiety, but it’s made me stronger, softer, and more self-aware. It’s shown me that fear doesn’t have to run the show. And maybe, just maybe, that the biggest adventure is getting to know—and trust—yourself.

Have you traveled solo with anxiety? What helped you most? I’d love to hear your story in the comments. 💬

I’m not sure how you’ll feel about this update — especially those of you who have been here with me from the beginning — but I can’t hold it in anymore, and although it feels scary to share, it’s time.

About six months ago. I promised you guys an update about this blog and the state of things. I backpedaled on that because to be honest, I didn’t want to publicly admit how much my numbers have fallen but it’s no secret anymore.

Blogging is a dying industry.

Many of my peers will point to the rise of AI as the cause — and it certainly plays a part — but the truth is, the unraveling started long before ChatGPT came onto the scene. We traded story for strategy, connection for clicks, and authenticity for algorithms.

So in the spirit of how blogging used to be — a personal story you could cozy up to with a mug of hot tea before bed — this is a post that doesn’t care about SEO. It doesn’t care about Google, or AI, or any of it.

It’s just me. Talking to you. Like we used to.

So without further ado, let’s go back in time a little bit, shall we?

To where the story all began.

The Relentless Pursuit of Adventure

The year was 2010. I was sitting in my grey cubicle in Newport Beach, staring blankly at a spreadsheet when a friend sent me a link to something I didn’t even know existed — travel blogs, written by women, traveling alone. It was a small community back then, a handful of people quietly living the dream that had once felt so out of reach for someone like me. A dream I was too scared to even say out loud.

I didn’t know anyone who had made travel their full-time life without a book deal or a trust fund. But these women were out there, telling their stories, updating from the road, and inviting strangers into their journey. I couldn’t stop reading. I was captivated. And from that day forward, I couldn’t unsee the possibility. The idea had taken root.

Two years later, armed with a brand new URL and a carry-on bag, I stepped onto a one-way flight to Bangkok and decided to see if I could become one of them too.

What’s followed since then has been more than a decade of change — of evolution, of reinvention, and of a community that once felt like a tiny family growing into something enormous and, at times, unrecognizable.

Back then, we weren’t in it for fame or fortune. We certainly weren’t in it for the photoshoots in ballgowns on mountaintops. (My fellow backpackers from the early 2010s — can you even imagine watching someone haul a flowy dress up to Doi Suthep for a photoshoot?) No, it was about something else entirely.

It was about the story.

We wrote like we were scribbling in our diaries. Raw. Personal. Unfiltered. The best posts could transport you across oceans. I checked obsessively for updates from my favorite bloggers. I felt like I knew them. Their victories felt like my own. Their heartbreaks hit close to home.

I left a job that made me six figures by age 24 for this dream, but we weren’t chasing money — we were chasing freedom — messy, beautiful, uncertain freedom. We were in pursuit of our own version of Alex Garland’s The Beach, or Jack Kerouac’s Dharma Bums.

Each day on the road and each new sweaty and dirty adventure was a victory. Living off of street food in Southeast Asia, bartering in local markets, learning the firsthand, on-the-ground way how to say “thank you” in seven different languages. We gave up corporate ladders and reliable paychecks for bare feet and sweaty nights in dorm rooms – the kind of fulfillment you can’t put in a LinkedIn bio.

The money came slowly, if at all. I remember being thrilled to get $100 for embedding a hidden link in a blog post — that covered ten nights in a hostel. I churned out freelance articles for $75 a pop – and churn them out I could. Speed writing had been one of my greatest strengths, but it turns out it’s not even a skill anyone wants or needs anymore (but I’m getting ahead of myself here – don’t you know how this story ends?).

It was gritty and exhausting and uncertain, but it was real. I didn’t care if it was sustainable. It was life on my terms.

The Halcyon Years

And then, around 2015, something shifted.

Brands started to take notice. The audience we had painstakingly grown over years of storytelling suddenly had value. We were no longer just wanderers with a WordPress account — we were “influencers” before that was even a word people said with a straight face. The money was still modest, but we were getting comped and sometimes even paid trips and, for the first time, it felt like this might actually work.

I moved to Berlin where rent was (then) modest. I still traveled for 75% of the year, leaving behind an apartment, and hitchhiked and adventured around the globe. I still cared about the adventure beyond all else, but something else started happening too – I could invest in my IRA again. I could buy my own hotel room and leave the dorms behind. I could have some comforts.

Those, to me, were the golden years — 2015 to 2018 — when the travel blogging world still felt intimate and full of promise. We met up at conferences, partied in random corners of the globe, and cheered each other on. There was still soul in it, still room for vulnerability, and still a hunger for connection.

But slowly, quietly, something else was happening.

SEO became the new currency. The heartfelt stories started to fade, replaced by how-to guides and itineraries. And I was part of that shift. My personal posts didn’t rank on Google, but my “Southeast Asia backpacking checklist” did. It made money. People were searching for it. And that changed everything.

Looking back, I have regrets. I miss those messy, meandering personal stories — both reading and writing them. But most of us pivoted because we had to. We were building businesses. And the storytelling that had once been our heart and soul was no longer the thing that paid the bills.

The Rise of the Influencer

By 2019, I started to feel disillusioned. What had once been about discovery and connection had become about aesthetic. The wild, sweaty, real adventures were being replaced by perfectly posed photos in silk dresses at sunrise. Instagram became a highlight reel — not of real life, but of what we wanted people to believe.

I deleted the app for a while and my assistant (OMG, I had an assistant!) had to take over the posting for me. I was sick of the fakeness, the filters, the perfection. Places we loved were being loved to death. The quiet spots we once stumbled upon were now overrun, geotagged into oblivion.

And worst of all? The story was gone. In its place was content — a word we never used back in the early days. Back then it was writing. It was photography. It was a post. Now it was just content to be consumed, ranked, and regurgitated.

The pandemic accelerated everything. Blogging exploded — not with travelers, but with copycats. People were writing guides about places they’d never even been to. They’d skim existing posts, reword them, slap on some affiliate links, and hit publish. Quantity trumped quality. SEO was king. And it worked.

Even I played the game.

I deleted old storytelling posts that didn’t rank – the vulnerable ones that had built my dedicated audience are now nowhere to be found. I doubled down on search-friendly content. It boosted my traffic. It made me money. But at what cost?

The soul of what we built was quietly disappearing.

Comment pods became the norm — influencers colluding to artificially boost each other’s engagement. If you’ve ever seen ten influencers all comment “OMG, unreal” on each other’s photos, that’s what that is. It was never about you, the reader. It was about the algorithm.

I’m glad I never stooped to joining a comment pod, but in many ways that left me behind.

We weren’t storytellers anymore. We were marketers. And I hated it.

It’s also the time when I made the most money.

Present Day – Where Will We Go?

The rise of the influencer wasn’t just a trend I observed — it was when my business exploded. I had employees. I was juggling tours, the blog, YouTube, Instagram — dipping a toe (or diving headfirst) into every opportunity I could. On the outside, it probably looked like success. But the more this industry grew, the more I found myself on a hamster wheel, constantly launching, constantly comparing. Someone else was always making more, growing faster, and it never felt like enough.

Still, that’s the nature of this business. It’s exhilarating, and it’s exhausting.

At one point, we did what so many business owners do when the going is good — we leaned hard into what worked – Google. Over 90% of mine and every other blogger’s traffic came from rankings. Then March 2024 hit. A Google update wiped out years of work for many bloggers overnight. I escaped that one, but the updates that followed — with AI-generated answers taking over the top of search — have hit hard (here’s a blog post by Amanda Williams that does a good job of explaining everything if you want the details). Now, unless someone really wants a personalized take, there’s no reason to click through to a blog post anymore.

My newer site, ParenthoodAdventures.com, and the solo female travel content here are still holding strong — because they’re built on a voice and 13 years of experience that AI can’t quite replicate. But it’s a far cry from the days this blog brought in $20K a month.

I’m one of the lucky ones. I was smart about saving and investing when the money was good. I’m not worried. And more than anything, I understand that this space has always been about change. Back when we were selling links, we all thought that was the model. Then Facebook, Pinterest, Google — each one had its time. And each time the tide shifted, those who didn’t evolve got left behind.

So yes, a lot of bloggers are angry. They feel something was stolen from them. But to be honest, I think the industry was always on borrowed time. It’s just that the changes are coming faster now.

So, What am I doing now?

Well, I’m still here. And like always, I’ve evolved. I started a new Instagram that outperforms my old one — totally organically, no comment pods, no tricks. I leaned into what I know: sharing the beauty of the world, usefulness, and connection. And I started working as a travel advisor, partnering with incredible hotels and planning trips for families — often while traveling with my own little one who has already been to 17 countries! If this resonates, I’d love to book your trips, too.

Would 26-year-old me approve? Maybe. Maybe she’d be impressed. Maybe she’d think I sold out. But honestly, I’m not sure I can afford to care what she thinks anymore. I’ve changed.

Some days, I think about walking away from it all and just being a mom. But I’ve never been good at having idle hands — I like to build things. Still, I won’t lie: I’m tired. Tired of launching, tired of chasing trends, tired of the game constantly changing. I know that everyone’s feeling the uncertainty — about jobs, the world, the future.

But that’s the truth, isn’t it? We never really know what’s coming. We never did.

And yet here we are. Still standing. Still building, and I’m grateful for it all. I got to live out my dream for over a decade. How could I resent any part of this journey?

Maybe the industry will look completely different again in a year. Maybe something new will rise from the ashes of what once was. I don’t have a crystal ball. But I do have hope — not because everything is perfect, but because I’ve seen what’s possible when you keep showing up, keep evolving, and keep creating from a place of heart.

That’s always been the real secret — and it still is.

So if you’re a blogger reading this, DO something new. Shift like your career depends on it, because it does and it always did. And if you’re a longtime reader, I hope you know how much I love and have valued you over the years. I don’t know what the future holds, but thank you for everything.

I don’t know what it will be, but I do know there’s more to come.

As a mom, your daily schedule normally consists of a whirlwind of taking care of everyone else. From breakfast to bedtime stories, the day is a nonstop marathon of caring for your family’s needs. It’s a beautiful and rewarding journey, but let’s face it, there’s very little time left for self. 

The concept of a solo mom vacation might seem like an indulgence, even a touch selfish. But here’s a gentle reminder: taking that much-needed break is not just okay; it’s incredibly beneficial for you and your family. 

As a mom to twin boys, I know this firsthand. When my boys were 10 months old, I took my first solo vacation. As an avid traveler pre-pregnancy, I knew I had to do it — my soul was itching for travel. But I’ll admit, I was nervous, questioning if I was truly making the right decision. 

I soon discovered how cathartic and life-giving solo mom vacations truly are, not only for myself but my family. I returned home recharged and a much happier and more present mom. And my twins had the opportunity to make memories with other family members. 

Now, I prioritize taking an annual “mom-cation.” And at five years old, my boys know not only what momcations are but that Mom will return — with more love and patience for them (and probably a gift). 

In addition to detailing its benefits, this post will share tactics on how to take your momcation, guilt-free, as well as provide inspiring destination ideas. 

It’s time to prioritize yourself, mama! Embark on a journey of self-discovery and relaxation. Your family will thank you for it.

Benefits of a Mom Vacation, for Mom

Recharge and reconnect

Momcations provide a much-needed break from the demands of daily life. They offer an opportunity to recharge your physical and emotional batteries, allowing you to return home refreshed and ready to tackle your responsibilities with renewed energy.

Self-discovery

Being away from your usual routine gives you the chance to reconnect with yourself. Solo momcations allow you to rediscover your interests, passions, and hobbies that may have taken a back seat to motherhood. This self-discovery can boost your self-esteem and overall happiness.

Benefits of Mom Vacation, for the Kids

Independence and resilience

When moms take vacations, kids have a chance to spend quality time with other caregivers or family members. This fosters independence and resilience as they learn to adapt to different routines and personalities.

Stronger parent-child bond

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. The time apart can strengthen the bond between you and your children. Reuniting after a mom’s vacation often leads to a deeper appreciation for each other. And they always know that Mama will return for them. 

Benefits of Mom Vacation, for Family Members/Caregivers

Bonding time

Caregivers and family members who step in during a mom vacation create their own special bonds with the children. This strengthens the support system within the family and enhances relationships.

Valuable experience

Providing care during mom trips can be a valuable experience for other family members. It allows them to develop their caregiving skills and fosters empathy and understanding for all that you do for your family daily. 

In essence, mom vacations are really a win-win-win for everyone involved. They prioritize self-care for moms, promote growth and resilience in children, and create opportunities for valuable bonding within the family unit.

Tips for a Guilt-Free Momcation

Mom-guilt is the nagging feeling that many moms experience when they take a break from their daily routines to focus on themselves. Most moms are likely to have some level of guilt when considering taking a vacation, especially the first time. And that’s okay. It’s totally normal. 

The below tips will help you prepare to combat any mom-guilt that attempts to rear its ugly head. You will be able to enjoy your time to yourself, knowing that you’ve taken the necessary steps to set your family up for success during your absence. Plus, ultimately, doing something that refills your cup will pour over to your family. 

Plan ahead and prepare

We mamas like things done our way. And that’s okay. Thus, take inventory of the things you’re most particular about and prepare what you can. That could look like:

• Meal planning and preparing snacks for your family. Stock the fridge with easy-to-grab options to ensure your loved ones are well fed during your absence.
• Lay out outfits for your kids for the duration of your momcation. Label them for specific days to simplify mornings for your caregiver, if necessary. 

Coordinate support in advance

• Reach out to trusted friends, family members, or caregivers who can help take care of your children while you’re away. Sharing responsibilities ensures that no one individual gets overwhelmed.
• Create a schedule that outlines who will handle drop-offs, pickups, playdates, and other daily routines, making the transition smoother for everyone.

Utilize technology for connection

• Stay connected with your kids through technology. Set up nursery cameras or baby monitors so you can check in on them when needed. This provides peace of mind.
• Schedule daily video chats or calls to catch up with your little ones. Share stories, sing lullabies, or even have virtual mealtime together to maintain that connection.

Prioritize your interests

• While on your momcation, focus on activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Whether it’s reading, hiking, or simply lounging by the pool, do what makes you happy.
• Remember that pursuing your interests sets a positive example for your children, showing them the importance of self-care.

Practice mindfulness and self-compassion

• It’s natural to experience moments of guilt, but practice mindfulness to acknowledge these feelings without judgment. Remind yourself that self-care is essential for your overall well-being.
• Be kind to yourself and recognize that taking a break doesn’t diminish your role as a mom. In fact, it can make you a better and more rejuvenated parent when you return.

Do remember that, just like your momcation, how you choose to prepare your family for your absence depends on what is important to you. Don’t care about what your kid wears while you’re gone? Don’t pick out their outfits in advance. Care about the specific extracurricular activities they participate in? Create a calendar to reflect it. 

At the end of the day, you want to do what you think will help you enjoy your mom trip the most. And that looks different for every mama, and in every stage of motherhood. 

6 Amazing Mom Vacation Ideas

The great thing about a mom vacation, like any solo vacation, is that it’s all about what you want to do and desire. It can be as simple as staying at a hotel in your city for a night or two to unwind, or more involved like taking a flight across the world to learn about a new culture. So whether you want to focus on self-discovery, indulge in your passions, challenge yourself, or simply unwind, there are countless ways to plan an amazing solo mom vacation. 

It’s a time to reconnect with your own needs, passions, and desires. Here are six mom vacation ideas that will allow you to do just that:

Turn the focus on you: Cenote underwater photoshoot in Tulum, Mexico

Underwater photoshoot on my momcation to Tulum, Mexico

This vacation is all about you, mama! Go from being behind the camera and taking photos of your little one(s) to being the focus of the image. But don’t just do it anywhere. Go to a destination that’s just as beautiful as you are. 

For example, head to the stunning cenotes of Tulum, Mexico, and embark on a unique underwater photoshoot. This experience isn’t just about capturing wonderful moments; it’s about embracing your inner adventurer. Dive into the crystal-clear waters and let the enchanting cenotes be the backdrop to your newfound confidence.

Become one with nature: Multiday hiking retreat

Escape the hustle and bustle of daily mom life and find solace in natural beauty. A multiday hike retreat will help you rediscover a sense of inner calm, allowing for self-reflection and rejuvenation. It’s an opportunity to disconnect from the digital world, embrace solitude, and reconnect with the healing power of the great outdoors.

Choose a destination that resonates with your sense of adventure. The Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, provide the opportunity to enjoy hiking, waterfall tours, and so much more along the Appalachian Trail.

Challenge yourself and learn about a new culture: Wadi Rum, Jordan

Stepping out of your comfort zone fosters personal growth and resilience, especially when you immerse yourself in a new culture. Learning about others and their diverse experiences can serve as a mirror reflecting different aspects of your own beliefs, values, and perspectives. This mom vacation will allow you to learn about another culture while reflecting on the woman you’ve become throughout your motherhood journey. 

For an immersive cultural experience, venture to Wadi Rum in Jordan. Spend a night under the vast desert sky in a traditional Bedouin camp. Engage with the local culture, taste traditional cuisine, and discover the ancient history of this captivating region. It’s a chance to step out of your comfort zone and broaden your horizons.

And of course, while you’re in Jordan, you can visit Petra, one of the world’s wonders, as well as the Dead Sea and many other historical destinations. 

Find your internal serenity: Yoga retreat

Relaxation and mindfulness are crucial for mental and emotional well-being. What with balancing the daily schedule of your household, it may be challenging to do so at home. A yoga retreat will allow you to unwind and rediscover your inner peace and gratitude. 

For ultimate relaxation and self-discovery, consider one in Sedona, Arizona. Find inner peace as you immerse yourself in its red-rock landscapes and serene desert environment. Practicing yoga and meditation amid the stunning scenery enhances mindfulness and encourages spiritual growth. Plus, the area’s energy vortexes are believed to promote balance and healing.

Returning home from a mom trip more relaxed and mindful will benefit your entire family.  

Learn more about something you love: Wine tasting in Santa Barbara, CA

For many moms, the passions and interests you had pre-kids normally take a back seat. But this solo momcation is all about you. So pick that interest back up and deepen your knowledge and passion for it. 

If you’re a wine enthusiast, treat yourself to a wine-tasting getaway in Santa Barbara, California. Explore the scenic vineyards, savor exquisite wines, and deepen your knowledge of winemaking. Plus, the ocean and mountains are beyond gorgeous, offering additional adventures. 

This vacation will not only indulge your palate but also nurture your passion.

Be pampered: Luxury hotel getaway

As a mom, you are normally the one who is servicing others — cooking meals, cleaning the house, helping with homework, etc. On this mom trip, relinquish those responsibilities and become the one who receives the services at a luxury hotel getaway. 

Sometimes all you need is pure indulgence and relaxation — because you’re worth it!

The great thing about a luxury hotel getaway is it can happen in most cities, so you don’t have to travel far if you don’t want to.  Book a stay at a luxury hotel that caters to your every need. From sumptuous room service and world-class spa treatments to gourmet dining and pristine beaches, your only job is to relax and soak in the opulence.

Remember, a mom vacation is about giving yourself the love and care you deserve. It’s a chance to rediscover your passions, challenge yourself, and find serenity. So, go ahead and plan that solo mom getaway that focuses on you, because a happy and fulfilled mom makes for an even better parent when you return home. 

Final Thoughts: Take that Momcation, Mama!

When mom-guilt attempts to rear its ugly head and stop you from taking a vacation, please remember that they are a crucial investment in your well-being and overall family dynamics. Being able to escape the daily demands of parenting, work, and household responsibilities provides a much-needed opportunity for self-care and self-discovery. Plus, when moms take time for themselves, they can return home with a renewed sense of energy, patience, and joy, which positively impacts family life. 

So, TAKE THAT MOM VACATION!

About the author: Marquita Wright, The Traveling Twin Mama, along with her husband, has continued to prioritize travel even after the birth of their twin boys — with and without her family in tow. She helps women travel the world confidently through her tips, inspiration, and products. 

In my experience, the thought of heading out to a place I’ve never been before, completely alone, can be daunting. Despite that, every time I’ve challenged myself to travel solo, the rewards have been amazing.  

We rarely spend quality time with ourselves at home. Work, friends, screens, and social media keep us busy. But when we travel solo, there are entire days and nights spent only with ourselves. 

Along with these moments alone, there are many opportunities to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people while solo traveling. I was always a shy person, but staying solo in hostels helped me get over my fear of making new friends. 

In these ways, solo traveling creates a unique opportunity to get to know yourself in a way that we often don’t have time — or the headspace — for at home. 

Whether you’re thinking about taking the plunge into traveling alone for the first time or you’re already experienced, podcasts about solo travel are a great resource. 

You’ll hear inspirational stories, helpful tips, and even learn about how to be a more conscious and responsible tourist.

I love the podcast medium, because it’s so perfect for storytelling and learning. Audio is great for travel, too! I always look forward to popping in my earbuds to listen to a podcast while on a long bus ride or flight. 

Read on to learn about 14 podcasts that you can tune into for the best solo travel inspiration. 

1. Women Who Travel

On this podcast by Condé Nast Traveler, editor Lale Arikoglu chats with female-identifying guests about their unique and personal travel stories. Many are solo travelers, and so I find that lots of the episodes have tips and stories weaved in. 

A particularly great episode is titled “How I Visited Every Country in the World.” Lale interviews Jessica Nabongo, who in 2019 became the first documented Black woman to visit every country in the world, from Iceland to South Sudan to Japan.  

Jessica’s story in itself is incredible, especially given she traveled to 89 of those countries completely solo. But she also shares compelling insights about what she learned about herself during the trip. 

2. Curious Tourism: Responsible Travel Podcast

Being a fan of podcasts about travel, of course I had to make my own! I host Curious Tourism, which covers travel through a responsible-tourist lens. The goal of the show is to explore how travel can be better for people, and better for the planet. Several episodes cover aspects of solo travel in detail.

We often discuss the topic through the perspective of the episode’s guest. For example, episode #75 features Charlotte Simpson, who’s known online as the Traveling Black Widow. After losing her husband of 31 years, Charlotte decided to start traveling solo so that she could start building a “new normal” for herself, and see the world. In this episode, she shares her journey, what she’s learned from it, and helpful tips for solo travelers. 

3. JUMP with Traveling Jackie

Hosted by blogger Jackie Nourse, this podcast is an invitation to adventure. Episodes are a mix of guest stories, and topics, but you’ll find plenty focused on solo travel. Often, the stories are raw and very personal, which is refreshing!

In episode #157, guest host Sherry Ott interviews Vicki Hill, a seasoned car camper, who shares her ideas on how to get started with this popular new way to travel. She also discusses how to car-camp alone and get past your fears of solo camping. 

4. The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Amanda Kendle launched this podcast back in March 2016. In every episode, she interviews fellow travelers about their experiences, and they share some of their best stories. The show touches on diverse topics, like how to meet locals abroad, getting lost, and lessons learned from travel. 

In episode #148, Amanda talks to three people who have done a lot of solo travel in all parts of the world.  Alastair Humphreys talks about his walk across India, Justin Watson discusses how he thought solo travel would be difficult but overcame that fear, and Michela Fantinel relates one of her first solo travel experiences in New York City. All three guests agree: including some solo time in your travel mix is absolutely worthwhile.

5. Ticket 2 Anywhere

Ticket 2 Anywhere is hosted by two friends, Leah and Trizzy, who both enjoy a love of travel, which they balance travel with their full-time jobs. They share tips, advice, and anecdotes on how to make the most of your travels, and how to use your vacation days to get the most out of your weekends. 

Leah has been solo traveling for over a decade, but in episode #65, Trizzy relates all the details about her first-ever solo trip to Scotland and London. This episode is perfect for a first-time solo traveler, because it covers what to bring and how to pack, safety, and offers tips for the road and solid advice for your first solo travels. 

6. Winging It Travel Podcast

In his weekly episodes, host James Hammond shares stories, tips, knowledge, and observations. In many episodes, he also chats with interesting people, like a guy who spent several months solo traveling overland through Congo.

In episode #5, James debates “should you travel solo or not?” He compares solo travel with what it’s like to be with a partner or friends, covering the pros and cons of each. It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s debated the idea of going on a trip alone. 

7.  On She Goes

On She Goes is a travel and lifestyle podcast made for women of color, by women of color. Sadly, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes, but there’s a backlog of over a hundred fantastic episodes that are worth listening to. 

On She Goes delves into a range of topics, including traveling while Black, representation in mainstream media, getting paid to travel, ancestry, and more. In season 4, episode #2, the topic is a New York Times article titled “Adventurous. Alone. Attacked.” They unpack how the article frames fear-mongering about solo travel, among other aspects. 

8. The Solo Female Traveler

The goal of the Solo Female Traveler podcast is to help women expand their world through solo travel. Host Lu believes that it can be transformative and empowering, and uses the podcast to show listeners how. 

The show is a mix of episodes by Lu alone and guest interviews that feature stories and insights from women around the world who have embarked on their own solo travel adventures.  

In the episode titled “Solo Travel’s Path to Self-Exploration,” Lu chats with Colleen, a travel blogger, mom, and psychologist, who discusses how solo travel transformed her relationship with herself and other people. Plus, she talks about how solo travel can help people to embrace their intuition, connect with strangers, and create new bonds.

9. She Explores

She Explores, hosted by Gale Straub, helps listeners find inspiration in the outdoors! The show is a mix of interviews, in-the-field recordings, and listener submissions covering a range of topics, from solo hiking and camping to conservation, motherhood, and outdoor equity. 

In the episode titled “How to Be Alone,” Gale interviews Nicole Antoinette, who solo-hiked all 800 rugged miles of the Arizona Trail. She discusses how her first through-hike came to be, and how she persevered even when being totally alone on the trail was tough. 

10. Amateur Traveler

Amateur Traveler has been on the air since 2005! Host Chris Christensen was named the “best independent travel journalist” by Travel + Leisure for his work on this weekly show, which covers destinations from Morocco to South Korea, with a focus on culturally rich experiences.

In episode #355, Chris chats with Janice Waugh, who relates her experiences solo traveling as a woman, particularly internationally. But she did not set out to be a solo traveler: after the death of her husband, she gained the courage to get back out on the road, alone. Now, years later, Janice explains how it’s different, and in many ways, better. 

11. Let’s Go Together

Let’s Go Together is a podcast by Travel + Leisure, hosted by Kellee Edwards, an award-winning travel expert, licensed pilot, scuba diver, television host, and world adventurer. 

Kellee interviews a diverse range of travelers who share their unique travel experiences. Some past guests include the first documented Black woman to travel every country in the world (Jessica Nabongo, see above) and a quadriplegic who climbed Machu Picchu, among others. 

In episode #14, Kellee chats with Glo, an influencer and blogger who’s traveled solo to over 80 countries. They talk about the difficulties of solo travel for women, and unpack the perceptions of Black women who traverse the world on their own.

12. The Worst Traveller

The Worst Traveller is a weekly podcast hosted by Tom Page, who says he doesn’t always do things the best way, but he does them his way — hence the name of his podcast. Every episode includes travel stories in which, of course, things may sometimes go wrong. 

Many episodes focus on Tom’s own travel experiences. In the episode titled “How I Travel So Light… Same Clothes for 1 Month,” he discusses his experience in India, where he wore one outfit and carried no baggage. If you’re interested in more extreme solo travel, this is the show for you.

13. Black Women Travel Podcast 

Black Women Travel Podcast, hosted by Wanda Duncan, highlights the stories of Black women who are making travel a priority. Wanda interviews travelers from this community of bold women and their diverse stories. She also chats with short-term travelers based in a country, long-term travelers, and digital nomads. 

In the episode titled “How to Create Your Own Retreat,” Wanda talks about the importance of rest and self-care, and how solo travelers can plan restorative and personal retreats. 

14. Girl About the Globe

Girl about the Globe is hosted by Lisa Imogen Eldridge, a solo travel addict who has been to 142 countries — 110 of these solo.

The podcast includes episodes covering destinations such as Vietnam, Puerto Rico, and Portugal. Other episodes also delve into how solo travel changes you, the best places to travel alone, how to save money on the road, and more. The show is a mix of destination interviews, stories about life-changing trips, and tips for how to travel the world solo. 

In episode #98, Lisa chats with Sara Braca, who turned to solo travel after going through a divorce. Sara relates her personal story, and the two discuss how solo travel can help people to heal when they are coming out of a broken relationship.

Start Listening to Solo Traveler Podcasts 

This list of solo travel podcasts includes many of my personal favorites. These shows inspire me to travel to new places, embrace my independence, and solo travel with confidence. I hope they inspire you, too!

About the author: Erin Hynes has been traveling for over a decade, both solo and with her partner. She’s traveled to countries across six continents. Erin writes the travel blog Pina Travels and hosts the travel podcast Curious Tourism, where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism.

Just wait until you take them somewhere amazing and they don’t care. Just wait until they have a blowout in the car on the way to somewhere important. Just wait until they’re screaming on the flight. Just wait, just wait, just wait.

It’s the best thing ever to hear as a pregnant person. Not.

I’ve traveled for over a decade sans-baby. Most of those years I traveled alone. I’ve been to over 60 countries, about 50 of them solo. I could be as selfish as I wanted. I could completely rely on serendipity. Would a child ruin that?

These are all the ways that traveling with a baby has been different, so far.

10. The Days Are Packed with Different Things

Before Felix, I would often set the alarm to be up before sunrise so that I could drive to a destination I had picked specifically for photography. I was often up with the stars and out well past sunset, hiking down from a trail by myself with a headlamp. I suppose I could do that with a baby, but then I think about how I’ve tripped over things in the dark and my mom anxiety can’t handle it.

I’m sure we will still have nights out gazing at the stars and I am sure we will still get up for the sunrise from time to time, but on our most recent trip to Vermont we were much more likely to sleep in as late as we possibly could, which was often until 10 AM since Felix was still on Pacific time, and that was delightful. Did I get the kind of photos that I normally would? Absolutely not, but now I take a new kind of photo – one of my adorable little guy.

9. There’s Less Serendipity

When I traveled by myself, especially in the early days when I was rich in time but cash poor, I would meet people in the dorms, hang out on beaches with them for weeks, and would wake up one morning and decide to leave at that instant. It didn’t matter that I traveled this way because it didn’t impact anyone else. I loved living la vie boheme.

But you know what? It also got old. I had my freedom, but I also started to wonder when I would meet someone, start a family, and let that be the new chapter. I am so glad that I got a chance to be completely selfish in my 20s, but I also knew that it wouldn’t be novel forever. Now I am traveling in a new way, with more plans and more people to consider, and that’s a change I wanted and asked for.

8. Everything Takes Longer

Getting through TSA, feeding the little guy, just getting ready to go in the morning with all of the extra stuff that he needs means that it takes hours to get going when before it would often just take me a few minutes. Although I knew this would be the case, I was unprepared for how much longer it would all take and how much extra time we would need to budget.

I learned that the hard way when a friend’s wedding was delayed because they were waiting for us – so sorry, Nell! We hadn’t budgeted the extra 45 minutes we’d need for the extra stops along the 3-hour drive. Now I know better.

7. There’s More Stuff

You guys, there is so much more stuff when you are traveling with a baby! I think we are pretty good about traveling light even considering his things, but it’s still a good 30% to 50% more than I ever traveled with before.

It becomes so easy to forget things as well. When you’re low on sleep and have hard-core mom brain, things get left behind, which become mini-crises that need immediate attention. Though travel has always been that way, now it’s that way with a lot more things.

6. Inconveniences Come Up

While in Vermont, despite it taking so long for us to get ready to get out the door and me being so sure that I had everything we needed, I somehow left my pumps behind. I wish I could just easily breast-feed my son, but that’s not part of our story, so I need my pumps at the ready.

We had to take extra time to find a Walmart so that I could get a hand pump, which caused us to barely make the last gondola ride. This wouldn’t have been a big deal, but you can’t get out at the last gondola ride, so we just had to make peace with going up and back. It’s not a huge deal, but I could fill this post with similar stories.

5. It’s More Expensive

Obviously adding more people is going to mean paying more for everything. We are still at the stage where Felix is free for most things, but I was surprised to find that even as a lap infant, many airlines charge an extra fee for international flights. I thought we would at least have a couple of years before that happened!

This is one of the things that we have to seriously consider with regards to expanding our family or not. How much do we want to travel? For us, the answer is still, ‘as much as possible!’

4. More Research is Required

Garrett and I have been talking about bringing Felix to Thailand as one of our first big international trips. But then I wondered, will we be able to find diapers easily on little remote islands? What happens when he gets low on formula, or will I have to use bottled water every time to wash bottles and pump parts? By then he will be eating some solids, too. What do Thai 6-month-olds eat?

Am I just going to strap him to me in a Songthaew or tuk tuk and forget all about how ultra careful we are about his carseat when driving at home? Probably.

All of it adds to the adventure, but these weren’t things I ever had to think or worry about before.

3. People are Lovelier

I worried that people might be nasty towards us for bringing a baby on a plane, into a quiet restaurant, or that we might be thrown shady glances if he were to cry. I knew well before traveling with a baby that when others had crying kids, there’s very little anyone can do about it and judgment doesn’t help, but that doesn’t mean that everyone understands that.

But I was happy to see that nobody acted that way towards us. On the contrary, when I took him hiking so many people commented on how wonderful it was to see a baby on the trail that I restored my faith in humanity a bit. People even seemed happy to see him on the planes and in the airport. I received more than a dozen comments from people about how beautiful he was. They didn’t need to say that – they wanted to.

I guess we forget how many people have had children themselves and miss these moments that they once shared with their little ones. It’s a magical time and I’m glad that we haven’t been made to feel bad about traveling with our little dude.

2. I Watch His Discoveries

Now that Felix is three months old, he notices so much more about the world around him. I loved taking him on his first hike and watching as he marveled at the leaves. He was in complete awe, and it was adorable.

This is one of the things I was looking forward to most traveling with a child. Everything is new to them. They are so in the moment and unconcerned with how they might appear to anyone else. They just express themselves however they are. The honesty is refreshing and I have always loved this about children, both the good and the difficult aspects of it.

I can’t wait to watch as he discovers more things for the first time. There is so much that we take for granted that children become enamored with, and I’m excited to see what inspires him.

1. I Unlock a New Level of Travel and Life

I recently told a pregnant friend that I’m getting to know a whole new person within myself. I never would have met this strong, compassionate, loving version of me without becoming a mother. I don’t think everyone should have children, and I fully support everyone who decides not to. But for me and my journey, it’s been more personal growth than I’ve ever experienced before, and he was the necessary ingredient.

Traveling with your baby soon? Here’s a free baby travel packing list for you:

I didn’t know I could feel this way about someone. I didn’t know how much I could sacrifice without resenting it, and I didn’t know how empowered I could feel by creating life. I know people do it every day. It’s one of the most common experiences there is, and yet it feels like this secret new level of life has been unlocked especially for me. It’s like the Universe bestowed this special gift upon me that’s entirely mine.

And it is beautiful.

Pin me for later:

I didn’t understand what she meant back then, but it opened a door.

We aren’t taught about emotional healing in traditional schools. It’s not something you learn about in most university classes. It’s rarely a topic of casual conversation or a TV show plot, and yet we all have wounds to heal. Once I started meditating, journaling, and reading books about personal development, I realized that I could level up in life. I could let go of limiting beliefs, and I could have the things I wanted, but I had to let go of what weighed me down first.

Healing and self-love sounded woo-woo to me back then, but now I know the truth: It’s selfish not to heal. It’s self-indulgent not to put in the work, rather than the opposite.

These quotes about healing beautifully illustrate that journey. I hope you love these as much as I do:

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
― Rumi

“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.”
― Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“To recognize one’s own insanity is, of course, the arising of sanity, the beginning of healing and transcendence.”
― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

“Pain is a pesky part of being human, I’ve learned it feels like a stab wound to the heart, something I wish we could all do without, in our lives here. Pain is a sudden hurt that can’t be escaped. But then I have also learned that because of pain, I can feel the beauty, tenderness, and freedom of healing. Pain feels like a fast stab wound to the heart. But then healing feels like the wind against your face when you are spreading your wings and flying through the air! We may not have wings growing out of our backs, but healing is the closest thing that will give us that wind against our faces.”
― C. JoyBell C.

“One thing: you have to walk, and create the way by your walking; you will not find a ready-made path. It is not so cheap, to reach to the ultimate realization of truth. You will have to create the path by walking yourself; the path is not ready-made, lying there and waiting for you. It is just like the sky: the birds fly, but they don’t leave any footprints. You cannot follow them; there are no footprints left behind.”
― Osho

“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.”
― David Richo

“The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.”
― Marianne Williamson

“But pain’s like water. It finds a way to push through any seal. There’s no way to stop it. Sometimes you have to let yourself sink inside of it before you can learn how to swim to the surface.”
― Katie Kacvinsky

“Some people see scars, and it is wounding they remember. To me they are proof of the fact that there is healing.”
― Linda Hogan

“It is our wounds that create in us a desire to reach for miracles. The fulfillment of such miracles depends on whether we let our wounds pull us down or lift us up towards our dreams.”
― Jocelyn Soriano, Mend My Broken Heart

“You have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we’re not. We always have the power of our minds…Claim and consciously use your power.”
― Louise L. Hay

“As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal somebody else.”
― Maya Angelou

“It’s not forgetting that heals. It’s remembering.”
― Amy Greene, Bloodroot

“You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”
― Louise Hay

“Healing requires from us to stop struggling, but to enjoy life more and endure it less. “

―Darina Stoyanova

“Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you – all of the expectations, all of the beliefs – and becoming who you are.”

―Rachel Naomi Remen

“Love one another and help others to rise to the higher levels, simply by pouring out love. Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy.”

―Sai Baba

“Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.”

―Tori Amos

“Healing is embracing what is most feared; healing is opening what has been closed, softening what has hardened into obstruction, healing is learning to trust life.”

―Jeanne Achterberg

“I’m touched by the idea that when we do things that are useful and helpful – collecting these shards of spirituality – that we may be helping to bring about a healing.”

―Leonard Nimoy

“The human heart has a way of making itself large again even after it’s been broken into a million pieces.”

―Robert James Waller

“The place of true healing is a fierce place. It’s a giant place. It’s a place of monstrous beauty and endless dark and glimmering light. And you have to work really, really, really hard to get there, but you can do it.”

―Cheryl Strayed

“We are all damaged. We have all been hurt. We have all had to learn painful lessons. We are all recovering from some mistake, loss, betrayal, abuse, injustice, or misfortune. All of life is a process of recovery that never ends. We each must find ways to accept and move through the pain and to pick ourselves back up. For each pang of grief, depression, doubt, or despair there is an inverse toward renewal coming to you in time. Each tragedy is an announcement that some goodwill indeed come in time. Be patient with yourself.”

―Bryant McGill

“The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.”

―Paracelsus

“Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is.”

―Gary Zukav

“To heal is to touch with love that which we previously touched with fear.”

―Stephen Levine

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.”

―Caroline Myss

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”

―Helen Keller

“Any illness is a direct message to you that tells you how you have not been loving who you are, cherishing yourself in order to be who you are. This is the basis of all healing.”

―Barbara Brennan

“There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with.”

―Harry Crews

I shouldn’t have, either. 

They petered out after 12 hours, leaving me confused and dejected. I didn’t understand why and how that could happen, as I’d never heard of it before, even after 9 hours of birthing classes, many books, and reading weekly updates from 3 different pregnancy apps. I was unprepared for what it turns out is a common experience- false labor. 

I had also been so scared of an induction, which my doctor had been talking about for a week already, saying she didn’t want me going much past my due date for the baby’s safety. I felt so much pressure to deliver and when I thought it was about to happen I was elated. 

In all of the positive birthing videos that I had watched, stories that I had read, none of them ever involved induction. They had all gone into labor spontaneously, and that’s what I pictured for myself, too. I never considered the possibility that it wouldn’t happen, or that it would start and stop like it did. In hindsight there was important work being done, and it would all make perfect, beautiful sense later, but I just didn’t know it at the time. 

I moped in the following days. I found message boards where women talked about similar “false labor” that lasted for weeks. I cried a lot at this prospect. I felt like I couldn’t trust my body. Then to top it off Garrett came down with COVID and had to isolate from me. I felt so alone.

In the following days I did acupuncture, got a massage, went on lots of walks, had a pedicure, bounced on my birthing ball, did yoga for engaging baby and inducing labor, and drank my red raspberry leaf tea, ever hopeful. 

But my due date came and went. 

Texts from well-meaning friends and family asking if I’d popped yet or had the baby only added to the pressure to just deliver already. 

I’ve rarely been that emotionally volatile in my life but the hormones were taking me for a ride. 

I’d also gone down so many rabbit holes reading about induction and it seemed people either loved or hated their experiences (much like childbirth in general I’m sure). Some people loved having a plan and knew they wanted an epidural and a set date, but I had wanted the opposite. 

I’m a hippie, and I’d wanted the most intervention-free birth I could manage. It’s what I planned for and practiced. My partner and OB were on board. I knew I could do it and I felt empowered in my plan. 

When it started slipping away I got more dejected by the day. 

Many of my European readers wondered why I was so worried about going over my date, as it’s not only normal to go “late” but it’s also standard practice to wait 42 weeks in many places, but here in the US, it’s not. 

Due to recent studies and trials, of which there have been many, the current advice is to deliver as early as 39 weeks for the best possible outcome. I ultimately agreed with my doctor that for the baby’s safety, 41 weeks would be my cutoff. 

I also felt the looming deadline of Garrett having to go back to work. Any non-Americans reading this will no-doubt be horrified but we have no paid maternity or paternity leave at all in the US, and the clock was ticking on his two weeks off. We’d had to put in schedule requests months ahead of time, but how could we know? So we just did the 2 weeks following my due date. I hated that the later I went, the less time he would get to be fully present with us. 

By the time I hit 40 weeks and 2 days I spent all morning crying. Why was this happening to me? I felt like a total failure. 

Then on July 7, at 40 weeks and 4 days, I went into the doctor’s office again and during the nonstress test, we were measuring contractions that looked really strong on the monitor, but still didn’t hurt that much. Still, it was different because this time, my whole uterus was contracting and they were once again 5 minutes apart. This had to be it! I was going to have my spontaneous labor after all! Garrett was also recovered, and the date had just felt right to me somehow. I was cautiously optimistic. 

Then after 24 hours, they stopped again. 

I was beyond frustrated, but had no choice but to surrender. 

We can’t dictate how birth will go. My body was doing what it needed to, and I had to make peace with that. As the days ticked by, I knew I had to make peace with the induction, too. 

It was a mix of fear and relief. I didn’t think I could handle another round of false labor, and I was happy to have an end in sight. 

I read positive induction stories, found this thread which I read and re-read, and looked for YouTube videos to match. It helped. 

Garrett and I had a really lovely last evening together as just the two of us, spent the next day getting ready and packing up the car, then made our way to the hospital. 

It was a completely drama free ride, that we had ample time to prep for, with a clear goal in sight. When we came back we’d be doing so with our son. This was a beautiful beginning to my labor, too. 

All along I’d planned to excitedly let people know when it was “go” time, but I’d had so many false alarms, I ultimately decided to put my phone on airplane mode, tune out, and discourage any further messages or expectations. I needed to be in my own world. 

Once we arrived we were ushered into a lovely suite with a kind nurse who explained everything to me and placed the cytotec, meant to ripen my cervix and dilate for birth. I went to sleep for four hours, another dose was placed, and I slept for four more. 

Then the morning came and they ordered breakfast for me and stated the pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) drip at the lowest level. My cervix was still closed and everyone expected it to take an hour or more to get the contractions going. 

Except it took all of five minutes and BAM, they were one minute apart and strong. The nurse came in and turned off the pitocin drip and I continued to labor naturally. 

Garrett texted our doula who came right away, as I was in the throes of what I now recognize was transition. 

It was a lot. The best position was bent over with my hands on the bed, standing as Garrett and the doula took turns squeezing my lower back. 

I asked our amazing nurse, who would become a cheerleader and part of my support group, to start the fluids in case I wanted an epidural. 

Looking back, I’m not sure why I was so opposed. While a natural birth had been in my plans, plans do change. Being flexible with myself and getting encouragement from both the doula and Garrett to do whatever I needed to do to be comfortable helped me feel empowered to request it. 

The anesthesiologist placed it expertly and a few hours after the contractions started, I felt the intensity fade away. I’d initially been scared of being relegated to the bed with an epidural but I’d been wanting to lie down so badly, it gave me the ability to finally relax. 

I said, “I loooove epidural,” and everyone laughed. 

Moments later I felt the urge to push. Our nurse looked astounded. The last time I’d been checked, I was fully closed, this time when she checked, she said with amazement that I was ready to go. With that my water broke and we gave the little guy some time to descend. 

About 40 minutes later, my doctor arrived and the pitocin went back on a low drip. I’d already been pushing a bit with coaching from my support group on how to position myself and breathe. 

“Some women are just made to give birth,” my nurse said. I felt like a champ. 

I’d been afraid the epidural would take away the sensation of when to push, but I never needed to be told when to go, I always knew when it was time. 

An hour of pushing later, he was born. Everything looked great, and he was on my chest in moments with his dad cutting the cord, healthy as could be. 

I couldn’t believe I’d ended up with such a perfect and beautiful labor in the end, given how much I was dreading the induction and how different my birth had been from my plan.

And I’m so grateful that it went exactly the way it went. 

It was tough and at times intense, and yet the most empowering thing I have ever done. I have come out of this amazed that women have been doing this since the beginning of humanity and continue to do so every day. 

I look at my son and still can’t believe he somehow fit in me, that we have shared this bond since his conception, and that he’s bravely navigating this new, confusing world with flying colors. I guess I am, too. 

Thanks, Felix, for choosing me to be your mom. 

Though I’m introverted, I’m outgoing. I enjoy being social as well as being on my own. To me, introversion relates to the creator of the term, Carl Jung’s, definition. Introverts, Jung said, turn to their own minds to recharge, while extroverts seek out other people for their energy needs.

These are all the ways that I enjoy traveling solo now as an introvert:

1. I pick group trips but get my own room

Although I love traveling by myself, some trips have to be done with a group unless you’re paying 10x for a private experience, like sailing on a liveaboard dive ship or island hopping through the Galapagos.

But in each of these scenarios, I get my own sleeping space.

Since I recharge on my own, I love being able to have my own space to retreat to whenever I want it. That made this Galapagos trip perfect, as the boat I was on offered single rooms without charging a single supplement fee.

Not every tour makes it possible to have my own space, but I always try to seek out some solitude even on a shared trip.

2. I sign up for day trips so I’ll meet people

When I want a mix, I tend to stay in solo accommodation like a hotel or Airbnb, but I’ll sign up for a day trip so that I still get some social interaction.

The key is that I sign up and pay for it ahead of time, so that I’ll actually go and meet other people when the time comes. I can turn into a hermit with some ease, so I like committing at least a day before!

I equally love being able to come back to my accommodation and be on my own when I want to.

4. I visit places with a common interest

Whether it’s scuba diving, hiking, surfing, yoga, or some other shared interest, if you visit a place that is known for one of these things, chances are very good that you will meet other solo travelers who are there for the same purpose.

I love that this has a built-in network of people who you can easily meet. Even if you’re the shy type, having a common interest to bond over makes it easy to have conversations with people. You’ve already got things in common!

5. I pick trips where I’ll be alone

On the other side of the coin, I often take wilderness trips where I am unlikely to run into anyone else for much of the time. My frequency has increased over the past few years, finding mother nature a perfect companion.

Last summer I solo camped in Lassen Volcanic National Park, spent almost 2 weeks solo truck camping in Utah, almost entirely in the middle of nowhere without people around, and I regularly venture out to the desert by myself to stargaze.

I would not have enjoyed trips like this in my 20s when I was extroverted, because I got my energy from being around other people. But now, truly enjoy solitude. Solo trips make it easy for me to recharge.

6. Consult Facebook groups

Facebook groups are another great way to meet people, even for a brief meet up, which is usually all I want. I created one for solo female travelers, the BMTM Solo Female Traveler Connect, which many women have used to find travel companions over the years.

It can be a regional one based on where you’re going, can be for solo travelers in particular, or any other interest group you might be a part of. I recommend meeting up for a meal, a daytime activity, or something similar that has a fixed time limit and occurs in public.

Tapping into my network of friends of friends has also been a great way to meet others on the road.

7. Make a 1:1 friend

As an introvert, I’m equally happy solo or hanging out with someone whom I get along with well. As long as they’re a good travel companion, I can travel one on one with someone for days or even weeks without feeling energetically zapped.

There have been many people along my solo journey, from sharing a rental car in South Africa with Callum to splitting costs and traveling with Jen in French Polynesia last fall that both worked out great for me.

I’ve also met two awesome women at the start of long hikes in Nepal and Peru that I initially intended to do alone, but was happy to share. Finishing the trip with a hiking buddy, when it’s the right person, often makes it even better.

I meet these people on the road, or through a mutual friend, and we travel together until it’s naturally time to part ways. Then I get my alone time again. I love having this option available.

8. Hang alone in a crowded space

Sometimes, visiting a park, museum, market, or some other populated place on my own feels like enough social interaction for the day. I might strike up a conversation with someone, or I might not. But I can still people watch and get a sense of the local culture. Sometimes it’s even nicer this way, without anyone else to distract me.

I still get out and do things, but there’s no pressure to make it into a social situation. I’m open minded to whoever I might meet, but it’s OK if that doesn’t happen, too.

The best thing about solo travel is the potential for serendipity. I love that I could meet someone at any time at any place, but that I can also enjoy my solitude as well. There’s no pressure. For this introvert, it’s the best of both worlds.

10 years and over 60 solo countries, many laughs, tears, zip codes, friendships, loves, and losses later, I sit here in awe of the past decade. It taught me more about myself and the world than anything else could have. It was a far greater education than 16 years in school had been.

These are the 10 biggest lessons from 10 years of traveling alone:

10. We don’t need a lot to be happy (things tie us down)

When I sold off my apartment in 2012, a process I would repeat when leaving Berlin after 4 years in 2018, I was struck by how much I’d accumulated and how little I had to pare it down to. When I left for Southeast Asia I only had a carry on backpack and when I left Berlin, the previous 4 years all had to fit into 2 suitcases.

My day to day happiness and comfort on the road boiled down to a bed to sleep in, a shower, and usually a mosquito net. I remember being amazed at how much easier life was with so little to look after, and how little those things had mattered, anyway.

This isn’t a romanticization of poverty. Everyone needs their basic needs met to feel safe, but beyond that, the beauty was in the simplicity. Fewer belongings meant more freedom to strap on what I had and walk onwards, the next adventure holding more importance than any physical item beyond the basics could.

9. Things change constantly, and quickly

Sometimes I look back on my early travels as halcyon years when the Wi-Fi barely worked, nobody cared about the ‘gram, and things were carefree. We’ll never be able to go back to that, because life only moves forward. Sometimes I pine for the way things used to be.

But that does the present a disservice. Yes, the places we once loved are not going to always remain as they were, but new opportunities are waiting to be uncovered, too.

One of the only guarantees in life are that it will change, and traveling has taught me to stand up and surf every wave, trusting I’ll know what to do when the next one comes.

8. Social media is not real life

Though I miss the years before getting the ‘gram was a thing, I have it to thank for pushing me to become a better photographer, for offering me another income stream, and for showing me more corners of the world than I would have otherwise been aware of.

But traveling in a couture dress, pretending to eat a huge meal that is more for the photo than the experience, and photoshopping in the sunset are the BTS of many Instagram shoots, and they’re not reality – they’re a form of art.

Reality is the sweaty moments, when the truck breaks down, the wind picks up, and the rain washes out the road. Without the yin to the yang, it wouldn’t be travel nor would it be real life. The real, raw beauty is the story that you come out of it with. It is in the unglamorous moments that build our character.

7. The hardest moments often become the sweetest in our memories

That brings me to my next biggest lesson, that somehow, the most difficult things will end up being the most beautiful. It will be the times when you thought everything was going wrong, when it couldn’t possibly get worse, and you had to become fully self-reliant to get past the obstacle, that become the most defining.

I have the toughest moments of my life and travels to thank for carving out the strong woman I stand here as today. They were the times that I found out what I was made of.

And when I look back on it all, it makes sense through my now rose-colored lenses. It led me to where I am now, and this is exactly where I’m mean to be.

6. People are mostly good

I sat in a circle with my new friends in Mozambique five years ago now, each sharing what we were thankful for. It was American Thanksgiving, after all.

My friend Caspar shared that he was grateful that people were mostly good. He said that at the 11th hour, even when things seemed bleak, someone always showed up to offer a helping hand. That had been my experience, too, and it was beautiful to hear someone else speak exactly what I knew in my heart to be true.

The isolation of the past two years has made it easy to forget that people aren’t the angry messages they leave online. It’s been easy to be down on the human race lately with so little in-person interaction, but I have to remember that traveling helped me to see the good in people – to see the humanity in the hard things. It’s often those who have the least to give who are the most generous, and they tend to show up when you need them most.

5. We have to consider our impact

Traveling is a privilege, and though I believe it’s not limited just to the rich, it’s certainly not accessible to everyone.

Yet people in many developing countries have to deal with the presence of travelers, many of whom fail to consider their impact. I haven’t always been perfect, but I’m realizing how essential it is to spend locally, to find the green options, to avoid all-inclusives, to stay in locally owned establishments, to support women-run businesses, and to always be asking if our presence helps or harms.

4. You never know what small change could completely alter your life

I used to think the huge decisions would steer my course the most, and while deciding to quit my job and travel full time certainly did change everything, it’s been the unexpected, chance encounters that have had the greatest impacts thereafter.

Meeting my friend Yvonne in Chiang Mai, spontaneously getting tattooed by a monk together, then visiting her in Berlin the following autumn led to me moving to Germany and basing out of there for nearly 5 years.

A chance email from Pete, who would become my tour partner for BMTM Adventures, led to us running a trip in Namibia in 2018. The lodge we stayed at outside of Etosha had been a last-minute itinerary change, but as it turned out, I’d meet my future life partner at the campfire there. Now I’m 9 months pregnant with our first child, and it’s crazy to think how random, seemingly small, and up-to-chance that all seemed to be at the time.

I can point to so many examples of quick conversations, random encounters, and wrinkles in time that led me on the craziest changes of course, and the serendipity of solo traveling always left room for me to make those changes.

3. It’s never too late or too early

Over the past 10 years I’ve gone from a 20-something to a 30-something solo traveler, and I plan to still be exploring until the end.

As Benjamin Button would say, it’s never too late or too early to start over. You have one life – you get one coin to spend. How will you spend it?

2. It will not go according to plan and that will be OK

If the past two years have taught me anything, it’s that whatever we think is coming next, we’re wrong. Traveling solo somewhat prepared me for constant uncertainty, because you can’t predict a wave of weather canceling your flight, the bus breaking down, the hotel accidentally overbooking, or a flash flood coming in and almost taking you away in the middle of the night.

Travel is unpredictable, and life is unpredictable. It can be a hard pill to swallow when you’ve planned on and dreamed of a trip going a certain way and it takes a wild turn, but by staying open to the possibilities, we can always find a sliver lining.

1. Traveling is what you make it

It doesn’t matter how many countries you’ve been to, how many stamps are in your passport, or how many miles you have in your account. What matters are the little, simple moments. The sunrise you’ll never forget, the people you’ll always remember, and the ‘wow’ moments you never could have planned or imagined.

Those are the moments that in 10 years you’ll look back on the most fondly, with a twinkle in your eye.

These are all of the ways in which traveling has been different in my 20s versus my 30s.

My Goals Have Changed

In my 20s, my biggest goal was to go for as long as I could, for as cheaply as I could, finding as many thrills along the way as possible. I like to think of those as my dharma bum years. I was after freedom. Nothing was more intoxicating at the time. If that meant staying only in dorms, eating only street food, and opting for the 30-hour cargo ferry instead of the 3-hour flight to save a couple hundred bucks, I did it.

It was an often sweaty and dirty, but blissfully adventurous way to travel. I was the classic backpacker on a shoestring, who was time-rich and cash-poor, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for the world.

I Partied Way More in My 20s

Hostel culture tends to beget partying. I loved that in my 20s. The social aspect of traveling was often more important to me than the destination. Everything else that I got to see and do along the way was an added bonus.

But somewhere along the way it stopped feeling it good to drink every single night. Waking up with a hangover got old, and I got older too. Once I turned 31, I stopped drinking alcohol altogether. I felt like got it all out of my system in my 20s.

Now I like to be in bed before 10, up for the sunrise, and I spend my money on experiences rather than drinks and bars.

I Went From Extroverted to Introverted

It seems to be a common experience that people are more extroverted in their 20s, and in their 30s they come to love their solitude. I’m still outgoing and love meeting people, but I no longer recharge my batteries in the same way. I used to get depressed if I wasn’t around other people constantly. I got my energy from social interactions and looking back on it, I think it’s because I didn’t have a strong sense of self and I needed other people to give that to me.

But in my 30s, I know who I am. I recharge when I am on my own, or with a very small group of people whom I know well. I have a much better time hanging out with mother nature than I do with a big group now, and though 21-year-old Kristin would be surprised and maybe even disappointed, 36-year-old Kristin is totally cool with it.

I Seek a Different Kind of Travel

In my 20s, the social aspect of traveling was really important. I would not have wanted to go out and camp by myself, or trek in the mountains alone – two things I do all the time now.

In my 30s, my goal is more related to the adventure. I still love being social, but I make my travel choices based on a specific experience I want to have, a particular place I want to see, and a bucket list item I want to cross of my list. My priority is no longer to go for as long as possible, but to have as enriching of a trip as I can with limited time and a bigger budget.

How I Meet People/Who I Seek

Meeting people in my 20s was easy. It was as simple as walking into a hostel and having a new group of automatic friends.

I don’t stay in hostels anymore, mostly because I feel old and it’s just not the vibe I want at this point in my life. Though I still sometimes meet people where I’m staying, it’s rare, and I’m more likely to meet people out and about. I’ve made friends in cafés, in hot springs, in campgrounds, and on day tours, to name a few.

They aren’t party friends, they’re adventure friends. I’ve made amazing connections this way, and it put all of my worries to rest that traveling in my 30s would be lonelier than my 20s. Thankfully now I just have more control over my solitude. I have it when I want it, and I can meet people when I want to as well.

Where I Stay

I’ve already alluded to this, but in my 20s I basically only stayed in dorms. The biggest surprise to me is that now, the type of accommodation I stay in has gotten so varied and more interesting.

I am more likely to stay in homestays, like in French Polynesia, or find unique accommodation like the eco resort in the Philippines, treehouses in the Pacific Northwest, or the earthship I stayed in in New Mexico. I’m also much more likely to opt for a tent or the bed of my pick up truck in the complete middle of nowhere. Sometimes where I stay is fancy, but most of the time I just want it to be interesting. Where I slept before was just that – where I slept, but not where I spent much time. Nowadays the accommodation is often my destination.

My Budget is Different

One of the most obvious differences is my budget. I initially bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok because I knew that my money would take me further in Southeast Asia. It was an added bonus that I love Asia and was excited to explore more of it. Back then, I was traveling solely on savings as my blog wasn’t making money yet (here’s the full story in case you’re curious about how it grew to where it is today).

Gradually, I started traveling to more pricey destinations, and would splurge more on bucketlist experiences like swimming with Humpback whales in French Polynesia, taking a camper van around Iceland, spending more time exploring the US, and more things I could not have afforded in the past.

I still love cheap camping trips, too, but I’m grateful that in my 30s, I have more options available to me.

Throughout the changes in the past decade, what I value has not changed. I’ve always sought connection, being humbled, going off the beaten path as much as possible, making new discoveries, and trying to get the most authentic travel experience I can.

I’m sure I have my 20s to think for the type of traveler that I have evolved into today, but I suspect a lot of these things would have been true even without those nomadic years. How has travel been different for you in your 30s?