Why you should never travel solo

A guide to solo travelling for the anxious soul

Let me provide you with some context.

In 2021, I had barely settled into a different city due to college. By 'barely,' I mean I had been away from home for just two months (October to December). I moved to France in January 2022.

I had never been outside India. I did not know how to cook my own food, do my laundry, go grocery shopping, keep a fridge, or clean a house.

While in France, circumstances led me to solo travel to Milan, Marseille, and Barcelona. I won't bore you with the details, but here's what I learned:

(If you don't enjoy these aspects, solo travel might not be for you.)

• Google Maps will guide you to the spookiest, loneliest alleys even in the darkest of nights in an entirely new country, often causing you to get lost.

• You will become suspicious of everyone.

• You will never have anyone to take pictures or videos of you. Say goodbye to high-quality travel posts, because what if someone takes your tripod and runs away?

• You will need to figure out toilet flushes, door knobs, and light switches on your own, unless a kind stranger helps you, leaving you seething with embarrassment.

• There will be no one to watch over your belongings when you're in the washroom.

• You will constantly question whether you should strike up conversations with strangers or not.

• God forbid you miss a flight.

Now you may ask, “why would anyone enjoy these things?”

I did. It was a fun adventure and really helped me discover myself. I can’t explain how.

Notwithstanding the bad, you will get to listen to your own music, enjoy a full meal alone, and live out your solo adventurer fantasy. You will be that enigmatic girl on the subway reading a book. If you can find ways to be comfortable with the aforementioned points, then congratulations! – you're cut out to be a solo traveller. Now all you need to do is live with your thoughts in silence throughout your trip.

I’d love to know your solo trip anecdotes and plans.