Solo travel has been an ambition of mine for a long time. I love traveling and if I had unlimited money I would be off adventuring multiple times a month. I had traveled alone many times before but that was for work. It requires a different mindset. When the opportunity finally came to take the solo trip, I had to jump at the chance.
I spent 2 days in Brussels, Belgium as part of a larger trip to London. I chose Brussels because it was a train ride away (who doesn’t love Eurostar) and it was a smaller city. Solo travel I had high expectations for and it surpassed my expectations. Below I’ve outlined lessons, tricks, and recommendations if you are want to embark on your first solo travel trip.
Find some comfort
I’ve always been drawn to Brussels but I also knew that traveling there wouldn’t be all new to me. I had taken Eurostar out St. Pancras before so I knew what to expect. Then, I also chose to stay at a Hilton. I’m a pretty loyal Hilton hotel gal so the rooms and even the hotel even provided a sense of familiarity. Also, some of the foods that Brussels is known for is pretty common here. I could be adventurous, but also have a little taste of home.
But challenge is where the growth happens
A reason I chose to Brussels was because it was a foreign country, but also not a top 10 visited city in Europe. They speak English, but they have three official languages, Dutch, German, and French. Thank god for Google maps because that Brussels train station did not have English in sight. Being a little bit uncomfortable always creates space for me to try new things. I still remember my first ever solo work trip to St. George, Utah. I was excited but nervous. Now, whenever I travel, nerves don’t exist.
Solo travel provides so much freedom in only answering to yourself
There are not enough words to describe the freedom I felt. Answering to yourself is liberating. No plans were made for most of the trip. I made one reservation for a chocolate tour but the rest was left for me to wing it. Brussels is full of museums, parks, incredible food, and architecture. I people watched, saw a ton of art, ate incredible food, and really made the most of my two days. I wanted to do it all over again right away.
Dining solo makes you appreciate the meal
Dining solo is something I felt fairly comfortable with before my trip. I’ve eaten alone in airports or work travels, but never personally. I tried to stay present during my meals. Observing my surroundings, taking in the commotion, and savoring the meal. It felt so different and rewarding.
A few of my favorite travel items
I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot and traveling solo really put a highlight on the items that were most useful.
- Good shoes! Surprisingly this past trip my Nike Dunks were the most comfortable shoes but I also love Vejas.
- A belt bag. Being able to be hands-free is clutch! I got mine at Amazon, but of course the Lululemon version is what went viral.
- An octobuddy. This allowed me to take a few pictures of myself without having to ask anyone!
- A good backpack. I’m actually on my second one of the Beis backpack. You’ll want something that you can lug around hands-free.
I’m so excited to travel alone more in the future. I feel like so much growth will come from this challenge. You can always check out more of my travel posts for destination inspiration!
Xoxo
Janelle
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