How to Tackle a Solo Trip as Someone Who Hates Being Alone

Before I left for my semester in Dublin, I decided I wasn’t going to go on a solo trip. I didn’t even like going to the grocery store alone, so a solo excursion to another country seemed out of the question. However, since coming here, I’ve realized I am braver than I thought I was. Suddenly, a solo trip seemed like a possibility. I had two free days and an itch to do something adventurous. Next thing I knew, I had a trip booked to Glasgow, Scotland. 

        There were many reasons why I chose to go to Glasgow. Other than the fact that the tickets were super cheap, I felt really good about going because I had traveled to Edinburgh with friends a couple of weeks prior. When I was in Edinburgh, I felt safe and comfortable the whole time, so that definitely helped with my decision. I had always wanted to go to Glasgow, so I saw this as the perfect opportunity. Since the tickets were so cheap, I had more wiggle room in choosing an accommodation. I booked a hotel room, because I didn’t feel comfortable staying in a hostel by myself. That being said, I have friends who’ve stayed in hostels and did just fine. It’s all about what you’re comfortable with, and what the ratings and reviews are showing. 

        Now that I had felt good about the safety aspect of my trip, I had too much time to dwell on the loneliness of traveling somewhere new and having no one to experience it with. I felt dread in the days leading up to my trip. I confided in my friend, who had taken a solo trip a month before me, and she gave me some good advice. She told me to make an itinerary and fill my whole day with things to do, so that I won’t have time to think about how I’d be doing it alone. It was the best advice I’ve gotten. Unfortunately, you can’t plan for everything. I made my itinerary, but forgot to account for when everything opened. I flew in on a Sunday at six in the morning. I got into the city center at seven, and absolutely nothing was open. Everything I had planned to do opened at noon, and I couldn’t check into my hotel until three. Things were looking very grim. I was regretting my decision until I finally found a restaurant open for breakfast. I was able to escape the cold for a couple of hours, and I stayed there till nine. I then decided to wander to a nearby mall, hoping it had stores open. On my walk to the mall, I was astonished by how empty the streets were. I had never experienced anything like it. It was so quiet and so peaceful, and it hit me for the first time that I was in Scotland alone. I will never forget that experience. That feeling of accomplishment and awe. I have rarely been described as brave or adventurous, but in that moment, that was exactly how I felt. 

When I got to the mall, I ended up seeing a movie to buy some time until everything opened, and the rest of the day was wonderful. I even found out that day that the science center was doing a showing of my favorite movie in the planetarium, so I got tickets to that. Glasgow was such a lively city with a rich history, and I’m grateful for my time there. I learned so much about myself and what I could do if I really wanted something. I strongly suggest going on a solo trip if you have the ability to. If you are like me and you’re worried about loneliness, my advice to you is: do it anyway. The loneliness will come, and then it will go. You’ll never know what you can handle until you go out there and try.