What to Expect Emotionally on Your First Solo Trip and How to Make the Most of It
There’s nothing quite like your first solo trip. The moment you zip up your suitcase and step into the unknown, it’s freedom, fear, joy, and “what am I doing?!” all rolled into one. Whether you’re chasing adventure, healing after a life shift, or just finally putting yourself first, know this: all your feelings are valid.
Here’s what you might feel on your first solo trip and how to turn every emotion into part of the journey.
Excitement: You’re Really Doing This
Your adrenaline might kick in before you even leave the house. You’re stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something for you. Lean into it, that rush is your courage waking up.
What helps:
- Make a “trip intention” list to channel that energy. Is it to reset, reconnect, recharge?
- Capture the excitement in a journal, voice memo, or selfie. You’ll want to remember this feeling.
Anxiety: The “What Ifs” Creep In
Even the boldest traveler hears the whisper: what if I get lost, feel awkward eating alone, or don’t love it?
What helps:
- Normalize your nerves. Firsts are supposed to feel unfamiliar.
- Plan loosely, not rigidly. Knowing your first stop, a safe place to stay, and a few must-dos helps ground you.
- Use travel apps, local meetups, and Just Go Solo resources to feel supported. You’re never really “alone.”
Loneliness: Yes, It Might Happen
Despite the freedom, there may be a moment in your hotel room when it’s too quiet. Or when you wish someone was next to you watching that beautiful sunset.
What helps:
- Don’t fight the feeling. Let it pass like a wave…it usually does.
- Take yourself out on a “solo date”: a fun meal, local activity, or spontaneous experience.
- Journal or send a postcard to yourself. Celebrate your own company.
Joy: The Unexpected Kind
You’ll laugh at random things. You’ll smile at the kindness of strangers. You’ll realize that you can figure things out and that’s powerful.
What helps:
- Say yes to something spontaneous, a street food snack, a local class, a detour.
- Create a “best moment of the day” ritual. Reflecting keeps you present.
Overwhelm: Decision Fatigue Is Real
Being the CEO of your own trip means every choice is yours, which café, which bus, which museum. It’s a gift… and sometimes a lot.
What helps:
- Have a few “buffer” days with zero plans.
- Give yourself grace to rest, pivot, or even cry.
- Remember: not every moment has to be “epic.” Doing nothing in a beautiful place is something.
Confidence: The Shift Happens
By the end of your trip, whether it’s a weekend or a month, something inside you clicks. You made it happen. You faced the fears. You connected with yourself in a way that’s hard to explain to people who weren’t there.
What helps:
Start planning your next trip. Once you go solo, it gets addictive.
Reflect on how far you came, emotionally, physically, mentally.
Write a letter to your pre-trip self. It’s a reminder of what you’re capable of.
