What I Learned From My First Week Of Solo Travel

If you would have told me 3 years ago that I would be travelling the world on my own today, I probably would have just laughed in your face. 

I never even pictured myself leaving New York. But I did, and now here we are. I have just completed my first full week of being a solo traveler, and I have been absolutely loving it.

You never truly know what the world will be like outside of your comfort zone until you just go. And once you do go, I can almost guarantee that you will never want to turn back. Walking into the unknown will become your favorite thing to do. Eating local delicacies and having no idea what they are will become normal. Living out of a backpack, having new friends come in and out of your life everyday, basically eating whatever is cheapest, and coffee, lots and lots of coffee, will be how you live now. 

In this past week, I have learned more about the world and about myself than I have in my whole life. 

Here is what I learned from my first week as a solo traveler.


Mountains are hard to climbLiterally and figuratively. It is hard to climb a mountain! Especially when it is hailing and you do not have the best shoes on for hiking up a mountain. It's also hard in the figurative way of facing challenges, especially when you're on your own and have to work through the problem by relying on only yourself.

But climb every mountain because the view is always worth itThere is no better feeling than reaching the top of a mountain, or making it through a tough situation, and turning around to look at how far you have come and to see the beautiful view. It will leave you speechless. 

Trust yourselfWhen you are out somewhere in the world all by yourself, you have to learn to trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right. You also have to learn to believe in yourself. No problem will be too difficult to overcome if you trust and believe in yourself.You're the only one you can trust and rely on when you're traveling solo anyways!

Talking to strangers is okayWhen we're young, we are taught no never talk to strangers. Well forget that rule. Talk to strangers. You never know where a simple conversation will lead. That then stranger could end up becoming your best friend or the love of your life. If you never talk to them. you will never know. And people aren't all out to get you. Most people are actually quite kind.

Getting lost leads to great findsSimply walking around a new city by yourself without a map or any directions is now one of my favorite things to do when I first get to a new city. You stumble upon some of the coolest little shops and hidden gems of a city. It also helps you get to know the city better and feel more at one with it and its people.

Your adventures will inspire othersIn the past week, I have had multiple people tell me that what I'm doing is so inspiring. At first I didn't understand why it was so inspiring to others. But then I realized why it was; I am out here living my dream and doing what most people only say they will do or dream of doing. And watching someone follow their dreams and actually live their dream truly is inspiring. 

Don't stress over what you cannot control
You're probably going to miss a bus, get the wrong train, and lose your bag at least once. And when those things happen, it sucks, but there is nothing you can do about it at that moment. So let it go, laugh it off and move on!


The world isn't as cruel as people tell youIf you watch the news today, all you'll see is horrible sadness. But if you actually get out into the world, you will realize that that sadness is only a small part of what this world is made up of. There is so much love and joy out in the world just waiting for you to find it. All you have to do is make that first jump!

Never be afraid of the unknown. Be fearlessLife is one big "unknown". This is the best thing I learned from my travels thus far. You cannot be afraid of this life. Everything that you've ever wanted and dreamed of is just right on the other side of fear. Be fearless. That doesn't mean you can't be scared of things in this life. Being fearless means being absolutely terrified of something, but doing it anyway. 


I would say that I had a pretty successful first week of my new life as a solo traveler. I am so looking forward to the weeks/months that are ahead of me. Go out and live the adventure friends!

Iceland - Perfect Place For First-Time Solo Female Travelers

About a year and a half ago, I read a blog post by one of my favorite travel bloggers, Adventurous Kate. Her post was about why Iceland is the best place for a newbie solo female traveler. By the time I finished the post, I was already looking up flights and accommodations for Iceland.

Now, a year and a half later, I took all of Kate's advice and have just finished my first international solo adventure, in Iceland.

Since I was so inspired by Kate and her reasons for why Iceland is the perfect country to test the waters of solo travel, I decided I would put my own spin on the same post topic. So, from a solo travel newbie no more, here are my reasons why Iceland makes the perfect place for first-time solo female travelers.


No matter where you go, people speak English
Travelling alone internationally for the first time can be very intimidating. Especially if you start off in a country where English is very rarely spoken. In Iceland, almost everyone speaks both Icelandic and English. Most of the signs are also in both languages, so it is very easy to communicate here.


There are so many day toursOne of the quickest and easiest ways to make friends while traveling solo is to go on day tours or excursions. You'll soon realize that there are so many other solo travelers out there. While I was on The Golden Circle day tour, I met a girl who I became friends with and then spent 2 more tours/excursions with the next day. Just by talking to someone or asking them to take your picture on a day tour could lead you to awesome new friends.


Reykjavik is a very walkable and safe city
When you first start travelling alone, another fear is that you won't know how to find your way in a new city. Reykjavik, however is a very safe and walkable city. You are able to get lost all over town, and still find your way back.


Iceland is great to explore on a layover
A lot of people I met in Reykjavik were just there as a stopover to another country. Travelers would have about a 2 day or so stopover in Iceland, and then fly off to their destination. This is a great idea because you can easily explore Iceland in a weekend.


It is one of the most beautiful places in the world
If you're just starting out as a solo female traveler, you might as well start somewhere absolutely amazing! There are so many natural wonders to be seen in Iceland, it is like you have gone to another planet. Between the lava fields, the volcanoes, the geysers, and the Northern Lights, you are bound to leave in complete awe of this country.


I am so glad that I started my new journey in Iceland. It helped give me the confidence that I needed to know that I can make it on my own. Now, it will forever hold an extremely special place in my heart!

If you ever travel to Iceland, I hope it treats you as well as it treated me! Happy travels!

Flying With The Northern Lights

If you have ever read this blog, you'd know that seeing the Northern Lights is where everything started for me. That was my main reason and motivation for leaving a comfortable life for one of constant movement and change.  As I'm writing this, I'm on my third flight of the day, on the first day of my new life. And what just happened on this flight was everything I wanted and more. It was magical.

Flying With The Northern Lights 
What it's like to become one with your dream. 

Right now I have no idea what time it is, and I think we're flying somewhere over Greenland. Not going to lie, it has been a long day of running around airports, waiting in long security lines, and getting almost no sleep for 2 days prior. So let's just say I was really looking forward to sleeping on this overnight flight to Reykjavik, Iceland. 

But what just happened on this flight makes me so happy that I wasn't able to fall asleep. 

Just as the not so comfortable seats of a budget airline were starting to get the best of me, the flight attendant came over the intercom announcing that she was going to turn all the cabin lights off because there is a show going on outside of our windows.

As all of the lights went out, I looked out my window and was in complete awe. It was my dream becoming a reality. 

The Northern Lights were right in front of me. Brilliant green colors moving around and dancing in the sky.  It wasn't like we were just observing them though. It was as if we were part of them. Dancing through the sky with them. 

And for those few minutes, we were just one with the beautiful display of lights. It was the most magical moment that I have ever experienced in my life. Even now that we are past the Auroras, the sky is still putting on a show for this flight. I have never seen more stars than the amount that I am looking at right now. 

I wish everyone had the opportunity to witness what I witnessed tonight. Thank you for a beautiful start to my new life, Auroras! 

How To Prepare for Long-Term Travel

            Yesterday, it became 2 months until I leave for my year of travel. As I thought about how quickly 2 months go by, I started going through a checklist of everything I need/needed to do to prepare for my travels. Planning to travel long-term is exciting and extremely overwhelming. But if you have an idea of how to go about your planning, you'll be much less stressed out. So, I put together a checklist of everything important that will need to be done before leaving on a big trip.

Validate your passport
You're not going to get far without a valid passport! And if you don't have a passport yet, it is time to get one. Make sure that you have enough room in your passport for all of the stamps you'll be collecting.

Apply for needed visas
Not all countries will require a visa, but it is safer to just be prepared and search to see if the countries that you are visiting require one. 

Go to the Doctors
It's important to make sure that you can medically handle this trip. This will also allow you to make sure you have all your vaccinations needed to enter certain countries. Schedule appointments with your dentist, eye doctor, general doctor, etc. to make sure you are all set to go.

Make copies of important documents
Passport, driver's license, visa, and anything else important. Make 2 copies of these; one to bring with you (and keep in a separate place from the originals) and one to leave at home with your parents or other family or friend that you trust. That way if you happen to lose the original, it will be a lot easier to get you a new copy.

Sell your stuff
This is a good way to get rid of all your extra belongings that you're not bringing along and a quick easy way to get yourself a bit more cash for your trip.

Re-direct your mail
If you can, re-directing your mail to your parents would be the easiest option. But for the most part, you should be able to re-direct any important mail to your email instead of getting a hard copy. This will make your life way easier.

Get travel insurance
This is so important. You never know when things will go wrong. And when they do go wrong (cause let's be real, they probably will) you want to be prepared for anything. Having travel insurance will help you get any medical attention that you need and help you get home in case of an emergency.
Get foreign currency
It is so much easier and way less expensive if you get the foreign currency at your bank before you leave rather than at the airport. Just have a small amount of currency with you when you land and you should be good.

Notify your bank of your travels
Let your bank know that you will be overseas for a long period of time. If you don't let them know, they may think that your account has been stolen, and they may freeze your account until you get in contact with them. This could definitely put a damper on your trip if you're trying to use your card and it freezes.

Notify your employer
This one, I have yet to do. And frankly, I am so nervous about this! You'll want to give your employer at least 2 weeks notice. If you are resigning from your position, I also suggest writing a letter of resignation. I'll let you know how this one goes for me.


And there you have it! I hope this checklist helps you as you plan for long-term travel! Also, I am (obviously) back from my blogging hiatus! It's been a few months without blogging, but as my trip gets closer, there's just so much more to blog!

Monday Buzz 5.11.15

Hello! Welcome to Monday Buzz! Here I'll be posting some of my favorite articles from the past week. I hope you find much insight, inspiration, and travel tips from these amazing authors! Have a beautiful week of adventures! Xx


How to Pick the Best Hostel - The Brave Little Cheesehead

My Plan To Unplug: How To Get Back To Zen - Julianne Hough

How I Overcame My Fears of Eating Alone - Alex Pendleton (via Pink Pangea)

20 Little European Islands That Should Be On Every Traveller's Radar This Year - Hand Luggage Only

10 Best Things To Do In Cape Town (and why you can't miss any of them) - World Of Wanderlust

How I Saved and Made Extra Money To Travel - Grease And Glamour

Why You Should Let Travel Break Your Heart - Travelettes

10 Easy Ways to Save Money to Travel the World - The Blonde Abroad

20 Reasons For Dropping Everything To Travel

This post was inspired by Marshall from Living Spontaneous. Marshall just quit his job and is about to embark on the journey of a life time, so he decided to list his 24 reasons for doing so! And since I am about to do the same thing, I figured I would share with you my reasons!

On October 16, I'll be saying goodbye to the comfortable life I know and starting a new life of travel. As the months start to dwindle away, I'm getting BEYOND excited and realizing how crazy cool this opportunity is. So, to get a little more inside my head, here are the 20 reasons behind my year of solo travel.

20 Reasons For Dropping Everything To Travel

1. Because I still can - I have absolutely nothing holding me down to one place right now. Might as well see as much as I can while I have no real responsibilities right?!

2. The world is changing. In my opinion, there's never been a better time to travel!

3. Life can be cut off in an instant. It's scary, but it's true. We never know when or where it will be our time to go. We must live every day to it's fullest. It's not like we're gonna make it out alive anyway!

4. Love - I have a deep love for the Earth and its inhabitants. I want to show people that there is still love out there all over this beautiful planet. Love is the most powerful thing we can feel and I want to spread all the love I can.

5. Fear - I'm not necessarily afraid of the journey in front of me, but I know I will encounter fears along the road. And honestly, I am looking forward to facing those fears.

6. I'm terrified of ending up alone. So I'm doing the one thing that will help me overcome that fear; facing the world alone.

7. Yet I'm in love with being alone. It's weird, I'm terrified of ending up alone, but I like traveling with only myself. I find it a lot less stressful only having to worry about myself, my belongings, and my plans.

8. The unknown makes me feel more alive than anything I've ever experienced. Not knowing what the next day or the next hour will hold, or where I'll be tomorrow is exhilarating!

9. We weren't meant to stay in one place forever. This Earth is HUGE! There is no way that we as the inhabitants are only supposed to live in one city or one country for our entire lives.

10. I want to be able to experience and live in other cultures. Every culture is so diverse. I love seeing how other cultures live, what they eat, how they dress, everything. I want to be able to live like a local all over the world.

11. There's no education like a global education! You learn SO much more about a country and it's culture by actually being in it rather than reading about it in a textbook. I believe in stepping out of the classroom and actually living the lesson.

12. I will be forced to rely on me, myself, and I.

13. Life is not about how much money you have in your bank account. I think experiences are worth so much more than a job that pays big bucks. Money doesn't buy happiness, love does!

14. I'm a people person. And people watching is one of my favorite hobbies. What better place to do it than around the world?!

15. And with that, I want to be able to meet and interact with as many people around the world as I can. I love hearing about people's lives and their stories.

16. I'm excited to only live on what I can fit in my backpack. Less is more right?

17. I want my dreams to become a reality. And my dream is to travel, to see this incredible planet we call home.

18. One day I want to be able to tell my kids about the world I saw. I want them to be able to dream and know that they literally have the world waiting for them to explore!

19. One of my favorite views is from thousands of feet above the ground. I love flying and am always amazed when seeing the world from above.There is a thrill like no other while soaring through the sky!

20. If I don't go now, I know I'll regret it later. I have had countless people tell me that not traveling is their biggest regret in life. That is something that I never want to say. Even if I get out there and absolutely hate it, at least I will be able to say I tried it. My dream is right in front of me, and it's time for me to make it a reality.

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed the reasons behind my future travels. I have some pretty cool news to announce soon! I can't wait to tell you guys about it! Hopefully I'll be able to announce it in this coming week or the next. I'm so excited for what is ahead! So many great things are happening!!

xx

Monday Buzz - 5.4.15

Hello! Welcome to a new segment on the blog, Monday Buzz! Here I'll be posting some of my favorite articles from the past week. I hope you find much insight, inspiration, and travel tips from these amazing authors! Have a beautiful week of adventures! Xx


The Cheapest Cities In Europe To Fly Into - World Of Wanderlust (Brooke Saward)

Best Places To Get Immersed In Another Culture - National Geographic

24 Reasons Why I Decided To Quit Everything And Travel The World Alone - Living Spontaneous

Don't Rush To Nepal To Help. Read This First - The Guardian (Claire Bennett)

7 Reasons To Visit South Africa, The Rainbow Nation - Be My Travel Muse (Kristin Addis)

How To Travel When Young: Tips From A Veteran Traveler - With Husband In Tow (Amber Hoffman) via Twenty-Something Travel

6 Lesser-Known Vacation Spots You Should Definitely Consider For 2015 - Living In Another Language