Q: Why did I first start traveling solo?

A: It was all pretty pragmatic for me!

I’m always extremely curious to find out what “sparks” someone to travel solo for the first time. Typically, there is some catalyst in life that has pushed someone to seek new experiences outside their comfort zone. For me, that catalyst was primarily work-related. I surrendered much of my life to investment banking for over seven years, including late weekend nights in the office, ruined vacations spent hunched over my laptop, countless canceled dates… you name it. Eventually, something had to give! I desperately needed an escape!

The story of why I took my first solo trip!

Burnout

In the years following my college graduation, most of my self-worth in “the real world” was derived from work promotions/accolades. For awhile, I felt incredibly fulfilled burning the midnight oil.  But, as the years continued to pass, there was a diminishing return.  I started to feel like little bits of my quirky and creative personality had disappeared over the years.

During the six months leading up to my first solo trip, I felt particularly handcuffed to my job — I worked on two major transactions that kept me working through the November/December holidays when most people get to lay low and enjoy family. I had also taken limited vacation days during all of 2016.  

Overall, my life revolved around my career and I felt pretty lost. When I *finally* had the ability to take a vacation in the spring of 2017, I decided to go ALL in and focus it ALL on me.

Atypical travel goals

While I wasn’t exactly sure where I wanted to go, I had specific travel goals:

• Get as far away as possible from New York City

• Attempt a digital detox (attempt being a keyword in investment banking; you’re supposed to always be reachable)

• Take my first two-week consecutive vacation

• Find ways to reconnect physically, spiritually, and emotionally; ideally, through nature and spa activities

Additionally, I only had two very specific weeks in April that I was available to travel, and I wasn’t price-sensitive since I had saved quite a bit that year.

Ultimately, I decided on Patagonia. Unsurprisingly, there weren’t a ton of friends lining up to join me on a mid-April, two-week luxury trip to a remote part of the world. So, it just made rational sense to travel alone!

Bucket list opportunity

Part of what gave me the courage to first travel solo was that it felt like a bucket list item. I had increasingly seen peers traveling solo on social media. It seemed like one of those special things worth trying at least once (kind of like scuba or sky diving). I figured that even if I hated it, at least I’d tried it! And at that particular time, I was just desperate for vacation in any form, alone or otherwise.

It wasn’t until the plane doors locked on my first leg to Santiago that it truly hit me — I’m all alone, heading to a place where I don’t speak the language, for two whole weeks — guess I better make the most of this!

Little did I know, my solo adventures were just getting started… !

Sounds like fun, right?! IT WAS! Let’s plan your first solo trip!!