Female Solo Travel – An Experience I Was Finally Able To Pursue in My Late Thirties

I have always had a desire to travel abroad on my own, but for a swath of reasons – never did. Finally, at the age of 37, I made the decision to take an extended trip to Europe. My journey of over four months was full of various adventures and unforgettable experiences. Looking back now, I am incredibly grateful that I was able to turn one of my dreams into a realty.

Below is a list of some of the most common questions I was asked before, during, and after my trip.

AREN’T YOU SCARED TO GO ALONE?

In general, I was not afraid to travel alone. I did, however, have a short moment where I became very anxious a week or so before leaving home because I was thinking about all of the worst case scenarios. Fortunately, that feeling soon passed, and my excitement for the adventure ahead was soon restored. Overall, my biggest fears going in were…

• Getting pickpocketed
• Losing or breaking my phone
• Losing or breaking my laptop
• Getting injured or becoming ill
• Feeling lonely and becoming homesick

I am thrilled to report that I never got pickpocketed and never lost or broke my devices.

I did, on the other hand, feel a bit homesick on the Fourth of July. Clearly I was craving a good old fashioned American barbecue, family, friends, and some fireworks!

I did also have a 45-minute bout of heat exhaustion in Pisa on the 51st day of my trip. It quickly passed but unfortunately, led to the development of a cold allergy 2 days later which I discovered upon my arrival in France. I’ll definitely write more about that down the road. Other than this frustrating new allergy, I remained healthy overall and never had to seek professional medical assistance during my 4+ months abroad.

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HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO LEAVE HOME FOR SO LONG?

This was a question I got asked by a few American tourists that I met during my trip. I was never asked this by any Europeans. Here was my typical reply.

• I am working for myself as a wedding planner & have the luxury of not being tied down to a traditional job & limited vacation time.
• I do not have any young children, a spouse, pets, or ailing family members that require my care.

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HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO AFFORD SUCH A LONG TRIP?

This was a question that I got asked by an American tourist while enjoying a beer on the tiny island of Inishmore. Just like the previous inquiry, I was never asked this by any Europeans that I met. Here was my response to this very kind gentleman’s question.

• I have a fair amount of savings to spend.
• I have not booked or plan to book any ultra, fancy accommodations.
• I have not booked or plan to book any extravagant excursions.
• I stayed a few nights with a close family friend in the Scottish Highlands.
• I stayed a few nights at a newly inherited family flat in London that was recently vacated by longtime renters.
• And most importantly, I volunteered at three businesses in exchange for room & board during my trip. I applied to these positions prior to booking my flight to Europe and scheduled all of my personal travels for before, after, and in between these extended volunteer stints.
  • 30 Nights at a Winery in Italy
  • 29 Nights at a B&B in France
  • 30 Nights at a B&B in Ireland

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WHERE EXACTLY ARE YOU GOING? / WHERE DID YOU GO AGAIN?

• Flight to Europe
  • Los Angeles to Dublin
  • May 29, 2023
  • Red-Eye flight with a next day, afternoon arrival due to the time change
  • Long Layover in Dublin with a same day, evening flight to Portugal
• 4 Nights in Portugal
  • All personal travel
• 48 Nights in Italy
  • 13 Nights of personal travel
  • 30 Nights volunteering at the vineyard
  • 5 Nights of personal travel
• 34 Nights in France
  • 29 Nights volunteering at the bed and breakfast
  • 5 Nights of personal travel
• 6 Nights in Scotland
  • All personal travel
  • I was originally planning on going to Southern Spain & Morocco during this time, but since I had not planned this leg of my trip in advance – I decided to visit a family friend instead which ended up being quite lovely & incredibly relaxing.
• 3 Nights in England
  • All personal travel
  • This was also not in my original plan, but it worked out quite nice in the end.
• 36 Nights in Ireland
  • 30 Nights volunteering at the bed and breakfast
  • 6 Nights of personal travel
• Flight back Home
  • Dublin to Los Angeles
  • October 7, 2023
  • Mid-Day flight with a same day, evening arrival due to the time change

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WHAT WAS THE TOTAL DURATION OF YOUR TRIP?

• 2 Travel Days first to & then from Europe
• 131 Total Nights in Europe = 18.7 Total Weeks = 4.3 Total Months

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WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS?

This is a tough question that I’ve received so many times upon my arrival back home. If I had to pick just a few, I supposed I would say…

• Meeting my friend & his family in Cascais for happy hour, small town exploration, a quick stroll on the beach, plenty of laughs, dinner, and a nightcap on my first full day in Europe before his flight out of Lisbon the next morning
• Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea during a day trip to the Amalfi Coast
• Getting the chance to marvel at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in Rome & the David in Florence
• Taking a 2+ hour train to meet my friend in Florence for a quick coffee & cornetto before she and her family had to leave for the airport
• Exploring and eating my through the stunning villages of Cinque Terre
• Eating my way through the seaside town of Cap Ferret
• An evening, summer stroll through Notting Hill during a light drizzle
• Listening to fantastic live music in both Ullapool, Doolin, and Galway
• Experiencing the unadulterated beauty of the Cliffs of Moher

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WHAT WAS THE BEST THING YOU ATE?

This was and continues to be a very loaded question as I enjoyed so many bites during my extended trip. However, some top of mind favorites include…

• Prawns in Cascais, Portugal
• Pastel de Nata in Belem, Portugal
• Pork Milanese in Milan, Italy
• Cicchetti in Venice, Italy
• Octopus in Sorrento, Italy
• Handmade Scialatielli in Monte Faito, Italy
• Anchovy Pizza in Pompei, Italy
• Amatriciana in Rome, Italy
• Chocolate Gelato in Assisi, Italy
• Lampredotto in Florence, Italy
• Seafood Salad in Monterosso Al Mare, Italy
• Local Cheese in Corrèze, France
• Canelés in Bordeaux, France
• Whelks in Cap Ferret, France
• Fried Haddock in Ullapool, Scotland
• A Scotch Egg in London, England
• Fish & Chips + A Grass-Fed Ribeye in Doolin, Ireland
• Curry Frites in Galway, Ireland
• A Sausage Roll in Dublin, Ireland

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WOULD YOU VOLUNTEER AGAIN?

• I’m not sure, but if the business had something great to teach and was in an unbeatable location – than yes, absolutely!

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WOULD YOU TRAVEL ALONE AGAIN?

• Not any time soon but of course, I would!!!
• It was a great experience that I’d love to have again.

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WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST PIECES OF ADVICE IF I, MYSELF, AM CONSIDERING GOING ON AN INTERNATIONAL SOLO TRIP?

• Don’t let your fears stop you from traveling alone.
• Have a general itinerary, but leave plenty of room for “aimless” exploration & spur of the moment adventures. (General travel tip!)
• Don’t be afraid to strike up conversations with those around you whether it be fellow tourists or kind locals. (This is another general travel tip but much more important when traveling alone so you can actively stay social and as a result maintain a human connection within your environment. Just because you’re traveling alone, it doesn’t mean you need to be alone.)

I’ll be posting plenty more in-depth articles about this trip so please subscribe to my blog if you’re interested in learning more about my European adventures from last summer.

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