When I tell people I’ve traveled to 28 countries by the age of 22 (most of them solo), the most common question I get is:

“But weren’t you scared?”

And the truth is… I was.

Before every single trip, I always felt a mix of anxiety and excitement in the pit of my stomach. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of mental breakdowns at airports, bus/train stations, and of course… random streets in foreign countries when Google Maps “wasn’t working” (spoiler: I was just confused).

But here’s the thing—if you wait until you feel 100% ready, you’ll never do it. You’ll never feel completely certain, and that’s perfectly normal. Especially when you’re stepping outside your comfort zone, it would be unrealistic not to feel some fear.

That’s why my advice is simple:

Do it scared.

Over time, as you expose yourself to new cultures, languages, and places, your confidence grows. But even with experience, the fear doesn’t just magically disappear. Before my solo trip to Mexico (my 28th country!), I still felt nervous. Logically, I knew I’d be fine, but there’s always that little voice in your head questioning your decisions.

Fear is Normal- But Do it Anyway

We often see anxiety as a negative emotion. And yes, when extreme, it can feel overwhelming. But in moderation, anxiety actually serves a purpose.

• It pushes us to research our destination, ensuring we’re well prepared.
• It keeps us alert in unfamiliar environments, helping us stay safe.
• It reminds us to set alarms for early morning flights (even when we desperately want to hit snooze).

Instead of seeing fear as a barrier, think of it as a tool that helps you make smart decisions.

Reframing Anxiety: Your Built-In Safety System

That gut feeling you get when walking down a sketchy street? It’s your intuition keeping you alert.

The nerves before a flight? They make sure you wake up on time (even when you are questioning your life decisions for booking for that early jet eye flight…)

When we stop fighting anxiety and start using it as a strength, we gain confidence and resilience. We prove to ourselves that even when things don’t go as planned, we can adapt and come out stronger.

Your Intuition = Your Superpower

As a young woman, solo travel comes with it’s unique challenges. The need to always be aware can feel exhausting. It can feel frustrating that we have to go through a mental safety checklist just to exist in certain spaces.

While unfortunately I can’t remove those fears, I can remind you:

• You are more powerful than you think. 
• Your intuition is your superpower—trust it.
• You are your #1 priority.
• You don’t owe anyone anything. If a situation feels off, you are allowed to just leave (I personally am a big fan of a good ole ‘Irish Goodbye’).

At the end of the day, your safety and peace of mind come first. It’s okay to be “selfish” when it comes to protecting yourself. If I was ever in a social situation wherever I felt something was off, I would just make an excuse and leave. Conversely, if anyone sketchy asked if I was travelling alone, I would lie and say I was waiting on my boyfriend, friend, mother, etc. Whatever you have to do to feel safe- do it.

Practical Solo Travel Tips for Managing Anxiety

Before Your Trip:

• Research! Research! Research! Having knowledge on your destination, safety tips, and common scams helps in feeling more prepared.
• Be proactive in making sure you have everything you need packed well in advance. (there’s nothing more stressful than scrambling to find something when packing at the very last minute… trust me I would know).
• Have a backup plan (saved addresses, emergency contacts, offline maps).
• Recommended: Book your first night’s stay in advance and even your transportation to get there to avoid feeling stressed on arrival.

During Your Trip:

• Stick to well-lit areas at night and trust your gut.
• Have your location shared with someone you trust at all times (stay connected with someone who knows your whereabouts).
• Avoid announcing on social media where you are in real-time (I would post my travels a couple days after I left)
• Pack a portable charger or make sure your phone is fully charged before you go out places
  • I also recommend anyone to get an E-Sim so that having reliable internet connection is easy!

Mindset Shift: Turning the Fear into Confidence

The more you expose yourself to situations outside your comfort zone, you’re proving to yourself that you can do it. The confidence comes from doing the uncomfortable consistently and pushing through that fear. 

Most often than not, we recognize that what we were worried about wasn’t even that bad in the first place! Consider it like your own personal experiment to exposure theory LOL.

Each time you navigate a new city, ask for directions, or deal with a travel mishap, you prove to yourself that you can handle anything that comes your way.

Slow and steady wins the race

If you read this far- then clearly you’ve considered the possibilities of booking that solo trip. This is your sign to go for it. 

You can start off small, you don’t have to go crazy and do a month long backpacking trip (unless that’s what you really want to do!). You can take small steps towards building your confidence, such as booking a weekend getaway to a neighbouring city or even doing a day trip somewhere new.

If you are reallyyyyy scared to push through that discomfort then start off on an even smaller scale. Start by going to a movie, concert, or even a restaurant alone.

Take it step by step, then soon enough you will realize that the thought of embarking on a solo trip is not so intimidating but… empowering.

You got this, I believe you! ❤

-Jules (your travel bestie)

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