15 THINGS I LEARNT ON MY FIRST EXPERIENCE TRAVELLING ALONE
1/ Never go by anyone else’s expectations, go and form your own opinion of a city because it may surprise you.
2/ Sleeping in a room with 9 strangers of mixed sex isn’t as smelly or uncomfortable as you may have imagined. I met some pretty unforgettable people in those dorms.
3/ Yes, foreign transport is as confusing as you picture. Weird buses, different languages and worst of all – angry bus drivers. I went on the right bus in the opposite direction from Amsterdam airport and it did not go down well.
4/ If you’re travelling alone, having the confidence to sit with someone who is by themselves or starting conversations with strangers will be the only way to make friends.
5/ Social media life goes on without you and no, nobody has had an unexpected baby in your absence – put your phone down and enjoy the magnificent view. Don’t let how many likes you’re getting ruin a (potentially) beautiful moment.
6/ Free walking tours are absolutely the best introduction to a city. You can find information online and they will give you a personal view of the city and it’s history.
7/ Couchsurfing is an interesting way of getting a guided tour or just someone to have dinner with. I have done it and having hotchpotch with strangers is fun.
8/ Use your time away as a time to declutter your life and minimalise it. Remember that although you’re having a great time, not everyone wants to hear you gloat about it all the time.
9/ Wear suitable shoes!! Converse do not support well through continual puddles and bad weather.
10/ Airports are not as scary as it seemed when you were younger. Just remember not to miss your gate closure because then you wouldn’t be able to get your plane...duh!
11/ Spending an afternoon sat in a coffee shop reading your favourite book is not seen as a waste of time – it is actually celebrated when travelling alone because you have nobody wanting to do differently.
12/ Learning to take things as they appear, and trying not to worry too much about having a plan for the day When I was in Copenhagen I had no idea my walking tour would turn into a day of sightseeing with a really great friend, getting lost in all that Copenhagen had to offer.
13/ Europeans love H&M, it is everywhere. Guaranteed you may see it more than McDonalds in some places.
14/ Museums are generally free on a Sunday, however during the rest of the week they are very expensive – I paid €17.50 to go to a museum in Amsterdam, but it was worth it.
15/ Although it may seem scary to go and do things on your own, but the confidence and value it will give you is worth the world. The first night may be the scariest but you always have other people around you – so don’t be afraid to ask!
