Every journey leaves behind not only memories but also lessons.

1. Start Small

You don’t have to fly halfway around the world right away.

If you have never traveled alone, start with your city, region, or country. Confidence is built gradually.

2. Watching Is Not the Same as Doing

You can spend years traveling with friends or family and understand how everything works.

But confidence only comes when you start doing things on your own.

It is like learning English: listening is not enough — you need to start speaking.

3. Not Ready Today Doesn't Mean Never

My canceled trip to Portugal taught me that sometimes you need time to grow into your dream.

4. You Learn to Trust Yourself Through Small Wins

Turkey and Montenegro became preparation for my dream trip — a solo journey to Portugal.

Big adventures are built from many small steps.

5. There Is a Big Difference Between “Might Need” and “Actually Need”

One of the most valuable lessons of minimalism.

Less stuff means more freedom.

6. Don't Rush to the Destination

It is better to spend an extra hour at the airport than an hour worrying about a connection.

And sometimes it is even better to stay a day in a new place, have a coffee, walk around the city, and continue your journey the next morning.

7. Don't Save Money at the Expense of Comfort

I avoid overnight travel when possible, choose aisle seats, and sometimes even buy two seats on a bus or train.

Comfort is not a luxury. It is a way to save energy and enjoy the journey.

8. Always Have a Plan B

A second phone has saved me twice while traveling.

The same goes for a power adapter, cash, and a backup bank card.

9. Travel Insurance Is Not Just a Formality

While surfing in Portugal, I injured my toe and had to use travel insurance for the first time.

Since then, insurance has become an essential part of every trip for me.

10. The Most Valuable Thing We Bring Back from Travel Is Experience

For me, solo travel has never been only about new countries.

It has taught me to trust myself, make decisions, handle unexpected situations, and feel confident even when everything around me is unfamiliar.

Every journey leaves behind not only memories but also lessons. Over time, those lessons have become simple rules that help me travel solo.

11. Don't Save Money at the Expense of Comfort

Over the years, I have realized that comfort while traveling is not a luxury but a way to preserve energy and enjoy the journey.

That is why I avoid overnight travel when possible, leave plenty of time for connections, choose aisle seats, and sometimes even buy two seats on a bus or train.

It is better to spend a little more money on comfort than spend time and energy recovering afterward.

12. Learn Local Rules and Customs

Once in Germany, I discovered that most shops are closed on Sundays.

Since then, I have always tried to learn about local customs, rules, and habits before traveling. Sometimes these small details affect the comfort of a trip more than the famous landmarks.

13. Be Careful with Ice in Drinks

I got serious food poisoning for the first time while traveling in Bali.

Since then, in countries where I am unsure about the quality of the water, I rarely order drinks with ice. If there is any doubt about the water, drinks without ice are usually the safer choice.

14. Avoid Short Connections

I used to think that a 30–40 minute connection was a great idea. After a few sprints through airports trying to reach my gate, I changed my mind.

Now I almost always choose longer layovers.

My rule is simple: it is better to wait an extra hour at the airport than spend an hour worrying about missing your flight.

And sometimes it is even better not to rush at all. That is how extra walks, cafés, parks, and even entire cities found their way into my travels.

15. Prepare for Your Trip in Advance

I usually start preparing about a month before departure.

I book tickets and accommodation, check entry requirements, insurance, passport validity, mobile service, money, and transportation.

Before leaving, I double-check all tickets, connections, departure times, and make sure all my devices are charged.

My main rule is simple: the better I prepare at home, the fewer small problems I need to solve on the road.

I wish you not perfect trips, but interesting ones.

The kind that leave you with your own stories, your own lessons, and places you want to return to someday.

I wish you more courage to try new things, more freedom on the road, and more moments you will want to remember for years to come.

Have wonderful travels and many great stories.

Thank you for reading!

15 Lessons and Tips from My Solo Travels