From Jet2Holiday to Jet2Self-Discovery: Chronicles of the Unexpected Solo Traveller
- Chloe Mak
- Oct 4
- 5 min read
Curious about solo-travelling? Follow our writer Chloe as she gets lost in Greece, turns mishaps into magic, and discovers freedom, friendship, and unforgettable adventures along the way!
I woke up too early, and had 45 minutes to kill before the bus arrived to take me to the airport. At 4am in May, the UK was surprisingly freezing, and my bicycle was locked up securely at a nearby bicycle stand, leaning against the metal pole. You’re probably thinking I’m insane for being awake then on my exchange, because I’m meant to be on a holiday, right? Well, I thought so too.
What you’ve just read is how my first ever solo trip started. Before I actually went through with it, this possibility never took root seriously. After all, I had gone on exchange with several friends in different countries. I thought surely, their company was enough for me for the next half a year.
However, my algorithm had other plans. Instagram reels of people solo travelling all over Europe started popping up on my feed. I started stumbling on solo travel advice websites while researching the countries I intended to visit. Worst of all, no one else was available for most of the two weeks in May where I had neatly planned my two week expedition to Greece and Malta, and I had asked at least 8 people. The options were clear at this point: go alone, or spend my entire May in my dormitory room sulking (I exaggerate, but you get the drift).
Hence, I bit the bullet. Off I went to two entirely new countries pretty much alone, with abysmal Google Map reading skills and the face of a blur, lost, Asian tourist. Oh boy, this would be fun.
Precautions I took
Knowing that I was going alone, I had to make sure that where I was going was known for its safety as a solo Asian female traveller. To do so, I scrolled through Reddit and Hostelworld for well-reputed hostels, as well as general areas to avoid. Besides arming myself with this provisional knowledge, I also tried to be a bit more thorough in my packing than usual. Things that I left to my friends such as laundry detergent pods, extra plastic bags and even plastic containers for leftovers were some of the first things to be packed in my bag.
When I was there, I always tried to reach my accommodations before the sun set, and check in with my friends or boyfriend at a fixed time to notify them of my safety. If I felt someone was sketchy, I would instantly move away or head somewhere else more populated. It pays to be safe rather than catch the attention of a robber or criminal. Having been in the UK for 4 months prior to that, I had also perfected my death grip on my phone and valuables. Thankfully, no one attempted to steal my things.
Unexpected learnings from solo travelling
In reality, solo travelling was not as daunting as I expected it to be. Only one of my friends had done so before me, and when I shared my plans with others, most of them just went “wow you’re so brave!” That wasn’t exactly the most reassuring, knowing I was in this pretty much alone without having many people to turn to for travel advice.
What I remember fondly though, is the feeling of being the most fully present I was in those 6 months. While I may have gotten lost more than once, I didn’t need to entertain anyone else or compromise on anything. I could sit for as long as I wanted, visit a place I wanted to see, wait for nobody, or eat an entire loaf of bread for lunch over four days to save money (true story). Freedom was exhilarating with the right planning, and I’m now an addict.
Secondly, solo travelling isn’t exactly solo, because you get to meet new people! In Greece, I shared bunk beds with two Australian girls who graduated and were embarking on a 6 month European trip.
In Malta, my hostel turned out to be a long-term accommodation for an Algerian university student teaching English there, someone from Athens working fully remotely from around Europe for over three years, and a nice Chinese lady studying in Spain. Being alone doesn’t mean being lonely, and I was surprised at how much in common we had despite all our different backgrounds. While I did not end up doing many activities with my fellow hostel mates, one particularly striking encounter stayed with me. On the way home from one of the attractions in Malta, a young man struck up a conversation by asking if I was waiting for the bus. I said I was, and asked where he was from. He replied that he was a refugee from Nigeria who sought asylum there, and had never left the country as it was incredibly difficult to do so. He was about a similar age as me and shared that he had been working for 3 years. He was also bored of Malta and complained it was so small. I laughed and shared about how Singapore was half the size of Malta, and to this day, we are still Facebook friends. Some of the best things are these small unexpected moments, and I may not have had this interaction if I was travelling with others.
Lastly, hostel culture was way more interesting and varied than it was portrayed to be. Before this, I always had this impression that hostels were meant for those who wanted to party till the next day, and that the place would be old and run down. Horror stories shared by my parents about stolen belongings and cockroach infested facilities only intensified any prior fears that I had. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the clean and welcoming environment at all the hostels I booked. For example, in Greece, I was able to shower with warm water and even managed to enjoy rooftop views of the Acropolis from my 20-euro-a night hostel. Checking into a hostel at midnight after a long day to unexpectedly see it lit up was one of my core memories of the trip, and a dream come true.
Conclusion
Travelling solo should be something everyone does at least once in their life. It was surreal ticking things off my bucket list and having so much peace and quiet to myself before I headed back for examinations. Unlike stereotypical solo travel accounts, I wouldn’t say I completely ‘found myself’ through my restful solo travel experience (although I did find out I’m still terrible at reading Google Maps). Thankfully, I didn’t encounter anything untoward and stayed safe despite walking the alleys of Athens alone at 8pm. Should you ever have the opportunity to, I highly recommend taking the leap of faith in yourself to just do it! Who knows, that 5am bus you take will lead you to a lifetime of memories and a folder full of smiling selfies.
