Before I booked my first solo trip, I did what most of us do: I researched. I scrolled Instagram. I Googled endlessly. I even looked for books. The advice was consistent — and honestly, very good:
✅Pick a country where you’ll feel comfortable and familiar.
✅Make it easy to settle in.
✅Expect some loneliness.
Most of this advice came from adventurous women — many of them backpackers or hostel travelers — who had walked the road before me. Their words were wise. But my story unfolded differently.
I didn’t choose comfort.
I chose fear.
Choosing Bulgaria Over Italy
When I was deciding, my shortlist came down to Bologna, Italy or Old Nessebar, Bulgaria. Italy would have been the safe choice — I already knew a little Italian, understood the Euro, and the customs felt familiar. I’d visited Italy as an adult and lived there as a child.
Bulgaria? That was another story.
⚠️A language I didn’t know, written in an alphabet I couldn’t even read.
⚠️A monetary system separate from the Euro.
⚠️Eastern European customs that felt completely foreign.
⚠️A journey logistically harder than simply flying into Western Europe.
In short: terrifying.
And that’s exactly why I chose it.
Traveling Alone, But Not Lonely
Here’s what actually happened in Bulgaria:
✅By the end of day one, I could confidently find my way through Old Nessebar’s cobblestone streets back to my hotel.
✅I only got “lost” once — and honestly, I blame Google Maps. (They really should add a “no creepy alleys” setting.) Turning off navigation, I found my way easily.
✅The money? No problem. Even if it had been, my iPhone calculator had a built-in converter.
✅Language? I had struggled at home to memorize even a phrase or two, but once I was there, please, thank you, I’m sorry came naturally. Immersion works.
✅I made a friend in the hotel manager, who patiently showed me where to eat, taught me new Bulgarian words, and pointed me in the right direction when I needed it.
I was alone, but I was never lonely. My journal and my book were steady companions, and I felt wrapped in a quiet cocoon of peace.
Choosing a small, walkable town gave me the gift of slowing down. With no racing from sight to sight, I could rest, notice, and begin to rediscover myself.
What I Learned
Solo travel turned out to be as much about seeing the world as about seeing myself.
✅I learned to trust my instincts.
✅I rediscovered my own beauty.
✅I began to uncover the woman I’m becoming.
This is why I believe in solo travel. Yes, always travel somewhere safe. But also, don’t be afraid to pick a place that unsettles you a little — a town that doesn’t immediately feel like curling up at home with tea by the fireplace.
Off the beaten path is where the real discovery happens.
For You
Why are you thinking about solo travel?
✅Maybe you’re tired of your usual travel partner (fair).
✅Maybe you don’t have one anymore.
✅Maybe life has shifted, and you’re learning how to live — and thrive — on your own terms.
Wherever you are, I’d encourage you to find that small, unfamiliar, walkable town that whispers to you. Let it stretch you. Let it show you who you are.
I doubt you’ll regret it. And when you come back, I can’t wait to hear your story.