Solo Travel Lessons: Why One Trip Changed Everything

A traveler discovered that solo travel wasn't for them after a meticulously planned trip to London in summer 2022. The journey was motivated by the rare opportunity to see UK girl group Little Mix perform at the O2 Arena, a band that rarely toured in the US.

Despite enjoying the concert and sightseeing, the traveler experienced profound loneliness during downtime. They struggled to fill time between activities and often returned to their hotel room early, realizing they missed sharing experiences with others.

The key realization was that while they are independent and capable of navigating cities, they feel more grounded when surrounded by familiar people. Two years later, a return trip to London with friends confirmed this preference, showing that the original trip taught them they don't need to love solo travel to be adventurous.

In the summer of 2022, a traveler embarked on their first solo trip to London. The primary motivation was seeing their favorite artist, Little Mix, perform live at the O2 Arena. Since the group rarely toured in the United States, traveling abroad seemed like the only option.

The traveler booked flights and created a comprehensive itinerary a year in advance. The plan included:

• Tickets to see Little Mix at the O2 Arena
• A limited run of 'Legally Blonde' at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
• A visit to the London Zoo

As someone living in Manhattan, the traveler was comfortable navigating big cities and reading maps. They were excited rather than nervous when boarding the flight, viewing the trip as an opportunity to push past their natural hesitation about solo adventures.

The concert at the O2 Arena was described as a 'religious experience.' However, the evening didn't unfold as imagined. Instead of being surrounded by fellow fans who might adopt them into their group, the traveler was seated next to a mother and daughter who politely took a photo.

After the encore, they grabbed merchandise and left the stadium with nowhere to go but their hotel room. The next morning, with three days remaining, the reality of loneliness set in. The traveler looked up flights home but found changing them too expensive.

Despite having a dream itinerary, they struggled with the in-between moments. They would sit at restaurants, order quickly, eat, and leave. While browsing stores, they had no one to ask for a second opinion. They started missing the sound of their own voice and realized how much enjoyment they get from sharing moments with others.

The traveler eventually stopped waiting for their personality to magically change during the trip. They accepted that they would never walk into a bar and make instant friends, regardless of how much they craved that outcome.

The lesson wasn't that solo travel is bad, but that it doesn't bring out the version of themselves they like most. They are adventurous and willing to face the uncomfortable, but they also feel grounded when surrounded by familiar people.

By the end of the trip, they knew that even the promise of seeing their absolute favorite artist live wouldn't make them choose to travel solo again. They cried not just from loneliness, but from embarrassment about feeling that way in such a magical city.

In July 2024, the traveler returned to London with friends, which provided the clearest proof of their preference. They arrived two days early for some solo time—something they actually looked forward to, knowing friends would join later.

Once their friends arrived, the city opened up. They visited their favorite Indian restaurant, watched 'Magic Mike Live,' and observed football at a pub over pints like locals. By the end, they were genuinely sad to leave.

The experience taught them that they don't need to love solo travel to earn a badge of bravery. They can push themselves in other ways and still travel in a way that suits them. They will continue exploring new places, but they will probably bring a friend along for the ride.