I just took my first solo trip abroad — here’s how I planned it and what I’d do differently
I've been lucky enough to experience all kinds of trips over the years, from a multigenerational holiday in Germany to an outdoorsy honeymoon in Madagascar. But until recently, I had never really taken a big solo trip.
Sure, I've done my fair share of solo travel around the U.S. — but most of my trips are to visit loved ones or attend work events, so I'm not really alone. The last and only time I flew internationally by myself was when I studied abroad in Ireland over a decade ago, and even then, I had no shortage of fellow students to pal around with.
I decided it was time to see what solo travel is all about, so I booked a weeklong trip to Lisbon, party of one. Here's what I learned, why I would absolutely do it again — and what I might do differently next time.
Travel is more draining
The first thing I noticed about solo travel is that the travel part is more demanding. You are 100% responsible for getting yourself to your destination — that includes keeping tabs on your flight status, reading signs (sometimes in foreign languages), navigating public transportation and more.
In other words, you must be constantly "on." You can't risk dozing off at your gate; you can't even go to the restroom without squeezing your luggage into the stall with you. And you might be surprised how scary it is walking up to a Portuguese metro ticket machine for the first time, especially after a long, sleepless transatlantic flight.
I'm used to divvying up these responsibilities when I travel with my husband, but on my solo trip to Lisbon, they all fell to me. As a result, I felt more drained by the time I reached my first Lisbon hotel — but I also felt empowered.
Traveling solo wasn't as difficult as I had imagined, and once I realized this, I began to see the possibilities.
It's not as hard for introverts as you may think
Once I arrived at my destination, a new concern began to sink in. I'm a fairly introverted person, and I don't have much of a track record of chatting with strangers. I worried I would feel awkward while dining alone or self-conscious about taking selfies near Lisbon landmarks.
But I forced myself to do it anyway. (For science, of course.)
And the results surprised me.
While navigating airports and metro stations was more draining as a solo traveler, I found everything else more relaxing. Rather than feeling awkward, dining alone felt calm and mindful. Sightseeing was less exhausting, too. Without companions to converse with, I was able to be more present and really soak in every new experience.
Plus, when I did meet other people, it was actually easier for me to talk to them one-on-one. Without my (much chattier) husband around, I found myself making small talk with servers at restaurants and bonding with my tuktuk tour guide, which helped me build confidence and stave off loneliness.
However, by the end of my week in Lisbon, my social battery was running low. I was ready for a break from the city's hustle and bustle, so I planned an urban hiking day in the huge Monsanto Forest Park. A day spent in the company of trees and birdsong was just what I needed.
That's the beauty of solo travel: You can design your trip according to what you want — and change plans on a dime if needed — without worrying about anyone else.
Related: The best places for a solo weekend getaway
It's easier to book with points and miles
For points and miles enthusiasts, it's easier to find epic award flight deals when you only need one ticket rather than two or more seats together. Plus, you don't need to amass as many points to book your dream trip.
When it comes to lodging, you may pay more in cash when traveling alone since you won't be splitting costs with anyone else — that's where points come in. I stayed at points properties, including Andaz Lisbon and The Vintage, to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
You can even book activities in your destination with points or other travel rewards.
After using most of my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card's annual $300 Capital One Travel credit on a previous trip, I had around $40 left over — just enough to snag a ticket for one to the world-famous Lisbon Oceanarium. I didn't pay anything out of pocket, which I would have if I had been traveling with a companion.
You can fly standby with ease
Because I wanted to test out TAP Air Portugal's new economy prime cabin on my way home from Lisbon, I needed a positioning flight from New York's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Denver International Airport (DEN).
United had several direct options, but I didn't have MileagePlus miles at my disposal. Instead I had Amex points, which I could transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Air Canada Aeroplan, one of United's Star Alliance partners. On my date, Air Canada offered a nonstop United flight from EWR to DEN for just 15,000 Aeroplan points and 47 CAD (roughly $34) — a steal for a four-and-a-half-hour cross-country flight.
The catch? The flight departed at 9 p.m. and would land just shy of midnight.
I didn't mind having a day to kill in New York City, but I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of getting home in the middle of the night, especially when I was already jetlagged. So, at the last minute, I put myself on the standby list (United makes it easy to do this on the app) and showed up at EWR a few hours ahead in the hopes of catching an earlier flight.
It worked, and I managed to experience the best of both worlds: Spending my free day visiting family in New York City and returning home at a reasonable hour.
Some travelers may shudder at the uncertainty of flying standby, but I kind of enjoyed the thrill. When you travel solo, you have the freedom to play things by ear if you want. Plus, you have a much better chance of snagging one seat on your standby flight than two or more.
Everything takes less time
One of the unwritten rules of travel is the more people you travel with, the longer everything takes. More people means more time required to get ready, a higher chance of forgetting something, and a longer wait to get into popular restaurants or attractions.
As a result, I always build a little extra time into our schedule when I travel with my husband; I add even more when we travel with friends or relatives.
But on my solo trip to Lisbon, everything took less time than I expected. I left early for the Oceanarium because the website suggested allotting two to three hours, and as a self-identified fish nerd, I figured I would need a little extra time. Instead, I was in and out in just over an hour.
I spent the extra time exploring colorful street art in the surrounding neighborhood and browsing used books in the nearby metro station, then found my way back to my hotel without feeling rushed.
For travelers seeking a relaxing getaway, a solo trip can provide a gentle pace and plenty of time to discover hidden gems. On the other hand, if you want to pack in as much as possible, flying solo allows you to fill your schedule with much less buffer time between activities.
Related: The best cruise lines for solo travelers
Decisions can be tough
The one area that didn't take less time on my solo trip was decision making.
In my pursuit of a relaxing solo retreat, I deliberately didn't plan much ahead of time. I thought choosing what to do or where to eat would be easy with just one of me.
As it turns out, I am a very indecisive person when left to my own devices. Without anyone else to help narrow down my options, I often felt overwhelmed. The most stressful part of my trip was spending the evening in my hotel room, agonizing over a plan for the next day.
I hope this will get easier as I take more solo trips, and I will probably plan more activities in advance next time to avoid falling into this trap.
European cities are great candidates for solo trips
Ultimately, I was glad I had chosen Lisbon for my first solo trip. If you want to dip your toe into international solo travel, most European cities are good options.
English is widely spoken, there are plenty of award flights and points hotels, and there is no shortage of things to do to keep you busy (or not). Plus, the public transportation and rideshare services make it easy to explore farther afield without the cost and hassle of renting a car.
When planning a solo trip, you can choose the destination based on your interests without having to factor in anyone else. Love art and museums? Head to Paris or Amsterdam. Hungry for a fabulous dining scene? Try Athens or Berlin. Looking for a lively pub scene with friendly locals? You can't beat London or Dublin.
Related: The best places to travel solo in 2026
Bottom line
My favorite trips are still the ones I get to share with loved ones. But friends and family may not always be able (or willing) to go on some trips, and that's no reason to pass up an opportunity to see the world.
It may seem daunting to plan your first international solo trip and tackle new challenges on your own — whether that means navigating a foreign airport or deciding where to eat dinner. But I think you'll find solo travel is incredibly empowering and rewarding.
One trip was all it took for me to get over my nerves and discover the many joys of solo travel. I'm already thinking about where to go next — and no metro ticket machine can stop me.