Female backpacker reveals ‘bloody lessons’ from solo travel

On social networks, Jenny from Florida, USA, owns the life many people dream of. Thanks to clever arrangements, the female travel blogger has not only secured an office job but also had the opportunity to travel to 48 countries, visiting hundreds of places around the world in the past 7 years, satisfying her passion for “traveling”. ” her. However, Jenny shared that she had to face the downsides of this passion.

Jenny experienced the “most terrifying moment of her life” when she almost became a victim of kidnapping or human trafficking in Budapest in 2019. Thanks to screaming for help and help from passersby, she was lucky to escape the situation. dangerous situation. After the incident, she learned many lessons and established safety principles for herself.

Jenny’s ultimate rule is not to drink too much. If she goes out at night, she only has one drink and always keeps an eye on her drink. Second, do not reveal your accommodation location or whether you are traveling alone. Third, try to memorize the map before leaving a place. This helps her not have to keep her eyes glued to her phone and can observe her surroundings. Finally, Jenny shares her phone’s location with her family so they can follow in case of an emergency.

“Going solo allows me to do what I want,” Jenny says. Solo travel also gives female digital nomads more independence and confidence when exploring new lands. But freedom comes at a price. Packages are often designed for two or more people, so solo travelers miss out on deals for couples or groups.

Jenny missed out on exciting experiences like a cooking class in Guatemala that required a minimum of two participants or a volcano climbing tour in Nicaragua that cost $45 per person. Because she traveled alone, she was charged 90 USD.

Jenny’s passion for solo travel came from her first unhappy trip abroad with her best friend 7 years ago. Jenny realized the valuable lesson that some people, no matter how close they are, are not suitable to travel with. After the trip, they lost contact and from then on, she preferred to travel alone.

Although she enjoys the freedom when planning a trip, Jenny also admits to being tired of having to “consider” everything, from eating to handling unexpected situations.

In the case of hotels and Airbnb (sharing/booking services) canceling a room at the last minute, solving a problem on her own makes her sometimes yearn for companionship. “Sometimes, it’s nice to have someone to share the responsibilities or joys of the journey,” she said.

Jenny’s shares received approval from the travel enthusiast community. An account named Kristy commented: “Loneliness is my biggest fear.” Another person wryly mentioned “it’s impossible to split the cost of a hotel room in half”.

Jenny was surprised because people received her content positively and sympathized with the “unbeautiful” experiences of traveling alone. This option isn’t for everyone, but “it’s better to go alone than not see the world,” says Jenny.