Globe Beyond Yourself

A True L.A. Girl With a New York State of Mind

New to the travel game, Lauren went from zero to hundred, real quick!  Jumping in head first, she took the leap into solo travel and was pleasantly surprised.  Like most, Lauren initially was not on board with taking trips on her own but after a little convincing, she completed her first solo trip last year and is now completely sold on the idea.  She’s even expressed that solo travel could be her “new thing!”  She just needed a little push to get over any anxious feelings and quite honestly she’s a natural at this whole thing.  A California girl at heart, Lauren has explored local areas in state (and a few locations outside of Cali) but has an even stronger desire to travel abroad now.  Having been to Mexico, she’s hoping to travel further and to more exotic locations in the near future.  I have no doubt that this confident travel bug will see the world as her wanderlust continues to grow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LAUREN & WHY SHE DECIDED TO TRAVEL SOLO:

Tell us about yourself.  Where do you live, work, and play?

My name is Lauren, just a single girl from Los Angeles trying to get my feet wet in this travel game.  I live in L.A., work for Kaiser Permanente, and as for play, well that could be answered in so many ways: the gym, church, movies, the mall…I’m a girl on the move so anywhere the wind blows.

What quote inspires you to be adventurous?

We only have one life and in the famous words of Drake, YOLO! You only live once.

When did you decide to take your FIRST solo trip and what prompted you to take the leap?

I decided at the beginning of 2018 that I was going to travel as much as I could in one calendar year and to be honest, I just wanted to do something completely out my comfort zone. I wanted to step out onto the ledge. So naturally, I decided that New York just had to be my first trip. I felt like I belonged there and I’ve never even touched the soil.  It was an amazing experience overall and even though I went alone, I never felt alone.

How did you go about choosing the location for your first solo adventure?  What resources helped you make your decision?

Actually my dad is from New York and I watched so many shows that painted this picture of New York that I knew I needed to visit and soak in all that NYC had to offer.

What was your overall experience with solo travel: was it scary, amazing, or everything in between?

It was Amazing!!!! Yes, of course I would do it again. I was just thinking about where could I go next to get away for a few days.

What fears or concerns did you have about traveling solo and how did you overcome them?

I was nervous about walking alone at night but there are so many people out at all hours of the night in NY that my fears went out the window.

What did you learn about yourself on your first solo trip? Have you taken any other solo trips since then?

I learned that I have a ball completely alone.  While I love being around people, this trip helped me see that I also enjoyed my alone time and not being on anyone else’s schedule. I have not taken any other solo trips since then.

Any tips you’d like to share with readers that gave you comfort in taking the leap into Solo Travel?

Just rip the band aid and buy the ticket! No fear to have, there is so much world out there to see.

Generally speaking, do you recommend others to travel solo? Why or why not?

I think it’s the best decision you can make for yourself.  You learn so much about yourself and you’re not on anyone’s time but your own.  You can plan what you want to do and and just enjoy what you like and want to experience.

What was the hardest part about your solo trip?

I think the hardest part was anticipating being bored.  Also safety, I am a single woman walking the streets of NY but I never felt concerned. I was mindful of my whereabouts but never was I nervous.

Now that you’ve got some experience with solo travel under your belt, what’s one thing you wish someone would have shared with you before you embarked on this journey?

I wish someone would have pushed me to go sooner. I was so scared to be alone. I thought travel couldn’t be possible alone but I saw so much in New York that I now know that’s not true.

What are your top 3 reasons why everyone should travel?

1. The experience;
2. New adventures; and
3. A change of scenery.

( Bonus: possibility of meeting new people! )

Where is your absolute favorite place that you’ve visited and why?

I loved New York and it was my first time really traveling alone. I was so excited to plan a trip that I have dreamed about my whole life. My dad is from New York, and I always wanted to visit but anytime we would try to go something would happen. I made a promise to myself that by 35 I would visit, and for my 35th birthday that is what i gifted myself. It was fast paced, and the people were cool and friendly.

Where is the next place on your travel list?

My next dream vacation would have to be Europe. I really want to go in September or October, I guess we’ll have to see how the wind moves me.