Read Anna’s Inspiring Story About Her First Time Traveling Alone!

I am kicking off a new series of solo travel interviews to inspire you to start the journey of traveling alone! If you’re afraid to travel solo, then read on. These wonderful individuals have the world at their fingertips because they made the step to travel and not wait for others to accompany them. If it’s your first time traveling alone, this solo travel interview with Anna Merabishvil will help equip you with the confidence to travel solo!

I met Anna in 2020 during the sad COVID times but we both had one mission in mind: to start a travel blog! We met through Instagram and bonded. Our social media journey grew at the very same time and pace. We grew our first 10k followers and our first 100k followers months apart!

Anna never solo traveled before but she’s just taken her first-ever solo travel trip at age 27! Let’s see what she has to say about the experience!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Read our Affiliate Disclosure here.

Free Solo Travel mini e-Book

About solo traveler Anna!

My name is Anna and I am the creator of a travel blog, No Space in My Passport. You can also find me on Instagram as @nospaceinmypassport. I am based in London and create content around European travel and around the globe too. I quit my full-time job last year to be a full time travel creator, and since then have traveled to quite a few exciting places!

What Inspired Me to Start Solo Traveling

I had a British Airways voucher that was expiring. I asked my friends if they would want to come but unfortunately, none of them were available. I was either going to waste that voucher or take that trip alone… So I decided to take the solo trip! And it was the best decision ever. I asked a few friends for advice before going and some of them suggested that if I can’t find anyone to go with, maybe I shouldn’t go. But I absolutely didn’t take this advice and ended up loving my trip.

What Stopped Me From Solo Traveling Earlier

I never really felt the need to travel solo. I always felt a lot more comfortable traveling with someone else and I felt like I wouldn’t enjoy it. It also felt scary to go alone and unnecessary if I could travel with someone else.

My First Solo Travel Experience

My first solo trip was only a few weeks ago (I’m 27 years old). But I believe that there is no perfect age to go solo traveling – whether you are 18 or 55, you are never too old or too young to travel solo.

For my first solo trip I visited Malaga, Spain! I went by myself and stayed in an apartment near the city centre. I spent my time there exploring the city, taking day trips, eating delicious food, and didn’t feel lonely at any point. It was a 3 day trip so was a perfect amount for a first solo trip.

👉 You may like this blog post on traveling to Spain alone

My go-to for finding group tours is by browsing tour sites like Get Your Guide or Viator!

Did you meet any friends when you traveled solo?

I did! I think the best way to make friends while solo traveling is to do group tours. I did a Get Your Guide group day trip and saw this one girl that looked like she was also traveling alone. I was too scared to talk to her at first, but when I did, turned out that she was my age and we ended up really bonding! She also helped me take some pictures which was amazing.

Someone is worried about not enjoying the trip alone: what would you say to them? 

I would say: what have you got to lose? If it is a destination that you really want to go to, and you don’t think you’ll get another chance to go there, take that solo trip. If you are waiting for someone else to explore the world with, you might end up waiting forever.

Did you find solo travel to be expensive?

I think solo travel is great in a sense that you don’t feel the pressure to spend money in order to please anyone else. If you want to save money, I would recommend finding a cheap hotel or apartment/Airbnb. This is usually the only factor that brings up the cost of solo travel, so if you find a good deal then it will definitely not be an issue.

My top safety tips for solo travel

There are definitely a lot of destinations out there that are safer than others. While planning your trip, make sure to do your research about the destination. If you are visiting Morocco for example, do not go to the souks wearing revealing clothing. Also make sure to always get an eSIM card so that you have data everywhere you go. I have found that this really gives you peace of mind when traveling alone.

🤳 Best tripods for solo travel:
1. Simple, compact for mobile phones
2. DSLR tripod

Get travel insurance!

It’s important to get travel insurance when traveling solo so you can stay safe. I’d recommend SafetyWing which covers you against accidents, theft, and more!

What’s the biggest challenge for you when traveling solo?

For me, the biggest challenge is being able to take content. I find that a lot of my pictures and videos have me in them and carrying a tripod everywhere is not the most convenient thing.

It can also be uncomfortable in some situations if you want to use a tripod as I worry about the safety of my belongings.

Another challenge is definitely loneliness, especially if you are having a long sit down meal. Some experiences are definitely better shared, but this is not an issue once you get used to your own company.

Where do you recommend others to go for their first solo trip?

I would absolutely recommend going somewhere in Europe. My trip to Malaga was perfect as I realized that it was full of other solo travellers! It was a very easy destination to travel solo to and I would 100% do it again. However, I wouldn’t go to a city that is known for crime such as Barcelona as this can be unsafe if you plan on being by yourself.

What is on your travel bucket list

I have a lot on my travel bucket list.

My top destinations are:

• Mexico
• Korea
• Japan for cherry blossom season
• Peru
• Finland
• Namibia
• Egypt

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for those who are preparing to travel solo for the first time?

Traveling solo can be scary but it might change your relationship with yourself as you learn to spend time alone. It will be hard at first but definitely a very rewarding experience which may or may not be for you – but you’ll never know until you try.

Has your first time traveling alone changed you?

I think it definitely made me braver as it was scary at first. It also made me get to know myself better and made me think that I am capable of exploring the world on my own – no need to wait for anyone else.

A big thank you to Anna for sharing her travel story. I hope you feel inspired to start traveling alone!

Get Inspired by other Solo Travelers with these other posts!

• Interviewing Adriana on traveling solo while in a relationship
• Interviewing Ivana on Traveling Solo on a Budget
• Interviewing Samantha on her Safety Travel Tips
• Interviewing Elise on how to love being alone
• Interviewing Ellie on how her she became a digital nomad

📞 Still afraid to solo travel the world? Then book a 1:1 coaching call with me and I will help answer your questions so you can travel this world in confidence!

For more reading, you may also like these:
🤎 FREE mini solo travel e-book!
📸 Best Camera Gear for Solo Female Travelers
👩❤️👱‍♀️How to Meet Friends Traveling Solo
♀ Best Places for Solo Female Travel
🍴Tips for eating out alone
🇮🇹 Traveling Italy Alone
🤫 Travel Secrets & Tips
📞 Book a 1:1 Coaching Call with me on Solo Travel