These are all extracts of diary entries from my solo travel journey. Hopefully this will help anyone out who is thinking of solo travelling to have an honest insight into what it’s like. Please know that none of these are posted in real time 🙂
Day 1 – The first one
First day of solo travel (technically also still my travel day!) went down to the beach with a new friend, grabbed some stuff from the bakery for tea and off to go out with a group from the hostel. So glad I booked a sociable hostel for my first one – I would definitely tell anyone getting ready to solo travel that your hostel choices are important especially for the first few to make sure you find your feet and push yourself to put yourself out there more.
Day 2 – The one with the boat trip
One of the girls I met on the hostel night out staying in my dorm invited me to come with them on the boat tour from the hostel today. For me, this was definitely a spontaneous decision. Anyone who knows travelling me knows that I am entirely a type-A traveller and even have spreadsheets. However, this was an amazing decision (cannot recommend the trip enough – cliff jumping, swimming in caves and sat laughing on a small beach for a few hours). There were 5 girls solo travelling out of the 6 of us on the boat and it was so lovely. We all went out together at the hostel sunset trip, sat drinking cocktails on the beach together and chatting with other people at our hostel before going back and cooking a massive pasta together.
Day 3 – The girls’ day
Down from 5 girls to 3 today however, more travellers have arrived and we went out on a girls trip to the ladies only beach. Such a chill day reading and swimming (much needed after yesterday’s adventures) and then went to explore old town. I went to the museum by myself and realised that was probably the first time I’ve been alone since arriving. Definitely had a lot of thoughts about that but went back to the hostel to chill and chat for a bit before heading out with the whole hostel on a Friday night to the local bar.
Day 4 – The one saying goodbye for the first time
Okay so having just left one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in, and met some of the most amazing people, one thing I definitely didn’t realise was how hard it would be to say goodbye to people you’ve only known for a few days. Solo travelling has meant that I’ve had to push myself even more to put myself out there, make friends and say hi to strangers. And I’m no longer leaving a hostel full of strangers, but what feels like a home full of friends. Also ended up waiting at the bus station for 3 hours rather than the intended 30 minutes for my bus, but at least some time to catch up on travel writing and journalling before I arrive at the next place.
Overall – Ulcinj was a great place to start a solo travel trip! Read more about it here: The hidden Gem in Montenegro that’s not Kotor.
