Inspiring travel one pin at a time.
You step off the plane in a new destination and feel that both liberating yet terrifying feeling sweep over you as you realize you are in a new country and completely alone. Whether backpacking through Asia, spending a week in Argentina or passing through London, the following 10 things will inevitably happen to every first time solo traveler.
Looking back at my first solo adventure to Argentina last August, I could never have anticipated how life altering, empowering and challenging solo travel would prove. I couldn’t have known then how I would face all facets of my personality, how I would swing through the spectrum of my emotions and learn to be my own best friend.
While solo traveling in Argentina and Uruguay, I found music to be one of my best companions-whether I was on a shaky flight to Iguazu, a ferry ride to Uruguay or making the trip between New York and Buenos Aires. My “Solo Travel” playlist both inspired and uplifted me during my trip. If headed on a solo travel adventure, consider the following music as the soundtrack to your trip.
It was a gloomy morning on that third day in Buenos Aires and the clouds and cold gathering outside my hostel window were hardly inviting. For one reason or another, I had woken up feeling under the weather and laid in bed feeling cripplingly alone. It was my first time solo traveling and that… [Read More]
The sounds of Spanish guitar floating over the streets of San Telmo were both hypnotic and seductive. As though in a trance, I seemed to stand affixed listening to the lone guitarist serenade the passing crowds as an elderly couple danced tango nearby. With my Nikon camera in hand, I snapped photo after photo of this… [Read More]
Solo traveling is a growing phenomenon amongst women. Whether a woman should venture into the world solo is an ongoing debate that brings up questions of safety, health and security. Here I share practical tips and advice for the first time solo female traveler on what to expect, what to avoid and how to stay safe abroad.
The blooper reel of my trip plays out in my mind and makes me laugh as I imagine what other adventures and stories I would have if I could keep traveling. As I sit here scratching the smattering of bright red mosquito bites on my legs (compliments of Iguazu and not having had repellent), I know that a sense of humor has been one of my best tools this trip.
As I reflect on solo traveling in Argentina, I know I will be writing for some time to come about the people I have met, experiences I have had & self-discovery I´ve made. For now, I share my top takeaways from solo traveling thus far–both practical and inspirational.
Ever since I began considering traveling solo to Buenos Aires in late August, my mind has been flooded with questions: Where will I stay? Will I be safe? How will I get from the airport to my accommodations? Will I make any friends? What if I’m robbed? Who will be my in case of emergency contact? The list goes on.
While the idea of traveling solo has always existed, as of late it seems to have reached a fever pitch as women embrace travel and all its intricacies with open arms. Rather than fear strangers and the dangers that may live abroad, women are staying savvy, street-smart and open to the experience of discovering themselves against the backdrop of an exotic location.
All content and photography on The Pin the Map Project is the intellectual property of Nikki Vargas unless stated otherwise (as in the case of guest posts). No content and/or photography should be taken without explicit written consent and approval from Nikki Vargas.
