Booking a solo trip is undeniably empowering. No compromises, no interpersonal gymnastics, no “what do you want to do?” Just you, trusting yourself to explore the world on your own terms.
When we asked our audience about solo travel, 77 percent of women said they’re comfortable going it alone. Their best advice for first-timers? Equally inspiring:
“Do some mini trials of traveling solo first. Go out to dinner with yourself, then do a whole day by yourself visiting a museum or local attraction, then maybe do an overnight weekend getaway by yourself. Learn to listen to what you want to do, and also learn to listen to the little voice of awareness around you! It can be so fulfilling to get to do EXACTLY what you want to do!!!”
“Have a goal. Whether it’s a new bag or a fabled dessert, be on the hunt for something exciting, and be flexible and curious on the way.”
“Know that flexibility and adaptability are going to be your best bets when traveling solo. You might mistake a plan or expect one thing and get something else, but that’s the beauty of traveling solo. You learn and enjoy the journey!”
That last piece of advice—be flexible and adaptable—rings true far beyond travel. The confidence, curiosity, and adaptability you build while traveling solo are the same traits that drive career growth. Each trip I’ve taken has strengthened my ability to problem-solve and stay calm under pressure, and those qualities have become invaluable in my work, too.
If you want to make your next solo trip a worthwhile journey for both you and your career, keep reading.
Read more: The Fox in the Garden & Other Signs It's Time to Stop Waiting
10 skill-building solo travel activities and goals
Solo travel can double as career development, but that doesn’t mean your trip’s vibes have to be all about maximizing productivity or turning every moment into a resume bullet point. You can still disconnect and sip your espresso in peace. These ideas will simply help you notice the quiet ways travel naturally builds the same skills that make you great at your job.
1. Talk to strangers everywhere you go
Challenge yourself to strike up at least one genuine conversation a day while traveling. I’ve met some of the most interesting people while traveling, simply because I asked a question on a confusing train platform or overheard a fellow tourist in a restaurant and introduced myself. It’s as easy as asking your barista about their favorite restaurants or local traditions as you order your cappuccino and croissant.
Take it a step further and make it a goal to exchange contact info (WhatsApp number, Instagram handle, LinkedIn) with two or three people on your trip. You never know when a serendipitous chat might turn into a genuine connection down the line.
2. Turn every hiccup into a problem-solving exercise
Missed a bus? Lost phone service? Museum closed for renovations? It’s usually inevitable that one thing will shake up your plans. Instead of spiraling, treat these travel hiccups like mini case studies in adaptability. Ask yourself: What’s in my control, and how can I creatively pivot? Later, these moments become great examples in interviews of how you stay calm under pressure or find quick solutions in uncertain situations.
3. Build a personal brand on the move
Use your solo trip to showcase your unique perspective online. You don’t have to be an influencer to post a short reflection note or photo series on LinkedIn or Instagram. Talk about how hiking alone helped you practice resourcefulness or how exploring a new city boosted your confidence and broadened your horizons. Sharing lessons learned from travel can humanize your professional brand, and signals self-motivation and open-mindedness to employers.
4. Take a fun class abroad
Whether it’s a one-day cooking workshop in Thailand or a week-long language immersion in Spain, classes help you build both cultural competence and transferable skills. Plus, mentioning these cross-cultural learning experiences in interviews signals that you’re a self-starter and comfortable stepping outside your comfort zone—two sought-after qualities in the workplace.
Try weaving together a story like this: “Taking a solo photography class in Italy was intimidating at first. I didn’t know anyone, and the instructions were fast. But by the end of the week, I felt proud of what I’d created and more confident taking the lead in new situations back home.”
5. Set a “confidence challenge” each day
Solo travel gives you the freedom to test your boldness in small, manageable ways. Choose one challenge per day during your trip to chip away at self-doubt and build leadership skills. Examples could include:
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Dining alone in a busy restaurant (bonus points if you order food in the native language)
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Starting a conversation with a fellow traveler in the airport or a cafe
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Asking a stranger to take your photo
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Joining a free walking tour with a group
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Trying a physical activity that intimidates you (surfing, hiking, dancing, etc)
6. Work from anywhere—strategically
If your job allows remote work, travel can double as a working vacation. If you plan ahead and anticipate time zone challenges, you can work abroad smoothly and impress your team with your time management and planning skills. Use it as a real-world exercise in flexibility and self-management—before you go, plan how you’ll stay connected, block off specific core hours for meetings, and set clear daily goals.
Read more: Optimize Your Focus: 5 Ways to Maximize Productivity in Any Location
7. Document your journey
Keep a travel journal (or digital log) of your major milestones and what you learned each day: how you solved problems, communicated across languages, or managed logistics. Later, you can translate these into professional takeaways for interviews and networking. “Coordinated a multi-step itinerary across three countries with shifting deadlines” sounds a lot like “project management under pressure.”
8. Volunteer or join a local community event
Look for volunteer opportunities or meetups while abroad, like a beach cleanup, a coworking mixer, or a skill swap event. These experiences will introduce you to people outside your usual circles and add a meaningful community-driven element to your resume. If you’re looking for prompts to ease into conversation, start small: I’m visiting from [city/country]. What’s something unique you think I should experience while I’m here?
9. Practice your storytelling skills
Travel gives you countless stories: losing your luggage on an international trip and surviving with just one outfit, meeting a stranger at a cafe who turned out to have a mutual friend, or trying a new food for the first time and actually liking it. Reflect on these moments and practice sharing them in low-stakes situations, like over dinner with friends or with family during the holidays. Storytelling is a major interview skill, and the more you chat about your experiences in comfortable settings, the more confident you’ll feel in higher-stakes situations later.
Read more: 15+ Public Speaking Tips From the Women Who Do It Best
10. End each trip with time for reflection
Before you unpack, spend a few minutes pondering this question: What did this trip teach me about myself, my work habits, or my goals? Did you discover you thrive on uncertainty? Or that you work best with structured planning? Or that you crave more flexibility in your professional life? Use your clarity to adjust your career goals or pitch new ideas at work. Consider if your trip sparked a new idea for your career or side project and write down one concrete step you can take in the next month to act on it.
Learn how to use solo travel to boost your job search
Solo adventures can make you stand out to employers and hiring managers. Here’s how to naturally weave travel stories into your online presence and professional narrative.
Highlight your travels on your personal branding sites
Solo travel can give your personal brand a more well-rounded feel. You might:
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Write a short post reflecting on what travel taught you, whether on LinkedIn, Substack, or your portfolio site. For example, write about how navigating public transportation in a foreign city taught you to find solutions on the fly.
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Update your LinkedIn headline or portfolio “About” section to include traits you’ve gained from traveling: “Curious, adaptable professional passionate about global travel, cross-cultural communication, and creative problem-solving.”
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Upload a few photos or videos to your portfolio or LinkedIn that showcase your travels and learning experiences (a cooking class, a volunteer day, a guided tour).
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Use your travels to connect on a personal level with new people. Share tips with someone looking for recommendations, comment on a colleague’s or recruiter’s post if they’re going to the same place, or drop a brief note about a recent trip in a cold email to a hiring manager to make your outreach feel personal and memorable.
Talk about travel lessons in interviews
Your professional experience might lead the conversation, but the lessons you’ve picked up while traveling can be just as telling about who you are and how you work. Keep your travel anecdotes brief and focused on the skill or insight you gained. You’re not selling the trip, you’re selling yourself.
Here are four common interview questions that create natural openings to talk about travel:
1. “What’s something you’ve done that pushed you out of your comfort zone?”
Example answer:
“I recently took a solo hiking trip in the Rockies. It pushed me physically and mentally. I had to plan my route, manage my safety, and stay confident even when things didn’t go as expected. It reminded me that growth happens when you’re uncomfortable, a mindset that helps me take on new challenges at work.”
2. “Tell me about a time you worked with people from different backgrounds.”
Example answer:
“While volunteering at a community garden in Lisbon, I worked alongside people from six different countries. We didn’t all speak the same language, but we found ways to communicate through gestures, shared goals, and patience. That experience really shaped how I approach collaboration at work. I focus on understanding people’s intentions and strengths, even when communication styles differ.”
3. “How do you handle uncertainty or pressure?”
Example answer:
“Traveling solo taught me how to stay composed under uncertainty. For example, when a connecting flight was canceled, I had to coordinate a reroute across multiple airlines and countries, all in a language I didn’t speak. I learned that staying solution-oriented and calm makes people more willing to help, which is something I carry into high-pressure work situations.”
4. “How do you stay motivated when you’re working autonomously?”
Example answer:
“I often travel alone, which means I’m responsible for everything: planning, problem-solving, and making it meaningful. I learned to motivate myself by setting small daily goals, like exploring one new neighborhood or trying a new skill. That self-starting mindset often carries over to work, especially when I’m managing projects independently or working remotely.”
