📱 Things My Mom Said Before My Solo Trip (And Why She Was Only Half Right)

“You’re Going WHERE? ALONE?!”

Ah yes — the moment you tell your mom you’re traveling alone and her soul leaves her body.

Whether it was Colombia, Thailand, or a totally tame girls’ weekend in Montreal, my mom’s reaction was always the same:

Panic.
Prayer hands emoji.
A very dramatic “I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Sound familiar?

Let’s unpack some of the greatest hits she’s dropped over the years — and why she was kinda-sorta-maybe only half right.

1. “What If You Get Kidnapped?!”

Translation: I watched Taken once and now it lives rent-free in my brain.

Here’s the thing: most places you’ll travel to are filled with normal, kind people just living their lives — not international criminals waiting to snatch unsuspecting tourists.

Yes, stay alert. Yes, make smart choices. But also… remember you’re statistically more likely to trip on a suitcase in your own hallway than be abducted in Barcelona.

Sorry, Mom.

2. “Please Don’t Talk to Strangers.”

This is adorable because — plot twist — talking to strangers is kind of the point.

The best part of solo travel is connecting with people. The Canadian hostel roomie who becomes your impromptu tour guide. The grandma in Peru who teaches you how to say “llama” correctly. The bartender in Portugal who insists on giving you a list of hidden beach spots.

Strangers can be the most unexpected gift of travel. (Just don’t give them your Airbnb address — we’re still using street smarts.)

3. “Can’t You Just Go With a Friend?”

Okay, but then I’d have to wait for someone to take time off, agree on a budget, decide where we’re going, and maybe miss out on all the spontaneous magic of solo travel?

Hard pass.

I once waited three months for a friend to “maybe” join a trip to Mexico. When she bailed last-minute, I went anyway — and had one of the best weeks of my life. Beach. Books. Spicy margaritas. Zero compromise.

Solo travel = doing what you want, when you want, with no one’s weird food allergies to accommodate.

4. “What If Something Goes Wrong?”

Oh, you mean like... in life?

Yes, something could go wrong. But it could also go really right. You could:

Discover your new favorite country
Build next-level confidence
Make friends across continents
Actually enjoy your own company

Besides, you already have a backup credit card, travel insurance, and your mom on speed dial. (You’re not reckless, you’re prepared.)

5. “Promise Me You’ll Text Every Day.”

Okay, this one she’s right about.

Even if it’s just a “still alive, love you” message, staying in touch with someone back home is smart and sweet. It gives her peace of mind, and it gives you a little piece of home when you’re in, say, a sketchy Wi-Fi café at 2am Googling how to say “toilet paper” in Vietnamese.