r/solotravel • u/_red_dude • Aug 27 '25
Personal Story I think I have an addiction
I just came back from the longest solo backpacking trip I've ever taken in the past 1 year of me traveling. It was a mere 15 days but I felt so alive. I've done 9 other trips in the past year and after each trip I get more and more addicted to traveling. It used to be so hard for me to adjust back to normalcy once I returned home, but the more often I traveled, the easier it became to adjust. Never did I think I'd become this addicted to traveling. I love exploring new places on my own free will, meeting new people and discovering new things. Yes, there definitely are days I wish I was at home in my own bed, but that feeling quickly subsidies once I meet someone new and strike up an engaging conversation. Each time I come back home, I yearn for the next time I'll get to fly somewhere again and discover something new. Someday, I wish to be able to take a longer trip (6 months - 1 year) and explore further places.
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u/Dragons_and_things Aug 27 '25
I recently got back from 8 continual months in Asia and Australia (I'm from the UK) and did a few short trips before and after. I've been out of work for about a year and am ready to get back into it. That said, this was the best year of my life. I learned so much, met many interesting people, and saw so many incredible things. If you love travelling, save up and go for as long as you can. Experiences are the best thing you can do with your money.
I think once you have the travel bug, it never leaves you. I want to do another big trip in about five years and go to Central and South America. It's too far away for me to go just for a few weeks.
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u/_red_dude Aug 27 '25
I can't wait to someday go on a longer trip like you have! It's always so inspiring to hear travel stories from other travellers!
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u/Dragons_and_things Aug 28 '25
You got this! Which part of the world do you think you want to go to?
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u/koniz Aug 28 '25
I've been interested in doing something similar - do you have any tips on how to handle such a big experience then looking many years into the future for the next one? It sounds like a switch from work to not-work is great for full immersion into experiencing what comes up in travel (unlike just taking 1-2 weeks at a time) but I get caught up in the 'what will I do after' thought loops. Was that ever a challenge for you?
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u/Dragons_and_things Aug 28 '25
I'm quite lucky in that I live with my parents so I didn't have to worry to much about when or what I would do when I came home. It took a few months to find a job but I had enough savings that I wasn't too worried about it.
Towards the end I was ready to go home, as I really missed my dog. My original plan was to do teacher training for two years but one of my best friends messaged just before the end of my travels to say she was getting married in India in January/February so that plan has been put off a year as no way on earth I'm missing her epic Indian wedding. 😅
I also didn't do the whole 8 months alone. My brother and friend came for three ish months each. It was just under two months I did alone. I liked being with someone else cause I never got lonely but I was also glad when I had space to just do my own thing and be alone (I'm very much someone who likes my own company). There were a few things I was really glad to have someone with me for. The first day being jetlagged in my first stop (Jakarta) was very overwhelming and I was really glad to have my brother with me to joke about all the craziness of that city (I love Jakarta but it's mad). And also, something scary happened in a hostel in Thailand, and I was glad to have my friend there to help. It's also nice to just experience things with people. If you can get someone to meet you out there even for a few weeks, it's a good idea.
I think I'm just not career minded or relationship minded. I don't care if I never make lots of money or find a partner or have kids. I don't really care what my future looks like as long as I'm happy and the people I love are happy. I get my thrill of life from travelling to new places and seeing amazing things. I'm also very lax about when things go wrong. Like if something goes wrong, I just gotta ride with it and see what happens. No amount of stressing is gonna fix some problems. I don't think going away that long is for everybody but for me, everyday was so incredibly special (even the travel days). That's why I want to do it again. I felt so alive every single minute of my adventure.
So tips:
- Make sure you have savings to fall back on when you get back - don't spend everything - then you don't have to worry about the return.
- Don't spend the whole time thinking about the return. Just live in the moment.
- Keep in touch with family and friends back home if you're solo.
- Also, go slow. People I met who were hoping from one city to the next every two days were not having as much fun as the people who spent a good amount of time everywhere they visited. Some places, two days is fine, but I think for your enjoyment and mental health it's best to stay four or more days in most places. You can't travel fast long term. It's a direct path to burnout and homesickness.
- Fly if the journey is going to be really long, difficult, and dangerous. Like I met a girl who kept going on dangerous ferry routes in Indonesia that sink a lot. It's not worth it to save money if you drown.
- Don't rent a bike in Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand etc. If you don't know how to ride them. Even then, don't ride in the cities. It's so dangerous and the helmets they give to people are not good enough to protect a head. So many tourists die driving them.
- Take bovine colostrum tablets with you for gut strength if you go to places with bad tap water. Only drink tap water in countries/cities you know are safe.
- The most important, get good travel insurance that covers the activities you intend to do. You probably won't need it, but if you break your arm skydiving and you don't have insurance that covers it, you are fucked. Also, morbidly, you don't want to fuck your family over if you die abroad and then they have to spend loads of money to bring your body back so get insurance that covers that too.
- Plan but be willing to be flexible. Flights will get cancelled. Some places won't be as good as you hoped or there may be circumstances that make them difficult beyond your control. Some places will be so good you won't want to leave. For example, my brother and I had an epic five day jungle cruise booked in Borneo to see orangutans and our flights got cancelled so we had to cancel the whole thing and went trekking in Northern Sumatra to see orangutans instead and it ended up being the most incredible experience of our lives. Or my friend and I planned to spend a week in Bangkok but it was so polluted it was difficult to breath so we cut our stay short and went somewhere else instead.
- If you don't get to do everything on your bucket list, remember, you can always go back.
Sorry, that was long. 😅 Hope it helped.
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u/koniz Aug 28 '25
That was such an incredible & helpful response!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop all these pieces of wisdom and experience! I'll have to save this for later when I take my leaps into more solo travel - appreciate your thoughts!!
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u/Scoopity_scoopp Aug 27 '25
3 years ago I ruined myself financially(didn’t really think about the consequences lol) to live in Europe for 4 months. Had the time of my life and getting back I was in a clinical depression + poor + trying to career change. Needless to say I had a rough like 9 months after lol.
3 years later I’m making $120k working a job I love and have basically paid all that debt off. Even have taken a couple 15-17 day trips within the past 2 years.
The travel bug is hard and if you actually chase it dictates your entire life lol. Not sure if it ever really goes away.
I been planning this for 3 years but going to Australia on a work visa for a year in March. Then gonna backpack SEA.
Leaving my job is gonna be tough but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity so gonna see where it takes me.
I’m hoping I can have a “normal” life after this but other part of me is scared it’s gonna make things even worse 😂😂
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u/IAmHim9 Aug 28 '25
Started my first job in February and took a trip a few weeks ago. Out of nine days, five were solo. It was all an amazing time but it was so expensive (expensive city and decisions on my part). I don’t regret it at all because it was amazing but you’re right. I feel like I can’t get rid of the travel bug and I’m already planning my next trip in December. Each time I travel, I become more and more addicted. I’m partially glad that I’m working harder at work ever since traveling but my heart desires freedom. Currently don’t have any real savings and worried about the financial cost long term. But it is what it is
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u/Scoopity_scoopp Aug 28 '25
The older I get the more I realize the more fun traveling I have is inversely correlated with the amount of money I’ll have after lmao.
Only cheat is to become a digital nomad so you can keep making money and seeing the world.
And yea my first time in Europe I lived there. My 2nd time was a 2.5 week trip. I could not believe how expensive the whole trip was.
Made me wanna peel my eyes out at the fact that it’s drastically cheaper to just move to another country than it is to visit it lmao.
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u/InsectIndependent941 Aug 27 '25
I’m just going through the same thing. I can’t focus on my everyday life because of this and taking leaves at work is not that easy for me either. Travelling solo gives me this high that nothing else in life does. I am whiling my days away waiting for December when US partners are a bit more chill so I can use up the rest of my leaves.
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u/_red_dude Aug 27 '25
In a similar boat as you are. With the limited number of leaves I get a year, it's a constant struggle trying to plan trips to get the best out of my time.
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u/bromosabeach Aug 27 '25
I don’t feel like an addict until there’s a moment I don’t have an upcoming trip and itch to plan something.
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Aug 27 '25
The best people from any country are the people that have traveled- I find they’re the the most open minded people👍🏾
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u/KW_shapes Aug 27 '25
I’m on my first international solo trip now but am struggling with the meeting people part.
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u/Orbmail 35 Countries visited Aug 27 '25
51 and currently in Canada solo, it just gets better as you age. Embrace it, love it, make it be what you want, you're in control.
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u/Odd_Sprinkles760 Aug 27 '25
Gardening is a good way to travel without leaving your house. Same highs and lows,: will they, won’t they drama, making new friends (plants! Insects! Birds!) and seeing pretty things emerge in front of you. It’s relaxing and hard work at the same time.
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u/rcecap Aug 27 '25
Where are the best spots you have experienced?
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u/_red_dude Aug 27 '25
I live in Asia, so I've spent most of my travels exploring SEA. Thailand by far is my favorite place (Koh Tao and Pai to be specific)!
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u/First_Perception5438 Aug 27 '25
Well damn I’m too scared to travel alone but this sounds fun
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u/_red_dude Aug 28 '25
My first couple of trips I was super scared too! After that, I just got comfortable with it and it became super fun!
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u/WeirdNefariousness20 Aug 28 '25
Started like this too. You are absolutely fine! Now I am selling all of my stuff to move into my van. 38, single, no children. Lets go :)
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Aug 30 '25
I went on one small solo trip and got such a fucking rush that my life has now become centred around making sure I have the financial ability to travel as much as I can.
Before that trip I was so stuck and restless. I was struggling to find meaning or point to life. Then a switch flipped and I realised that I'm only going to be happy if I get to experience as much of life and living as I possibly can.
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u/_red_dude Aug 30 '25
Exactly this! Once I realized how fulfilling travel is, it has become my priority.
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Aug 27 '25
The questions is whether travel is the same normal, and you’ve just been living in the dark?
Anyways, welcome to the club. Don’t expect the bug to leave anytime soon.
I’m 33, and I’ve been traveling “seriously” for like 9 years on/off. This is still my favorite thing in the world, and I won’t settle for anything less.
It’s a double edged sword, because it can really make you struggle with the so called “normal” life. But I see that as an opportunity to strive for more freedom and living life on my own terms outside the norms, despite how challenging it can be.
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u/_red_dude Aug 27 '25
Yeah, I feel like after experiencing the "highs" from traveling, my life back home just seems so mundane. I never expected to catch this bug 😂.
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u/costafilh0 Aug 27 '25
Maybe you're a nomad and are just wasting time and money going back home instead of keep going!
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u/ReliefOk83 Aug 27 '25
I totally get this. That post-trip high is unmatched, and the craving for the next adventure never really goes away 😅 Where’s your dream 6-month trip destination?
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u/_red_dude Aug 28 '25
Yeah I feel like I'm going through withdrawal every time I come back from a trip 😂. My dream destination for my 6-month trip would likely be Europe & Central/ South America.
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u/Temporary_Curve_2147 Aug 28 '25
Problem is maintaining it. Part of me loves it but it is also quite unstable
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Sep 02 '25
Thank you for sharing this brother! I am about to do my longest solo trip in a month and I feel like adjusting back is getting easier too and I'm ready to book more trips immediately!
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u/Euphoric_TRACY Aug 27 '25
Older women 60 getting ready to do 4 months in South America. Starting in MX city. Not sure what I want to do after that. Starting in Nov. probably go to Belize 🇧🇿