25 Years Of Solo Travel In Europe: Lessons, Laughs, And The Occasional Near-Death Experience!

A Quarter Century of Adventure, Growth, and Unforgettable Moments

What no travel blog or TikTok influencer will tell you about the gritty (and hilarious) reality of solo adventures across the continent.

It all started 25 years ago with a poorly packed backpack, an overinflated sense of adventure, and a one-way ticket to Amsterdam.

I was young, well not so young maybe, fearless, and entirely unprepared for what would turn into a quarter-century of solo misadventures across Europe.

Along the way, I’ve learned how to order coffee in 9 languages (though never quite correctly), gotten lost in cities both intentionally and by accident, and discovered that the best stories always seem to involve questionable decisions, dodgy hostels, and at least one wrong train.

Let me take you back to the beginning…

Rental Car, Tank Full of Gas and Nowhere to Sleep

It was the early ’90s, and Europe was just opening up in ways my university political science professor could barely keep up with.

I landed in Frankfurt, Germany, wide-eyed and full of enthusiasm, with a map I couldn’t read, a rental car and a full tank of gas, I set out on the autobahn looking for adventure in Munich.

Long story short, I found myself in a autobahn hotel outside of Augsburg, no sleep after the 12 hour flight from Los Angeles, hungover after finding a restaurant with a bar in a disco and no luck with the ladies. Woken up by a cleaning lady at 11:30am bed.

Lesson: Always try to plan, at least your first night’s stay in any new location.

Lost in Barcelona (Or, “This Isn’t the Hostel I Booked”)

Fast forward a few years, by this time, I had developed what I considered an impressive talent for getting lost in cities.

Barcelona, though, took this to new heights.

One night, after a couple of too many tapas (and glasses of rioja), I was certain I had mastered the city’s metro system. I had not.

I ended up in a part of town no tourist should be after midnight, knocking on a door I thought was my hostel but which turned out to be a pet shop.

The cat behind the counter didn’t seem impressed, but hey, you make friends where you can.

Lesson: Sometimes, getting lost leads to your best stories. Just don’t knock on random doors at midnight.

Solo Dining: Or, “Why Eating Alone Can Be Its Own Adventure”

You’d think after so many years of solo travel, I’d have mastered the art of dining alone. I have not.

Let me tell you, there’s a special kind of awkwardness when the French waiter at the chic Parisian café gives you that look as he seats you for one and then spends the entire meal pretending you don’t exist.

I’ve tried the “make friends with the waiter” approach.

I’ve tried the “look super busy on your phone” approach.

But my favorite? Pretending to be an American food critic (that’s a real laugh in itself, Anthony Bourdain, I am not).

This only works until the moment I accidentally dump an entire bowl of soup in my lap.

Apparently, Michelin stars aren’t awarded for enthusiasm.

Lesson: Own the awkwardness. And maybe bring an extra napkin.

The Swiss Alps: Where Nature Laughs at Your Fitness Level

Speaking of soup disasters, let me tell you about the time I decided I was an experienced hiker. I wasn’t.

The Swiss Alps, however, are very good at humbling you. Somewhere between realizing that my “sturdy hiking shoes” were actually just sneakers and trying to figure out how Swiss people make everything look so effortless.

I found myself halfway up a mountain, out of breath and wondering if anyone had ever died of pride-induced exhaustion.

Spoiler: they hadn’t, but I came close. I was rescued by a friendly herd of cows, whose judgmental stares were almost as painful as my blisters.

Lesson: Hiking boots are not optional. Neither is humility.

The Unexpected Wisdom of Hostel Bathrooms

Hostels, as any solo traveler knows, are where you meet the strangest and most wonderful people.

And where you learn that the phrase “shared bathroom” can mean many things.

Like that time in a Barcelona hostel when I found myself in a philosophical debate with a Canadian backpacker about the meaning of life, all while waiting for a French guy to finish hogging the shower.

Did we solve life’s big questions? No.

Did I finally get my turn in the shower? Also no.

But I did come away with a firm belief that hostels are more than just cheap beds, they’re social experiments in patience and communal living.

Lesson: Bring flip-flops. And never underestimate the power of a 2 AM bathroom conversation.

“The Time I Nearly Died (Or So I Thought)”

No travel narrative would be complete without at least one brush with disaster.

Mine involved a kayak, a Greek coastline, and an overconfidence in my ability to “just figure it out.”

Spoiler: I did not figure it out. Instead, I spent two hours paddling in circles, while a bemused local fisherman watched from shore, probably placing bets on whether or not I’d capsize. I did.

Thankfully, the water was warm, and the fisherman had a good laugh before offering me a beer.

Which, let’s be honest, is probably what I should’ve been doing instead of kayaking in the first place.

Lesson: Always opt for the beer. Trust me.

The Real Lessons? Expect the Unexpected (and Carry Extra Socks)

After 25 years, here’s what I’ve learned: Travel isn’t about perfectly curated Instagram moments.

It’s about the time your train goes in the wrong direction for two hours because you confused the words for “east” and “west” in German (which by the way, sound similar in English, but what did I know).

It’s about making friends with strangers in hostel kitchens, laughing at your own mistakes, and realizing that no matter how well you plan, something will always go hilariously wrong.

And that’s where the real adventure begins.

So, to anyone thinking about embarking on a solo journey across Europe, or anywhere, really, remember this: pack light, stay flexible, and when in doubt, just laugh.

After all, it’s not about where you end up, but the stories you collect along the way.

And always, always, carry extra socks.

What’s the funniest or scariest travel story you’ve experienced?

I promise, it’ll be hard to top a kayak disaster!