My First Solo Adventure

My next trip stemmed from a girl who was lost and so desperately wanted to be found. It was the summer after I studied abroad when I decided I needed to do something for myself and by myself. I needed to get out of my own way and explore more of the world in search for some answers. I had the opportunity to be an au pair in Spain for the summer and it was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up. I would be lying if I said the thought of traveling on my own for the first time didn’t scare the crap out of me, but I put my fears aside and just went for it.

For those of you who don’t know, an au pair is basically a live-in nanny. So for three months, I lived with a family in Spain and cared for their children. I worked during the week and had the weekends off. Along with getting paid each week, my room and board was taken care of through the family, so the money I was making was going towards all of my travels in my free time. The way I came across this opportunity was actually a unique way of it happening, but I later found out that there is a website called AuPairWorld where you can create a profile and then apply to different families in the country of your choice! AMAZING!

I spent most of my time in the small town of Huesca. Having been to Spain before, I was excited and eager to continue learning about the culture, practice my Spanish speaking skills, and explore more of the beautiful country. My experience as an au pair was nothing short of amazing and I met a handful of foreigners in my town doing the exact same thing as me! I took full advantage of my free time and did as much exploring as possible. Here’s a look into all of the places I adventured around during my three months in Spain:

Huesca

Barcelona

Madrid

Salou

Montserrat

Along with visiting more cities in Spain, I also took it upon myself to travel to three new countries during my time in Europe. A true European summer if you ask me!

France

Having only the weekend to explore all of Paris, France seemed nearly impossible, that was before I found out about the hop on, hop off bus tours! This is when a double-decker bus follows a route through Paris that stops at all of the main landmarks. I did this as a way to see all that Paris had to offer in a day.

Two flight cancellations extended my time in Paris and since I had already explored most of the city via the hop on, hop off bus tour, I spontaneously made the decision to spend my last day in Paris at Disneyland!

Czech Republic

Another weekend trip took place in Prague, Czech Republic. I traveled here with another au pair from my town and it gave me all of the fairytale vibes. A truly magical weekend!

Italy

Towards the end of the summer, the family I worked for gave me a week off so I traveled over to Italy for the week. I spent a few days in Rome and ended the trip in Positano, Amalfi Coast. Both the city and coast were absolutely breathtaking!

All in all, my first solo trip was truly a life changing experience. I learned so much about myself and the world around me. Being an au pair is an excellent way to live how the locals live and really soak in all of the culture that the country has to offer. So if you are looking for a chance to experience living abroad and love working with children, this would be a great fit for you! Get started by creating your profile on AuPairWorld and researching which country you would like to live in!

When it comes to traveling solo, safety is a big concern for most people. Below I have put together a list of tips for anyone hesitant to take the leap and travel alone!

1. Just like anywhere, always pay attention to your surroundings.

2. Don’t post your exact location online while you are there.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask strangers to take your photos.

4. Stay in hostels and make friends with other travelers.

5. Make friends with the locals as well.

6. Do your research before visiting any new place.

I hope these tips and my experiences encourage anyone to jump into the unknown. I truly think everyone should experience a solo trip once in their life. It might just change your life, I know it changed mine!