Solo Traveler Reveals Biggest Regret They Have From Long Trip: "Don't Make the Same Mistake"

Newsweek

a day ago

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A solo traveler has revealed their biggest regret from their trip after returning home.
The traveler and original poster (OP), user retrosleepwalker, shared their story on Reddit, explaining how they had initially planned a solo trip to challenge themselves.
However, everything changed when they "clicked instantly" with someone during their travels, forming a bond that altered the nature of the trip—and their perspective.
Stock image of a couple wearing sunglasses while holding a map together during a trip.
Stock image of a couple wearing sunglasses while holding a map together during a trip.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
"Crazy how someone across the world had so much in common with me," the OP wrote. "We spent the next 2 weeks together.
"I felt a little rushed during my trip and a little bit like I betrayed myself by allowing someone to join what was supposed to be a solo thing.
"Now that I've done everything, I realize that I should've appreciated our time together more. They were so wonderful, and honestly, the people I met in my journey were the real highlight of the trip - not the destination.
"It really sucks that I may not see them ever again but we agreed if we were from the same country, we would've definitely ended up together. I really hope one day we meet again.
"It's insane how you can bond with someone so much and may never see that person again."
Redditors flocked to the comments to share their thoughts and similar experiences.
One wrote, "A big part of solo travel that I love is making connections with people you most likely would have never met if you didn't take yourself on this trip/put yourself out of your comfort zone."
Another user shared that they had met someone on a solo trip through Australia and Southeast Asia, adding, "He joined me two months later in Bangkok... Married 24 wonderful years now."
'This has taught me an important lesson'
The OP told Newsweek, "I went on this trip envisioning a perfect itinerary - meals, sights, etc., and the last thing I wanted was a romantic connection to cause me to miss out on these things.
"Funnily enough, all those sights and meals kind of blur together, and really what I remember most is the way we laughed together and how we were able to experience these things with each other.
"Even if it doesn't work out, I'm happy I got to at least experience life with him for this short amount of time. In a way, I feel like this has taught me an important lesson going forward."
Positive Experiences
Stories like these are not uncommon, as solo travel experiences can take unexpected turns.
In one Newsweek article, a solo female traveler recounted how a trip to Naples, Italy, that was intended to be a journey of self-discovery turned into a spontaneous celebration after meeting a 73-year-old woman who invited her to a local village wedding.
"Everyone was hugging me and calling me 'bella ragazza,' and I cried a 'lil cause it just felt so warm and...real," she wrote in her post.
Yet, while these moments feel serendipitous, experts say instant connections don't always translate to long-term success.
Love At First Sight
In a Brides article exploring the reality of love at first sight, therapist Sharon Gilchrest O'Neill said, "There is a feeling in one's gut that there is something special about this person that you are instantly attracted to, and you sense quickly that they feel the same way."
However, she cautioned that these intense early feelings don't necessarily sustain long-term relationships. "It isn't love—not the kind of love that marriage requires over the long haul," O'Neill noted.
As for the OP, the lesson they carried home wasn't about romance or regret, but mindfulness. "If you're ever in the same position as me—don't make the same mistake. Be present and appreciate the moment."
Newsweek has contacted retrosleepwalker for comment via Reddit.
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