Solo Traveling to Malta

By: Aria Wozniak

One of the best parts about study abroad is the opportunity to easily (and affordably) travel to nearby countries. By the end of the program, I will have visited eight countries while studying abroad. 

One of my best travel experiences – which significantly put me out of my comfort zone – was a solo trip to Malta. Beforehand, I made sure to do some research. I knew I wanted to visit someplace warm and decided to visit Malta due to its reputation as a friendly and safe place for solo travelers.

Malta did not disappoint. I started my trip thinking I would backpack across the island since it was only 25 miles from one end to the other. However, feeling a bit nervous the night before, I decided to get a hotel to have a home base and just explore during the day. 

During the day I took public transportation to the Blue Grotto and hiked around the area, got food and read my book. After that, I went to Valetta to look at the shops and listen to live music. I finished the day by grabbing a drink at an outdoor table on a busy strip and journaling. I think my second day was the most fun though. I booked a boat tour to the other islands. At first, it felt a bit isolating since most people on the ship were big groups of people and families. However, this helped me break out of my comfort zone a bit and I forced myself to talk to others. I ended up meeting a group of friends and we explored the island together and swam in Blue Lagoon. This felt incredibly cool since we were communicating in the bit of Spanish I knew and the bits of English they knew. I felt comfortable meeting more people after spending the day getting to know other travelers my age. 

The best part of traveling alone was how much it pushed me. It was nerve-wracking but I was also able to let myself be uncomfortable and find a way to enjoy it. My favorite part was probably getting to know and make friends with a variety of travelers my age of different backgrounds and from different cultures. I figured out a new transportation system, tried new foods and found confidence in being alone in a wholly new setting. For those considering solo traveling, I would highly recommend it because it has instilled a different kind of strength in me that I’ve never felt before.