Solo Travel Reactions

Written by Joni Roberts

Traveler, storyteller, and public health advocate

My ultimate favorite are the Americans who are beyond impressed that I solo travel.

These are usually partnered couples later in life and early into traveling as a couple. “You are so brave, you are adventurous, that is amazing.” are all accolades I hear from partners, especially the women who cannot fathom doing what I do.

But the biggest question of all is: are they impressed because I travel solo—or because I do it as a Black woman?

These women and their partners are always white. One mentioned that this was her first time traveling internationally. Which made sense given her anxiety levels. What I wasn’t prepared for was what came next.

Her husband said, “This is your first European country, honey. You’ve been to Mexico and Canada.” To which she said, “Yeah but I mean real countries.”

The horror… Mexico and Canada aren’t real countries?

This moment reminded me of America’s egocentric perspective—the belief that the U.S. is the world, so much so that this woman saw the neighboring countries as extensions of the U.S. and not individual countries on their own.

• Maybe she genuinely didn’t see Mexico and Canada as “different enough.”

• Maybe she framed “real” travel as Europe-first.

• Or maybe it was simply cultural arrogance, spoken out loud.

What’s worse is that much of the U.S. used to belong to these countries. So perhaps it makes sense: if this was her worldview, then she may also be perplexed that a Black woman residing in the U.S. could freely travel the world without a partner by her side.

So yes, I smile when I hear the admiration. But in the back of my mind, I can’t help but think: their amazement says less about me and more about their own worldview.

Thus ends today’s notes. Off to see what other assumptions unfold on the road.

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