Not wanting or not liking to travel alone is also part of it.

The number of women traveling alone is growing, many sharing their experiences on social media, encouraging others to also venture out into the world. Having arrived here when everything was still a wilderness, I get annoyed when I realize that many people have started to over-romanticize it. And, in the content on my blog Mariana Viaja and Instagram @marianaviaja, I've gone against the grain. No, I don't want to discourage anyone from traveling alone. Quite the opposite. But I want to show the real, imperfect, and sometimes even unsatisfactory side, because I'm fed up with seeing so many people talking about it as if it were a guaranteed transformative experience that everyone should experience at least once.
An experience that was good for me, or for you, or even for many people, won't necessarily be good for everyone. I find it crazy when I see some publications insisting on this, precisely because we women grow up hearing that everyone has to do this or that, so we kind of break down by not doing what, in theory, everyone should do... and many do the same thing, creating other boxes and wanting others to fit in.
Solo travel has almost become a self-help topic on social media, which is terrible and even dangerous. Showing the wonderful side, presenting something as a synonym for empowerment, can even cause frustration for those who haven't had an incredible time alone. Because no one is like that all the time.
And I want to say that's okay. Sometimes it's boring, sometimes it's different from what we dreamed of, sometimes you don't want to go. It can be a bad time, it can be okay, and then suddenly loneliness hits because you can't meet other people, among many other situations.
Not to mention that it's impossible to do everything; mishaps can happen, and the photos can turn out awful. I understand the frustration. We spend money, time, and build expectations. And many of these expectations are fueled precisely by those online waving the flag of a perfect, happy world.
Get me a ticket to Narnia, please. Because here, in the real world, that place doesn't exist. Not in an absolute sense, like a guarantee that everything will always be alright. Because sometimes it's really boring, sometimes it's different from what we dreamed.
For these and other reasons, I don't recommend destinations when people ask me where to go. Where is good? The one who should know that answer is the one going, not me. Do you like the beach or the mountains? Adventure or tranquility? Historical and cultural attractions or nature? Choosing a destination that suits you greatly increases your chances of success.
And if at any point it doesn't work for you, don't give up or think it didn't work out. It's the same for everyone. But this doesn't apply to solo travel. Traveling in a group can be a bad experience, as can traveling as a couple. And traveling alone can be a bad experience too.
Yes, I know it's awful to waste money on a bad experience. And that a trip generates high expectations. But not going because of that is another story. After all, if that's the case, we don't do anything.
So my advice remains: go! We change, every trip is different. But go with an open mind, without expecting perfection. Life isn't entirely linear—but it can be very good if we allow ourselves to be!