I'm an American who took a solo trip to Australia. I felt lonely and got food poisoning — but I'd still do it again

• I was hesitant to travel solo, but I tried it for the first time in Australia.
• I was worried I'd feel lonely, but meeting other travelers and going on group excursions helped.
• Not everything went smoothly, and I'd avoid big hostels, but I'd still plan another solo trip.

Many travelers rave about the freedom of solo travel, but I always thought I'd feel lonely without my friends and family.

Yet when a friend and I booked a dreamy, 10-night cruise to the South Pacific from Sydney, I knew I wanted to explore more of Australia before our ship set sail.

Work commitments prevented my friend from arriving early, so I hesitantly planned a seven-day trip around the country by myself. I didn't want to waste any time, even if it meant traveling alone.

Not everything went smoothly, but I still loved the freedom of traveling by myself — and I learned a few valuable lessons on my first solo trip that I'll use on my next one.

I'm glad I planned activities to meet other travelers

My biggest concern during my solo trip was feeling lonely. To combat this, I researched ways to connect with other travelers.

In Queensland, I booked a two-night scuba-diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

Not only was it a fantastic way to discover the world's largest reef system, but I also met dozens of other travelers on board the small boat. With shared meals and group dives, it was impossible to feel lonely.

Later in my trip, however, I missed having company while exploring Sydney for two days.

I regretted not planning another group activity, such as a walking tour or bar crawl, so that I could meet other travelers and locals.

Food poisoning was not part of the plan

I spent weeks planning my solo adventure, but a sudden case of food poisoning threw a wrench in my plans.

Halfway through my trip, I felt lightheaded on a flight to Australia's Outback. Out of nowhere, I was struck with food poisoning on the plane … while in the middle seat.

I was grateful for seatmates, as they expressed genuine concern for my well-being and even offered to give me a ride to my accommodation. This made me feel less alone in such a vulnerable situation.

Nonetheless, getting sick on a solo trip was stressful. I missed having my support system nearby to help.

I'm fortunate that I didn't need to seek further medical care, but this was also a great reminder to always purchase travel insurance before leaving home.

I saved money by booking a 20-person dorm room — it was a mistake

When I travel with friends and family, we split accommodations among the group. However, as a solo traveler, I was responsible for these costs myself — and they quickly added up.

Australia's Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, for example, offers limited accommodation options. Most nearby hotels charge around $300 per night. So, during my visit, I booked a bed in a $25 hostel dorm room to save money.

Despite the substantial savings, I regretted my decision almost immediately. My bunkmates were nothing but friendly, but I missed having my own private space to unwind.

Hostels can be a great place to meet other travelers, but I'll stick to paying more for private rooms next time.

Despite a few setbacks, I loved the freedom of traveling by myself

Not everything went perfectly on my first solo trip. I occasionally felt lonely, and getting food poisoning was far from glamorous.

Even with these drawbacks, my week of solo traveling in Australia exceeded my expectations. I cycled around the Australian Outback, scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef, and took in spectacular views of Sydney Harbour.

If anything, this trip gave me the push I needed to try something new. I still love traveling with friends and family, but I realize now that I don't need to wait for others to explore the world.

Now, I won't hesitate to book another solo trip in the future, and I'll take my lessons learned in Australia to make the next one even better.

The post I'm an American who took a solo trip to Australia. I felt lonely and got food poisoning — but I'd still do it again appeared first on Business Insider