I Took a Solo Trip to Paris and Fell in Love With My Life — Here’s How You Can Too

Some Women Fall in Love in Paris.

I Fell in Love with Myself.

Booking my first solo trip to the City of Light was somewhere between a quarter-life crisis and an anger-fueled dare to myself. Just a few months earlier, I’d been fired — on my birthday, no less — by a boss who’d spent the year promising he’d take me to Paris on one of his business trips.

So when he took the job and the dream trip away in one fell swoop, I made a decision:

If no one else was going to take me to Paris, I’d take myself.

I stopped waiting for someone to join me in the life I was dreaming of and started living it instead.

I didn’t know a soul. I couldn’t even order a coffee in French. But what I lacked in experience, I made up for in pure, stubborn hope — that maybe, just maybe, Paris would teach me how to be brave.
Spoiler alert: it did.

And if you’ve been flirting with the idea of a solo adventure but haven’t quite swiped right yet, consider this your sign — and your permission slip.

Paris Wasn’t Just a Destination — It Was a Revolution

I’d only been fired a few months earlier, but thanks to a twist of fate and a very timely job offer, I was back on my feet — and booking flights.

My new role? Planning a corporate event in Dublin. And once I realized Paris was just a short (and cheap) flight away, well… how could I not?

Now, I may be a professional planner, but I stepped off the plane in Paris with zero plans.
Shocking, I know.

Within minutes: chaos. My cab driver barely spoke English, misunderstood my job title (“event planner”) as something far more scandalous, and then charged me €100 in cash.
(Note to future you: taxis from CDG have a flat rate and should never cost more than €65. Oui, I got scammed.)

By the time I got to my Airbnb, I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and heartbroken that this dream trip had started with a nightmare. I sat on the edge of the bed and sobbed.
This was the moment I’d been dreading — the moment of instant regret.

What was I thinking booking this trip alone?

I cried myself to sleep. But when I woke up, puffy-eyed but determined, I made a choice:
I was here. I might as well make the most of it.

So where does one go when they’re lost, alone, and in Paris?
The Eiffel Tower, obviously.

I started walking, thinking I’d catch a cab along the way. But Paris had other plans. Every block was more beautiful than the last, and before I knew it, I’d walked the full 2.5 miles.

I found a perfect little café with a view of the Tower, ordered a glass of wine, and — thank God — the staff spoke English. A sweet Australian couple struck up a conversation with me, and just like that, I wasn’t alone anymore.

And then it happened: the lights on the Eiffel Tower began to sparkle.

I didn’t even know she sparkled.
It took my breath away.

As I sat there, sipping my second glass of wine, I smiled to myself — the first real smile of the trip — and thought,
This might just be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Why Every Woman Should Take Herself on a Solo Adventure (At Least Once)

I said this in my last blog post and I’ll say it again:

We were raised on stories that taught us to wait.
Wait for the Prince. Wait for the guy with a magic carpet. Wait for someone to choose us, take us, rescue us — and then we get our happily ever after.

But… what exactly are we supposed to do in the meantime? Just sit pretty and hope?

The man I was waiting on wasn’t a romantic lead — he was my boss.
The one who dangled the promise of a business trip to Paris all year, only to fire me on my birthday before it ever happened.

And still, I had been handing over the keys to my dreams.
I was waiting for him to take me to Paris, as if I couldn’t do it on my own.

The truth is: waiting is a habit.
And it’s one worth breaking.

So what if — just for once — you stopped waiting for someone else to book the trip, join the trip, validate the trip, or be the reason for the trip… and just went?

What if you made “someday” happen now — for you?

I know, the idea of a solo trip can feel overwhelming at first. But it doesn’t have to be Paris. It doesn’t even have to require a passport. You can start small. You can start local.

You just have to start.

And lucky for you — I’m going to show you how.

How to Plan Your Own Life-Changing Solo Trip

1. Start with the fantasy, not the logistics.

What city have you always dreamed about? What’s on your Pinterest board? Paris, Positano, Palm Springs? Don’t overthink it — go with what gives you butterflies. Your heart already knows where it wants to wander.

2. Then make it real.

Google Flights is my go-to for affordable options. Check out Airbnb, Booking.com, or Trip.com to get the lay of the land (but pro tip: it’s often cheaper to book directly with hotels once you’ve found a fave!). A little scrolling turns “maybe someday” into “actually, this could happen.”

3. Price it out.

Can’t afford the big dream yet? Choose a version that works for right now — even a solo weekend in a nearby city counts. The magic isn’t in the miles; it’s in the mindset. And if the dream needs a savings plan? Set it up, automate it, and watch your solo vacay fund grow.

4. Don’t overschedule — romance requires wiggle room.

Sure, jot down your must-sees, but leave room for serendipity. Wandering is where the magic happens (says the girl who cried on night one, then made lifelong friends over wine watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle).

5. Prioritize safety — like the savvy queen you are.

Confidence is key, but preparation is power. Share your itinerary with someone you trust. Keep your phone charged, have copies of your documents, and always trust your gut. A sleek crossbody that zips? Iconic and practical.

6. Learn the basics — but perfection is overrated.

No, you don’t need to be fluent. Download Google Translate. Learn to say bonjour, merci, and un verre de vin rouge, s’il vous plaît.
That’s the holy trinity. Bonus points if you say it with flair.

7. Book one fabulous meal just for you.

Solo dining is not sad — it’s powerful. Choose one gorgeous restaurant, wear the outfit, order the wine, and toast to yourself like the main character you are. Nervous? Bring a book. But spoiler: no one is watching you. And if they are? They’re thinking, “Look at that confident woman.”

8. Bring a journal (or a Notes app) — and actually use it.

You’re going to feel things. Big things. Don’t just snap photos — write down the way you felt watching the sunset or walking alone through a city street. It’s therapy. And it’s yours to keep.

9. Expect a moment of panic. Probably a few. Then let it pass.

Every solo traveler has a “WTF am I doing?!” moment (or three). Let it happen. Breathe. Then go find your Eiffel Tower and order the wine.

10. Celebrate yourself — often and out loud.

You booked it. You showed up. You dared. That’s everything.
This is the beginning of your own love story — with yourself.

🔐 One name. One lock. One love story — mine.

On January 14, 2018, I stood on the Lovers’ Bridge in Paris — not to seal a promise with someone else, but to make one to myself.
That day, I didn’t just fall in love with the city. I fell in love with me.

Et Voilà: The Beginning of Your Own Love Story

Now, I said everything shifted once I saw the Eiffel Tower — and it did. From The Louvre to the Latin Quarter to a glittering night at the Moulin Rouge, my first weekend in Paris was unforgettable.

But don’t get me wrong — it was far from perfect.

That awkward cab ride? Just the beginning. I met a few Parisians who weren’t exactly thrilled to deal with another American who didn’t speak French in their city (although most were incredibly kind, especially when I made the effort to be polite). I even had another €100 in cash stolen out of my wallet by an attractive French man I got too comfortable around.
(What is it with these French men stealing €100 from me?!)

Here’s the truth: your first solo trip — and honestly, every solo trip — will come with hiccups.
But those hiccups? They’re where the real growth happens.

With every challenge, you’re forced to figure it out for yourself — and you will.
You get to make every decision based on your wants, not anyone else’s.
And when your only company is you, you learn to actually enjoy it.

The more you love your own company, the more magnetic you become.
And when you eventually meet someone whose presence enhances your joy (not defines it), you’ll be ready — not because you were waiting to be chosen, but because you chose yourself first.

And if it doesn’t work out? Babe, you’ve already fallen in love with the one person who’ll never leave you: you.

Et voilà.
Paris didn’t just teach me how to travel —
she taught me how to love myself.