Writer, traveler and film critic Vladimir Jean-Gilles shares five solo travel tips to maximize your personal growth in 2026.
Travel log: Istanbul, Türkiye. November 12, 2024
“It’s now 7 a.m. in Istanbul. After having breakfast and enjoying my morning tea, I picked up a local newspaper from the hotel lobby. By the time I made it back to my room, I was already lost, wondering in deep thought… as I often do…
Looking out my window, I am now the witness of 20-some million lives in a place filled with strangers with somewhat familiar faces.
The only one I don’t recognize is me….
And yet, I don’t feel lost. If anything, I feel more myself than I’ve ever been. But at the same time… I’m not. Suddenly, I’m facing a truth I’ve kept hidden from myself for a while. I wasn’t sure if I’d be strong enough to admit it, let alone reveal it.
They say that in order to become a new version of yourself, the old version must die. That always sounded a little dramatic to me. But isn’t that what change is? I don’t know. Really. I’m aware of my growth. I learn as I go, and I’ve come to see that as one of my most beautiful qualities.
But change… change is the purpose of growth. I understand that now more than ever.
But had I known that before… maybe I would’ve slowed down a little.
Something to think about.”
COVER STORY
“Travel is about landscapes. Transformation is about people.” – Vladimir Jean-Gilles
I wrote this piece in a travel log when I was traveling in Istanbul in 2024. What I was experiencing in that moment was the expansion of my own mind and horizons. I was beginning to perceive the world in a completely different way and was forced to rethink the role I was playing in it.
In short, I was growing—mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Those lessons didn’t come from guidebooks or itineraries. They came from the act of traveling alone, from allowing myself to be both lost and found in unfamiliar places. That’s what solo travel should be all about.
Here are five solo travel tips to maximize your personal growth in 2026.
5. Do Your Research
Researching culture, language, taboos, and safety practices isn’t about restriction. It’s about respect.
Showing up to a new country unprepared isn’t adventurous; it’s arrogant. Even small efforts matter—learning how to greet someone, understanding what gestures are rude, or knowing which topics are sensitive.
The world doesn’t revolve around our comfort zones. When you study before you arrive, you’re saying, “I care enough to try.” That effort builds trust, and trust opens doors no guidebook can.
4. Immerse Yourself in the Language
You’d be surprised how far you can go with only “hello”, “please” and “thank you.” Add a few more broken words, and you can actually build real bridges.
You don’t need fluency to connect. A greeting in someone’s native tongue, however clumsy, carries more weight than perfect English. Language is an entry point into rhythm, humor, and humanity.
The first time I ordered coffee in Turkish without switching back to English halfway, the café owner smiled like I’d just passed a test. And maybe I had; not of vocabulary, but of humility, of effort, of willingness to step outside myself.
3. Push Boundaries… safely
Like many young Black men who grew up listening to hip-hop, I had fantasies about visiting the roughest parts of Los Angeles. When the time finally came, I didn’t just stay in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. I went to Compton, Long Beach, and tracked down a popular taco truck in South Central. And yes, it was rough. But it was also real, and it completely changed the way I consumed West Coast hip-hop.
The same thing happened in Cuba. Our resort was located in the dreamlike city of Varadero, but it quickly became apparent that there was a truer version of the island we weren’t being shown. After a short conversation in Spanish with a security guard and a quiet exchange of currency, a guide took us on a road trip through the countryside. He showed us Cuba from the perspective of the locals. The conversations we had still influence how I live and love today.
Travel is about landscapes. Transformation is about people.
Yes, you’ll remember the mountains, temples, and lakes, but what lingers longest are the faces—the shopkeeper who tells you about his family, the woman who teaches you how to make tortillas, the stranger who points you toward a hidden trail.
Don’t gamble with safety, but don’t cage yourself off either. Take the martial arts class. Join the walking tour. Accept the invitation to a community event beyond the tourist areas. Travel isn’t about observing life from a distance. It’s about being woven into it, if only for a moment.
2. Be Open to Life-Changing Friendships
Some people you meet on the road will vanish in a day. Others will follow you for a lifetime.
Travel accelerates intimacy. When you’re stripped of familiar surroundings, conversations go deeper, faster. I’ve had late-night talks with strangers in hostel kitchens that rival the kind of heart-to-hearts it usually takes years to build.
Not every bond will last, and that’s fine. Some people are meant to teach you something in a moment and then disappear. Others will stay with you long after the trip ends. Both are gifts if you’re open enough to receive them.
Thanks to smartphones and social media, it’s easier than ever to remain connected to the wonderful souls who impact our travels. Nurture those connections.
1. Share Your Story
Don’t leave your story unspoken.
The trip doesn’t end when you leave. It ends when you process it. Write it down. Tell it to someone. Post it if that feels right. Reflection turns fleeting moments into lessons that stay with you.
Sharing your story is also an act of generosity. The details you bring back may be the spark that pushes someone else to finally book their ticket. And in telling your story, you remind yourself that what you lived through mattered. Let your testimony be all the proof you need that you were fortunate enough to experience it, truly.
If you’ve spent any time watching the news, you’ve probably felt discouraged from traveling. Understandable. The headlines scream danger, chaos, instability. And yes, caution matters. But if you let fear rule your choices, you’ll miss out on the truth the news rarely shows: the world is still breathtaking, generous, and alive with possibility.
And on the other side of fear, there is a version of yourself you do not want to miss out on.
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