Sydney is BACK from her Solo Trip to Spain!
- lisasaperbloom
- Aug 5
- 8 min read
...and she states it was the best thing she has ever done...
Interview with Lisa Saper-Bloom, Founder and Solo Travel Coach, 1 2 3 Go Solo!
1 2 3 Go Solo! client and now Solo World Traveler, Sydney Levin, Guest blogger
All photos taken and shared by Sydney Levin
When Sydney found out about 1 2 3 Go Solo!, she was no stranger to traveling on her own.
In fact it was in the beginning of her first session when I stated to Sydney, “I know you travel on your own for business, and that you have certainly traveled outside of that by yourself, you tell me how I can help you. I am going to let you lead the conversation, while I figure out how to best support you.”
From the beginning, I knew Sydney wanted to go to Spain and Portugal! I also knew that she was a great planner and uses her intuition to guide big-life decisions.
Sydney had already put the dates on her calendar, knowing this would move her thoughts into a reality. Where Sydney needed help was logistics!
Question: Sydney, we established in the introduction that you knew where you wanted to go, when you wanted to go, but that you didn’t know HOW to go.
When you first heard of 1 2 3 Go Solo!, what in your mind went, “Yes!!! I NEED that service!!!”
When I first heard of 1,2,3 Go Solo!, it felt like someone had just handed me the missing puzzle piece. I knew I wanted to go to Spain, and I even had my dates locked in, but I was completely stuck on the logistics. Do I plan a full itinerary? Do I wing it? What if I mess up or miss something important? The idea of planning a solo trip felt overwhelming.
What made me say “Yes! I NEED this!” was the feeling that this wasn’t just a travel service, it was a support system. It gave structure to something that felt totally unstructured in my head. The fact that it was created specifically for solo travelers made it even better. It wasn’t generic advice. It felt like someone had walked this path already and was ready to guide me through it with purpose, encouragement, and confidence. That made all the difference.
Question: Knowing that logistics were where you needed the help, can you describe the overwhelm you experienced before you started the Coaching sessions?
The overwhelm was real. I remember staring at my screen, toggling between flight sites, hotel reviews, Google Maps, train schedules, and random blogs about solo travel in Spain. I had about 50 tabs open and zero clarity. Every decision felt heavy, like if I chose the wrong city or booked the wrong train, the whole trip would fall apart. I wanted freedom, but the planning process felt like a trap.
I also didn’t know how much I should plan versus leave open. Was I supposed to book everything in advance or just go with the flow? What if I got lonely? What if I made a mistake? I started doubting whether I was even capable of doing it on my own.
That’s where the coaching came in. It helped me slow down, prioritize, and most importantly, believe that I could figure it out without needing to have everything perfect. It turned the noise into a clear plan I could actually act on.
Question: At what point in the 3 Coaching sessions did that overwhelm shift for you?
Honestly, the shift started happening during the first session. I remember coming in with a flood of questions and doubts, and Lisa immediately helped me zoom out. Instead of trying to plan every little detail, she walked me through the bigger picture, what kind of experience I actually wanted to have. That reframing alone took a huge weight off.
But it was in the second session where things really clicked. We got into the actual logistics, and suddenly it all felt doable. Lisa helped me break things down step by step, transportation, accommodations, pacing. She didn’t just give answers, she helped me build confidence in how to make decisions for myself. That’s when the anxiety started to turn into excitement. I left that session thinking, “I’m really doing this.”
Question: Were there any moments within the sessions you wanted to give up? If so, what was it about the service that kept you moving forward?
Yes, there was a moment when I genuinely wanted to give up. After I started the coaching sessions, I initially got connected with a travel agent, but it just wasn’t working. The itinerary wasn’t matching the experience I had in mind, and I started second-guessing everything, like maybe this solo trip wasn’t meant to happen after all. It felt like I hit a wall.
That’s when Lisa stepped in. She didn’t let me spiral or walk away from it all. She reminded me why I was doing this in the first place and encouraged me to keep advocating for the kind of trip I truly wanted. She helped me regroup and the agent I was working with connected me with a different travel agent who completely got me. That changed everything. Suddenly, the plans aligned with my vision, and the excitement came flooding back. Without that push and support, I probably would’ve backed out. Lisa helped me stay the course.
Take us through the day you were embarking on your trip of a lifetime?
What was it like for you?
The day I left for Spain, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time, liberated. It wasn’t just about getting on a plane, it was about proving to myself that I could do something bold, just for me. I had worked through all the fears and planning, and now it was finally happening. That moment was powerful.
Once I arrived, everything started unfolding in the most unexpected and beautiful ways. I met people from all over the world, some I still keep in touch with. I wandered aimlessly through winding streets, stumbled across live music in tucked-away plazas with friends I just met and found myself in the kind of moments you can’t plan for. I tasted some of the best food and drinks of my life, sat in cafés for hours just people-watching, and felt completely in tune with my surroundings.
But more than anything, I started to feel at home within myself. Each day brought a new layer of confidence. I wasn’t just seeing the world, I was seeing myself in a new way. That trip changed me. It reminded me what I’m capable of and how much joy there is in following your gut and letting life surprise you.
How did you feel the first morning on this dream trip upon waking up?
That first morning, I woke up with this mix of excitement and pure curiosity. I remember lying in bed, hearing the sounds of the city outside my window, people walking, cafés opening, a new rhythm I hadn’t felt before. It hit me: I was really here. On my own. In Spain.
I felt full of hope. There was no pressure, no agenda, just this wide-open day ahead of me, ready to explore. It was the kind of feeling that makes you smile before your feet even hit the floor. I wasn’t nervous anymore. I was energized. Ready to see, taste, and experience everything. That sense of freedom and adventure stayed with me the whole trip.
Almost every client I speak with states they had an a-ha moment within their solo experience. At what point on your solo journey did you have one (or several)?
Honestly, I had a-ha moments constantly, almost from the minute I landed to the moment I came home. There wasn’t just one. It was a steady stream of realizations that kept unfolding throughout the entire trip.
There were moments when I’d catch myself navigating a new city with ease, ordering food in another language, or striking up a conversation with a stranger from across the world, and I’d think, “I’m actually doing this.” Each little win chipped away at old doubts and built a sense of trust in myself that I didn’t know I was missing.
The biggest a-ha, though, was realizing how much joy I feel in my own company. I didn’t feel alone. I felt connected, to the world, to new people, and most surprisingly, to myself. That kind of clarity doesn’t come when life is on autopilot. It comes when you step outside everything familiar and prove to yourself that you’re capable of creating something unforgettable.
Can you tell us what it was like choosing every excursion and every meal?
Choosing every excursion and every meal was one of the most unexpectedly empowering parts of the trip. I wasn’t checking in with anyone, negotiating plans, or compromising. Every choice was mine, and that felt amazing.
Some days I went all-in on experiences like a day trip to a 13th century wine cave or a guided food tour. Other days, I let myself be spontaneous, wandering until something caught my eye, a park with wild peacocks, roosters and chickens, a quiet courtyard overlooking a cathedral, a market stall with the freshest fruit I’ve ever tasted. Every meal was a chance to try something new, to follow my instincts, and to savor the moment.
There was so much joy in listening to what I wanted in real time. It made each day feel personal and intentional. Whether I was sipping sangria by the sea or trying jamón ibérico for the first time, I felt completely present. I wasn’t just checking off a list, I was creating a trip that fit me perfectly, moment by moment.
In your testimony, you mentioned that this service helped you move from “What if?” to “Why not?” What else would you like to share with our readers and what would you tell them in regards to using 1 2 3 Go Solo! in making their dreams come true?
If you’re even thinking about a solo trip, that’s your sign. I know how easy it is to get stuck in the “What ifs?”, What if I can’t do it? What if something goes wrong? What if I regret it? But the truth is, every amazing thing starts on the other side of that fear. 1,2,3 Go Solo! helped me move through that uncertainty with structure, guidance, and real encouragement. It turned this big, intimidating idea into something real, and honestly, life-changing.
What I’d tell anyone considering this service is simple: do it. Give yourself the chance to experience something that’s yours and only yours. You’ll come back with incredible memories, new perspectives, and more confidence than you thought possible. It’s not just about the trip. It’s about everything you gain along the way. And if you’re lucky, like I was, you’ll find out that the version of yourself you’ve been waiting for has been there all along, she just needed the right push to show up.
If you are a woman wanting to get on the other side of the fear of Solo Travel, please schedule a 15 minute, FREE, "Are we a good fit?" consultation.
You can feel as liberated as Sydney!
Thank you Sydney for sharing your experience in Spain, in life, and with 1 2 3 Go Solo!
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