What Solo Travel Taught Me About PR

In April 2026, I hopped on a flight to Auckland, New Zealand by myself. I never thought I would have the guts to travel independently to an entirely new country, but it taught me more than I ever expected.

Walking into a room with ten bunk beds and unfamiliar faces, I questioned turning around and hopping right back on that flight. Insecurity flooded over me, I began to think, “I’m not a social person…”, “How will I survive this?” Yet, it relates back to everything I've been taught within my major. In public relations, I have learned that you have to communicate. We learn to network in PR, I learned to network in a hostel. I embraced the uncomfortableness and learned to navigate this new place on my own.

You Have To Know Your Audience

As much as New Zealand and the USA have in common, I had to understand that people communicate differently while traveling. English was the first language to most, but the indigenous language, Māori (Te Reo Māori), is commonly used in everyday speech and slang. Every place has its own culture, expectations, and way of interacting with others. I learned to better understand the community around me, including their local language. I quickly discovered that “sweet as” often meant “no worries,” although I couldn't help but wonder, sweet as what?...

This is true about PR as well. Before creating a campaign, you have to understand who you're communicating with. You can't assume that one message will connect with everyone. The better you understand your audience, the more effectively you can communicate with them.

First Impressions Matter

After 24 hours in Auckland, I flew over to the South Island of New Zealand and landed in the small town of Christchurch. From here, I hopped in a van with 12 strangers and began to travel around the entire island, stopping in Tepako, Queenstown, Milford Sound, and Franz Josef. Although these strangers quickly became my best friends, I was originally seen as the American. These people from the UK, Denmark, and New Zealand had formed an opinion of me based on where I was from, and I did the same to them. 

Brands do this too. 

A company's social media, advertisements, website, employees, and packaging can influence how people perceive the brand. In many ways, a brand's communication is its first impression. Over time, you begin to understand the brand’s values and intentions, and can build a relationship with the company, which is what PR is built around. 

My experience traveling made me realize how quickly I form opinions based on the way something is presented. This has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, making me more confident in talking to people I don't know.

Learning to Adapt

Of course, not everything goes according to plan when you're traveling. Sometimes plans change, directions aren't clear, or something doesn't work the way you expected it to. 

I originally never planned on taking a helicopter ride to a glacier and hiking it, the idea of it scared me and it was too costly, but it turned out to be the best experience of my life. 

This connects directly to Advertising and PR. Campaigns change, trends move quickly, clients change their minds, and unexpected situations can happen at any moment. You have to learn to embrace change as it may become the best campaign a brand has ever run.

The Power of a Story

Most importantly, solo travel reminded me of the power of storytelling. When I talk about my experience, I don't simply list the places I visited. I talk about the funny moments, the people I met, the challenges I faced, and the things that surprised me.

PR works in a similar way. People don't always remember a list of facts about a brand, and are instead more likely to remember a story that made them feel something or is relatable to their own experiences.

My solo travel experience not only gave me a story, but it also helped me become a better communicator. I learned how to understand different audiences, create connections, learn from unexpected situations, and recognize the impact of a compelling story. I gathered lessons on this trip that I now carry with me in my personal and professional life.

About the Author

Lily is a senior majoring in Advertising & Public Relations with a minor in Marketing. This will be her second semester in GrandPR, where she previously served as both the Media Coordinator and an Account Associate. She is beyond excited to continue leading, learning, and collaborating in these roles throughout the upcoming semester. After graduation, Lily hopes to pursue a career in entertainment marketing and travel as much as possible.