Let me set the scene. It’s February, which happens to be my birthday month and yes, before you ask, I was indeed born on Valentine’s Day. February 14th. The most dramatic birthday a person can have. God clearly knew what he was doing when he signed me up for that one. 😄
So here’s the thing about getting older. You start caring a lot less about what people think, and a whole lot more about what actually fills your soul. And what fills mine? Travel. Solo travel, to be exact. Now before you hit me with the “wait, you went alone?” look — stop it. Solo travel is NOT code for “I have no friends.” It’s code for I choose me, and there is a massive difference.
This year I decided to do something a little bold: dedicate the entire month of February to spontaneous solo adventures. No big planning. No group chats asking “does this date work for everyone?” Just me, a passport, and a vibe. And for Chapter One? Málaga, Spain… a city I knew absolutely nothing about two days before I booked my ticket. Two days. I literally looked up flights, thought why not, and was on a plane before I could overthink it.
Turns out, Málaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso AND Antonio Banderas. I found that out mid-trip and honestly felt a little cultured for accidentally choosing so well.
Now let me be real for a second, as a Black man, traveling to a new city always comes with that quiet background check running in my head. Will I feel welcome here? Will I stand out in ways that feel uncomfortable? It’s not paranoia, it’s just reality. But Málaga? Not once did I feel unsafe or unwelcome. The people were genuinely warm, the energy was open, and the city had a way of just pulling you in with its beauty.
I stayed at Hotel Miramar — a five-star beachfront hotel where I splurged on an ocean suite with a balcony, woke up to the Mediterranean every single morning, and felt absolutely zero guilt about it. The staff were incredible, the vibes were immaculate, and I will be recommending this hotel to anyone who will listen.
The best part? I made zero plans every day. None. I walked along the beach in shorts and a shirt in February. By the way, I did my version of beach yoga while the ocean talked me out of my stress, and just wandered wherever felt right. Málaga is beautifully walkable, so I never needed much more than a good pair of shoes and curiosity.
On the food front: I tried sardines grilled on an outdoor skewer, six at a time, served with a fresh Mediterranean salad and sea salt. Sardines are not my thing, but those sardines? Those sardines converted me. Full tapas meals and Spanish dinners were running me $25–40 USD. And I discovered the espresso martini, which is now permanently on my personal menu alongside my beloved sangria. Yes, I know this type of martini is not Spanish but it was my first time trying it.
This was Chapter One. And I can already tell this is going to be a legendary February.
Don’t be afraid to treat yourself. Solo travel is for everyone and not just the single, the brave, or the spontaneous. It’s for anyone ready to press pause, reflect, and actually hear themselves think. Make sure you check out the vlogs (Part 1 and Part 2) I recorded throughout the trip for a full visual experience of what Málaga looked and felt like in real time.
More chapters coming. Stay close.
~Paul