BY: AMANDA STANCATI
Don’t put off the trip of your dreams while you wait for a travel buddy. Instead, consider traveling solo.
Solo travel is a habit for some and foreign to others – but you shouldn’t have to leave your passport unstamped because you have no one to travel with. While it may be nerve-wracking the first time, many people who experience a solo trip get hooked for all its benefits.
Some destinations are more suited for solo travel for safety reasons, while others are celebrated for their social aspect. For some, a relaxing all-inclusive vacation is an ideal solo vacation while others prefer an exciting backpacking adventure, organized tour, or cruise. Whichever travel style you prefer, traveling alone is an enriching
experience. Here’s why we love it:
You’ll meet new people
Traveling solo doesn’t mean you’ll be alone if you don’t want to be. It’s common to meet more people on a solo trip than you would when you’re traveling with companions. Ironic, isn’t it? Solo travel encourages you to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. When you’re alone, you’re more approachable to other travelers and more open to making conversation. Say hello to a stranger, get involved in group activities, and start to trust people and learn from them. You’ll also get to avoid any drama with potential travel partners. If you don’t like a group of friends you’ve encountered, leave them and continue on your way. It’s that easy.
You’ll have ME time, all the time
One of the greatest advantages of solo travel is the freedom to do as you please. Without someone to answer to, you can do what you want, when you want. Want to sleep in? You deserve the rest. Want an ice cream for lunch? Go for it. Don’t want to visit that museum? Discover another attraction instead. On a solo trip, you’re free of other people’s baggage, likes and dislikes. You can relax with no responsibilities, obligations or compromise. With no one to answer to and no schedule to follow, you call the shots…what will you do next?
You’ll try new things
With no one else to consider, you can focus on checking things off your own personal bucket list. Open yourself up to activities you wouldn’t do at home, whether that is zip lining, cooking classes, canoeing, or spending an afternoon wandering aimlessly. You’ll challenge yourself to learn new things, whether that’s conversing in another language, following directions in a busy city, or finding your connecting flight at the airport. You’ll learn to navigate unfamiliar roads and cultures, without someone accompanying you as a safety net.
You’ll learn about yourself
Solo travel is fulfilling because you’ll not only gain knowledge about your destination, but you’ll learn more about yourself as a person. Alone time lets you reflect and enables positive thinking and personal growth. You’ll gain confidence knowing you can navigate a trip alone and are capable to take on a worldly adventure. No one knows you, so without the familiarity of family and friends, you can be whoever you want.
Discover why solo travel is the preferred travel style for so many and try it for yourself — you’ll be so glad you did! Travel is always sweeter in retrospect, so take the leap and you’ll surprise yourself with how comfortable you can be.
