A lot of travelers will assume that if you're already in a group, you don't want to be disturbed, and will turn to the solo traveler almost every time. Solo travel can be helpful for your mental state, too. Solo travel builds confidence as you navigate an unfamiliar city, converse with strangers and figure out how to get from one place to another. Your social skills will also improve as you meet more and more people and get used to introducing yourself and making conversation.
Another item in the "pro" column for solo travel is that is can be a time for reflection and solitude and can help bring peace to your mind. You'll get to know yourself better than you ever have before, learn what truly makes you happy and what you need to work on to improve as a person.
It can often be challenging to face these truths but learning to overcome them is all part of the process of growing. You can spend time working on a hobby, reading books in coffee shops around town, hiking every day, or simply sitting and meditating.
When you're on your own, you can do whatever you want without having to worry about anyone else. That freedom is incredibly liberating. One downside of traveling alone for long periods of time with no constant in your life is that it can be draining, and you may struggle with issues of loneliness. Not having someone to share all those amazing experiences with can be disheartening and lead to depression.
Homesickness is something every long-term traveler deals with, and the effects can be amplified when you're alone. For budget-minded travelers, another downside is that traveling alone nearly always works out to be much more expensive than traveling as a couple. As a couple, you can share meals, stay in private rooms and split many of your expenses. You'll also often find that for private tours you'll be charged a lot more if you plan on taking it alone.
There's no doubt about it: solo travel supplements suck. As a solo traveler, you'll have to pay a single room supplement if you're going to be in private rooms, you have to stay in Airbnb apartments without having someone to split the costs.
In some parts of the world, like South Korea, meals are served family-style so you'll even have to pay more to eat alone in a restaurant or rely on fast food. It makes sense that businesses would charge more money for one person, but it certainly does punish solo travelers for something they can't control.
Time to start making friends and sharing rooms so you can split the cost! While solo travel isn't unsafe , it's definitely less safe than traveling with other people, making the safety issue a "con" of traveling alone. You're more vulnerable when you're on your own because you only have you looking after you.
After a day of exploring central Barcelona I went on a slow aimless stroll upwards out of the city and turned around to this spectacular sight. The people you meet shape you into becoming a more open-minded, sociable person.
It does not always have to be much or long. I did two weeks of volunteering at a childcare centre in Buenos Aires. No problem!
Gives me a chance to get out of the airport and explore a new city. Nine hour bus ride to get from Tokyo to Osaka? No problem, gives me a chance to see the beautiful countryside of Japan at ground level. Be brave, and speak out. They will come from all kinds of countries and backgrounds and most of them will be awesome. When I was travelling with my cousin, I realized that I always let her navigate. After we split up and I went on my own, I had to step up, and I did it!
You must be logged in to post a comment. Here are 71 reasons why you should: 1. You can detox from technology? It will increase your compassion? You will become more comfortable in your own skin? Goodbye comfort zone! Your self-awareness will sky rocket? You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. Instagram level:? You can learn a foreign language or several? Your gratitude will soar? Discipline becomes essential? It forces you to hustle? It makes you way more flexible?
Hello sense of direction! Here are 11 reasons why you should travel alone at least once in your life. This is probably why many travelers report more vivid memories from solo trips; their attention is absolutely focused on their surroundings.
A solo traveler can also seem more approachable. When traveling with others, we are often selective about suggesting activities that we hope everyone will enjoy and find a good use of precious vacation time. When traveling in a group, changing plans can be rife with interpersonal, financial, and other concerns. When on a vacation alone, you can simply make a decision and move on. This can apply to decisions both small and large, from deciding where to eat to choosing whether to rent a car and leave town.
Want to blow a ton of money on a waterfront room? Go for it. Want to spend next to nothing on food? Want to go only to free museums, events, and attractions? Keep your money. As a solo traveler, you have the last and only word on every dollar you spend. When we are with friends and family, much of our experience is a shared one, which can offer rich rewards but can also create a buffer between us and the world around us.
Traveling alone makes remaining in the bubble of your own comfort zone nigh on impossible—which can lead to more intense travel experiences. Perhaps the most striking thing about traveling alone is that your schedule is entirely yours to decide. SmarterTravel Senior Editor Sarah Schlichter notes that her first solo trip, originally a source of trepidation, ultimately offered a wellspring of confidence.
For me this carried into not only other trips but also into my life at home. Schlichter found her newfound abilities liberating, especially when deciding if and where to travel.
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