With the end of COVID-19 hopefully insight, it’s very exciting to start planning that next adventure across the globe. Surveys show that 97% of people say that having a trip planned makes them happier, but what if you don’t have anybody to travel with? Travelling alone is considered quite a daunting prospect by many, but those of us who have ventured out solo know that there are a lot of perks to only having to worry about yourself and your plans. The truth is, travelling solo is pretty awesome.
Plans Can Be Spontaneous & Flexible
The nature of travelling with another person, or especially with a group of people, is that you are going to have to compromise on a few things. You’ll have different interests, and your list of must-see destinations and activities will often not quite match up. Travelling solo means there is no missing out to keep anybody else happy. You like somewhere? Stay a little longer. Not a fan of a place? Cut that leg short. All of your plans can be as flexible or regimented as you want them to be, without you having to feel guilty about interrupting somebody else’s trip.
Immerse Yourself In The Culture
You are often far more likely to step outside of your comfort zone when you travel alone, because well, you’re sort of already outside of your comfort zone. Pick up the basics of a new language, travel beyond the tourist attractions, try the local cuisines you’ve only read about – you’ll learn about and immerse yourself in the culture of your destination a lot more when it’s just you.
Meet New People
When you travel solo, you tend to be far more open to talking to the people around you, be that in your hostel or hotel, in your tour group, or just in the streets of wherever you end up. Travelling in a group means you are very likely to stick together, but being by yourself often gets you invited along with other solo travellers, giving you a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the world. Plus, there’s no better way to get hot tips about the sights of a foreign country than talking to the locals or other travellers who’ve already explored, so being open to meeting new people might even get you some great new day trip ideas.
You Control The Finances
Want to keep the trip on the cheaper side? No problem. Decide to splurge on an expensive tour or fancy hotel room? Go for it. When you travel alone, you’re in control of where you spend your money, so you can be as frugal or extravagant as you’d like. Budgeting for a trip is hard enough, so a huge perk of solo travel is that you don’t need to worry about anybody else’s preferences.
Only Worry About Your Own Happiness
The great thing about a vacation is that it’s time off from your regular life. Leave the mundane behind, and find excitement elsewhere, even just for a little while. Travelling solo means that you can just focus on yourself and relaxing for your own self care. There’s no worrying about whether other people are having fun, or whether you’re spending too long in one place for someone else’s enjoyment. It’s all about YOU.
Learn How Resilient You Can Be
I hate to be the person who says you should travel to ‘find yourself’, but you will definitely learn how resourceful and resilient you are while travelling solo. Figuring out a new place on your own and taking responsibility for an entire trip just for yourself is very exciting, but it’s also extremely empowering. Nothing will show you just how independent and savvy you can be like navigating a foreign country as a lone traveller.
Explore the world, and wait on nobody. You’ve got this!
