When I first started travelling on my own I didn’t even know solo travel was a thing, a hashtag, a movement if you will. I simply needed to travel to Antigua and Barbuda for work, then to Scotland for a residential weekend as part of my online master’s degree programme. But those trips sparked something in me. Before long, I was planning weekend getaways and longer adventures simply because I wanted to see more of the world.
I’ve never minded doing things on my own, and I’m a planner, so once I’ve researched a destination, mapped out the logistics, and saved far too many places in Google Maps, I know I can handle somewhere new. No doubt, travelling solo can be more difficult if you usually prefer to be surrounded by people you know well or you feel uncertain about arranging a trip on your own. But even then, I still advocate giving solo travel a try.
Yes, it can feel intimidating. You may worry about safety, loneliness or simply whether you’ll enjoy the experience. But are you really going to wait for that trip to finally leave the group chat or for your friend to finally come up with the money? The way I see it, you stand to gain much more than you’ll lose. Life is too short to keep postponing experiences.
You stop planning your life around everyone else’s schedule.
Your vacation is approved for November. Your bestie can only get October off. You really want to explore a Caribbean island but your sister just wants to hit up the malls in Miami or Panama. Independent travel means you go where you want to go when you want to go. Solo travel lets you build the itinerary around your interests instead of compromising because of someone else’s.
You discover you’re more capable than you think.
The first time you successfully navigate an unfamiliar airport, figure out a city’s public transport system or find your hotel without anyone else’s help, you’ll realise you can do more than you gave yourself credit for. Every small win builds confidence for the next trip and, eventually, even for challenges beyond travel.
Identify the areas where you think you’ll struggle and plan ahead. Concerned you’ll get lost in the airport, get on the wrong train, or struggle to eat meals alone? Give yourself adequate time to check in and find your gate; ask locals for directions or use the transportation app for the city if there’s one, and plan to listen to a podcast or read a book while you dine.
You return home more confident than when you left.
You don’t suddenly wake up one morning and feel confident about solo travel if you’ve never done it before You build that confidence through a number of small moments and interactions: asking for directions in a new city, ordering food in a language you don’t speak fluently, or figuring out what to do when plans go awry. Each challenge reminds you that you can adapt. Eventually, you’ll probably realise you’ve grown in ways that have nothing to do with travel.
The reality
Solo travel isn’t always glamorous but neither is life at home. Sometimes you’ll eat dinner alone. Sometimes you’ll see or hear something funny and wish someone else was there to laugh with you. Occasionally, you’ll make a wrong turn or feel homesick. But those moments are usually outweighed by the confidence that comes from figuring things out yourself. There will be moments of discomfort but often, moments of growth too.
I should also point out that one of the biggest misconceptions about solo travel is that you’re constantly lonely. The truth is that there are many opportunities to engage with other people if you so choose. From joining group tours or experiences to asking another solo traveller to take your photo, you are truly never alone.
Obviously, I think everyone should give solo travel a try. However, it won’t be everyone’s preferred way to travel and that’s okay. Don’t put pressure on yourself to make a new best friend or find the true meaning of life, Just give it a shot and see what it means to you. The world is waiting.
Have you ever travelled solo? Let me know in the comments.
