By Lauren Juliff
Student Travel Expert, about.com
Solo travel is something I firmly believe is something everyone should try at some point in their life. There's no better way to get to know who you are as a person than by spending time with yourself away from the distractions of life.
Over the four years I've been
traveling, I've been fortunate to experience solo travel, couple travel,
and travel with friends. Which is my favorite? They all have pros and
cons, but I'll always be fond of solo travel. In fact, despite now
traveling with my boyfriend, I aim to spend several months of the year
traveling alone so that I can get my solo travel fix.
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If you're
debating whether to travel alone or with a friend or partner, it can be
tough to know which will suit you best. This article outlines the
advantages and disadvantages of hitting the road on your own.
First, the pros:
Solo Travel Helps You Grow As a Person
Solo travel has many, many benefits and it has definitely helped me to grow as a person.
Traveling solo forces you to become independent, make decisions and step out of your comfort zone on a regular basis -- something you wouldn't necessarily do if you weren't traveling alone.
When
you travel solo, you have nobody to rely on but yourself, and it's that
that pushes you to learn how to function in the world. It's sink or
swim time!
[post_ads]It's Easier to Meet People as a Solo Traveler
One of the biggest benefits to solo travel is how easy it is to meet people on the road.
I'm one of the shiest people you'll ever come across, and yet, I've
never struggled to make friends when traveling alone. All you need to do
is wander into a hostel common room and within minutes, someone will
strike up a conversation with you -- it really is that easy!
You'll
also find that when traveling solo, you're much more approachable than
when you're in a couple or a group. 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.
You Only Need to Worry About Yourself
Another
great benefit to solo travel is not having to compromise on your
travels. You can wake up whenever you want, eat whatever you want,
decide to have a lazy day, or choose to go on a 12 hour hike. When
you're traveling solo, you can be selfish and change your mind every few
days and not have to consult anybody else.
Solo Travel Improves Your Social Skills
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. You're social
skills will also improve as you meet more and more people and get used
to introducing yourself and making conversation.
Solo Travel Gives You an Abundance of Time
Solo
travel is a time for reflection and solitude, which 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.
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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.
And now for the cons:
Solo Travel Can be Lonely
Traveling
alone for long periods of time with no constant in your life 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.
Solo Travel Costs More
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.
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 with, and in some parts of
the world (often in South Korea), you'll even have to pay more to eat
alone in a restaurant!
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Solo Travel Isn't as Safe
Solo
travel isn't unsafe, but it's definitely less safe than traveling with
other people. You're more vulnerable when you're on your own, because
you only have you looking after you. When you're in a group, you'll have
other people to look out for scams, to steer you away from danger, and
make you less likely to get lost.
