Solo Travel: Why You Should Try It At Least Once

Disclosure: Advertising and affiliate services, including Amazon Associates, help the cost of running my blog. Clicking ads or making purchases through affiliate links may, at no additional cost to you, earn me a small commission. I appreciate your support.

Seems scary, doesn’t it? Traveling solo. Leaving everyone else behind. Going somewhere you’ve never been to before, but on your own. Yet, you always see people off on their solo adventures. There must be a reason? Contrary to some opinions it’s probably not because they don’t have any friends, or that they hate other people (although it might be). No, it’s because solo travel gives you something that no other kind of travel can give you. Actually it gives you a lot of things. So take some notes as I share a few solo travel secrets, and start thinking about how you can plan your first solo trip.

My experiences traveling alone

I took my first solo trip when I was 23. I moved from the UK to Vancouver, Canada without knowing anyone. It was scary as anything, but I did it. Now, 14 years later I call Canada my home. But my solo adventures didn’t stop here. My next big trip was to China. I went for 6 months, ended up staying 2 years. And after that I took a round the world trip on my own. Sure, there were moments where it was a little lonely. But there were also times I made awesome friends along the way. Since then, I often take solo trips. Weekends away, longer trips too. It’s not because I don’t have friends. I do. It’s not because I’m single. I’m not. But there’s something about traveling alone and making my own rules as I go that I just can’t give up.

Is it safe to travel by yourself?

I’m not going to lie, there will be someone in your life that you will undoubtedly need to convince that your solo travel adventure is not a terrible idea. Your friends and family will worry about you. They will want you to check in, keep in touch and probably carry some kind of whistle/anti-theft money belt or some other heavily marketed safety product. Do it. Put their minds at ease. But also just don’t be stupid. Don’t take too many risks, use your common sense, and respect that they love you and want you to be safe. That said, don’t let other people project their fears onto you. Don’t miss your opportunity to travel alone just to make someone else happy. Just be safe and smart. Read more of my solo travel safety tips here.

Why would you want to travel solo?

I have taken many solo trips, both short trips and longer ones. To countries I speak the language and others I don’t. To places I never thought I’d go, and places I never wanted to leave. Here are some of my top reasons for encouraging you to travel solo at least once in your life. You won’t regret it, I promise!

Solo travel lets you celebrate your independence

Independence means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But the thing I love about solo travel is that I get to make my own rules. The ability to choose what I do each day, where I eat and how I’m going to get there. I am able to pick the hotel I want to stay at, to have the food I like. In short, it means for once there’s no debate about any of the usual vacation things. With no-one else to please but yourself, you can choose everything about the trip. I love traveling with my partner, and my friends, but sometimes you just want to do things your way. Solo travel lets you embrace your independence.

Solo travel helps you explore new places

Not everyone has the same travel bucket list. We all have different ideas of places that we want to go. I don’t understand how people can sit on a beach for 7 days straight soaking up the sun. Just like they can’t always understand why I want to go hiking through one country or another. Some people want to spend their trips relaxing, others like to get up every day and do stuff. So the beauty of solo travel is that you don’t forego the place you really want to go to, just because no-one wants to go with you. So eat your way through Italy, climb that mountain, swim in that ocean. Whether anyone else wants to do it with you or not.

Solo travel recharges you

I am a self proclaimed introvert. That doesn’t mean I always want to be by myself. It just means that I don’t necessarily need the energy of others to get by. I took a course at work last year and heard it described best that introverts don’t always need to be alone, it’s just it takes more of their energy to be constantly be around other people. An extrovert will feed off of others’ energy, but an introvert might find that sucks their energy more. This obviously isn’t the same for everyone, but for me, I find that solo travel gives me the chance to reserve my energy and to allow me to “recharge”. I can choose to meet others to hang out with on my travels, but I also am able to get the alone time that I need.

Solo travel gives you confidence

If I travel with other people I am more likely to let them make the decisions more, I’m afraid of feeling “pushy” and my overly polite British-ness kicks in. It’s sometimes easier to let someone else figure out the directions, or ask someone for help. But you wouldn’t get far solo traveling if you don’t take charge. I find I’m more likely to approach people and ask for help. I’m more likely to try using my new found phrases in whatever language the place I’m visiting speaks. And I’m definitely more likely to try a new activity that usually isn’t in my comfort zone.

Solo travel gives you something to brag about

I can guarantee that when you tell someone you traveled somewhere solo they will be impressed. It doesn’t seem to matter where it is. But the more obscure the better. Telling people I traveled to China alone always gets me good bragging rights. Solo travel is something a lot of people say they want to do, but not all of them do it. So there will be a little kudos to you when you talk about your solo adventures. And who knows, maybe you will inspire someone else to take the leap.

Solo travel sets you free

In our life there are a lot of rules. I’m mostly talking the unspoken expectations from society. The ones that tell you that you should go to university, get a “real” job and settle down in one place. The ones that tell you that your destiny as a woman is to get married and have kids. But solo travel makes you freer than you can imagine while you figure out if any of that is really for you. Basically it empowers you to consider the alternatives, go against the grain and do something fun and exciting. There is no right answer to how we live our life, but it should be you who decides, and whatever you decide is OK. That’s the freedom solo travel gives you.

Remember to take a reusable water bottle with you on your travels, like this one from FastTech

Solo travel means you set your own schedule

If I want to get up early to catch a sunrise I can. If I want to decide last minute to go see a show across town, I can. Solo travel means you can make or change plans as many times as you want and answer to no-one. If you don’t want to go out for dinner but instead sit in your hotel room and chill, you can. You don’t have to feel like you’re disappointing someone or messing up their plans. I like to pack a lot into my trips, but I also like to take a break throughout the day and sit in a park with a book. Not everyone will want to do the same thing as me at the same time, but that doesn’t matter when you travel solo.

Solo travel reminds you how awesome you are

Yes, you are awesome. If nothing else, you can spend your whole trip reminding yourself that you’re traveling alone and that’s pretty bad ass! As an only child I grew up spending a lot of time by myself. I liked what I liked no matter how nerdy. And without anyone else there to tell me how lame I was for liking reading/dinosaurs/history/playing music/insert random interest here, it let me explore what I liked a lot easier. Solo travel is like that too. You can learn to love what you love and unashamedly embrace it. Also, I have to say that talking about your solo travel adventures in an interview will really get the conversation moving and show how independent and confident you are.

Solo travel helps you learn more about yourself

As cliche as that sounds, it really does. You don’t have to go traveling solo to find yourself, but it’s a lot easier than having everyone around you tell you who you are. Try new things while you’re traveling solo and maybe you’ll find a new passion. I mean, your new passion is probably going to be solo traveling because, you know, you just learned how awesome you are, remember?! But seriously, I find spending time with myself allows me to really learn what makes me tick, and what it is I want to do.

Solo travel teaches you new skills

One of those skills will likely be taking the perfect selfies, because otherwise you might not get many pics on your trip. But I’m sure you’ll learn other skills too. How to read a map or how to learn a new language (even how to teach your own language). How to get around a new city using public transport, and in my case in China…how to use chopsticks. It’s simple: you don’t learn, you don’t eat! I learned I love cooking classes (and eating). I learned the art of packing a bag since I had to carry it all myself. And I even learned how to bargain in markets because I was sick of people taking advantage of me.

Solo travel helps you connect with people

You might be traveling alone but you will inevitably meet amazing people along the way. And they will get to meet you. You’ll find people to hang out with for a drink or dinner. You will meet people during a tour or new experience. And you’ll meet locals wherever you go. Years later you will still remember these people who had a small yet significant impact on your life, even if for just a moment. I will forever remember the Thai man in Bangkok who spoke no English but helped me tend to a terrible ant bite. I remember the kindness of two girls in a Singapore hostel when I was feeling a little low. And I remember the man on my flight to Europe who was so excited to see his family in Romania after 20 years.

Solo travel makes you appreciate others

I love traveling solo, but I also love my friends and family. Solo travel made me appreciate what I had at home. It makes me look forward to seeing them again. I enjoy my time away, but it’s also always nice to return home. I love the freedom but there are times solo travel can get lonely. The key is knowing what your limit is. How long you want to spend on your own before you start craving that love of those at home. It’s different for everyone. But solo travel also makes me appreciate that my family, friends and my partner are all supportive of me having time to myself without making me feel guilt or questioning everything about my trips.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you traveled anywhere solo? What do you most look forward to about solo travel?