One of the best ways to experience new things is by travelling. You have so many options when it comes to planning a trip, as you have so many different kinds of destinations to choose from. There is also a very important decision to make which is choosing who is going to travel with you. Normally our family or our friends are the ones who come with us, but most people forget about the option of going solo. I have actually travelled on my own twice and it is an experience I highly recommend to anyone. However, it obviously has its pros and cons and that’s actually what I want to discuss in this post, so that you have a clearer view of what you can expect.
It’s risky
It is very important to highlight the fact that by going solo you are taking a risk. This does not necessarily mean that you are going to be in danger, but it is true that you’ll need to face any kind of unexpected situation on your own. For this reason, I would not recommend that you go somewhere extremely unfamiliar to you. At least not the first time you travel alone. For example, I went to the UK which is a place I had already visited (although I had been to different areas) and I could also speak the language. Even though what I said might put you off a bit, don’t be afraid and just be prepared to face any kind of difficult situation you may encounter.
You become more sociable
One of the best things about going solo is that you become much more sociable and talkative. When you are in a group you don’t usually socialise as much as you do when you are alone. I personally find it as a way of forcing yourself to open up to new people who may even become your friends. You can definitely have some great chats and also a great time, so if you decide to travel on your own, talk to as many people as you can. Even if it is just to ask them to take a photo of you, which will be quite useful as you don’t want to take selfies all the time.
You get to know you better
It is also the best opportunity to spend time with yourself and get to know you a bit better. I know I have said you should talk to a lot of people, but you’ll have time for everything. What I loved the most about my last trip was being able to go to the beach (I went to Brighton, in case you don’t know) and just look at the views and stop worrying about anything else. It’s so peaceful and I feel like I really needed it. Going for a walk is also perfect for that. This way you can think about what really matters to you and what you want to do next. You can grow and become a more mature person thanks to that. At least, I think that was what happened to me the first time I travelled on my own.
You’ll feel homesick
It happens and it sucks. You will miss your home, your family and your friends, especially if your trip lasts more than two weeks. You will feel alone and you will actually be, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It does not last for a long time though, as you will be having a lot of fun and, most importantly, you will be learning a lot. You can always Facetime whoever you want and catch up. I actually call my mum quite often when I’m away otherwise she would kill me.
It’s more expensive
I am sorry to say this but your trip is going to be more expensive. Normally the price for a hotel room is going to be the same for a couple and for only one person. You may find some in which the price is slightly cheaper, but that’s not very common and it’s going to be expensive anyway. In my opinion, you can get good prices with Airbnb although you may still be paying the same as a couple.
You have more freedom
This may sound quite selfish but you don’t need to care about what other people want to do. You may want to go to a certain place or do a certain thing. Well, what if you can actually do it whenever you want without having to ask for anyone else’s opinion? Sound great, doesn’t it? I am not saying that debating what to do next when you travel with other people is bad, but sometimes it feels so good when you don’t have to do it.
Going solo is a very different way of travelling and I can’t say it’s better or worse than a family trip or a crazy trip with your mates. They are all different experiences that everyone should try at least once. I honestly hope this post has been useful if you were considering travelling on your own. As you may have seen, there are some negative things about it, however, the whole experience will probably end up being positive. Let me know if you have ever done it and feel free to share your thoughts about it in the comments.
