Solo Travel – why do it and why you shouldn’t be afraid (a two-part discussion)

When I took my first adventure in 2016, while I had an amazing time, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of fellow solo travelers, especially women. Over the course of the next three to four years, I began to consider writing a travel blog to encourage that particular demographic to disregard any negative stigmas they may have had or heard about solo travel and to experience it for themselves.

Let me start by saying solo travel does not equal lonesome travel. Your solo ventures will be entirely what you make of it. If you want to be part of the “anti-social social club”, you can do that or, if you’re open, you may just make lifelong friends through encounters with fellow travelers, your hosts or even people who are in the tourism industry.

In a recent pre-pandemic study, 14% of people surveyed said they would consider traveling alone, but that figure has now increased to 23%, an 85% increase overall*. Solo travel now represents the largest growing sector of travel and for good reason. The benefits of rolling solo are manifold:

1. The sheer freedom of it
Traveling alone can be an incredibly liberating experience, having the freedom to do exactly what you want to do, when you want, how you want. You can do as little or as much as you like each day. There is no waiting for someone else to get ready or reaching a consensus on the types and timing of activities. No worries about your companions enjoying themselves – the only one you have to please is you.

2. You can plan YOUR perfect trip
To me, half the fun of travel is in the planning. You get to craft your itinerary to fit what you wish to experience, prioritizing your personal interests and passions. If something doesn’t appeal to you or interest you, don’t do it. It may sound selfish but traveling solo means you get to DO YOU.

Not up for all the planning or unsure about your abilities to plan a successful trip from beginning to end? No problem! That’s where group tours come in. Let a reputed tour company handle all the planning for a given activity at your destination (actually for some destinations you can only travel as part of a group, independent travel is not permitted – think Antarctica.). No arguments, no compromises you can just let your imagination run wild. Think of all the places you’ve always dreamed of visiting, find an adventure tour and make it happen!

3. Make new friends
For introverts, this may be a reason NOT to travel solo but for most people connecting with other like-minded travelers or the locals makes the journey all that more exciting. Being social is actually easier when traveling alone, as you are much more approachable as a single person than if you were with a companion or part of a larger group. You’ll probably also be more inclined to strike up conversations with people you meet along the way than you would be if you were with companions. I have found many times that through those personal, one-on-one conversations with locals I have been able to glean so much more information and insight into a culture and even been allowed to flow into spaces I would not normally have been able to. I can honestly say whenever I have had conversations with the local people while traveling, they have been genuinely curious about me and about why I chose to visit their country and were extremely excited to show me the best of everything.

4. More intimate experiences
Having more intimate experiences is almost guaranteed when traveling solo, as you are much more approachable as a single person than if you were with a companion or part of a larger group. On several occasions, I have been able to take advantage of opportunities that presented themselves at the last minute simply because I was traveling alone and had shown myself friendly to the staff at my lodge or to local tour guides.
For instance, while I was in India on safari, I commented to my lodge manager that I loved the meals they had been preparing for me and wished I knew how to make them. That message was relayed to the head chef and he came out of the kitchen and offered to teach me how to make two dishes the next day during my down time. What a kind gesture and an amazing experience for me!

5. You could start learning another language or test out skills you thought you had lost
To really make the most of your trip, learning a bit of the local language can really be beneficial as it can help you explore the areas you are visiting a bit more in depth and possibly connect with the people who live there (traveling alone means you’ll be much more likely to interact with the locals as you venture from place to place). Traveling through Easter Island, Chile and in Buenos Aires, Argentina I was forced to use the Spanish I learned in high school decades ago. I discovered that after all this time my Spanish was still “very good” according to the locals. I could also tell many people were very impressed that an American was willing to at least TRY to communicate with them in their language. Effort goes a long way…

6. You will typically have a greater awareness of your surroundings
You’re far more likely to notice things going on around you (translation: be present) and have a greater awareness of your surroundings when you travel on your own, leading to a richer and ultimately more rewarding travel experience. While in Uganda in the summer of 2022, I totally enjoyed gazing out the window taking in every detail of the passing landscapes and people performing their daily activities as my guide, Elias, transported me from place to place. I would have missed a lot had I been chatting with a companion while he drove.

7. Self-discovery
One thing you can be sure of is that by the end of your travels you will have learned a lot about yourself and, hopefully, that will be a good thing. You’ll have a clearer view of what you enjoy, what you could have done without and how you can get the most out of your future holidays all based on your own first-hand experiences, uninfluenced by the thoughts and opinions of anyone else.

8. Traveling solo often increases your self-confidence
Traveling alone means you’ll have to make your own decisions and take control and ownership of your holiday. If you weren’t aware of it before, this can show you just how strong and capable you are, resulting in you, ultimately, growing more confident, assertive and decisive. Depending on where you are headed, things don’t always go according to plan and sometimes as a solo traveler you will have to be resourceful. It’s a great feeling knowing you overcame some obstacle or navigated a situation on your own without leaning on someone else for guidance.

While the list above is not exhaustive, I hope the points above have you reconsidering your thoughts about rolling solo but if you’re still not quite sold, stay tuned for Part II of this discussion: Why you shouldn’t be afraid to travel alone.

*Source: RadicalStorage.com Solo Travel Statistics: 2022 Guide

Up Next: Why you shouldn’t be afraid to travel alone.

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Etsy