Through the years I have often found myself traveling solo, or semi-solo. I was almost always solo when attending conferences and meetings for work – and I always added days of sight-seeing to these trips. Also, when I travel internationally with Deidra as she escorts her MBA students to exotic places, I stay with her at the hotel, but I am in essence a solo-traveler during the day.
I recently earned a free 10-night cruise as a Princess Commodore Travel Agent. These opportunities don’t come around often and when they do, you have to act fast. Neither Deidra nor my husband could join me so I decided to cruise solo. Everyone thought I was crazy when I said I was cruising alone, but I found the experience highly rewarding.
Solo Travel offers an enriching and liberating experience and I believe everyone should do it at least one. Here are 9 reasons to take the plunge and travel on your own.
1. Total Freedom
When you travel solo, you decide the destination, the schedule, and the activities, creating a fully personalized journey without having to compromise. No matter how much you enjoy your travel partner, there are still things you have do on a trip that you would never choose to do if that person wasn’t with you. But when you travel solo, you have nobody to please but yourself.
As those who know me best will testify, I am the ultimate introvert at heart. Yes, I can mix and mingle with others, but I assure you that it is only due to intensive training by my mother. I really enjoy time with my close, intimate friends. But I am also totally happy with my own company and that of the characters in whatever book I am engrossed in.
On this solo cruise, I was totally able to plan my own schedule, do what I wanted to do, and explore each port at my own pace. And nobody “shamed” me when I wanted to skip the show and go to bed early! It was nice to have a few days to enjoy time for myself, without the noise and societal obligations you have when you travel with others.
2. Flexibility
You can be totally flexible when you travel solo. Without needing group consensus, you can pivot plans spontaneously, to explore places and moments that capture your interest. This can be more difficult when you are with others. They may prefer to stick to the plan, and then you miss out on a great unplanned moment. Some of my best travel experiences have been unplanned.
3. No Guilt
Let’s face it, friendship is a give and take experience. And while it is noble to compromise to make the other person happy, sometimes you just don’t want to do that on your limited vacation days and dollars. Nor do you want to feel guilty when participating in the thing nobody else wanted to do!
When you travel solo, you can enjoy activities guilt-free, without feeling obligated to cater to others’ interests or schedules.
4. Self-Discovery
Solo travel encourages deep introspection, allowing you to better understand your values, strengths, and passions. When you take time to be alone, and quiet, you can better reflect on your life and what is important to you.
You can also experiment with new and different activities than you might not if you are traveling with friends or family. I love riding my bike at home, so I rented an e-bike in Saguenay and basically just went where the wind took me. Now this was wonderful in that I really ventured off the beaten path and also experimented with a new mode of transport. Unfortunately, I discovered that maybe e-bikes are meant to be used by individuals with more coordination. And I accidentally have the video (and bruise) to prove it!
Even though that adventure didn’t go exactly as planned, I still did something I probably wouldn’t do with my regular travel partners. And it was GREAT – that is, until it wasn’t. But it was totally worth the experience!
5. Increased Confidence
Navigating new destinations on your own builds self-reliance that will help you in all areas of life. Traveling solo is a confidence-building and empowering experience. It forces you to navigate unfamiliar places and situations alone. I love the freedom I feel knowing I can do things on my own.
The first time I had to navigate a foreign city on my own was in Prague. Yes, I was on the trip with Deidra but she was tied up in meetings all day, every day. I had a wonderful four days navigating the streets and public transportation all on my own.
This was in 2007 and before the days of navigating via my iphone. The country had only been independent from Russia for 14 years, so only the very young knew English. And of course, they were in school. That left me to navigate in a country where I didn’t speak the language and couldn’t read the signs. Fortunately, most of the world speaks English now (including most residents of Prague), but I am so grateful for this experience because it taught me that I am capable of navigating any place I go all on my own. That confidence came in handy a couple of years later when I had to navigate Ho Chi Minh City alone!
By facing challenges alone, like language barriers or travel logistics, you develop valuable life skills that boost resilience and adaptability.
6. Easier to Meet New People
Being alone often makes you more approachable and encourages local interactions, leading to meaningful, authentic connections. I had a great little visit with several young girls in Delhi. They were on a school field trip and were enchanted to find an American woman walking around all by herself. When you travel with someone, you are more likely to stay in your group. Solo travel gets you outside your little circle.
I spent a long layover in Frankfurt on my way to Kenya last year. As I wandered the streets checking out the sites and taking photos, a woman approached me for directions. Yes, I was on alert at first, but she turned out to be a fellow Texan who was also traveling alone. I spent the remainder of my long layover day with Michelle. It was fun to meet her and hear her story. Michelle and I are now Facebook friends and I love seeing all her travel adventures – many of which she embarks on solo!
7. Financial Control
Traveling solo allows you to make budget-friendly choices without accommodating others’ spending habits. I admit it! I travel on the cheap! That doesn’t mean I skimp and miss out on experiences. And I am way too old to stay in hostels or low-budget accommodations with hard and lumpy beds. But I also don’t book myself in expensive 5-star hotels or dine at fancy (and costly) restaurants.
I want to try the local cuisine, but I don’t look for Michelin star restaurants and I limit my meals. I generally eat breakfast and a late lunch. Then I survive on granola bars, trail mix, or something weird from the convenience store if I get hungry. This doesn’t just save money; it also saves time I can spend exploring the area. Also, the cheap hole in the wall restaurants is typically better and more authentic.
When I travel with others, I often find myself in more expensive accommodations and paying way too much for food. I prefer to save that money to spend on experiences – like another trip!
8. A Fresh Perspective
Being in a new place by yourself can give you a new perspective on life, free from the influence of familiar company. Sometimes our friends and family tend to set the tone of an experience and we begin to see things through their framework. Or through the framework of our common bond.
I am so glad I was able to experience Ethiopia by myself. I only had two days there, but I learned so much about the people and their culture. Since ii was by myself, my guide and his friends sat with me and chatted over our meals. This was a wonderful opportunity to get to know him and his country outside the regular tourist spiel.
Based on what I had seen and heard about Ethiopia growing up, I expected to find immense poverty and hunger (after all, I had to eat my spinach because kids in Ethiopia were starving). I did find that poverty, but I also found a deeply spiritual people with an incredible dedication to God. In addition, I found hard-working men and women who walked miles to sell their goods at market, but still observed all the religious festivals and fasting days. I was able to share tea with women on their way home, and while we didn’t speak the same language, we were able to joke and laugh with each other. And because I was alone, I had time to reflect on these experiences without someone else coloring them.
9. Enhanced Awareness
Solo travelers often experience destinations more vividly, tuning in to local customs, culture, and environment. It is easy to miss things when you are chatting with your friend. Whereas when you are alone you can completely devote yourself to experiencing your surroundings.
When you travel solo, you can simply “be” in the moment. You have fewer things to distract you from the experience and can really focus on what you are seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting. All your senses and attention are tuned into the experience. When you do this, even a simple taxi transfer can open up a whole new world.
Cons of Solo Travel:
- No One to Share It With – While you have the freedom to explore on your own, certain excursions or activities may be more enjoyable with a companion.
- Potential Loneliness – You might feel lonely, especially on longer voyages or during quiet moments when couples and groups are spending time together. I never felt lonely, but I stayed in touch with my family back home. A short video chat can work wonders to feel connected.
- Single Supplement Costs – While some cruise lines have solo cabins, those are still limited. And hotels generally cost the same whether there is one or two (and sometimes four) people sleeping there. So, solo travelers generally face higher costs when traveling.
- Selfies Really Are The Worst – As you can see from this post, they are never very good!
- Safety Concerns – Some solo travelers might feel vulnerable in unfamiliar destinations, particularly in less touristy areas. It is a good idea to do a little extra research on your destination when traveling solo. Also, activate your mobile phone to ensure you can navigate directions, summon a ride-share, and call for assistance if needed.
Things to Consider When You Travel Solo
If you’re considering a solo cruise, look for cruise lines that cater to solo travelers, such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages. They offer solo cabins and solo lounges to defray the costs and help you meet other solo travelers. Also, if you are concerned with loneliness, consider joining a group cruise where you may stay in a single but can explore, dine, and just generally hang out with a group of friends.
On land you should look for hotels with rooms designed for just one person. And again, it can be nice to be part of a small group guided tour so you aren’t completely alone. If you are looking for a tour, consider our Extravelgance tours! We cap our groups at 16 passengers and always offer a single rate.
Don’t Let Anything Stop You From Exploring the World
The important thing to remember is to not let the lack of a companion keep you from experiencing the wonderful world of travel. There is a great big world out there and you can explore it with or without a partner. So, never pass up an opportunity for lack of a travel companion.
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