Advantages of being a Solo Traveler

Deciding to travel alone can feel intimidating, a recurrent question that goes through your head while the idea of traveling solo crosses your mind is this: What are the advantages of traveling alone?

Here’s what you can learn if you take the chance…

You get to know yourself

It doesn’t matter if you became a solo traveler out of necessity, rather than choice, traveling solo is really fun. A spontaneous trip to your favorite location can show you that there is freedom into traveling alone. You are in charge of your own decisions and your own rhythm. Being in charge of your own travel budget will save you a few arguments, too. You’ll learn independence.

You get to meet more people and improve your social skills

Solo travel is growing in popularity, particularly among women travelers, and it’s getting easier every day. You’re put into a situation where you’re pretty much forced to be outgoing and meet new people, but the odds are on your side. You soon realize that most of the fun will come from the people you meet and the experiences you share with them while you travel. At home, you’re more likely to size someone up first and come up with reasons why you wouldn’t get along with them or they wouldn’t want to talk to you. The people you meet while traveling doesn’t carry the baggage that the ones from home do.

You are autonomous of your time and decisions

Is there somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit? Arranging a trip is one of those things that can seem overwhelming and complicated at first, but it’s actually not. Once you start tackling your traveling plan tasks you’ll own your time. you can do exactly what you want to do all the time. Always wanted to try surfing? Sign up for a class and go for it; there’s no one sitting on the beach bored while you have the time of your life, time is yours.

You can improve the relationship with yourself

People who have never traveled alone often describe their first solo trip as an almost religious experience. To take in new surroundings unfiltered by the prejudices, tastes or preferences of a traveling companion can be heady stuff. Traveling alone gives you the chance to indulge yourself fully. Even though single travel has its perils too such as safety concerns, loneliness, and the dreaded single supplement. A little preparation and common sense can get you through the rough spots and make you embrace with yourself in a way you couldn’t do it back home.

You will start to see the world with different eyes

Yes, your own. Solo travel can be the ultimate self-indulgence; you can rest when you want and pour it on when you’re feeling ambitious. The benefit is that your mistakes are your own, and your triumphs are more exciting. There’s no worrying that your insistence on trekking all the way across town to a museum that was closed ruined your partner’s day; it’s your own day to salvage or chalk up to a learning experience. Also, you can do exactly what you want to do—all the time. This will make you question your own concepts and beliefs.

Once you start you cannot stop

I’ll say it again, the best reason to go traveling is that it’s really fun. The time you spent in another city getting in adventures with fellow travelers can be more entertaining than a month’s worth of weekends in the real world. The boost you could get your social skills is just a happy side effect.