Why solo travel?

Solo travel doesn’t mean you’re alone

Why solo travel?

I began traveling solo in 2016, and honestly cannot imagine traveling otherwise.

There are indeed people who couldn’t disagree more. I cannot count how many times I’ve returned from a vacation and been asked “who did you go with?”, only to be met by shocked looks and questions such as “Weren’t you scared?”. My thoughts on solo travel are not meant in any way to take away from the joy that I see in others who have a travel buddy. I think it’s amazing to find a group of traveling friends on the same wavelength, who not only enjoy doing the same activities, but also who are willing to travel to another country and deal with each other the entire time (which can be quite a chore in itself). However, for myself, I’ve found that solo travel is much easier and more fulfilling in many aspects.

Minimal planning necessacry

Have you ever tried to plan something as simple as going out to dinner as a group? Can you recall how many different schedules had to be accounted for and adjusted? What about those who had previous engagements that they couldn’t miss? Or who needed babysitters? Or who didn’t want to eat at the same restaurant as the others? How many people have shown up late and taken forever to order? Now imagine that same set of circumstances, except with traveling to another country. Trying to find a group of friends who also want to travel to the same country as you, at the same time of the year, for the same length of time and go on the same hikes is nearly impossible. I have more than once invited people to join me on my travels but have rarely found anyone willing to take the trip or to engage in the activities that I find gratifying while on my travels. And when I do, there is always an excuse as to why they can’t come as the travel date approaches. When I want to travel, all I have to do is buy a few plane tickets and go. The only planning I have to do is in determining my itinerary, choosing a few hostels and making sure I have someone to watch my dog. I never have the need to sync up schedules or events to accommodate others. If you wait for the people around you to be ready, you’ll never get anything done. So, my biggest takeaway is to travel while you can!

Never Lonely

The common misconception about solo travel is that one may get lonely. In my few years of solo travel, I’ve learned that nothing could be further from the truth. First of all, I always stay in hostels when I travel. In hostels you find hordes of solo travelers; and the common factor between all of us, is that we all want to meet people. I’ve had some of my best memories ever while traveling and have met who have had to be the most amazing people the world has to offer. I do go on the occasional solo hike, just to have some ‘me’ time. But for the most part, I always meet fellow travelers who were planning to go on the same hike on the same day as me anyway. When I go on city tours, or day trips, I literally always meet other people on the same tour, and we usually end up spending the rest of the day or even the rest of the week together. The people I meet, are people who I would never have met while traveling with a group.

Solitude

Now this is the exact opposite of the above paragraph. Meeting people is amazing, and a lot of the time when you get to see a wonderful exotic place, having someone next to you who in just as much awe as you, makes you even happier in that moment. However, at the end of the day, after those adventures, a group dinner, a late-night board game and a few cocktails, getting to wind down by yourself and absorb the joy of the day is very relaxing. I tend to stay up late on clear nights and look at the stars over the jungle. I get up early to watch the sun rise over mountains. I lounge out by the pool on a lazy day just reading and soaking up sun. Being with friends will always be what makes me and many others happy, but once you are able to find happiness in your solitude, you’ve unlocked a whole new level of bliss.

Who knows? Someday might come, when I meet the perfect traveling companion, who is just as eager and willing to go on the same adventures as me at the same time and share in the same joy, but until then, solo travel will be my way to do it.