essay travelling alone

Traveling Alone – Shed Your Fears and Feel Empowered

Traveling alone can be scary at first but the rewards far outweigh the intimidation. With good planning, research, and a journaling technique, ace your solo adventure, reflect on it, and share it with others. 

But most importantly, you can grow. Because when you travel alone, you challenge yourself. And when you challenge yourself, you learn about your limits, and abilities, and learn how to push them. And that is one of the ways we grow and break through personal challenges.

In this post, I will discuss the benefits of solo travel and the adversities you can face when you travel alone.

Why You Should Travel Alone at Least Once In Your Life

Most people think that people who travel alone are crazy. If not for the safety concerns, for the solidarity. After all, great memories are meant to be shared right? 

Well, yes they are. But much like hiking or fishing alone, there’s a special purpose to solo travel. And that purpose is to better oneself by learning more about who you are when you’re with yourself.

Imagine a breathtaking landscape—the sound of its nature, the feel of its air, the smell of its earth. It’s just you and that place. Now imagine it with other people. These two experiences aren’t the same. So why not have them both? 

When we travel alone we have the freedom to go where the wind takes us, and that’s where true adventure lies. Apart from adventure, being alone in exciting new places is empowering.

Think about telling someone that you just returned home from Paris with your family. You likely did the standard tourist gig of museums, restaurants, shopping, and historical places. You kept to yourselves, had to keep everyone happy, and didn’t go off the beaten path.

Now think about telling someone that you just returned from Paris from a solo trip. Immediately their eyebrows raise because that’s not only impressive but interesting. And it’s interesting because no one could possibly anticipate the adventure you had.

And that’s empowering. When we travel alone we get a sense of pride that we can conquer so much more. Maybe it’s a project or work. Or maybe it’s a new chapter in life or grief. 

There’s an incredible sense of self-worth, growth, pride, and empowerment that comes to use when we travel alone.

The Hurdles and Rewards of Traveling Alone

When people think of travel, their minds are often filled with images of full moon parties in the Asian tropics, backpacking through the medieval streets of Europe, or going on an adventure trek through exotic jungles.

But solo travel is so much more than these romanticized adventures. 

Solo travel is about getting out of your comfort zone, exploring new things, and gaining a better understanding of yourself and the world around you. It builds character and confidence, and leaves you cultured with a deeper understanding of just how small we all are on this grand design we call “Earth.”

Getting out of your comfort zone can be intimidating. There are times when a traveler must go at it alone, and in doing so, they will walk into a world unraveled from the familiar.

Taking a drive on the opposite side of the road , for example, is terrifying! But there is beauty in this. Around every corner lies excitement, exploration, and real culture, but only if the traveler can overcome the hurdles that come with traveling alone.

The Rewards of Solo Traveling

Traveling alone is a completely separate experience from traveling with someone you know. Exploring new lands with a group is an experience in and of itself.

The way a traveler takes in their surroundings changes when they’re with a travel partner. Go at it alone they have no option but to experience it themselves, in a manner that cannot be colored by anyone else other than the locals they are experiencing it with.

Dropping the other members of a group also means that the traveler operates on their own time and pace. No longer are they waiting for the slowest member of the group to get things rolling, or being rushed to a museum or tourist spot by a well-meaning guide because they had to keep a schedule.

By going at it alone, the traveler can truly savor the sights, sounds, and experiences offered by their destination. Likewise, they also have the ability to skip things that are of no interest to them simply.

What are some of the hurdles?

The feeling of aloneness is often a source of woe to solo travelers because it forces them to face their fears, both internally and externally. Humans are, by nature, social creatures, so when the concept of a social support structure is removed from the equation, it triggers a quasi-fight or flight response.

In this sense, a flight response would be to remove themselves from a particular situation (e. g. leave that area, go back to somewhere familiar, go home).

The fight response is tackling the problem head-on, enduring the pains but also enjoying the rewards of doing something correctly. For decades now, lone voyagers would seek social solace in places like dorms or hostels. Here, they would find fellow journeymen and others seeking a reprieve from the road.

The world has never been closer thanks to technology. These days, if a traveler has a stable WiFi connection they can chat, call, or even carry on a video conversation with friends and relatives overseas on the other side of the globe.

Some purists believe that this constant connectivity is ruining the travel experience. There may be some truth to this, but for the vast majority of vagabonds, the internet represents an emergency parachute that they can use to save their trip as much as their sanity.

But the whole idea begins with respect. As a traveler, it is imperative that you treat locals and fellow travelers alike with respect as well as demand some yourself.

Using one’s common sense is also high on the list, as well as keeping yourself informed of any hostile activities in the area. If the government and tourist websites say that you should avoid a city, town, or area at night, do not proceed to walk down there in the dark with jewelry displayed.

Travelers should also travel with confidence, or at least with an air of trust. Crime exists in all parts of the world , and just like in the animal kingdom they are attracted to creatures that look like and act like prey.

It is not to say that a traveler should be unfriendly, but it does mean that they walk, talk, and act with strength. Predators are not prone to attack prey that looks like they are more than willing to put up a fight.

You should understand ways to avoid being a target of crime when traveling , especially when you’re alone.

Traveling alone reveals truths about a person that they may not be comfortable with. But breaking down that barrier gives an opportunity to see the world at their speed, truly savor experiences and make a lasting connection to people and places.

You can mentally profit from the experience as well as financially (if you decide to publish essays on your adventures) all while creating incredible memories as part of your legacy.

While traveling alone will test a person’s will as well as their cunning, intellect, and ability to overcome hardship nothing will empower a human more. So, what are you waiting for? 

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Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. She started traveling the world in 2003 when she attended a summer abroad study at the University of Cambridge in England. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Her three passions in life are her son, traveling, and being creative. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." -Christa Thompson

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Why Traveling Alone is a Great Idea: Insights from Solo Adventurers

Ready to embark on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery? Solo travel might just be for you. This post explores the transformative power of traveling alone, through the eyes of seasoned solo adventurers.

I’ll share insights about the unparalleled freedom, life-changing experiences, and invaluable lessons learned on the road. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or just contemplating your first solo trip, this post will open your eyes to the unique allure of solitary exploration.

Benefits of traveling alone

Freedom to make your own decisions.

One of the greatest benefits of traveling alone is the freedom to make your own decisions. When you embark on a solo adventure, you have the power to go wherever you want and do whatever you want, without having to consider anyone else’s preferences or plans.

Whether you want to explore a bustling city or escape to the tranquility of the countryside, the choice is entirely yours. You can stay in a destination for as long as you like, without worrying about affecting someone else’s itinerary.

Plus, you don’t have to wait for anyone to get ready in the mornings, allowing you to make the most of your day and experience the world at your own pace. So, embrace the freedom of solo travel and let your wanderlust guide you to incredible destinations.

Opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth

Traveling alone provides a unique opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. When you venture out on your own, you have the chance to truly get to know yourself better.

You can reflect on your decisions, listen to your gut, and discover what truly makes you, you. Spending time in solitude allows you to embark on an inward journey of self-discovery, where you can uncover your strengths, weaknesses, and passions.

It’s a time to reconnect with yourself, gain a deeper understanding of who you are, and cultivate a sense of self-awareness.

Through this process, you can develop a stronger sense of identity and purpose, leading to personal growth and a greater sense of fulfillment. So, embrace the opportunity to travel alone and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery.

Flexibility in itinerary and schedule

Another advantage of traveling alone is the flexibility it offers in terms of your itinerary and schedule. While it’s important to do some planning for your trip, being spontaneous can lead to incredible experiences, especially when you’re traveling solo.

Meeting other travelers along the way may inspire you to stay in a place for a few extra days or even change your plans altogether.

By building flexibility into your itinerary, you can embrace the freedom to go with the flow and make decisions on the fly.

This flexibility allows you to have heaps of fun, meet great people, and create unforgettable memories. So, don’t be afraid to change your plans and let the spontaneity of solo travel guide you to new and exciting adventures.

Chance to step out of your comfort zone

Traveling alone presents a wonderful opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and embrace new experiences.

When you’re on your own in an unfamiliar place, you’re more likely to push yourself to try new things and break free from your usual routines.

Whether it’s trying a new activity, exploring a different neighborhood, or simply taking time to relax and unwind, traveling alone allows you to challenge yourself and discover new aspects of your personality.

Stepping out of your comfort zone can be exhilarating and empowering, and it can lead to personal growth and a greater sense of self-confidence.

So, embrace the unknown and let solo travel take you on a journey of self-discovery and adventure.

Increased self-confidence and independence

Traveling alone has a profound impact on your self-confidence and independence. When you’re on your own in a new place, you have to rely on yourself to navigate unfamiliar surroundings and make decisions.

This forces you to be resourceful and find solutions to problems, such as getting lost or booking transportation.

Successfully overcoming these challenges can give you a tremendous confidence boost and a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, traveling solo allows you to shape your experience exactly how you want it.

Whether you want to socialize and meet new people or spend hours alone with a book, you have the freedom to do so without judgment.

This independence and the ability to make your own decisions can greatly enhance your self-confidence and empower you in all areas of life.

Exploring new cultures and meeting new people

Immersion in local customs and traditions.

When you travel alone, you have the unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the local customs and traditions of the places you visit.

Without the distractions of companionship, you can fully engage with the local culture and truly experience the authenticity of your destination.

From participating in traditional ceremonies and festivals to trying local cuisine and learning about ancient customs, solo travel allows you to connect with the local community on a deeper level.

By immersing yourself in the local way of life, you gain a greater understanding and appreciation for different cultures, broadening your perspective and enriching your travel experience.

So, embrace the chance to immerse yourself in local customs and traditions, and let solo travel open your eyes to the beauty and diversity of the world.

Opportunity to make meaningful connections

Traveling alone not only allows you to explore new cultures but also provides an incredible opportunity to make meaningful connections with people from all walks of life.

When you’re on your own, you’re more approachable and open to meeting new people. Whether it’s striking up a conversation with a fellow traveler at a local cafe or joining a group tour, solo travel creates the perfect environment for forming genuine connections.

These connections can lead to lifelong friendships, cultural exchanges, and even collaborations on future adventures.

By stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the unknown, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities and the chance to create lasting memories with like-minded individuals.

So, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make meaningful connections while traveling alone. You never know who you might meet and the impact they may have on your life.

Experiencing different perspectives and ways of life

Traveling alone provides a unique opportunity to experience different perspectives and ways of life. When you venture out on your own, you are more likely to engage with locals and immerse yourself in the local culture.

By interacting with people from different backgrounds and experiencing their way of life, you gain a deeper understanding of the world and broaden your own perspective.

Whether it’s learning about traditional customs, trying new foods, or participating in local traditions, solo travel allows you to step outside of your comfort zone and embrace the diversity of the world.

Through these experiences, you not only gain knowledge but also develop empathy and a greater appreciation for different cultures.

So, embrace the chance to experience different perspectives and ways of life while traveling alone, and let it enrich your journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

These connections can lead to lifelong friendships, cultural exchanges, and even collaborations on future adventures. By stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the unknown, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities and the chance to create lasting memories with like-minded individuals.

Enhancing problem-solving and decision-making skills

Taking full responsibility for your travel experience.

When you travel alone, you are solely responsible for your travel experience. This means making all the decisions, from choosing your destination to planning your itinerary and handling any unexpected situations that may arise.

Taking full responsibility for your travel experience enhances your problem-solving and decision-making skills. It requires you to think critically, adapt to new environments, and find creative solutions to challenges along the way.

By navigating through unfamiliar territories and relying on your own judgment, you develop a sense of resourcefulness and resilience that can be applied to various aspects of your life.

This newfound confidence and ability to take charge not only enrich your solo travel experience but also empower you both personally and professionally.

So, embrace the opportunity to take full responsibility for your travel experience and watch as your problem-solving and decision-making skills flourish.

Learning to adapt to unexpected situations

Traveling alone provides a unique opportunity to learn how to adapt to unexpected situations.

When you’re on your own in a foreign country, you don’t have the luxury of relying on others to solve problems for you. Instead, you have to think on your feet and come up with creative solutions to navigate through unfamiliar territory.

Whether it’s dealing with a missed flight, getting lost in a new city, or facing a language barrier, solo travel teaches you how to stay calm, think critically, and find your way out of challenging situations.

These experiences not only enhance your problem-solving and decision-making skills but also build your resilience and resourcefulness.

So, embrace the unexpected and let solo travel teach you the valuable skill of adaptability.

Developing resourcefulness and resilience

Traveling alone requires you to be resourceful and resilient. Without the support of others, you must rely on your own problem-solving skills to navigate through unfamiliar situations.

From finding your way around a new city to dealing with unexpected challenges, solo travel pushes you to think creatively and find solutions on your own.

This process of problem-solving and adapting to new environments helps you develop a sense of resourcefulness and resilience that can be applied to various aspects of your life.

By embracing the challenges of solo travel, you not only enhance your problem-solving and decision-making skills but also build the confidence to overcome obstacles in other areas of your life.

So, embrace the opportunity to develop resourcefulness and resilience through solo travel and watch as these skills positively impact your personal and professional growth.

Gaining a sense of accomplishment and empowerment

Traveling alone allows you to gain a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. When you embark on a solo journey, every decision and action is solely your own.

From planning your itinerary to navigating through unfamiliar places, you take full responsibility for your travel experience.

This sense of control and independence can be incredibly empowering, boosting your self-confidence and self-esteem.

As you successfully navigate through challenges and overcome obstacles on your own, you develop a sense of accomplishment that can translate into other areas of your life.

So, embrace the opportunity to travel alone and experience the empowering feeling of achieving your goals and taking charge of your own journey.

Embracing solitude and self-reflection

Time for introspection and self-care.

Traveling alone provides valuable time for introspection and self-care. When you are on your own, you have the freedom to focus on yourself and your needs without any distractions.

This dedicated time allows you to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and goals, and gain a deeper understanding of yourself.

Whether it’s journaling, meditating, or simply enjoying moments of solitude, solo travel provides the perfect environment for self-reflection and self-care.

It gives you the opportunity to disconnect from the daily stressors of life and recharge your mind and body.

By embracing this time for introspection and self-care, you can enhance your self-awareness, cultivate mindfulness, and foster a greater sense of well-being.

So, take advantage of the solitude that comes with traveling alone and use it as a time for personal growth and rejuvenation.

Opportunity to disconnect from daily stressors

Whether it’s journaling, meditating, or simply enjoying moments of solitude, solo travel provides the perfect environment for self-reflection and self-care. It gives you the opportunity to disconnect from the daily stressors of life and recharge your mind and body.

Recharging and rejuvenating your mind and body

This dedicated time allows you to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and goals, and gain a deeper understanding of yourself. Whether it’s journaling, meditating, or simply enjoying moments of solitude, solo travel provides the perfect environment for self-reflection and self-care.

It gives you the opportunity to disconnect from the daily stressors of life and recharge your mind and body. By embracing this time for introspection and self-care, you can enhance your self-awareness, cultivate mindfulness, and foster a greater sense of well-being.

Traveling alone offers a unique opportunity to disconnect from the daily stressors of life. Without the distractions of work, relationships, and responsibilities, you can fully immerse yourself in the present moment and focus on your own well-being.

Whether it’s exploring a new destination, indulging in self-care activities, or simply enjoying the peace and quiet, solo travel allows you to escape the pressures of everyday life and recharge your mind and body.

By disconnecting from the daily stressors, you can reduce anxiety, improve mental clarity, and restore your overall sense of balance and harmony. So, take this chance to step away from the hustle and bustle and prioritize your own self-care during your solo adventures.

Deepening self-awareness and mindfulness

Additionally, it increases self-confidence and independence, allows for the exploration of new cultures and the meeting of new people, and enhances problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Moreover, it provides a space for embracing solitude and self-reflection, recharging and rejuvenating the mind and body, and deepening self-awareness and mindfulness.

So, if you’re looking for a transformative and empowering experience, consider embarking on a solo travel adventure and unlock the countless benefits it has to offer.

Why travelling alone is better?

Advantages of solo travel include it broadens your horizons, forces you out of your comfort zone, gives you the opportunity to meet new people, and creates new memories.

What does Traveling alone say about a person?

Solo travellers will usually be equipped with a degree of self-confidence. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be an outgoing, extrovert personality: many solo travellers enjoy the solitude of their own company without the need to make lifelong friends with everyone they meet.

What does travelling alone teach you?

New experiences can give you more confidence and make you more creative. Travelling alone can challenge you in different ways, allowing you to develop into a well-rounded individual. One of the best things about travelling solo is that you make your own decisions on where to go, what to do, and what to eat.

Why traveling is a great idea?

Travel takes us out of our comfort zones and inspires us to see, taste and try new things. It constantly challenges us, not only to adapt to and explore new surroundings, but also to engage with different people, to embrace adventures as they come and to share new and meaningful experiences with friends and loved ones.

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Travelling Alone or in a Group Essay

1. introduction.

In this fast-paced world, a greater number of people are caring for their mental health by taking a holiday. Whether it's for an extended break or a short getaway, whether it's the young or the old, a vacation can work wonders especially when stress levels are high. However, there are two different ways to travel, and the preference usually falls into the category of either going at it alone or as part of a group. This essay will be built around the advantages of both solo and group travel, and at the end of this essay, it is generally agreed upon that when compared with group travel, travelling alone is superior, mostly under the capacity of enjoyment and fulfilling. By doing so, the purpose of the essay will be fulfilled. Travelling alone is defined as making a trip which has only one person in a tour and no one else who can share the responsibility of decision-making. Group travel is defined as making a trip with at least one other person and the objective of the trip is to strengthen the bond among the members as well as to foster friends making. These two concepts, typically, are differentiated in terms of the social importance of travel. When people travel in a group, they can share the moments together, especially something fun as happiness can be a double joy when it's shared. This is why as Harriet (2010) said, group travel can be regarded as a good form of assembling and it is indeed a great way to find like-minded individuals who have the willingness to join in for a fun-packed journey. This is also because of the fact that social interactions can be established and continuous networks can be built as time goes by. On the contrary, when people travel alone, they can get the package freedom which is hard to seek in group travel and this is the essence of individualism, which refers to a moral stance, political philosophy, ideology or social outlook that stresses the moral worth of the individual. As Weaver et al. (2011) claims, travelling alone can help to promote a sense of independence and freedom as it gives people the opportunity to learn how to control their own environment without being influenced by others. Besides, the freedom which can be sought after during the period of independent travelling may serve to accomplish some kind of personal growth as well. Last but not least, the flexibility in itinerary is one of the most important advantages of travelling alone. Owing to the fact that in group travel, people are required to make various compromises such as the destination, the place to have meals and the choice of leisure activities, the whole trip may be organized so well to the point that idleness and forgetfulness become scanty. However, in reality, being in a constant rush is quite a common phenomenon for group travel. On the other hand, when people travel alone, they can decide what they want each day in accordance to their preferences without irritating or disturbing others. This is exceptionally beneficial and rewarding as it can give rise to self-discovery, whereby in some cases, people may find something new about themselves or even develop a new set of skills and attributes. Plus, personal growth, which refers to the idea that the nature of human existence is such that human beings are capable of progressing and refining their lives by their own power and knowledge, can also be achieved. It is hoped that by the means of analyzing one's environment and making decisions based on the literal and figurative travels that the person undergoes, one can develop a unique and dynamic understanding of the world. However, this is just a very ideal and unattainable fantasy because in our lives, we cannot always escape from the reality of making compromises or implementation of other people's decisions. Therefore, with no peace of mind in personal and also environmental influences, well-done personal growth is in actual fact hardly coming into existence.

1.1. Purpose of the Essay

The purpose of this essay is to explore the advantages of both solo travel and group travel. I will argue that travelling alone is preferable to travelling with a guided tour. I will explore some of the issues that face tourists in Rome and reveal the author's personal experiences and observations while on holiday in the Italian capital. I will also consider some of the reasons why a person might choose to join an organised tour instead of striking out on their own in a foreign country. This is then explored in the next section of the essay, "The Benefits of Travelling Alone". It is clear from the introductory section of the essay that this is going to be an argument that is developed through the use of evidence and examples, leading to a reasoned conclusion that favours independent travel. The introduction also explains to the reader that the essay is going to consider "different views" and "other interpretations", which shows that the writer is going to consider the counter arguments to their own position. Finally, the introduction makes it explicit that the argument is based upon the writer's own experience of Rome, thus adding a further personal dimension to the writing.

1.2. Definition of Travelling Alone and in a Group

As outlined in the table of contents, there are several components to the essay about travelling. Section 1.2 focuses on the definition of travelling alone and in a group, so as to set a clear demarcation of the two activities, as well as a clear demarcation of the scope of the question. The section primarily explains the meanings of the two concepts and, in doing so, gives the reader a better understanding of what travelling alone and in a group truly entails. It describes travelling alone as the participant of tourist activities and services in a self-determined manner, where the individual does not have to follow the timelines of others, or the individual may be subject to the timetable of tour operators that might provide some services along the journey. Tour operators refer to the professionals or companies that provide such services that include, for instance, accommodation, transportation and sightseeing to customers. These customers are promised to be taking cared of by the operators, throughout the time dedicated to the stipulated package. As for travelling in a group, the definition provided focuses more on public tour. It is described as the joining of a number of tourists forming a loose entity in a structure where at least some of the activities need to be pre-arranged by someone else, which is the tour leader. Bus tours, packaged travel, escorted holiday tours, and organisation tours for backpackers are some of the examples. These pre-arranged activities are embedded in what so called 'group's holidays' and some elements of shared programmes exist in this context. Every member must follow the agreed schedules, such programmes conducted by the tour leader. In other words, there is a list of activities on route which is shared among the tourists coupled with some degree of flexibility, as the group may set the time and duration for each activity according to the agreed timetable. The description of both concepts mainly involves analysing and comparing the freedom and plans for both in either travelling alone or as a member of a tour. It is the differences in the levels of opportunities that individual are given in each situation, which could be concluded as the freedom to opt for either fully or partially to the discussed programmed activities, and to decide when or where to start a particular activity along the journey.

2. Advantages of Travelling Alone

The first advantage of travelling alone is independence and freedom. It is often said that there is no other freedom like the freedom of travelling. When you are travelling alone, you are the master of your own. There is no one else to consider and you have the ability to do whatever you want, whenever you want to do it. Whether it is visiting a certain place, going to bed or getting up in the morning, it's all up to you to decide. Having total freedom to tailor your trip according to your liking is very liberating and rewarding. Sometimes in life you have to make compromises, but when you are travelling, that's completely different. It's really important that you appreciate the level of freedom that is given to you when you are travelling alone. If you want to spend the entire day taking pictures of places of interest, then you can. You are not forced to change your plans to suit others. Also while you are spending all this time in your own company, you may have a chance to discover something new about yourself. You may be surprised at your own interests or strength, and this freedom could even change your life.

2.1. Independence and Freedom

An additional advantage of travelling alone is that it provides individuals with independence and freedom. This means that individuals have the freedom to choose when to travel, where to travel, what to see, where to eat, and how long to stay in a particular place. There is no need to discuss and compromise on travel plans. Moreover, time can be used or spent more efficiently as individual's personal need and preference are met more easily. It is stress-free and peaceful when there is no rush and worrying to fulfill others' needs or expectations. For instance, for those who prefer arts and history may choose to spend the whole afternoon exploring the National Gallery in London and do not fear that they may miss something else that will attract their friends or family. Also, people who do not want to stick with fixed itinerary of a group tour can fully enjoy and explore their own trip. Thus, besides being able to fulfill self-enthusiasm in travel, the travel can be more meaningful and enjoyable.

2.2. Flexibility in Itinerary

Travelling alone is undeniably better than in a group when it comes to flexibility in itinerary. In a solo trip, travellers have the freedom to decide the pace of the trip and make impromptu changes to the itinerary at any point of time. There is no need to rush for breakfast so as not to delay others. There is no need to compromise on the preferred food choices for lunch or dinner just to cater to the majority. No physical and mental energy had to be spent on dealing with emotional backlash when a mistake was made in the trip planning or execution. All decisions are personal. It could not be easier to change day plans or travel to places just because it felt like doing so. If a place was not up to expectations, one could simply leave the next day or cut the day trip short. On the contrary, when it comes to group travel, everything from wake up time, meal time and sleep time are fixed. A single common schedule has to be adhered by everyone. This was especially so when the travel group was big and made up of different families. At the end of a day trip, one would be able to share personal experiences with others, gather information about the places of interest and even share out the workload in planning for the next day. This social interaction and bonding was what group travel could offer as a form of advantage. However, having to stick with the common schedule could mean sacrificing individual travel goals and missing out precious opportunities to explore off the beaten tracks. In addition, the more popular the travel destination, the longer the queue for any tickets purchasing and the worse the crowd condition. This would mean wasting precious time waiting and queuing for tickets. All these could be easily avoided in a solo trip.

2.3. Self-Discovery and Personal Growth

Moreover, through the experience of travelling alone, one has the chance to gain a deeper insight into themselves and to focus on their personal development. In a society that is increasingly fast-paced and productivity-focused, it is easy for individuals to neglect their own needs and aspirations in order to keep up. However, time spent away from the responsibilities and pressures of work and society is invaluable; the chance to explore new cultures and societies not only introduces new experiences and opportunities, but also new perspectives on life. Even small inconveniences can be taken as opportunities for personal growth. For example, if one comes across a confusing mass of public transport and cannot read the language to work out the best option, the initial reaction may be panic or frustration. However, in dealing with the situation and trying all possible options to move on from the standstill, one learns a valuable lesson about patience, problem-solving and the possibility of alternative solutions. Such lessons are too often few and far between in the structured, scheduled lifestyles of many people at home, making the lessons that travellers learn very unique and essential. Through self-discovery and a growth in social and intercultural communication skills, each individual realisation serves to improve and enhance every aspect of a person's life, from work to relationships. This may involve small realisations, such as an enjoyment of a newly discovered food or a preference for a different style of music; alternatively, these moments of clarity could result in major life changes and growth. There are few other life experiences that have such a direct influence on personal life and future plans, making travelling alone, and the subsequent self-discovery, such a valuable way to spend time. Notably, such personal development is not found through group travel; given that an individual is surrounded by others from the familiar culture and way of life. Most likely, they will stick to their habits and routines that are so easily absorbed in their day-to-day life at home when comfort and security are readily available, and there is little reason to seek the support and stability of something new. On the other hand, surrounded by what may be initially interpreted as chaos and confusion, travellers have every reason to evaluate the way in which they live and interact with the world. Every new experience and moment of self-reflection can lead to a transformation in a person's life and outlook, and this can have a hugely positive effect on their own personal development.

3. Benefits of Travelling in a Group

The group members can take each other's help in case of any emergency. They can share the expenses in booking hotel, guide, etc. Travelling in a group also gives them a chance to stay in more than one hotel, depending on the group size and the requirement. In addition to that, hotels are not able to accommodate a large number of visitors from a single tour group. So, it is easier to make a reservation in several hotels. Group members will be at lower risks of missing out some important spots in the travel destination. This is simply because if one of the tourists missed out a spot, other group members can remind him or her. In this way, time is well-organized and people can visit as many places as they can. Moreover, the visiting time for each destination is well controlled. The tour leader will make sure that the other travelers do not exceed the visiting time. This can be done by giving clear signal on the specific time to move on to another spot. Therefore, tourists can minimize the risk of delaying their travel schedule. Family members during the trip do not need to worry as much about the planning work and logistics from one destination to another. They can pay full attention and spend time mainly on monitoring the younger members' movements and needs. Not only that, taking care of young members becomes more easy and efficient as the elder ones in the group are able to render help when necessary. In short, traveling in a group has many advantages. As what William Shakespeare has said, "no man is an island," people can gain a lot of fun and broaden their knowledge throughout the journey. So, why bother to travel alone? Let's enjoy life in a group!

3.1. Safety and Security

Another plus point of group travelling is about the feeling of security. When you travel alone, you rarely get the company of other people. In such a scenario, you need to be more cautious. Crime and theft is unfortunately most common in tourist spots. So, if you are in a group, you probably can share each other's company. At least one group member can look after the possession when you go to the washroom or look after the luggage when you take a picture or something. Also, if something happens or you face a difficulty, like injury or accident, you will have other people to support and assist you. On the other hand, if you are in danger, it's common sense that a single person can't help you to the extent that a group can. Another advantageous point is that in a group, you are more visible. Members of the group can be extra safe with watchful eyes, at the back of their mind they know that their friends are keeping an eye on them. And most of the time, criminals try to avoid the sight of many people. Finally, in a group, people who feel weak in some aspects can be protected. For example, they may have language problems or difficulty in physical activities. However, the disadvantage of being lonesome can lead to serious problems, especially when problems like crime or accidents happen. On balance, safety and security should not be underestimated when we take a trip. Lodging in a new environment changes our way of living and no one can guarantee that we will be 100% safe from common threats when we travel. Therefore, it is advisable to travel in a group to ensure that each member is well protected in case of any unfortunate events.

3.2. Shared Experiences and Social Interaction

Comparing to travelling alone, travelling with a bunch of individuals sounds like a much more entertaining alternative. When visiting historic places, folks are inclined to forming massive groups. Social interaction is the ideal supply from tour guide's understanding. Occasional laughter from associates' jokes and pictures usually begin to circulate. Introduction to new faces will additional broaden the profile of shut mates listing. Particular person will get to know extra of his shut mates and acquire a greater understanding of their completely different characters. He'll be extra appreciative in direction of the strengths of those folks. There was an occasion when debilitating calf ache attacked me in the course of the journey. By luck, I used to be surrounded by mates and thus, instantaneous assist from them got here useful. Trainers and ache aid ointment have been referred to as out from the backpacks of my caring friends. With their helps, the ache subsided higher for the remainder of the journey. Journey mates serving to one another within the hour of wants signifies unity and camaraderie. Such mutual assist can't be anticipated when somebody is travelling alone. He has no person to depend on in a forsaking surroundings. He has to face all of the issue on his personal. This provides a dimension of self to the journey; it's a reflection that one is able to coping with the issues and able to achieve success. Nonetheless, he should have all the time within the ready to face the worst scenario. It takes braveness to step out of your consolation zone and go away the acquainted surroundings, journey and discovery await. Such reflective second will be achieved in a solely journey. Every evening, everyone seems to be totally occupied by numerous "tasks" when travelling in a bunch. Some will likely be organising meals, some will likely be fixing tents or huts, some will likely be planning for the subsequent day's itinerary; mainly all the things that should be achieved is being scheduled and prearranged. In consequence, particular person's private time will likely be squeezed from hour to hour by the tight schedule set by the group. On sure dispute and disagreement, the bulk choice will suppress the thought and aspiration of a minority. Everybody has to compromise and observe the deliberate schedule of the group. His private rights of resolution-making will likely be eroded readily. He'll have to stick to some stringent guidelines and laws to keep up the stability of the group. Well mannered means of communication will likely be deployed to debate any matter with the group chief. He has to recollect to not voice too loudly on any delicate concern; in any other case disharmony will likely be created within the blissful journey. On the opposite, one is allowed to make case for himself on all issues. He can deal with issues in his personal approach and implement his very personal resolution. He's free to control the time. Possibility is granted to each single plan that he needs to embark on. He wants not alter his curiosity and hobbies to go well with others' favour. In a phrase, he's placing himself because the centric consideration all through the journey. These are the freedoms that no person else can have an effect on. It's pure to say that a journey plan must adapt accordingly to the group measurement, journey spots choice and other people expectation. However the ultimate concept relies upon to at least one himself. It's all right down to which of the two typical saying - "United we stand, divided we fall" or "To every his personal". Well, I personally favor the latter and that it's onerous to return by.

3.3. Convenience and Reduced Planning Effort

Lastly, traveling in a group has another massive advantage and this is convenient and reduced planning effort. The time consuming part of searching around the best deals especially on travel and accommodation can be taken over by one person, usually the tour leader. Another person does not need to worry about spending many hours in order to plan the best route to see everything on the list. Group travelers also have advantages in getting things in a group discount. Airlines and hotel companies tend to give a cheaper rate when people are traveling in a group. Therefore, traveling in a group always a better choice when it comes to saving money and time. In addition to this, when people are traveling as a group, they can share the responsibility and each person might have a different task to take up. For example, one person will look after the budgeting while another person will contact the accommodations. And of course, one person will be a main planner who will coordinate everyone's work together in making the trip a success. This is a brilliant practice for our daily lives and our future, especially for young kids. They will learn how to work with different kinds of people by cooperating with the group. Nowadays, group travelers are equipped with better technology and communication. It means that people can plan the trip easily and effectively. For example, creating an online group and each member can contribute their opinion through the websites or smartphone apps. Besides, there are many reviews and suggestions that can be updated in such a shortest period of time has benefited the younger generations who are energetic and like to explore. In conclusion, the convenience and the effective planning provide a greater traveling outcome between a solo traveler and group travelers. As for me, there is no right or wrong of which travel style people should choose. The main point of traveling is to gain different experiences and living in a brand new journey. Therefore, people should take the chance to travel even in a group or self-claimed solo so that they can explore the beauty of the world.

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Last Updated: January 23, 2024

20 Key Benefits of Travelling Alone [Solo Travel Benefits]

Want to find out about the endless benefits of travelling alone? Here are 25 compelling solo travel benefits to inspire you to take that long-awaited solo trip!

Danny Newman

Wondering about the benefits of travelling alone? I hope this post helps!

Deciding to travel the world by yourself isn’t easy.

It’s like learning to ride a bike. Or asking for a promotion.

…Or leaning in for a first kiss!

You know lots of people do it.

And you know a lot of good could come from it if you can muster enough courage to pull the trigger.

So, on one hand, it’s an exciting prospect.

But it’s daunting too.

It’s a risk! The outcome’s uncertain. It requires a leap of faith.

Your ancient brain serves its protective purpose, honing in on the many negative events that may lurk around the corner; the “ what ifs? ”

It’s easy to lose sight of the many benefits of travelling alone in the process!

Does this sound at all familiar?

Are you umming and ahhing over the decision to take a solo trip?

Well, I thought I’d try to help out by highlighting the endless benefits of solo travel .

Read on if you’re looking for a final “push”, or a fresh dose of inspiration, to book those tickets and have an adventure!

Why travel alone? Keep reading to find out!

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20 Benefits of Travelling Alone

Here we go, then: a big long list of solo travel advantages!

With any luck, they’ll help you decide once and for all whether (or not) to embark on that long-awaited solo adventure.

1. You’re In Total Control

Travelling in a group can quickly get complicated. Why?

Because different people means different ideas, opinions, values, interests, lifestyles, and budgets!

It demands compromise and a willingness to make sacrifices, which is a hard thing when you’re on the trip of a lifetime.

Solo travel is a thousand times simpler.

It’s just you, right?

That means you decide what to do, where to go, when to eat, and when to rest. With no-one else to think about, you’re free to choose how you spend the day.

2. You Get Lonely, But Not Too Lonely

A degree of loneliness and homesickness go with the territory of solo travel.

It’s natural, right?

You’re alone on the other side of the world, surrounded by strangers, and far from the comfort of home!

It’d be weird if you didn’t feel lonely, nor find yourself pining for home sometimes.

Likewise, there are sure to be plenty moments when you feel out of your comfort zone, tired, and/or a little overwhelmed.

As they say, though, “this too shall pass”.

However bad it may get on the road, 99.9% of the time your mood soon improves, or the problem resolves itself, or you find a way to overcome it.

Self-sufficiency is a core component of travelling solo. It’s also one of its biggest benefits!

3. You Become Self-Sufficient

One of the biggest perks of travelling alone is that it teaches you to be fend for yourself

After all, there’s nobody to hold your hand!

There’s no shoulder to lean on; no friends or partners to use as a crutch.

It’s hard at times. But it’s empowering always .

In other words, if you’re looking to become a more independent person, then you won’t find many better ways to do it than travelling solo.

4. You Become More Self-Confident

Why travel alone?

Because you can’t help but grow in confidence as well.

I mean, going on a trip alone involves problem-solving, doing things by and for yourself, speaking to strangers, navigating trials and tribulations, and so on.

You realize what you’re capable of.

You realize you may have been holding yourself back.

And you realize you don’t need anyone’s help overcoming adversity.

Newfound self-confidence is a natural by-product of all of the above!

Travelling by yourself gives you space, time, and an opportunity to unwind.

5. You Have Time and Silence

We live in a hectic world that celebrates hard work and long hours.

It’s so busy and intense that it can be rare, in everyday life, to have much time or space to yourself! We’re always rushing around doing one thing or another.

This predicament flips on its head when you go travelling by yourself though.

Suddenly, you can be alone 24/7, with no time constraints other than self-imposed ones! It’s an opportunity to step back; to have space to breathe and reflect.

Stress levels wash away.

And self-reflection and fresh perspective on life kick in.

6. You Learn About Yourself

Discovering new things about yourself is another guaranteed outcome of travelling alone.

Think about it.

Not only do you have space to reflect, but you’re also doing things and meeting people that effectively hold a mirror up to yourself.

At a basic level, you might realize that you like a certain type of foreign food, or enjoy a warmer/colder climate.

At a more significant level, you may learn that you don’t cope well in stressful situations.

…Or that you’ve been in the habit of relying on others to make your decisions.

…Or that you’re not as worldly as you once thought.

…Or that seeing impoverished people makes you hurt so much inside that you want to commit your life to making a difference somehow.

Ultimately, you become a more integrated, well-rounded, and self-aware person.

One of the greatest solo travel benefits I can think of is that it sheds light on who you want to be and how to want to live.

7. You Realize Who You Want to Be

One of the greatest benefits of travelling alone in my own life was that I learned who I wanted to be .

Until I took that initial big trip, I’d always struggled with the notion of who I was.

I’d felt conflicted, anchorless, and adrift between different personalities- like a chameleon, simply adapting who I was to align with whatever social environment I found myself in (or whoever I was talking to in it).

Travelling taught me new ways of life.

I realized I loved being on the road. I realized I enjoyed the vagabond, dirt-bag, budget-backpacker lifestyle.

I wasn’t necessarily that person back then.

But I felt an affinity with it, which has guided me ever since.

8. You Get to Say “No”

It’s harder to say “no” when you’re travelling with other people.

You like them and want them to like you back.

There’s also a sense of peer pressure. You want to be accepted by the group.

So, if someone has an idea you don’t really want to do, you may say “yes” to it nonetheless.

Maybe you’re tired and just want to chill.

Or maybe you want to explore and they want to stay at the hostel watching Netflix.

Whatever the case, you end up doing something you don’t really wanna! A sense of resentment may eventually begin to rise as a result.

This issue fades into non-existence when you’re travelling solo.

Sure, there will be people you meet along the way who ask you to do something with them. Yet there’s less pressure to say “yes” because you don’t really know them.

As I said before, you’re in control, which means you decide your schedule.

By the same token, learning to say “no” is basically the same as learning to respect yourself and your own personal wants/needs.

So, as you start saying “no” to opportunities on the road, you may gain the crucial realization that your opinion matters too ! That what you want to do is fair and reasonable and that you’re well within your rights to go ahead and bloody do it!

Top tip, though: Don’t take this too far! Sometimes, saying “yes” to things you may not normally do is a sure-fire way to have an adventure, learn things about yourself, and experience the true beauty (and life-changing potential) of travel.

Should I travel alone? Absolutely! Especially if some of these solo travel benefits speak to you.

9. You Become Comfortable In Your Own Company

Humans are social animals.

But it’s important to have time alone and feel comfortable by yourself as well.

After all, time alone is time to reflect, re-energize, look inward, think your thoughts, and check yourself (…before you wreck yourself).

So, assuming you take the opportunity to be alone, another benefit of solo travel is that you come away feeling happier in your own skin; content in your own company.

You no longer need other people to entertain or distract you.

10. You Gain Perspective

Travelling by yourself means you’re less likely to see the world through other peoples’ eyes.

Once again, it’s often just you and the new lands and cultures you’re exploring.

It’s like taking the filter off an Instagram photo and seeing the raw file for once.

The cloak lifts and you’re no longer swayed by someone else’s ideals or opinions.

You’re left to make your own mind up.

Or maybe you meet and start travelling with someone from a completely different background. They’re so distinct from your friends at home that they reshape your attitudes and give you a fresh lens through which to see and think about the world.

Whatever happens, solo travel can change everything.

Having escaped the bubble of home, you may start thinking, feeling, and acting like a totally different person.

Or, as the classic travel cliché goes, you may “find yourself”.

Another of the main perks of travelling alone is that you can begin to realize what you want from life.

11. You Realize What You Want From Life

Realizing who you are (and/or who you want to be) is one step away from recognizing what you want from life.

Solo travel could help you settle on a career path or change.

It might reveal which course to take at university.

Or it may give you a brilliant business idea.

Ultimately, you can end up with newfound clarity on your next steps in life.

12. You Become More Resourceful

A couple of years ago I took a campervan around Australia.

The van (AKA “Max”) was 20 years old, falling apart at the seams…and I loved it .

But it (he) was a pain in the butt as well.

Among other things, the A/C would stop working when it was 40 degrees Celsius outside. It’d overheat. The various fluid levels in the engine were always running low.

The fuses would blow.

And there was no insulation, so I had to sleep with the door open to cool things down, which let copious amounts of bugs in throughout the night.

All told, that van was stressful and frustrating!

But it taught me heaps about vehicles (including the benefit of spending a little extra to get a higher-quality one!).

I learned how to change the fuses, figured out how to suspend a mosquito net from the door to keep out the insects, and how to tell (without actually checking them) when the engine levels needed topping up before it was too late.

Ultimately, travelling alone in that van forced me to be resourceful .

Going on a trip alone is a recipe for improving your language skills!

13. You Improve Your Language Skills

What do you do when you’re travelling solo and get lost somewhere they don’t speak English?

Or when you can’t read the menu at a restaurant?

Or need directions to a pharmacy?

Or have to ask if a hotel has a room for the night? And, if so, how much it’ll cost?

You speak to the locals!

Which, in turn, forces you to try and learn some of their language.

14. You Make New Friends

Solo travel’s actually a misleading idea.

I remember going to Thailand on a “solo trip” a few years ago.

I think I was alone for about 2 days in the entire three weeks I was there!

Within an hour of arriving, I’d met someone and spent the rest of the day with them.

I then met a group of other “solo travellers”, with whom I quickly formed a bond, and we ended up travelling around the rest of the country together!

Sure, you don’t have to do it that way; I’ve encountered plenty of solo travellers who do stick to themselves throughout the majority of their trip.

But you’re always meeting cool people. And, oftentimes, you get on so well that you don’t want to go your separate ways. You become travel buddies, make memories together, and forge strong friendships that last far longer than the trip itself.

For me, one of the primary benefits of travelling solo is the unparalleled feeling of freedom it gives you.

15. You Feel Liberated

Another of the main benefits of travelling alone is how liberating it is.

Remember the complete control you have over your time?

Well, it isn’t just helpful from a practical perspective.

It affects how you feel as well.

You have a sense of what it means to be free. You feel light and hopeful, as if the road ahead is saturated with possibility.

Likewise, you’re unburdened of responsibility. It’s just you and the road and however you choose to spend your time.

16. You Can Blend In More Easily

It’s hard to blend into a crowd when you’re travelling in a group.

In fact, you usually stand out like a sore thumb- especially if you’re all from a different ethnic background to the locals, wearing different clothes, staring at tourist maps, and squealing in excitement!

And that’s bad news if:

a) You don’t want to draw attention to yourself, or

b) There are some bad eggs in the vicinity who are up to no good.

Avoiding unwanted attention is much easier when you’re alone though.

You can remain on the periphery, get lost in the crowd, and observe the local way of life without anybody noticing you.

Improved decision-making might be one of the less expected benefits of solo travel you’d have to look forward to!

17. You Become Better at Decision-Making

Travelling alone is basically one long exercise in decision-making.

When to wake up.

What to eat.

Where to eat.

What to visit.

How to get there.

What to do when you get there.

When to travel to your next destination.

…The list goes on.

I can’t lie, it definitely gets old! After all, making plans is tiring.

Sometimes, all you want is for someone else to take charge and tell you where to be, what to do, and at what time.

But it gets easier. And you end up being a far more decisive person overall.

18. You do New and Unexpected Things

Group travel is (or should be) democratic.

Solo travel is a total dictatorship.

In other words, there’s nobody to hold you back from doing whatever you want!

And, if you’re up for a dose of adventure, this can lead you into all sorts of crazy activities and down unexpected avenues.

You might decide to eat local “delicacies” that are more than a little nauseating.

You may choose to drive down that random ass dirt road you come across.

Maybe you want to jump off a giant cliff into the water below.

Or stay in a homestead with a local family and see how they live for a while.

Whatever the case, a core benefit of solo travel is that you can experience new and unanticipated things…simply because you don’t have to consult anyone else on them first!

Another advantage of solo travel is that you have nobody else’s budget to worry about!

19. You Don’t Quarrel Over Cash

I actually really enjoy group travel too.

However, it’s never ideal when different people have different budgets.

When one person has much more money than the other, it can create unhelpful tension around what you do and how you do it.

Tod wants to go on the sunset cruise.

But, as much as he wants to do it, Tom can’t afford it.

Tod wants to go out for dinner every night.

But, as much as he’d like to do it, Tom has to cook for himself.

Tod wants a break from hostels and would like to rent an Airbnb for a few nights.

But Tom’s bank balance is already being stretched by the hostel stays.

Unless Tod’s happy to pay for them both (and Tom’s happy for him to do so), these conflicting wishes could, over time, cause arguments.

Travel alone, though, and you only have yourself to worry about.

20. You’re More Likely to Engage with the Locals (and Their Culture)

One of the joys of travel is experiencing and immersing yourself in new cultures; meeting the locals and learning about their way of life.

Yet I, for one, always find this harder to do in a group.

Like I hinted at in the point about learning the language, there’s just less incentive to engage with local people you meet along the way.

I mean, you’re in a group already, which makes it easier to problem solve, make decisions, and find answers without looking outward. You spend your days with each other too, meaning there’s less reason to reach out and befriend fellow travellers in hostels, bars, and so on.

In a group, you’re like a closed book.

Go solo, and through force of circumstance, you’re totally open.

Remember these Benefits of Travelling Solo

The thought of hitting the road alone and travelling the world without your friends or family can definitely be intimidating.

But it shouldn’t put you off!

As we’ve seen, there are so many benefits of travelling alone that they far outweigh the cons. From the freedom to the self-discovery, embarking on a solo adventure will always be worth whatever struggles you encounter along the way.

If you’ve been undecided about taking the plunge, then I hope the benefits of solo travel in this post have helped you make up your mind!

Do you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns about the process?

Drop a comment below and I can do my best to help!

• International edition
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Solo travel for women is about freedom, in every sense of the word

Solo travel is on the rise, especially among women, but Rosita Boland has always found it the most adventurous and rewarding way to see the world

For years, decades in fact, I’ve puzzled over the knee-jerk response most people have when I tell them I (mostly) travel alone.

“You’re so brave.”

Why is it that a woman travelling alone, as I have often done for months at a time, is perceived to be “brave”, whereas men who travel alone are entirely unremarkable? Besides, in my case at least, it’s not true. You are only brave or courageous when you are afraid of something but still do it anyway. I have never been afraid of travelling alone. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t things along the way that cause me deep fear, such as overloaded buses with bald tyres on mountain roads with sheer drops, but being by myself out in the world has never scared me.

The chief joy of travelling alone is the simple act of just doing it: crossing that invisible border in your head before you ever leave home, by deciding you want to see the world anyway, even if it means doing it by yourself. What’s the alternative if you don’t happen to have a partner at certain times in your life but still long to travel, as I do? Stay at home and never go anywhere? Deny yourself all those incredible experiences you will definitely have, in addition to the more difficult ones, which you will also definitely have? It’s that prospect, the one of self-imposed stasis, that has always incited true fear. Travel has always been far too important to me to sit around waiting for a partner in crime to come along and join me.

The first time I travelled alone was by default, when I was 19. I was due to go Interrailing with a friend at the end of the summer. She was an au pair in Germany at the time, and announced by letter two days before my departure that she would be ditching me halfway through the month, at Vienna. She had made a more-exotic new friend, Freya, a fellow au pair, who had invited her to Finland. It was too late by then to rope in another friend, so it was either go home after Vienna, or keep going by myself. I kept going. I got on trains by myself, checked into hostels by myself, found my way around by myself. It was weird, initially, and then I got so subsumed by the atmospheric glory of Venice and the exhilaration of the overnight trains that I stopped fretting about travelling alone without even noticing.

When I got back to Ireland after that trip, I felt proud of myself. I had done something I had assumed would be hard and not much fun, and it had turned out to be not hard at all and mostly astounding. My one souvenir was a necklace of colourful gold-infused glass beads I bought at a tiny shop in Murano, from an Italian woman I somehow communicated with in my dire French. She explained her son sourced the beads, and she strung them. I survived on bread and bananas for two days after buying them, so tight was my budget.

Years later, while browsing at a London market, I came upon a stall run by an Italian couple selling Venetian-sourced items. The man spotted the beads, which I wore coiled around my wrist as a bracelet. He asked to examine them and, thrillingly, pointed out six beads that were more than 100 years old. I still have those precious, storied beads; evidence of my first solo adventures.

That was three decades ago, and since then I have travelled all over the world, usually alone. I’ve carried the same rucksack I have had since the age of 25: a modest 45-litre-capacity one, that is now more or less knackered, but I cannot bear to replace it. It has become as familiar to me as a carapace. It’s small and light enough, even when full, to walk for miles with but large enough for all the essentials.

Travel to me is about freedom, in every sense that the horizons of that immense and beautiful word suggests. Hence the small rucksack that I don’t have to depend on anyone else to carry. I don’t like carrying anything valuable and until I had an iPad, never did.

I got an iPad in 2015 and so now I also have a camera by default, though I still don’t take many pictures. In 2007, I went travelling overland through Argentina to Ushuaia, at the tip of South America, so that I could buy a (relatively) cheap last-minute ticket to Antarctica. Although Antarctica was in fact the seventh continent I would visit, I did not have a single photograph of anywhere I had been before that.

On that journey out to the fantastical ice I was the only tourist on our ship not to have a camera and, 12 years on, I still don’t regret my lack of pictures from the White Continent. Everyone wants different things from their travels; I have never wanted to be distracted from living in the moment. Not taking photographs didn’t begin as a conscious decision when I went away for the first time on an extended trip – a year in Australia, in 1987 – but it has become one over the ensuing decades.

Mobile phones, the internet and social media did not exist when I first went travelling. I still do what I did then, which is to keep a diary. I never post anything on social media when I’m travelling; I want to feel far away, not to know my thoughts are popping up in real time on screens at the other side of the world.

The greatest gift of solo travel has been those I’ve met along the way. I may have set off alone each time but I’ve encountered many people who became important to me: other travellers, whom I would never have met had I stayed at home; people who changed the course of my life. I met my ex-fiance in Kathmandu and a long-term partner in Palenque, Mexico. I met lifelong friends in Australia, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, India, Indonesia and many other places.

When you’re travelling alone, you have to make an effort to talk to other people. I have always loved this part of travel. (Or rather, loved it until everyone started looking at their screens instead.) You might know from guidebooks what you can expect to see but you can never know who you will meet. In Bali, halfway through my last extended period of travel (six months), I saw a sign outside a cafe that read, “We have wifi so you don’t have to talk to each other”. It was one of the most depressing things I’d ever seen. But I kept on talking to people anyway.

Rosita Boland is senior features writer at The Irish Times. Her book Elsewhere: One Woman, One Rucksack, One Lifetime of Travel ( Doubleday Ireland , £14.99) is published on 30 May 2019. To order a copy for £13.19, including UK p&p, visit The Guardian Bookshop or call 0330 333 6846

Browse The Guardian’s selection of self-guided and escorted holidays designed for solo travellers on the Guardian Holidays website

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Why travelling alone is the best impulse decision I ever made

Approximately 35,000 feet in the air and headed 3,000 miles away from home, I was ready to immerse myself into idiosyncratic Portland, Oregon culture for the five days with nothing more than a backpack full of clothes. Even though this was a seemingly elementary trip, my brain kept wrestling over and over with this errant decision to pick a place on the U.S. map and book a flight. I had never been to the west coast and had certainly never traveled by myself. But I was desperate to make a change in my life.

At the time (two-years-ago), I was living in a cyclical panic of late twenties depression fueled by zero money , no upward job mobility and a recurring internal alarm whenever a person would walk too close to me or I would wind up in a room without a quick escape. My anxiety was becoming a massive structure that I couldn’t scale (or treat due to the job situation ), and I was finding it hard to really see the positives in the world around me. It was truly exhausting trying to navigate these symptoms that kept me from much at all — nonetheless travel. In the most self-actualizing of efforts, I decided that I needed to live like another person for a few days. Cue the solo travel.

Travelling Solo: An Exercise in Self-Confidence

I did a quick search for travel-friendly cities and landed on Portland, Oregon. The decision shot a nervous pang throughout my body even though it was very much the perfect city to escape to: public transit, cool art, food trucks. Still, my anxiety wouldn’t let me forget that I was going to be alone across the country while having to navigate my anxiety in a brand new setting with known triggers (meeting new people, eating alone , not being in full control). My finger slowly made its way to the track-pad on my computer; repeatedly telling myself this was a way to stand at the precipice of my fears and acknowledge them. Click. Booked . Done.

Alone Time Why you should be spending more time alone

“There is a really wonderful circular relationship between self-esteem and traveling. Traveling in itself is an act of confidence. The fact that you went somewhere by yourself demonstrates strength,” says licensed psychologist Dr. Chloe Carmichael Peet . “If you do something that requires a certain amount of strength or independence, you then see yourself as a stronger and more independent person. Your behavior is reinforcing a positive self-esteem. As your self-esteem grows, you start engaging in more independent, self-serving behaviors.”

Truthfully, I couldn’t pinpoint where the travel antidote came from. Images of happy women taking charge of their lives stamped an impression into my brain of the person I wanted to be, but felt I couldn’t — a woman who can pick up and go and feel confident in all of her decisions. I am, perhaps, the Diane Lane or Julia Roberts of the modern millennial woman — except without a closet full of tans and taupes to pass through metal detectors on my introspective journey.

Finding the Power in Being Alone

Previously, the idea of me getting on a plane and flying anywhere seemed far away from any agency I’d allow myself to have. Cool girls with bottomless bank accounts take weekend solo trips — certainly not me: a person forever amidst an adult acne breakout with mmmaaaayyyybbbbeeeee $200 to her name at any given time. Plus, there is the inherent risks of traveling by yourself. There is no one to hold you accountable for missteps, help you map out each destination, gut check you if you happen to stray into an unsavory bar or whisk you away to the restroom to tell you the guy you’ve been chatting with has murdery vibes. You are the only line of defense against the elements.

That first time, I sat in the airport Dunkin Donuts for one full hour before I could peel myself away from the terminal and make my way to my Airbnb. Walking outside would mean I’d leave the safety of my bacon, egg and cheese to immerse myself in the surroundings of the pacific-northwest. I felt more alone than I ever have in my entire life — almost as if everyone in that airport could tell I was cowering behind my breakfast sandwich in fear. “Many people feel uncomfortable being alone in general, and especially in public. They may feel that others are judging them and they tend to overestimate how much they stick out to others and how unusual it is to be by yourself,” says licensed psychologist Dr. Margot Levin .

The ability to be okay with being by yourself, to not need constant stimulation and company, is extremely empowering.

But I did it, and did it well. I made my way to every touristy spot, chatted with the locals, made out with a cute guy at a bar and even got a sizeable tattoo on the back of my arm. Levin’s statement echoes through that first experience, and I came out on the other side enfranchised. “The ability to be okay with being by yourself, to not need constant stimulation and company, is extremely empowering. It opens up choices for you that are not contingent on what others want and it enables you to be out in the world with others and then be with yourself to reflect, to regroup and to feel replenished.”

When I got back from Portland, I felt such a relief from my anxiousness. The things that bothered me prior were a blip on my mental radar — pushing myself out of my comfort zone so much that I had no choice but to compartmentalize that tension and move forward with keeping myself fed, housed and safe so far away from my home.

Six solo trips under my fastened seat belt later and the noticeable difference in my confidence, self-esteem and decision-making has sparked this incredibly positive change — all from a simple decision to hop on a plane alone. After Portland came Kansas, Utah, Wisconsin, Texas and Chicago. Each one solo, each one with its own challenges, but each one a deeply personal learning experience of how I handle myself when I’m not in the comfort of my Brooklyn apartment.

I felt confident and in control of my every step — something I wasn’t used to back in New York where my schedule, anxiety and lack of self-worth dictated my every move.

Every solo dining experience became easier and talking to people became less horrific and more routine. I felt confident and in control of my every step — something I wasn’t used to back in New York where my schedule, anxiety and lack of self-worth dictated my every move. I walked through the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry like a pro and chatted up the bartender at a bar in East Portland; forever thinking, who am I? I was living this inconspicuous life where no one knew who I was, which made it easier for me to put my needs first and relax. Now, past stresses like direction seeking, unaccompanied dinners and asking guys out on dates don’t even register in my brain as something to worry about.

Of course, you don’t have to be on a personal self-help journey like I was. Solo travel in general is exhilarating ! I find that one of the best parts is being incognito at all times. Anonymity is a powerful tool when you’re in a brand new city. “When going through challenges related to loneliness or anxiety it can be helpful to stay mindful of the growth opportunities from solo travel. We are out of our comfort zone but have the safety of anonymity,” says clinical psychologist Dr. Jon Belford . Yes, I do still feel that overwhelming rush while opening the door to a restaurant I’ve never been in to have sets of eyes turn in my direction to wonder who’s this new person? But, being an outsider is a back pocket secret when you start to feel vanquished. Basically, know one knows who you are, so live and breathe in that experience.

Your Solo Travel Toolkit

Start small: Jumping on a plane across the country is not everyone’s idea of a self-help experience. Catapulting yourself into a vastly different region might lead to more anxiety. If that's the case, but you also want to find a way to integrate travel into you life, I always suggest taking incrementally long bike rides or day trips. I did this in preparation of the introspection and decision-making that comes with being by yourself for long periods of time. Hopping on a bus or train and heading to a different part of town helps the initial push.

Remember why you're there: Another reminder is to remember why you’re there so that you don’t lose focus of your main objective. For me, it’s a way to get rid of negative personal feelings by strengthening my relationship to myself. Others may need a creative boost that a new place can provide. In either case, Peet recommends assigning words of purpose to your travel so that you stay focused on your original mission. “It can be helpful to think of three words as a theme for your trip. Maybe your words for a trip are: resilience, adventure and relaxation. You can always remind yourself that this trip is all about you and your practice with those three words. That way, if you’re not getting a lot of friendly connections, you can still find a way to feel good about the experience,” says Peet .

Know it will get easier: My last solo trip landed me in Chicago where I sprung from the airport, dashed to the closest train and felt thrilled to explore an entirely new city on my own — no more hiding in Dunkin' Donuts. Once I got to my hotel, I itched to drag myself along every single street even though it had started pouring rain. I bought show tickets, made my way to Wicker Park and visited all the best brunch places around the loop. It is, now, less of a task to break myself out of my comfort zone and more of a new individual tradition. Sometimes I get nervous when I enter a new bar or have to eat by myself, but I’m then reminded of that one act of personal grit by the broken woman I was two years ago. She was nervous but did it; so I can do it. And I promise, you can do it, too.

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The Pros and Cons of Solo Travel

Solo travel is something everyone should try at some point in their life. There's no better way to get to know who you are as a person than by spending time with yourself away from the distractions of life.

Solo travel, couple travel, and travel with friends all have their pros and cons and it can be tough to know which will suit you best. This article outlines the advantages and disadvantages of hitting the road on your own for the first time .

Personal Growth and Setting Your Own Schedule

One benefit of solo travel is that it forces you to become independent, make decisions, and step out of your comfort zone on a regular basis—something you wouldn't necessarily do if you weren't traveling alone.

When you travel solo, you have nobody to rely on but yourself, and that pushes you to learn how to function in the world. It's sink-or-swim time! If something goes wrong , it's down to you to figure out how to get out of the situation.

Another great benefit to solo travel is not having to compromise on your travels. You can wake up whenever you want, eat whatever you want, decide to have a lazy day, or choose to go on a 12-hour hike. When you're traveling solo, you can be selfish and change your mind every few days and not have to consult anybody else.

Meeting People and Building Confidence

One of the biggest benefits of solo travel is how easy it is to meet people on the road . All you need to do is wander into a hostel common room and within minutes, someone will strike up a conversation with you—it really is that easy!

You'll also find that when traveling solo, you're much more approachable than when you're in a couple or a group. A lot of travelers will assume that if you're already in a group, you don't want to be disturbed, and will turn to the solo traveler almost every time.

Solo travel can be helpful for your mental state, too. Solo travel builds confidence as you navigate an unfamiliar city, converse with strangers and figure out how to get from one place to another. Your social skills will also improve as you meet more and more people and get used to introducing yourself and making conversation.

Freedom and Time for Reflection

Another item in the "pro" column for solo travel is that is can be a time for reflection and solitude and can help bring peace to your mind. You'll get to know yourself better than you ever have before, learn what truly makes you happy and what you need to work on to improve as a person. It can often be challenging to face these truths but learning to overcome them is all part of the process of growing.

You can spend time working on a hobby, reading books in coffee shops around town, hiking every day, or simply sitting and meditating. When you're on your own, you can do whatever you want without having to worry about anyone else. That freedom is incredibly liberating. 

Avoiding Loneliness

One downside of traveling alone for long periods of time with no constant in your life is that it can be draining, and you may struggle with issues of loneliness. Not having someone to share all those amazing experiences with can be disheartening and lead to depression. Homesickness is something every long-term traveler deals with, and the effects can be amplified when you're alone.

Higher Costs

For budget-minded travelers, another downside is that traveling alone nearly always works out to be much more expensive than traveling as a couple. As a couple, you can share meals, stay in private rooms and split many of your expenses. You'll also often find that for private tours you'll be charged a lot more if you plan on taking it alone. There's no doubt about it: solo travel supplements suck. 

As a solo traveler, you'll have to pay a single room supplement if you're going to be in private rooms, you have to stay in Airbnb apartments without having someone to split the costs. In some parts of the world, like South Korea, meals are served family-style so you'll even have to pay more to eat alone in a restaurant or rely on fast food. It makes sense that businesses would charge more money for one person, but it certainly does punish solo travelers for something they can't control. Time to start making friends and sharing rooms so you can split the cost!

Safety Considerations

While solo travel isn't unsafe , it's definitely less safe than traveling with other people, making the safety issue a "con" of traveling alone. You're more vulnerable when you're on your own because you only have you looking after you. When you're in a group, you'll have other people to look out for scams, to steer you away from danger, and make you less likely to get lost. 

So while this shouldn't make you avoid solo travel, you should take extra precautions in order to keep yourself safe. Things, like being cautious when out alone after dark, researching unsafe neighborhoods before you arrive, and not getting too drunk when out with hostel friends, are all things that will improve your safety levels on the road. 

Missing the Human Connection

When you travel all the way to Sydney and stand in front of the Sydney Opera House , sometimes it's a little underwhelming. You don't have somebody to turn to and discuss how incredible it looks and how amazing it feels to be living your travel dream. Instead, you snap a few photos, you sit and look at it in awe and silence, and then you leave. Solo travel is one of the best things you can do for yourself, but it sometimes it's a little underwhelming when you don't have someone you love to share it with. 

The Unexpected Perks of Solo Travel

How to Rock Your First Solo Trip Overseas

Tips for Traveling Solo With a Tour Group

My Experiences Traveling Alone As a Black Woman

Planning an All-Inclusive Caribbean Vacation for Singles and Solo Travelers

Tips and Advice for Dealing With Homesickness

8 Solo Travel Experts Share Their Best Tips

The Surprising Ways Solo Travelers Are Discriminated Against

Why Cruising Solo Is Worth it

Is It Safe in Egypt?

7 Ways to Make Friends While Traveling Solo

Is It Safe in Iceland?

Should You Book Your Hostels in Advance?

FIT Travel: All About Independence

Why This Gay Man Prefers to Travel Solo

Is It Safe in Guatemala?

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Why Travelling Alone Is a Great Idea

I’m a very social creature, to the point where a day without any human interaction can seem unbelievably hard to get through. So, naturally, travelling alone seemed like a foreign, stressful concept to me, until I tried it and ended up learning a lot about myself and the world around me.

Once again, my Erasmus plays a major role in this story, because this is when it all started, this is when I discovered the beauty of travelling alone. I now know that I don’t always like it but I often need it and so, this is why and how I decided to make it part of my life.

The first time I travelled alone, it was February. I had just left my city, my country and my old life, heading towards the great adventure of Erasmus. While planning this escape from my reality, I decided to make the most out of that first journey, so before I reached my final destination, I made a stop in Prague. It was early in the afternoon, the ground was covered in snow and I was shaking with excitement as I stepped out of the hostel to discover the Czech capital for the first time. I admit it felt strange to be alone. I needed someone to share my excitement with but soon enough I found out that when you travel alone, it’s written all over your face. At least that’s the case for me. It had never been easier to start conversations with complete strangers and, soon enough, I found myself chatting with a lovely Canadian girl I met in the Old Town square and spending my evenings in the kitchen of the hostel, hanging out with a fellow guest from Russia.

There’s something beautiful about spending time with people you have just met, knowing you’ll probably never see them again. So that day, I enjoyed my walk with the Canadian girl and when we parted ways, I got lost in the streets of the city in a way that I had never gotten lost when I’ve been with somebody. I wouldn’t normally notice the architecture of the buildings the way I did that day, I wouldn’t notice the people walking by, living their normal lives, I wouldn’t stand in the middle of the square, soaking up the world around me.

If I’m being honest, soon enough, my social side emerged and it took a while until my next solo trip. I planned a few trips with friends and truly enjoyed those experiences, but I found myself needing to do things at my own pace. I made a promise to myself: the next time I catch a bus to go somewhere, I’ll do it alone.

It didn’t take me long to fulfill that promise. One early morning, I hopped on a bus and travelled to Krakow. I recall feeling terrified that it would be too lonely for me, after spending months of travelling with groups of friends. I was surprised to find out that those three days I took to be alone, helped me relax, find my peace of mind, and enjoy this wonderful city the way I felt suited me best.

Being someone who likes being around people, I would've never guessed how refreshing and inspirational it would be for me to travel and spend some time with me, myself and I as my only company, how it would help me feel better in my own skin and more confident when talking to a stranger.  

Travelling alone means you get to plan the exact course of your trip the way you want it, it means you get to do things at your own pace… but, in my experience, it means you find a piece of yourself every time you do it.  

Your own big adventure is out there. All you have to do is take the next step.

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20 Pros And Cons Of Traveling Alone

By Anna Dykeman. This guide to solo travel advantages and disadvantages contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

When deciding whether to travel solo or with a group, it’s essential to consider the pros and cons of traveling alone .

The desire to travel solo is particularly prominent among women, who are increasingly interested in experiencing new cultures and meeting new people without waiting on their friends or family.

Remember that time when your friend or significant other backed out of a trip at the last minute, so you ended up missing out, too? Well, when you travel solo, you can go anywhere at any time without needing to wait for anyone.

Still on the fence about whether you should take the leap and venture out on your first solo trip? Check out some pros and cons of traveling alone that may make it easier for you to decide. These are based on my own experiences traveling the world solo.

Additionally, you’ll see why so many people recommend solo travel, while also understanding how to realistically prepare for potential setbacks.

Quick tip: When traveling solo, it’s smart to pack travel safety essentials . One top pick is the She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm , which is TSA-approved and can help scare away potential attackers. Other recommendations include Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments and Speakeasy Travel Supply Hidden Pocket Scarves .

Table of Contents

Travel Solo With Confidence [Free Course]

But first, before we discuss the pros and cons of solo travel , I invite you to grab a seat in Jessie’s  free Savvy Solo Traveler E-Course .

The 6-day course is designed to help you feel confident about booking your first solo trip and exploring the world alone.

Lessons include:

• Common solo travel fears (like flying alone for the first time ) and how to overcome them
• How to choose your perfect solo trip
• How to tell loved ones you’re hitting the road solo
• Mentally preparing for your solo journey without losing your mind
• Essential steps for staying safe on a solo trip
• How to take amazing solo selfies

Once you’ve  grabbed your seat , read on to dive into our solo female travel guide .

The truth is, there are so many different solo travel pros and cons . Whether someone wants to make a case for why you shouldn’t travel alone or chooses to focus on the numerous advantages of traveling alone, they easily can.

Ultimately, though, it’s up to you to decide what is right for you, which this list can help you do.

That being said, please stick around until the end, where I give my opinion on what it’s like traveling alone as a woman (or man).

Spoiler: It’s pretty darn empowering, which leads us perfectly into…

#1 Pro – Finding Empowerment In Traveling Alone

Many people find empowerment in traveling alone — which is one of the biggest benefits of traveling solo . It gives you a sense of control and independence, which can be empowering in and of itself. 

One of the major points for women who travel alone is to get out of their comfort zone and into the unknown.

(Real talk: is that maybe what’s scaring you and you’re unsure how to address it? )

A solo travel trip is a one-of-a-kind lifetime experience that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.

Consider this:

What do you have to lose by stepping outside of your comfort zone?

Worst case scenario, you won’t enjoy it and will continue to travel with others.

Best case scenario, you’ll develop solo-travel-fever ( yes, I totally made that up ) and won’t be able to get enough of the growth, opportunities, and empowerment you’ll experience.

#1 Con – The Increased Risks of Traveling Alone

One of the major cons of solo traveling and why many are scared to travel alone , is that it increases your chances of being in dangerous situations.

If something goes wrong, you’ll be on your own and may not have anyone to help you — so be prepared for the unexpected when traveling solo and arm yourself with some travel safety tips and potentially even some travel safety gear .

On a recent trip to Puerto Rico , I was exploring San Juan’s famous Old Town on my own when I realized my phone was about to die (which is what inevitably happens when you spend hours using Google Maps and snapping travel photos).

As my unfortunate luck would have it, I was also in a shadier section of the city and it was getting dark.

Thinking on me feet, I decided to quickly look up my hotel name and address as well as how to ask for directions in Spanish and the actual map directions so I would have a general idea of how to get back.

After getting lost twice and asking for directions three times, I finally made it back to my hotel — where I prompty kissed the floor (not really, but I wanted to!) and recharged my phone before heading back out to explore.

It was a scary situation that I had to navigate fully on my own, though luckily everything ended up okay.

By the way, if you’re searching for a portable battery bank click here to see the one I use . It has a cute paw that shows you how much energy is left in the battery bank. I recommend always carrying one of these in your bag so you never end up in the situation I just described.

#2 Pro – Flexibility With Travel Plans

Is traveling alone fun ? Absolutely — and you get to choose exactly how to have fun, too.

Another one of the major pros of traveling alone is having the ultimate freedom to explore destinations at your own pace without worrying about someone else’s schedule. This can lead to an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience that is 100% designed by and for you.

Remember last time you traveled with someone else? Your heart was set on visiting that one specific location; however, you had to compromise and didn’t end up going.

As a single traveler, you have the freedom to choose your own itinerary and really maximize your time on the road.

Despite the joy of spending time with family and friends when traveling, wouldn’t it be nice to have the freedom to go anywhere you want, whenever you want? No compromises, no arguments, no when’s and buts. I know that for me this is a major advantage of traveling solo.

Are you a business owner who wants to get back into traveling for more work-life balance? Check out my article on how to plan your time around doing both . Because, yes, you can have your cake and eat it too!

#2 Con – It Can Get Lonely

Traveling alone has both pros and cons, but one of the biggest cons of traveling solo is the feeling of loneliness .

Especially when going away for more than a weekend, you miss your loved ones. This may be particularly depressing if you’re in a new and unfamiliar setting — possibly even in a new country.

This may also be a significant factor for introverted travelers who have a hard time making friends or talking to strangers. If this is the case, consider joining travel Facebook groups, Meetup groups , or CouchSurfing forums — all of which can help you reach out to other women who live in that area or who are traveling there to meet up.

For many, this is probably the most impactful con when considering the pros and cons of traveling solo.

#3 Pro – Meeting New People

Worried about making friends while traveling solo ?

One huge pro when it comes to solo travel is that you have the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world.

Whether you’re looking for new friends, to interact with locals , or to find someone to share your experiences with, traveling alone gives you the chance to make connections with people from all walks of life.

And who knows? Maybe you will meet a new travel bestie, discover new business or employment opportunities, or even find love on the road !

#3 Con – Travel Expenses Can Be Higher

“ Why is it more expensive to travel alone? ” is a question many solo travelers wonder as they frustratingly find themselves paying yet another solo supplement or shelling out the cash for a hotel room with nobody to split costs with.

One of the major cons of traveling solo is that you have to budget for your own expenses .

A great benefit of traveling in a group or with another person is that you get to share costs. Expenses can quickly add up depending on your chosen destination and activities — which is definitely a disadvantage of traveling alone.

When traveling on your own, this may mean that you have to spend a bit more on food and lodging; but, on the plus side, it also means that you’re in charge of your own travel plans and can make the most of your time and money — making it possible to either spend more or less on activities or choose locations where your dollar stretches further.

#4 Pro – A Healthy Tech Break

For better or for worse, our phones are truly the remote controls of our lives. And after the last few years of endless Zoom calls and virtual workplaces, we have moved even further into the digital age than ever before.

On the one hand, it’s great that we can connect with people from all over the world virtually and instantaneously.

But on the other hand, it can be challenging to take a break from our screens and disconnect from reality.

This all being said, when considering technology use while weighing the various traveling alone pros and cons , this really may be an overall pro in your life.

When traveling solo, you have more opportunities to disconnect from technology and simply relax in your surroundings — whether you’re taking a long walk in nature, exploring your destination, doing a new activity, or just reading a book in your room.

Traveling on your own can take away the temptation of being on your laptop, phone, and social media, especially as you won’t have a travel partner constantly posting on Instagram or asking you to co-star in their TikToks.

I recently went on a solo trip to Stockholm — which, by the way, was absolutely gorgeous — and I made it a point not to post any travel photos or videos while I was there.

Instead, I waited until I was back home to look through all of the photos I had taken to carefully choose specific pictures I wanted to share on social media.

If you’ve never tried this, let me tell you that it’s pretty humbling to realize how dependent we are on social media, feeling the need to share everything right away instead of fully enjoying our experiences. 

I highly recommend that you maximize the benfits of solo travel by taking a tech break to truly immerse yourself in your trip.

#4 Con – No One To Share These Experiences With

While one of the primary benefits of traveling alone is that you don’t have to think about anybody else’s schedule or demands, you also miss out on sharing any memorable experiences.

Those exciting and unbelievable “Hey, check this out!” moments become reduced to a photo that will be emailed later.

So, while solo travel offers extensive freedom, it can also make it challenging to have such experiences without someone to share them with.

This one is linked to the biggest disadvantage of the pros and cons of traveling alone, which is being lonely.

At this point, you may need to consider how imperitive it is to share these moments with someone or if they’ll still have value to you if you experience them on your own.

On the flip side, traveling in a group also means enduring all of the disadvantages of traveling with others in exchange for these moments.

#5 Pro – Change Your Perspective Of The World

When you travel by yourself, you have the unique chance to experience the world from an entirely different perspective than you would otherwise.

Seeing how wealthy nations live may help you develop sympathy and empathy for individuals in less fortunate countries who may be suffering from poverty or who lack access to basic necessities.

On the contrary, seeing how people in rich countries live can make you want more from life. This form of travel may help you extend your viewpoint and better understand the world around you.

Moreover, beliefs and ideas that seemed strange when in your home country may make more sense, or at least become more understandable, once you hear them from the source.

Basically, when you learn about other people’s lives you may find yourself changing your own values and priorities.

#5 Con – You Come Back A Different Person

As noted in the previous point, when we travel a part of us changes, whether it’s your thought process, views, values, or even priorities. 

So, it’s not only that your perspective will change, but so will you. 

When looking at the various solo travel advantages and disadvantages , it can be hard to distinguish whether something is truly positive or negative. After all, this may also be a pro.

You may have learned new information that you can share with others, but you may also have changed in ways you are not totally comfortable with.

This is a valuable experience that may transform your life for the better. Still, it’s crucial to be aware of the possible implications before beginning this adventure.

This is especially important if you live in a culture with strictly-defined values; yet, your values may have changed as a result of seeing and experiencing something new.

#6 Pro – Solo Travel Can Help You Discover Your Purpose

This is a big one — especially for me.

Traveling can help you find your purpose in life. It can show you what you’re meant to do and how you can best use your time and energy.

You may also find yourself changing your priorities due to this journey, which means that you have adjusted your views on who should be and shouldn’t be in your life.

Personally, it showed me that my life’s purpose involves so much more than just working and living for my career.

It can even happen that you lose a little touch with reality and redesign your whole life. If you can go on your own somewhere else, who says you can’t do anything else you put your mind to?

Becoming so absorbed in a specific experience, culture, or country may just help you find purpose in your life, career, or relationship again.

And isn’t this what makes life worth living for; the experiences that change you?

#6 Con – Limited Space & Carry-Ons

While you divvy up who brings what when traveling with others, taveling alone means that you need to be more mindful of your packing and storage.

You also need to be prepared for situations where you can’t bring everything with you. This also includes hostels, small airlines, or even losing your big suitcase and being left with just your carry-on.

It’s happened to me before when my flight was canceled last minute, which caused my suitcase to be delayed as it was already packed on the original plane. Because I was traveling solo, I didn’t have anyone to borrow clothing or toiletries from.

Luckily, I had all my essentials packed in my carry-on ; therefore, waiting two days for my large suitcase to be returned wasn’t as catastrophic as I thought.

To help you plan for this, check out this article sharing my travel must-have’s — including a giant backpack that will fit under every airline seat (yes, Spirit and Southwest included).

I highly recommend that when traveling solo you pack two-to-three days worth of basics in your carry-on so that you’re always prepared.

#7 Pro – Get To Know Yourself Better & Reflect

Getting lost in your own thoughts or emotions while traveling alone is a common occurrence.

This might take you down routes you would never have imagined feasible if you weren’t accompanied by another person.

By being open-minded and exploring different interests, you may find new passions and hobbies you’d otherwise never explored or tried.

This is because you have more time to think about your ideas and emotions when you travel alone, as well as more opportunities for self-reflection and development.

Think: of out of sight, out of mind.

This can also mean processing past experiences and feelings, current issues, and maybe even tricky decisions about the future with a free mind.

Consider journaling, which is a great way to both process and appreciate your solo trip. Bonus: you can grab this free printable travel journal with 65 prompts !

#7 Con – Increased Anxiety & Overwhelming Moments

Traveling as a whole may help you feel more peaceful and relieve built-up tension; however, traveling alone in an unknown place can also raise your anxiety levels.

It is also possible to have periods of feeling overwhelmed or as if you are unable to do many tasks on your own.

Honestly, this is one of the reasons I generally stay out of grocery stores and instead opt to have them delivered.

As you can imagine, not every destination offers grocery delivery. When this is the case, I seek out open-air places like farmer’s markets, which don’t make me feel anxious.

The lesson: if you know you’ll be taken out of your comfort zone, consider creating alternative plans or learning coping mechanisms for these moments before you leave home. Just know yo may need to test and tweak your approach to find what works best for you.

Here is something else to remember:

Fear and excitement are both arousal emotions. Keep this in mind when traveling solo and stepping out of your comfort zone. When your palms start sweating, you can do an “anxiety reappraisal” and swap that “I’m so anxious!” with “I’m so excited!”

#8 Pro – Become A Pro In Problem Solving

One of the great benefits of traveling alone is that you get to learn how to solve problems on your own.

In fact, solo travel allows you to truly see just what you are capable of — because when forced to solve a problem or navigate a situation, you’ll have no choice but to figure it out yourself.

This may come especially in handy when you are back home and can suddenly get around without Google Maps, communicate with others who speak a different language, or keep everyone calm when something unexpected derails your plans.

Going back to my story above where I said my phone died while I was exploring San Juan solo, while it was an uncomfortable situation, I ultimately learned to depend on myself and formulate a plan.

Here are 2 problem-solving skills that I learned, specifically from this situation:

Communication

I’m not fluent in Spanish, but this scenario forced me to quickly memorize a few sentences on how to go back to my hotel. This is something I will likely not forget either — panic is a great teacher, ha.

You’ll have to learn to read maps if you don’t already know how. It’s one thing to rely on Google Maps for directions, but what if you, like me, find yourself in a position where your phone dies? All you’ll have left is the map provided by the hotel, which you need to be able to read — S, yes, always take those, even if you think you won’t need it.

#8 Con – Language Barriers

One of the biggest challenges and disadvantages when traveling solo is that you may not be able to communicate with locals.

This can be a problem if you are trying to authentically experience a culture — but can’t express yourself or understand other others when they share things with you.

For example, during a solo trip to Mexico I wanted to see the Maya ruins. Unfortunately, I couldn’t speak Spanish and didn’t know how to get there. Thankfully, some people were willing to help me out, and we went together.

While I was grateful for them, you can’t always assume you’re going to meet other helpful travelers. Instead, it’s wise to empower yourself to make things happen.

My strategy for this is to make sure I always have a working phone so that I can use a translator app (like iTranslate Translator) or even just Google how to say something.

Pro tip: Google Fi and T-Mobile both offer excellent unlimited cell phones plans for abroad, though you can also purchase a local SIM card in your destination.

#9 Pro – Gaining New Independence

One of the great things about traveling solo is that you gain a level of independence and freedom as you become fully reliant on yourself. Don’t be surprised if this also gives you a huge confidence boost ( another advantage of solo travel !).

Additionally, this allows you to discover a new part of yourself without feeling any guilt from others that may question your decisions.

Right now, you have possibly gotten so used to spending all of your time with your partner, roommate, or parents that you have forgotten how to be independent; but, going on a solo trip can help you remember.

Here is a personal story:

When I first started traveling solo, I was in a relationship where I was more codependent than I’d like to admit.

But, solo travel helped to strength my confidence and self-worth as I began to take on new challenges and everything else the world threw at me, all on my own.

This may seem like a far-fetched aspiration, but the experiences you gain exploring the world solo will change you and make you realize your full potential.

Honestly, out of all the traveling alone advantages and disadvantages on this list, this is probably my favorite pro.

#9 Con – Photography Is A Challenge

One of the biggest challenges that solo travelers face is getting great photos that they’re actually in.

It’s not easy to take great photos without someone else to help you out. This is even more complicated when you don’t know the language well enough to ask others for help and you haven’t brought a tripod (which can be annoying to travel with).

On the plus side, if you don’t mind not being in all of the photos, are okay with taking selfies, or are a master at self-portraits, this won’t be an issue.

And, in all honesty, this con really isn’t a huge deal and shouldn’t be the reason you miss out on a potentially life-changing solo trip.

#10 Pro – Work Through Your Fears & Challenge Yourself

One of the great things about traveling solo is that you have the freedom to explore your fears.

When you’re traveling by yourself, you can be more daring and take on new challenges that would be too risky or uncomfortable to try with someone else around, or that they wouldn’t be interested in trying.

This can lead to unique experiences and mental and physical growth.

Personally, I doubt I would have taken on one of my wildest travel adventures to date, rapelling down a 250-foot cliff in Puerto Rico, if I hadn’t been solo without friends to talk me out of it. Instead, I was able to focus on what I wanted to get out of my trip.

#10 Con – Culture Shock 

One of the biggest challenges that solo travelers face is culture shock , which occurs when you’re in a new place without any familiar landmarks or people.

For some it’s exciting , while for others it’s frightening.

Culture shock can be especially difficult to handle when you’re not used to the local language or the way of life — or when it’s your first time traveling alone and experiencing unease on the road.

Luckily, there are ways to help combat culture shock, the most important of which is researching the culture, customs, beliefs, and local area of the place you’re visiting so you know what to expect.

You should also look up local scams and issues to be aware of so you can avoid them, as well as how to behave so you don’t receive negative attention.

Here is another tip:

Accept that culture shock is a thing and welcome it as something that comes along with traveling solo to a new place.

Realize that with the discomfort comes chances to learn and experience new things, and that as you explore the destination and become familiar with it the negative feelings will go away.

Final Thoughts On The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Traveling Alone

While traveling alone can be intimidating and even scary, it may just be the best thing that has ever happened to you.

As you read above, there are many pros and cons of traveling alone to consider; however, with this knowledge, you can make the most of your single travel experience and enjoy yourself to the most extent possible.

As you can see, if you know what the potential challenges are ahead of time, you can plan accordingly and find a solution to them.

For instance, whenever I find myself interested in going to a place that is viewed as unsafe for women, I put additional effort into my research; I hunt for blogs or even Facebook groups led by women who have been there and can share their first-hand experiences.

Now, this whole idea of traveling solo may still be giving you anxiety. And you may be wondering:

What’s the worst thing that could happen if I choose not to embark on a solo trip?

Let me tell you: restlessness.

The likelihood is that you will develop an intense desire to try new things on a regular basis. Perhaps this is already your justification for wanting to go on a solo trip? 

If this is the case, I highly recommend heading out on a solo travel adventure and seeing just how incredible it can be.

Because remember: you can always book a flight home early if you truly hate it; but, if you never try in the first place, you might always wonder what could have been.

Is It Safe To Travel Alone As A Woman?

Absolutely! As long as you research your destination and keep everyday safety tips in mind — like never leaving your drink unattended at a bar, not walking alone in areas that aren’t well-lit at night, and keeping valuables hidden (or better yet, in the hotel room safe) — you can absolutely have a safe and fun trip as a solo female.

Not only that, but as you now know, there are many benefits to traveling alone . You truly can have ultimate freedom over your itinerary while growing your relationship with yourself and becoming a more confident and independent person.

This isn’t to say that there are no dangers of traveling alone; however, as you can see from reading the countless solo female travel blogs that exist online — including this one — traveling alone is a common activity and most trips are enjoyed without any safety issues.

Travel Insurance For Solo Travel

This all being said, you should still prepare for issues to arise, just in case! This is why it’s wise to get travel insurance before embarking on a solo trip.

One of the  best travel medical insurance for travelers  is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country).

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

Click here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Advantages and Disadvantages of Traveling Alone FAQs

Q) what are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling alone.

Some of the advantages of traveling alone include the flexibility to do exactly what you want, meeting new people, and becoming more independent and empowered. Some of the disadvantages of traveling alone include higher travel expenses (since there’s no one to split them with) and loneliness.

Q) Is traveling alone enjoyable?

Absolutely. Traveling alone can be just as enjoyable, if not more so, than traveling in a group or with friends. When you travel alone, you get to do and see what you want, when you want. What’s better than that?

Q) Is it risky to travel alone?

Not necessarily. While there are some added risks of traveling alone, as detailed above, solo travel itself is not risky. Just be sure to take some common sense precautions and do research in advance.

Bonus Solo Travel Benefits Resources:

14 Benefits Of Traveling Alone + Tips To Make It Happen

An Open Letter From The Father of A Female Solo Traveler

An Open Letter From The Mother Of A Female Solo Traveler

Black Solo Female Travel: An Eye-Opening & Empowering Guide

Tips For Convincing Loved Ones To Let You Travel Solo

How To Travel Solo Successfully: 31+ Important Tips

What pros and cons of traveling alone would you add to this list?

About The Author

Anna Dykeman is a traveler, blogger, and entrepreneur who can’t keep herself still. She’s always on the move, whether working hard on a new passion project or exploring a new city as a part-time digital nomad. Dare to keep up? Check out The Tatted Nomad for everything digital nomad, social media marketing, and travel (and to see her latest addition, Novah, her service dog and travel companion).

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Nice post. Solo travel can be rewarding, and I have enjoyed it at times, however I prefer a mixed solo/shared travel.

Travelling alone can be one of the most liberating experiences of your life. It completely changes your outlook on everything you do when you travel on your own.

It is a great experience to travel alone, it is a good moment of reflection and to find oneself, you just have to be encouraged.

Very informative. Alone time can lead to self-discovery and personal growth as you navigate unfamiliar situations on your own.

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30 Honest Advantages and Disadvantages of Travelling Alone

Some say solo travel is lonely and sad. Some say it is unsafe or expensive. And others say it is the best thing they’ve ever done. So, exactly what are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling alone?

The benefits of travelling alone include setting your own budget, making more friends, meeting more locals, finding romance, and freedom over your itinerary. The disadvantages of travelling alone include expensive private accommodation, safety risks, loneliness, and difficulty taking photos of yourself.

In this article, I will list 30 pros and cons of travelling alone, so that you can decide whether solo travel is right for you.

Nomadic Yak has 100s of solo travel tips if it’s your first time travelling solo !

Practical Advantages of Travelling Alone

Social benefits of travelling alone, psychological benefits of travelling alone, practical disadvantages of travelling alone, social disadvantages of travelling alone, psychological disadvantages of travelling alone.

• More solo travel tips

Advantages & Benefits of Travelling Alone

What are the advantages of travelling alone? 

In short, the benefits of solo travel include saving money, making more friends, finding romance, enjoying freedom and flexibility, gaining self-confidence and social skills, becoming more mindful, gathering interesting stories, interacting with locals and creating awesome social media content.

Let’s delve further into the pros of solo travel:

+ Freedom and flexibility over your itinerary

Solo travel provides you with the flexibility to do what you want, where you want and when you want. There’s no need to do what other people want to do. 

When you travel alone, you get to enjoy total control over:

• Which activities you do and when;
• Which accommodation you stay at;
• Which transport you take;
• Which restaurants you eat at;
• When you wake up and go to bed;
• When you take breaks during the day;
• Whether you go out or stay in;
• Which route you take;
• Where you travel to (see my list of the 193 best places to travel solo ).

The whole trip is based around you and you alone!

+ Set your own budget and save money

Solo travel can be up to 75% cheaper than travelling with a partner, family or friends. This is because you do not have to cover the costs of other people’s travel expenses. Instead, you can just look for the best deals for yourself.

You also get to set your own budget when you travel alone. You do not have to think about others when choosing how much you spend on accommodation, transport, dining, activities and other expenses.

With the money you save, you can travel for longer and enjoy yourself more.

+ Eat whatever you want

One of the main concerns that people face when travelling alone for the first time is eating alone – they think that they’ll look weird or feel lonesome. 

But you’ll soon realise that eating alone is one of the benefits of travelling alone. You have total freedom over what you eat, when you eat and which restaurant you eat at.

This is particularly great for people who are focused on their diet or have food allergies. It’s also helpful if you’re trying to stick to a travel budget.

+ Choose accommodation based on your needs

One benefit of solo travel is that you get to choose your accommodation. There’s no need to think about your travel companions, their budget and their wants. 

Most of the time, your budget and style of solo travel will determine where you stay:

• Backpackers: Mostly stay in hostels and motels because they are affordable and a great way to meet people.
• Standard solo travellers: Stay in a combination of hostels and hotels so that they can enjoy a mix of socialising, affordability and comfort.
• Luxurious solo travellers: Mostly stay in hotels and private rentals so that they enjoy the utmost comfort and privacy.

+ More time to read, watch and listen

Most people never find the time to finish that book they’ve been reading or watch that film they’ve been wanting to see. 

An advantage of travelling alone is that you don’t have to fuss over others – you can use your downtime to enjoy some reading, a show or a podcast.

+ Learn a new language

When you travel alone, you can’t rely on your fellow travellers to help you translate the local language. Whilst this may sound like a disadvantage to some, the benefit is that it forces you to learn more of the local language. 

With the help of language learning apps such as Duolingo , it is easy to pick up the basics that you need when travelling to a foreign country. The first few levels of learning include greetings, pronouns, food items and common travel phrases.

+ Be as selfish as you like

People ask, is travelling alone fun ? But what could be more fun than doing whatever you want?!

One of the problems with travelling with friends and family is that you have to worry about what they want to do and when they want to do it.

When you travel solo, you’re free to indulge in whatever you want – whether that’s an extra drink at the bar, heading back to your accommodation early or trying some exotic street food. The benefit of travelling alone is that it’s a rare opportunity to be as selfish as you like!

+ You make more friends when travelling alone

This is perhaps the biggest benefit of travelling alone – it is much easier to meet people and make friends. Even though I’m an introvert, I make 1 or 2 new friends almost every day on my solo trips!

When you travel alone, you naturally socialise with other travellers and discuss the things you have in common: your destination, your travel plans and your interests. 

Other travellers are more likely to befriend you when you travel alone. It is less antagonising for them to approach an individual than a group of people.

Blossom into a social butterfly with my Ultimate 9-Step Guide to Making Friends When Travelling Alone !

+ Gain more social media followers and engagement

All your friends and family at home will be keen to see your solo travel adventures. And you’ll add lots of other travellers and friends on social media along the way, growing your following. 

When travelling alone, use your downtime to edit your photos and videos so that you can create unique and exciting social media content.

Struggling for captions? See my list of the 100 best solo travel Instagram captions !

+ Gather interesting stories

Ever sit around at a party and wish you had more interesting stories to share? A benefit of travelling alone is the amazing stories you gather.

You’ll keep your friends and family entertained for hours when you return from your solo travel with a bag full of funny, fascinating and frightful memories!

+ More romance and sex

Most solo travellers are single, so travelling alone can be a great way to meet romantic partners. You never know – one of your fellow travellers may just be your soul mate!

Backpackers have sex more frequently and have more sexual partners than the average person.

Any man travelling alone should include condoms on their male solo travel packing list . Women should also include contraception on their female solo travel packing list .

+ More interaction with locals

When you travel with other people, you rely on them to help you navigate the city, learn the language, order food, learn local history and much more.

But one of the advantages of travelling alone is that you have to rely on the local people more and get to enjoy more authentic interactions. 

Many times throughout my solo travels, I have had to ask a local for help. And often, it results in them kindly inviting me for tea or a meal and the opportunity to learn about their way of life.

+ Build your social skills

Because you are forced to socialise and make friends when you travel alone, you quickly build social skills and become more outgoing. 

Even if you’re a shy or introverted solo traveller , you’ll soon find that you can make friends with almost anyone. Just break the ice by discussing your common interest – travel. After that, the conversation will flow naturally.

+ Become more self-confident

You’ll face all sorts of fears and anxieties when you travel alone – you’ll get lost in unknown streets, fumble around a foreign language, struggle with scam artists, make friends with strangers, and more.

Whilst such challenges can be scary, you feel a massive sense of pride (and relief) when you overcome them by yourself. When you step outside the comforts of day-to-day life, you realise that you are capable of more than you thought possible (without the help of others).

+ Solo travel broadens the mind and soul

When you travel alone, you learn a lot about how other people live; what they do for work, what their history is, how their relationships and families function, what their struggles are and what they’re grateful for.

Learning about the lives of others helps you put your own life into perspective. You think about what is important to you and what is unimportant – your purpose, priorities, problems and blessings.

This is one of the main reasons why you should travel alone in your 20s !

+ Find clarity with moments of mindfulness

Try to enjoy one moment of mindfulness each day of your solo trip.

Make the most of quiet moments when you are alone with your thoughts. Reflect on your purpose, career, relationships, worries, blessings and more.

Mindfulness is particularly important if you are suffering from loneliness, homesickness or solo travel depression .

I remember a few of my most moving moments when travelling alone – sleeping under the stars in the Sahara, watching water buffalo cross a river in Laos, and walking the battlefields of Gallipoli.

Small moments can lead to big revelations in your thinking.

+ You challenge yourself to try new experiences

When you travel alone, there are no naysayers looking over your shoulder and saying “don’t do this” or “don’t do that.”

One of the advantages of solo travel is that you are free to try all the experiences that you’ve always wanted to try – adventure activities, exotic foods, partying, relationships and much more!

Disadvantages of Travelling Alone

What are the disadvantages of solo travel? The disadvantages of travelling alone include more expensive accommodation, increased risk of theft and susceptibility to scams, having no one to take care of you when drunk or sick, feeling lonely or anxious, and finding it harder to take photos of yourself.

Let’s delve deeper into the cons of travelling alone:

– Accommodation, car rental and dining can be more expensive

There are hidden costs involved with travelling alone . If you’re not careful, solo travel can become more expensive than group travel because you have to:

• Pay a single’s surcharge when booking private accommodation
• Cover the entire cost of private transport (taxis and Ubers)
• Cover the entire cost of meals (no split bills)
• Pay full price for tickets to attractions (no group discounts)
• Pay more for travel insurance

The best way to save costs when travelling alone is to stay in shared accommodation. You can also save money by catching public transport rather than hiring a vehicle.

Don’t only rely on comparison sites to find the best price on accommodation and transport. Sometimes, suppliers offer better prices if you book directly through their website.

Solo travellers concerned about their budget can also join a group tour. Some tours provide great bang for your buck because the organisers receive a discount when booking bulk accommodation and transport – meaning bigger savings for you.

– Travelling alone can be less safe

One of the most common questions amongst both men and women is: is solo travel safe ? 

No form of travel is totally safe. But some safety issues are more prevalent when you travel alone:

• Scams: You may not have someone else to alert you to street scams.
• Theft and assault: You may not have someone else to protect you from theft and assault when travelling alone.
• Getting lost: You may not have someone to help you navigate if you get lost or your phone battery dies.
• Drunkenness and intoxication: You will have to find trustworthy friends to take care of you when drunk.
• Illness and disease: You may not have someone else to take care of you when sick.
• Language and cultural differences: You may not have someone else to help you translate the local language or make you aware of cultural practices.

To reduce your susceptibility to the dangers of travelling alone, see these solo travel safety tips . There are many things you can do to keep yourself safe, including using padlocks, sharing your GPS location with family and friends, and setting up fraud alerts on your bank account.

I still join tours as a solo traveller if I’m visiting a particularly dangerous or difficult destination. I share my tour experiences in my article on  solo travel vs group travel .

– Difficulty taking photos

One of the biggest disadvantages of travelling alone is not having friends and family around to take photos of you. However, this problem is easily overcome. 

Simply ask your fellow travellers to take photos of you or get good at taking selfies (this is where a selfie stick comes in handy).

Alternatively, if you are serious about photography, carry a tripod and use the timer feature on your camera to capture the perfect shot.

– Sitting next to strangers on transport

A disadvantage of solo travel is that you don’t get to sit next to people that you know and are comfortable with. Instead, you’ll be sat next to strangers on flights, trains and coaches. 

Whilst this isn’t an issue most of the time, sometimes fellow passengers can be a hindrance. For example, they may take up your personal space, stink of body odour or chew loudly.

I’ll never forget the time I was on an overnight sleeper coach in Vietnam, mistakenly thinking I had the single bed to myself for the entirety of the journey. You can imagine my surprise when another man jumped on at 2 am and snuggled up beside me.

It is best to include a set of noise-cancelling earphones and an eye mask on your solo travel packing list. And if you and a travel buddy are heading in the same direction, try to book your seats together.

My guide to flying alone for the first time has 10 more tips to make your trip more comfortable.

– Taking care of yourself when ill

At some stage during your solo travel, you will likely get sick with food poisoning, a cold or some other ailment. 

The disadvantage of travelling alone is that you won’t have family or friends there to take care of you, make your food and buy you medicine. The best option is to find some private accommodation for a few days and rest until you’ve mended.

– You can’t share your luggage space

Sometimes when you travel with a partner who packs light, you can put some of your luggage in their bags. You don’t have this luxury when travelling alone.

If you buy items overseas and run out of luggage space during your solo travel, your best option is to head to the post office and ship it home.

– It’s sad saying goodbye to new friends

Whilst you’ll make a lot of friends (and maybe even a few lovers) whilst travelling alone, one of the biggest disadvantages of solo travel is having to say goodbye to all your new buddies!

When it comes time to go your separate ways, make sure that you’ve added your travel buddies on social media and make plans to catch up with them again in the future. 

Despite living in Australia , solo travel has allowed me to make friends from all over the world. On my travels, I regularly catch up with pals from Germany, Sweden, Cambodia, Morocco, Turkey and many other countries.

– Friends and family at home won’t share in your stories

I remember when I got home after my first solo trip to Southeast Asia. I was buzzing and expected all my family and friends to be equally excited about my travel stories. Whilst they were happy to have me home and hear about my adventures, the truth is that they didn’t care as much about my stories as I did.

Sadly, your travel stories won’t mean as much to your family and friends as they do to you. Whilst the story may be entertaining, your audience wasn’t there to witness it. For a memory to be truly special, you have to partake in it. 

However, this can also be a nice thing – to know that you have had special experiences that your friends, family and acquaintances haven’t. That is part of what makes solo travel unique.

– Family will worry about you

If you’ve never travelled solo before, you tend to worry more than is necessary. What’s worse is that your family tends to worry even more. 

It can be difficult to calm worried parents and siblings. At times, I didn’t reveal to my family what I was doing overseas until I returned because I knew that it would stress them out (e.g. riding a scooter through Vietnam and Thailand).

However, this secretive approach isn’t always best. Generally, you should share your itinerary with your family and keep them updated with regular video calls to quash their worries.

– Solo travel can get lonely at times

First-time solo travellers often ask, is travelling alone lonely ?

There will be moments during your solo trip when you are eating alone or admiring the view and wish that you could share it with someone. But these moments serve as great opportunities for mindfulness and reflection. 

Further, you will meet so many people and make so many friends during your solo travels, that you will spend the majority of your time exploring your destination with other travellers.

In those moments that you do feel lonely, you may want to call home and speak to family or friends. Alternatively, head back to your hostel or a local bar and strum up some conversation with other solo travellers. Or you could even join a day tour and keep active to take your mind off of things.

– Homesickness can hit a little harder

One of the cons of travelling alone is that you have no friends or family with you to remind you of home. This can mean that homesickness hits a little harder when you travel solo.

To keep homesickness at bay, make sure to video chat with friends and family regularly. It might also help to carry a little memento from home and set the wallpaper on your phone to include photos of family and friends. 

Most importantly, socialise with other travellers and keep active to take your mind off of negative emotions!

– Sticky situations

When you travel with a trusted partner, you have someone else there to speak some sense into you – whether that’s not getting too drunk on a night out, not trusting the scam artist on the street or not eating the dodgy-looking street food. 

You’ll get better at avoiding these sticky situations as you gain more solo travel experience. And if you’re new to solo travel, do your best to be vigilant but accept that almost everyone falls victim to tourist traps at some stage.

– Solo travel anxiety

Many people who have never travelled alone before suffer from solo travel anxiety – a fear that they will be overcome by the emotions and practicalities that come with travelling alone.

It is natural to have questions before your first solo trip, such as is it weird to travel alone ?

These worries are one of the disadvantages of solo travel. But once you hit the road and start seeing amazing places, making great friends and trying new experiences, you will wonder what you ever worried about. 

Throwing yourself into the deep end is the best and only way to overcome solo travel anxiety.

Summary: Advantages and Disadvantages of Travelling Alone

Hopefully, I have dispelled the myths as to what are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling alone.

Travelling alone is best for people who aren’t afraid to face disadvantages such as safety risks and difficult emotions of loneliness, anxiety and homesickness. 

If you are adventurous and curious about the world, you can make the most of the advantages of travelling alone. You will return from your solo trip with more friends, a better understanding of the world and a better understanding of yourself.

Are you cut out for solo travel? Take the 15-question quiz: should I travel alone ?

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Find more solo travel tips on nomadic yak.

Nomadic Yak helps solo travellers to plan journeys that are adventurous and authentic.

Every article is written by me, Harry . I’ve travelled to 40+ countries over the last 5 years – alone.

I’ve shared everything you need to know about travelling alone for the first time .

You’ll also find 100s of solo travel tips on how to save money, make more friends, build a social media following and much more.

Plus, you can use my solo travel destination guides to discover international sights and attractions that few other travellers get to witness.

Creator of Nomadic Yak

At age 22, I had never travelled overseas. Six years later, I have travelled alone through 35 countries and work wherever I like as a freelance writer.

What It's Really Like to Travel Alone in the Era of Social Media

My wanderlust started with a Billy Joel song. Yes, some might say it's stupid to visit a city just because of a catchy tune. (They'd also probably say that it's stupid that I fell in love with said song, "Vienna," after seeing the movie 13 Going on 30 , and I'd have to agree with them on that.) But that's how I made my way to Austria--solo--with only good ol' Billy for a travel buddy.

In college, I took part in a spring work/study program in London, and while I loved the U.K. and my job working for a health website, what excited me most was the opportunity to travel. I spent my weekends sipping sangria in Barcelona with my roommates and admiring Edinburgh accompanied by friends, but no one wanted to stay and explore Europe more extensively after our 16 weeks were up. Except me.

So, I decided to go alone. I wanted to see more of France, more of Italy, and, most importantly, I wanted to see Vienna.

I didn't set out wanting to travel by myself. It's something that young women are discouraged from doing: My own mother was desperate to talk me out of the idea. "It's dangerous for girls to travel by themselves," she'd warn me every time we spoke. I insisted that I knew women my age who'd done it (which was a bit of a stretch: I knew of girls who'd traveled alone), and that I'd be fine. My friends back home were skeptical, too. "Wait, no one's going with you?" they'd ask. No doubt they wondered who would be taking my Instagrams. (God bless the selfie.)

But after convincing them that just because I'm a Millennial woman does not mean I have to be constantly surrounded by a crew, I had to make myself believe it. The night before my departure, I was terrified. While everyone else was flying back to the States, I'd be on the Chunnel to Paris to start my two week trip alone. The thought was crippling. I've always been a person who recharges with alone time, but this suddenly seemed like too much to take on, especially in unfamiliar places.

I was forced to remind myself of my somewhat cheesy screensaver quote: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." I sucked it up. I wanted this badly enough to outweigh both the safety risk and the potential of FOMO.

The journey was, in a word, liberating. While I was nervous that my first meal alone would be pretty damn awkward, I wasn't tempted by the idea of eating takeout in my hostel bunk bed, either. So I faced the fear. I slipped on the flowy (albeit a tad wrinkly) LBD, channeled my inner Cool French Girl, and stepped out into the cool spring air of the Montmartre quarter. I was going to dinner.

It ended up being one of my most memorable dining experiences of my life. I savored the otherworldly steak frites for which Le Relais de l'Entrecôte is famous, observed the elegant Parisian women adorned in their Saturday evening pearls, and even ordered in the language of love. I enjoyed my glass of cabernet and devoured a plate of the most mouthwatering profiteroles in the entire City of Light without fear of judgment. No one knew me; I didn't know anyone.

This freedom ended up being one of the most indulgent aspects of my trip, and for once, that didn't mean feeling guilty. I spent hours riding on a vaporetto in Venice; I decided not to climb the Duomo in Florence because it just seemed like too many stairs; I read for hours in the lush gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. (The trip wasn't without its uncomfortable moments, of course. A couples' wine tour in Tuscany was a mistake, for sure.)

I spent the final hours of my trip wandering around the gorgeous, pastel façade-lined streets of Vienna. 15 minutes prior to leaving, I pulled out my iPod and listened to "Vienna." After the familiar piano trills, Billy's familiar voice flooded in: "Slow down you crazy child," he sang. "You're so ambitious for a juvenile." I began to cry—partially from exhaustion, perhaps, but mostly because the moment felt intensely profound. Here I was, in a city I'd always escaped to in my mind through a song, closing out the most incredible experience of my life. A little crazy, a little ambitious. All me.

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My first experience travelling alone

T ravelling alone for the first time raises a lot of questions. However, there is no age to travel alone for the first or the tenth time. For a short or a long stay. My first experience travelling solo was in 2012. I was 22 years old.

How I ended up traveling alone 

In 2012, I was in Vancouver, Canada, for a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). I really wanted to travel around the USA and Canada! I won’t lie, I had never imagined doing this trip alone, with no one to share it with. The idea of traveling alone made me feel anxious, I was not very confident in myself and I almost deflated a few weeks before departure … I, of course, looked for travel mates but there was no one who had the same availabilities or the same desires, as me. So, what could I do?

One day, I browsed several forums on the Internet and surprisingly I read many testimonials of people who had traveled alone and who really liked it. The next day I talked about this “idea” to my Canadian friends and their reaction made me realise that “traveling alone is great” and not that “unusual”…  Their reactions and their encouragments convinced me; I can do it too !

The organisation

So, I started drawing the route of a three-weeks roadtrip on the West Coast of the United States.  I decided to plan everything that could be planned: transportation, housing, visits, number of days and budget.

I spent hours and hours to read and check everything I could find on the internet, in travel guides and on blogs.

Booking transport was the simplest part: planes, trains, buses. The approach is not very different from group or duo travel trips as prices are the same. I only made sure to not arrive at destination during the night

Regarding housing , it’s a little different compared to group travels. I decided to sleep in mixed dorms in youth hostels. Usually, there are hostels everywhere and it’s easy to meet people (depending on the place). Beds are cheaper compared to single rooms in hotels.

However, to choose my hostels, I paid attention to two aspects:

• Reviews of travelers that mentionned that “the hostel is perfect for solo travelers”, often because it means that it is easy to meet other (solo) travelers, because they have common meeting room and group activities;
• The location of the hostel: to make sure that the hostel is not located in a creepy area and is not difficult to access

This careful planning was to reassure me, of course, but also to reassure my family who was more than 10,000km from me …

My first solo experience

While boarding the plane, the headphones on my head, I felt an excitement rise in me. I was about to realize a dream and I had the audacity to go alone!

It was a mixture of pride, recognition and admiration … for myself.

Is it surprising? Surely. It is not every day that one admires oneself and that one is proud of oneself. As soon as I landed at the San Francisco airport I realized: I’ll have to fend for myself in this jungle. No, I was not afraid, I took advantage of every moment. The question that teased me the most, before the departure, was: Am I really going to be alone? Strangely, this first solo trip also has the first trip during which I met a lot of people: travelers of all ages, all styles, all origins. I have rarely been alone, even when I was desperate to sit quietly and read a book.

I am not saying that I have never felt alone not been afraid. Of course, there were times when I imagined how it would have been different with my friends, my family or my boyfriend. And then, there were those moments where I had mixed feelings , for example when I got lost when I returned from an afternoon to Venice Beach to find my hostel, or the day when a (unknown) man proposed me in front of everyone on the Wall of Fame in Los Angeles, or even that moment when I travelled on a night bus for 12 hours next to a man who was talking to me in Spanish and who prevented me from sleeping (…) and so on …

As many moments as souvenirs

This trip gave me immense joy and the doubts and fears that I had had before the departure had all of a sudden disappeared. Throughout my stay, I only felt a huge positive energy!

It was a very well-planned trip but it was still the most unexpected and surprising journey I ever had ! No matter how hard we try to plan the itinerary, the number of nights and the visits, we will always live unexpected experiences every day.

I do now understand what a “rich and unforgettable experience” is. Because, for the first time, I had a Rich. Unforgettable. Experience

So if you’re looking for an answer to the question “Should I go?”, let me tell you: Go for it !

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Your Experience is too good. Your first alone travel is awesome. I am a traveling lover and this is very informative for me. Thanks for sharing your experience travelling alone.

Solo trip is a wonderful thing. Have been to London alone and it was such an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing this experience.

Traveling alone allowed me to fully immerse myself in the beauty of different cultures, savoring the flavors of local cuisine, and embracing the warmth of strangers who soon became friends. It’s in these moments of solitude that I found the space to reflect, grow, and connect with the world in a profound way.

I read your blog post about your first experience traveling alone, and I must say it’s a beautifully written and engaging account of your journey. Your storytelling captures the essence of the excitement, apprehension, and self-discovery that often comes with solo travel.

Your vivid descriptions, like “a solo traveler, a lone adventurer,” and “the world was my oyster,” make the reader feel like they are right there with you, embarking on this thrilling adventure.

I particularly appreciated how you shared not only the highlights but also the challenges you encountered during your trip. It’s refreshing to see your honesty about moments of doubt and the eventual triumph of self-assuredness. This authenticity makes your journey relatable to anyone considering solo travel.

Thank you for your article) Beautiful photos!

Oh yes, I understand your situation 😁. I travel alone too, and the first trips caused doubts and excitement. I thought, “God, how can it be, I’m flying to another country where people live in a completely different way, breathe different air, see different food and speak a different language?” How will I live there? It turned out to be quite simple and people everywhere are the same and their everyday life, traditions and culture are also similar in many ways. You just need a little time to learn their peculiarities and get used to them. now I’m flying to another country and I realize that I just need to find a normal hotel, understand what kind of nearby places are suitable for working with a laptop and find a couple of good convenience stores where I can buy cookies 😂. I wish you good travels!

great article. great experience

Your sharing blog is great and i really like it. I am a traveling lover and this is very informative for me.

WOW THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.💜👍

Amazing! Very well written and filled with useful information and inspiration information, Thanks for sharing your experience travelling alone.

Your Experience is too good. Your first alone travel is awesome. I’ve enjoyed reading the post. It is very supportive and useful post. I would like to visit the post once more its valuable content. Thanks for sharing this so interesting post! I really want to be thankful for the way you have put it here.

Hi Johan, thank you very much for your positive and nice comment ! I am very glad that you find my experience inspiring and valuable… I am looking forward to sharing more about my travel experiences and feelings 🙂

I love solo travelling, at first i was sceptical doing it. But good research for the place, activities to do and accommodation is they key safe solo travelling and added bonus meeting amazing people along the journey.

Traveling solo can be very liberating. I constantly switch between going with friends and going solo and absolutely love both. Glad you were able to get over those tiny fears and do this trip. It will remain as a special one for you for life.

The US is one of the easiest and best places for solo travel! I don’t travel alone but do travel with just my 6 year old and have for years all over the world. It’s definitely a fun experience knowing you can navigate foreign lands without the help of others!

Great account of what it is like travelling alone. My first solo trip I made the mistake of staying in cheap hotels (it was in Africa) rather than hostels so I got quite lonely. I still loved it though. But once I started staying in hostels, as you point out, you are never alone. I now love travelling solo and prefer it as it forces you to meet new people as opposed to staying with your friends the whole trip.

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Traveling, Its Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

This essay about travelling abroad explores all the advantages and disadvantages of this activity.

Introduction

• Advantages of traveling
• Disadvantages of traveling
• How to choose a trip

Traveling refers to movement from one geographical location to another, either for recreation or work. The majority of the people who love traveling do it when they are young because of the availability of adequate time and lack of pressing responsibilities such as work and family (Hasbrouck, 2011). Traveling is an important pastime activity that is fun, and that exposes people to other countries, cultures, and societies. Travelers learn a lot because traveling necessitates changes in lifestyle and ways of communication. Moreover, travelers learn new languages, interact with people from other races and ethnicities, and explore new geographical locations (Mitchell, 2006). Individuals who travel regularly possess adventurous spirits that yearn for new experiences to learn new things. Despite having numerous benefits, traveling has disadvantages too. It is costly, exposes individuals to the risk of contracting diseases, and causes excessive fatigue.

Advantages of Traveling

Traveling offers people an opportunity to visit interesting places, learn new things, and meet new people ( 5 Benefits of Travelling , 2013). It is one of the best ways to interact with people from other races, cultures, and ethnicities. Travelers explore the various beliefs and traditions that guide other people’s lives and learn how interconnected humanity is (Mitchell, 2006). For example, there are very many cultures in the world that have preserved their traditional beliefs, customs, and practices. Visiting countries such as Kenya, Mexico, China, and India is an occasion to experience such unique cultures. On the other hand, meeting new people who speak different languages and who live differently is exciting and educational. Travelers also visit interesting places that have great cultural and historical value ( 5 Benefits of Travelling , 2013). For example, the Eiffel Tower in France, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Pyramids in Egypt possess great historical and cultural value. Learning about their histories can help travelers to comprehend the cultures, traditions, and customs of different tribes and societies, as well as their dynamics.

Another advantage of traveling is the chance to learn, relax, and widen one’s scope of knowledge (Mitchell, 2006). In certain cases, one of the requirements of traveling abroad is learning the language that is used in the country that one intends to visit. English is an international language. However, it is not spoken in all countries. Therefore, it would be necessary to learn new languages in order to enhance effective communication and interaction with people who speak indigenous languages (Thumb, n.d). There are numerous historical sites to visit around the world, and visiting them teaches furnishes knowledge about their historical significance to various countries and cultures (Marks, n.d). For instance, people who travel to Egypt learn a lot about the pyramids as well as when and why they were built. Exploring the cultures practiced by different communities increases appreciation for human diversity (Mercer, n.d).

Traveling allows people to improve their communication skills and create networks that can be beneficial in their lives (Mercer, n.d). Interacting with people who speak different languages and who have different cultures is challenging. However, it is important for the improvement of communication skills. Multicultural interaction is an important skill in contemporary society, especially due to globalization and technological advancements (Mitchell, 2006). Learning to interact with different cultures inculcates strong communication and social skills that are beneficial in personal and professional life (Marks, n.d). On the other hand, it helps to create networks that can be used in different areas of life. For example, travelers can create business, social, political, and religious networks that can help them to improve their lives, communities, and society at large. The international labor market is open for exploration to everyone around the world. Therefore, possessing strong networks and multicultural communication skills is beneficial and necessary.

Traveling exposes people to different living styles. As a result, it inculcates the value of compassion and changes people’s perspectives regarding life (Hasbrouck, 2011). For instance, travelers from developed countries who travel to developing countries get an opportunity to see the effects of poverty, ignorance, and diseases on communities. This makes them grateful for their lives. Also, it enhances the development of compassion and empathy toward the needy and the suffering. Traveling exposes people to new cultures, societies, people, and lifestyles (Mitchell, 2006). This exposure changes people’s perspectives, attitudes, and opinions. They develop new ways of looking at the world, and it also gives their lives meaning.

Disadvantages of Traveling

One of the major disadvantages of traveling is the costs involved. Traveling is expensive and involves the use of money that many people cannot afford (Thumb, n.d). For example, traveling to foreign countries by plane is costly, and people incur numerous expenses that can have severe financial consequences. Many people only travel locally because they cannot afford to travel internationally. Traveling includes other expenses such as food, entertainment, and accommodation (Thumb, n.d). Both local and international travel offer opportunities for exposure to new people, places, and cultures. However, the pricey nature of trips and vacations prevents many people from indulging and enjoying the many thrills they offer.

Another disadvantage of traveling is the risk of exposure to diseases and deadly illnesses. In the past few years, outbreaks of deadly diseases such as Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have been reported in several countries. These diseases put the lives of travelers at risk because they can cause death within a very short time once contracted. In many countries, governments impose travel bans on regions that have been flagged for disease outbreaks. A disease outbreak can lead to the quarantine of affected individuals until the disease is contained. Quarantine causes inconveniences and delays that can interfere with the exhilaration of taking a trip.

Traveling requires a lot of time and planning, which can cause great stress and fatigue (Hasbrouck, 2011). Preparing for a trip is time-consuming because of the need to book accommodation, arrange for transport, and make all the necessary inquiries. On the other hand, trips usually involve pre-arranged plans that eliminate flexibility and the freedom to engage in other unrelated activities. Following strict schedules creates rigidity that eliminates the fun that is involved in traveling.

How to Choose a Trip

Choosing a trip is primarily based on the purpose of travel. People usually travel for reasons that include recreation, tourism, migration, work, religious pilgrimages, business, trade, and volunteer work, among others. Others travel to relax, discover new things, explore, and get acquainted with new cultures (Hasbrouck, 2011). If an individual is traveling to relax or for recreation, they may choose to visit historical sites and beaches. On the other hand, people who travel to learn and explore new places may choose to visit countries where communities that have preserved their traditions are found.

For adventure, they may choose to travel to countries with mountains and forests that can provide fun and enjoyable experiences. Those who travel for migration reasons choose countries that provide the opportunities they are looking for. The steps to choose a trip include the establishment of a purpose for traveling, research regarding countries and regions that can fulfill that purpose, and determination of all the requirements for traveling to that location, such as vaccination and learning a new language or skill. There are various types of trips available that serve the aforementioned purposes. The two most important aspects of taking a trip are determining the purpose of traveling and selecting the most appropriate travel option.

People travel for many reasons, including relaxation, recreation, work, business, adventure, migration, and exploration. Taking trips is beneficial because it offers an opportunity to learn, interact with new cultures, learn new languages, improve communication skills, gain new insights and perspectives regarding life and the world, and meet new and interesting people. In contemporary society, traveling has been made easier by globalization and technological advancements. Despite its benefits, traveling has disadvantages too. It is expensive, time-consuming, causes fatigue, and exposes people to risks of diseases. It is important for travelers to determine the purpose of their trips in order to enable them to choose the most appropriate travel plan or program. It is also important to make all the necessary inquiries and arrangements before traveling to avoid getting stuck in new places. For example, it could be necessary for a traveler to learn the basics of communication or language when traveling to certain areas of the world where indigenous languages are used. This is necessary for the enhancement of communication and interaction.

5 Benefits of Travelling . (2013). Web.

Hasbrouck, E. (2011). The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World . New York, NY: Avalon Travel Publishing.

Marks, H. (n.d). 8 Benefits of Travelling . Web.

Mercer, L. (n.d). Educational Benefits of Travel . Web.

Mitchell, S. (2006). Global Adventure: Travelling Around the World . New York, NY: AuthorHouse.

Thumb, C. (n.d). The Pros and Cons of Travel . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 29). Traveling, Its Advantages and Disadvantages Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/traveling-its-advantages-and-disadvantages/

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Traveling, Its Advantages and Disadvantages Essay." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/traveling-its-advantages-and-disadvantages/.

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The wilderness is vast, unforgiving, and beauteous; those who visit it unprepared find thorns instead of roses, but even as tough as a trip into the wild is, the pros can be worth the cons. Many venture into camping with no wary thoughts about the dangers it brings; the wildlife, environment, weather, and location can instantaneously alter your seemingly perfect trip. Surprisingly, these problems can be avoided, but only through careful planning. Planning a camping trip revolves around: climate, location, and environment. For example, I would like to discuss three different places you can camp: Arizona, Colorado, and Alaska.

Persuasive Essay On Adventure Alone

Who would have thought that one day I would be able to go on an adventure alone and actually make it there and back in one piece? It was the summer of 2016, it had been so hot actually scorching every single day throughout June. All I wanted to do was jump into an ice-cold pool to cool down and feel refreshed but at the time our pool was being built so that idea was out the window, then another thought popped into my head, I just needed to get out of this house, I needed to venture somewhere that would be fun but also a place that would just take the burning sensation off my skin. That’s when it hit me, why don’t I go to Japan? It was perfect! I had family there and it would be a new experience for me to go alone instead of going with my mom like usual. I knew that it would be difficult to convince my parents to let me go across the world and at that alone, that in its self was a crazy idea that would never be okay with them. But I was not going to let them stop me from enjoying my summer and also restricting me to a new experience that would actually benefit me later in life. I just needed to figure out how I could convince them and also my family in Japan because without the approval from my grandparents in Japan then I would have nowhere to stay for the month and that definitely would be a bump in the road to convincing my parents.

Persuasive Essay About Study Abroad

Life is a journey and by choosing my path, I create my destination. My journey started since the day I was born, July 16th, 1999, but it was not until March 20th, 2016 that my destination was drawn with passion. On that day, I came to America with tears dropped on my mom's face, with great pressure on my shoulder, with a strong determination to live well, to live happily. On that day, I promised myself that I will succeed to prove that if someone considers my studying abroad as wasting money and time, they were wrong. On that day, I knew that I would be the one who makes my mother proud of me and ensures a happy life for her. Studying abroad is a tough decision for my mother, my relatives and for me. Without a strong financial support, my idea of studying abroad was too hard to complete, for most of the people, but not for my mother and me. We believed in ourselves, in each other and in the goal that we have set, hoping one day I would come back to my country with great knowledge and skills that I could learn in America. Our hope was a red light of fire that led us to the destination we set, our hope was a plan that gave us the motivation to wake up in the morning and tried our best to fulfill, our hope was so strong that it magically provided me the power to truly believe that I could do it no matter how other people thought. The day I hold the flight ticket in my hand, I could not believe that my life would have a

Persuasive Essay On Study Abroad

COMMSA or the Communications Study Abroad Program is an opportunity everyone should be able to achieve. Being able to study in a foreign country gives students the chance to see differences in how they receive an education verse the new location they are studying in. San Jose State University is a huge supporter of students having this opportunity and even has uniquely styled programs made specifically for the Communications department. The study abroad program page on our SJSU website shows students two options that are specifically for Communication students for the summer of 2018, students could experience places like Jyväskylä, Finland or Berlin Germany, this is only the start of places that are offered to students.

Personal Narrative Essay: A Trip To Dublin

Sitting in my room here in Denmark and looking out at the grey clouds and few sunbeams from the sky. It reminds me of the student trip with my class a few weeks ago. To travel from a place to another is somehow always special for me. I think it is interesting that I can go into a plane and some hours later I am a new place. Sometimes the destination is very different from the one I came from. This time it was Dublin who had called me. Actually, not only me but my whole class and belonging teachers. To travel alone or with someone has a lot to say about the trip, I think. If you travelled the exact same place, time and destination but once by yourself and another time with someone, it would almost be to different trips if you ask me. In my eyes that is very beautiful and of significance to remember. In other words, it can give you a wide perspective on travelling, yourself but also life in general.

• Travelling Essay

500 Words Essay On Travelling

Many people travel for different purposes. Whether it is for a business trip or a holiday trip, we see people travelling often. Some people prefer a hilly area for travelling while the others like travelling to places with beaches. In this travelling essay, we will look at the importance of travelling and how it has changed ever since the old times.

Importance of Travelling Essay

While the reasons for travelling are many, we must not forget that it can be a refreshing experience. Travelling is an experience that can teach us so many things that you cannot possibly learn while living at home.

Firstly, it teaches you how to make new friends . The world is full of people who love interacting. You get to make friends when you travel to new places and spend quality time with them.

Moreover, it also helps you enhance your social skills. After that, travelling is great for learning new skills. For instance, going to mountain regions teaches you how to trek. Similarly, going to beaches helps you learn scuba diving or surfing.

You can also enjoy the beauty of nature when you travel. Similarly, you get to explore nature like never before and find discover the earth’s beauty. Travelling also helps us understand people.

After you spend time at a new place, you interact with the local people of the place. You learn so much about them and their culture. It makes you more open-minded and be mindful of the culture and beliefs of different people.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Travelling: Then vs. Now

Travelling has changed significantly thanks to technology. In the earlier days, it was not easy to travel. Travelling on foot or on animals was the only option back then. Ships were also an option but they were too risky.

Further, people use bullocks and horse carts and even camels to travel. Sled was an option for people travelling to snow-covered regions. Moreover, it was a hassle to travel even to a short distance as it consumed too much time.

However, with the changing times and revolutionary technology , travelling has become one of the easiest things to do. There are so many new ways and means to travel that the travel game has changed drastically.

We can board a variety of vehicles now to travel such as bus, train, truck, aeroplane, submarine, hovercraft, and more. You can reach a place far away within no time thanks to all these transport options.

Further, there are no barriers now. You can use online maps and translators when travelling to a different city or country to help you. Cab service and food service is readily available too. Thus, travelling is very easy now thanks to technology.

Conclusion of Travelling Essay

All in all, travelling can be a fun and learning experience for everyone now. Moreover, with technology, you can travel to any corner of the world without having to worry about barriers of language, distance, and more. Everyone must travel at least once in their life to enjoy an unforgettable experience.

FAQ of Travelling Essay

Question 1: Why is travelling important?

Answer 1: Travelling is important as it teaches us a lot of things. You can learn new skills, new languages, new cultures. Moreover, you get to make new friends and try out new foods when you travel to a new place. It can be a real learning experience for all.

Question 2: How is travelling different now?

Answer 2: Travelling has changed drastically thanks to technology. Earlier, people had to take animals to travel to a new place and it would be time-consuming. Now, there are many transport options available that help you reach within no time. Further, the internet has made travelling easier by offering maps, translation apps, food services, cab services, etc. available at our fingertips.

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Travelling Alone Essay Example

• Pages: 2 (543 words)
• Published: October 9, 2016
• Type: Research Paper

Suggest the precautions that a person can take while travelling alone. When we think instantly lyric of wonderful song “Travelling Alone” by Patty Larkin, we can said that travelling alone is wonderful thing. Now, people prefer to travel alone, either all time or occasionally. The passion with which solo travellers speak about their experiences is amazing. However, travelling alone also can be scary thing, particularly if you have never hit the road alone before especially for women. They are actually exposed to many dangerous situations, such as crime. Actually, travelling alone can even have some additional benefits if we know how to avoid or protect ourselves from danger while travelling alone. By travelling alone also will tend to meet more new people than those travelling with others do

. There are many precautions that a person can take while travelling alone such as stash your valuables, do not dressing up but always dressing down and be alert at all time and be aware of surroundings. (151 words)

Stash our valuables is the best precaution that a person can take while travelling alone. In dictionary, stash mean to put by or away as for safe keeping or future use, usually in a secret place. As a traveller, it is important to know how to stash a valuables because it can avoid or protect ourselves from danger especially robbed and stolen. For example, before go to travelling, take only the personal credit and debit cards we must have, leave the rest at home. On the other hand, for stash our valuables we must have a creativity because creativity is a key when we are travellin

alone. Adam Seper, a article’s writer take a words from Laura George, she said “ puts a little bit of cash in a bunch of different places”. That mean, we must place a money for example not only in our wallet, but also a front pocket, tucked in our sock, or for a women in a bra, and in a seemingly empty, or suitcase pocket. Julie, article’s “Wallet Grab” writer said, “make your whole wardrobe pick-pocket-proof by sewing your own protective pocket into inside of shorts, pants, or tops”. So, it will not give a sign for a robber to robbed us. Finally, with this precaution, our travel will be safe eventhough we travel alone. (218 words)

In November 2010, French tourist Stephanie Foray, 30 where was murdered while travelling alone. New Straits Time, August 29, 2011 by Anita Koch, she said “after that incident happen, let this be a warning and grim reminder to any tourist male or female, never to travel alone. Actually, if we know how to stash our valuables, we can avoid or protect ourselves from danger. For a guys, protect yourself from pickpockets, wear pants with a zipped pocket inside the front pocket for keeping valuables. It is not as good as a money belt but it is way better than any other pocket. For a women, do not wear an expensive ring. So, with that it will reduce the chances of having your valuables stolen. Travelling overseas can be fraught with danger to both sexes but if we know it precautions, we can avoid ourselves from danger. So, remembering that a travelling alone is a choice, not a

chore. (153 words)

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Texas mother arrested after allegedly leaving young children alone to take a cruise

A Texas woman was arrested after allegedly leaving her children at home alone to take a cruise.

Lakesha Woods Williams, 29, left her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter by themselves in their Houston apartment to go on vacation on April 4, according to a criminal complaint.

She is charged with abandoning a child with intent to return.

Deputies with the Harris County Constable’s Office made a wellness check on Tuesday following a call for service. A witness told them that neighbors in the complex were concerned about the safety of two kids left on their own in one of the units. The witness said other residents had seen Williams leaving with bags and luggage and did not see her come back.

“The apartment was in complete disarray and had trash and left-over food all over the unit,” the document said. There was a “very potent smell of urine” inside as well.

“No adults were present supervising the juveniles, and none appeared to have been present since the Defendant’s departure,” the document continued. Deputies also found a camera in the apartment that Williams used to watch and talk to the kids during her trip, and her son had a phone he used to text her.

The document did not specify which cruise line Williams sailed with or where she went. “Deputies tried contacting the Defendant to make the scene, but she was not cooperating and was switching up her story on her whereabouts,” the document said.

The Houston Fire Department was called to ensure the children “were in good health and not malnourished,” and Child Protective Services reported to the scene before releasing the children to their aunt.

An attorney for Williams was not listed.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

The MOBIUS online library catalog will temporarily suspend services MOBIUS borrowing and lending services starting on April 18 as it migrates to a new operating and software system. For material requests, please use interlibrary loans via ILLiad . For further details, see the Temporary Disruption to MOBIUS Service article .

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• Books and Authors

Winners of the 2024 Neureuther Essay Contest

The Washington University Libraries are pleased to announce the winners of the 37th annual  Neureuther Student Book Collection Essay Competition . Named for Carl Neureuther, a 1940 graduate of the Washington University School of Business who set up an endowed book fund for the University Libraries, the contest was designed to inspire reading for pleasure among students and to encourage the development of personal book collections.

The competition is open to all full-time Washington University students, and awardees win four cash prizes of $1000 and $500 at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Participants submit brief essays about the books in their collections. Washington University faculty read the essays to select the award-winning entries.

undergraduate student winners

In the undergraduate category, Brooke Sanchez , a first-year student majoring in political science, was awarded the first prize for her essay, “ Unveiling the Comfort of Female Narratives: Tragedy, Identity, and Embodied Power .” Eliana Jenkins , a senior majoring in global studies and writing, won the second prize for her essay, “ A Lust Letter to Print: Understanding Human Carnality Through the Zines of the World .”

graduate student winners

Perry Parsons , an MA student in theatre and performance studies, won the first prize in the graduate category for the essay, “ My Culture of One; Eight Relational Dances With My Books .” Nicholas Dolan , a PhD student in English and American literature, won the second prize for his essay, “ My Mother’s Planned Parenthood: A Book Sale Elegy .”

The organizing committee thanks all the students who participated in this year’s contest. Neureuther competition’s award-winning essays, from 2003 to the present, can be accessed on  Open Scholarship .

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Guest Essay

The Two-State Solution Is an Unjust, Impossible Fantasy

By Tareq Baconi

Mr. Baconi is the author of “Hamas Contained” and the president of the board of al-Shabaka, the Palestinian Policy Network.

After 176 days, Israel’s assault on Gaza has not stopped and has expanded into what Human Rights Watch has declared to be a policy of starvation as a weapon of war. More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed, and the international community has reverted to a deeply familiar call for a two-state solution, under which Palestinians and Israelis can coexist in peace and security. President Biden even declared “the only real solution is a two-state solution” in his State of the Union address last month.

But the call rings hollow. The language that surrounds a two-state solution has lost all meaning. Over the years, I’ve encountered many Western diplomats who privately roll their eyes at the prospect of two states — given Israel’s staunch opposition to it, the lack of interest in the West in exerting enough pressure on Israel to change its behavior and Palestinian political ossification — even as their politicians repeat the phrase ad nauseam. Yet in the shadow of what the International Court of Justice has said could plausibly be genocide, everyone has returned to the chorus line, stressing that the gravity of the situation means that this time will be different.

It will not be. Repeating the two-state solution mantra has allowed policymakers to avoid confronting the reality that partition is unattainable in the case of Israel and Palestine, and illegitimate as an arrangement originally imposed on Palestinians without their consent in 1947. And fundamentally, the concept of the two-state solution has evolved to become a central pillar of sustaining Palestinian subjugation and Israeli impunity. The idea of two states as a pathway to justice has in and of itself normalized the daily violence meted out against Palestinians by Israel’s regime of apartheid.

The circumstances facing Palestinians before Oct. 7, 2023, exemplified how deadly the status quo had become. In 2022, Israeli violence killed at least 34 Palestinian children in the West Bank, the most in 15 years, and by mid-2023, that rate was on track to exceed those levels. Yet the Biden administration still saw fit to further legitimize Israel, expanding its diplomatic relations in the region and rewarding it with a U.S. visa waiver . Palestine was largely absent from the international agenda until Israeli Jews were killed on Oct. 7. The fact that Israel and its allies were ill prepared for any kind of challenge to Israeli rule underscores just how invisible the Palestinians were and how sustainable their oppression was deemed to be on the global stage.

This moment of historical rupture offers blood-soaked proof that policies to date have failed, yet countries seek to resurrect them all the same. Instead of taking measures showing a genuine commitment to peace — like meaningfully pressuring Israel to end settlement building and lift the blockade on Gaza or discontinuing America’s expansive military support — Washington is doing the opposite. The United States has aggressively wielded its use of its veto at the United Nations Security Council, and even when it abstains, as it did in the recent vote leading to the first resolution for a cease-fire since Oct. 7, it claims such resolutions are nonbinding. The United States is funding Israel’s military while defunding the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, a critical institution for Palestinians, bolstering the deeply unpopular and illegitimate Palestinian Authority, which many Palestinians now consider to be a subcontractor to the occupation, and subverting international law by limiting avenues of accountability for Israel. In effect, these actions safeguard Israeli impunity.

The vacuity of the two-state solution mantra is most obvious in how often policymakers speak of recognizing a Palestinian state without discussing an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. Quite the contrary: With the United States reportedly exploring initiatives to recognize Palestinian statehood, it is simultaneously defending Israel’s prolonged occupation at the International Court of Justice, arguing that Israel faces “very real security needs” that justify its continued control over Palestinian territories.

What might explain this seeming contradiction?

The concept of partition has long been used as a blunt policy tool by colonial powers to manage the affairs of their colonies, and Palestine was no exception. The Zionist movement emerged within the era of European colonialism and was given its most important imprimatur by the British Empire. The Balfour Declaration, issued by the British in 1917, called for a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine without adequately accounting for the Palestinians who constituted a vast majority in the region and whom Balfour referred to simply as “non-Jewish communities.” This declaration was then imposed on the Palestinians, who by 1922 had become Britain’s colonized subjects and were not asked to give consent to the partitioning of their homeland. Three decades later, the United Nations institutionalized partition with the passage of the 1947 plan, which called for partitioning Palestine into two independent states, one Palestinian Arab and the other Jewish.

All of Palestine’s neighboring countries in the Middle East and North Africa that had achieved independence from their colonial rulers and joined the United Nations voted against the 1947 plan. The Palestinians were not formally considered in a vote that many saw as illegitimate; it partitioned their homeland to accommodate Zionist immigration, which they had resisted from the onset. The Palestine Liberation Organization, established more than a decade later, formalized this opposition, insisting that Palestine as defined within the boundaries that existed during the British Mandate was “an indivisible territorial unit”; it forcefully refused two states and by the late 1970s was fighting for a secular, democratic state. By the 1980s, however, the P.L.O. chairman, Yasir Arafat, along with most of the organization’s leadership, had come to accept that partition was the pragmatic choice, and many Palestinians who had by then been ground down by the machinery of the occupation accepted it as a way of achieving separateness from Israeli settlers and the creation of their own state.

It took more than three decades for Palestinians to understand that separateness would never come, that the goal of this policy was to maintain the illusion of partition in some distant future indefinitely. In that twilight zone, Israel’s expansionist violence increased and became more forthright, as Israeli leaders became more brazen in their commitment to full control from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Israel also relied on discredited Palestinian leaders to sustain their control — primarily those who lead the Palestinian Authority and who collaborate with Israel’s machinations and make do with nonsovereign, noncontiguous Bantustans that never challenge Israel’s overarching domination. This kind of demographic engineering, which entails geographic isolation of unwanted populations behind walls, is central to apartheid regimes. Repeating the aspiration for two states and arguing that partition remains viable presents Israel as a Jewish and democratic state — separate from its occupation — giving it a veneer of palatability and obfuscating the reality that it rules over more non-Jews than Jews .

Seen in this light, the failed attempts at a two-state solution are not a failure for Israel at all but a resounding success, as they have fortified Israel’s grip over this territory while peace negotiations ebbed and flowed but never concluded. In recent years, international and Israeli human rights organizations have acknowledged what many Palestinians have long argued: that Israel is a perpetrator of apartheid. B’Tselem, Israel’s leading human rights organization, concluded that Israel is a singular regime of Jewish supremacy from the river to the sea.

Now, with international attention once again focused on the region, many Palestinians understand the dangers of discussing partition, even as a pragmatic option. Many refuse to resuscitate this hollowed-out policy-speak. In a message recently published anonymously, a group of Palestinians on the ground and in the diaspora state wrote: “The partition of Palestine is nothing but a legitimation of Zionism, a betrayal of our people and the final completion of the nakba,” or catastrophe, which refers to the expulsion and flight of about 750,000 Palestinians with Israel’s founding. “Our liberation can only be achieved through a unity of struggle, built upon a unity of people and a unity of land.”

For them, the Palestinian state that their inept leaders continue to peddle, even if achievable, would fail to undo the fact that Palestinian refugees are unable to return to their homes, now in Israel, and that Palestinian citizens of Israel would continue to reside as second-class citizens within a so-called Jewish state.

Global powers might choose to ignore this sentiment as unrealistic, if they even take note of it. They might also choose to ignore Israeli rejection of a two-state solution, as Israeli leaders drop any pretenses and explicitly oppose any pathway to Palestinian statehood. As recently as January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel “must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River.” He added, “That collides with the idea of sovereignty. What can we do?”

And yet the two-state solution continues to be at the forefront for policymakers who have returned to contorting the reality of an expansionist regime into a policy prescription they can hold on to. They cycle through provisions that the Palestinian state must be demilitarized, that Israel will maintain security oversight, that not every state in the world has the same level of sovereignty. It is like watching a century of failure, culminating in the train wreck of the peace process, replay itself in the span of the past five months.

This will not be the first time that Palestinian demands are not taken into account as far as their own future is concerned. But all policymakers should heed the lesson of Oct. 7: There will be neither peace nor justice while Palestinians are subjugated behind walls and under Israeli domination.

A single state from the river to the sea might appear unrealistic or fantastical or a recipe for further bloodshed. But it is the only state that exists in the real world — not in the fantasies of policymakers. The question, then, is: How can it be transformed into one that is just?

Source photographs by Jose A. Bernat Bacete, Daily Herald Archive and Lior Mizrahi, via Getty Images.

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