Now I don’t know about you, but the thought of travelling on my own used to fill me with dread. I’ve always travelled with either family, friends or a partner. And there’s something comforting about knowing that you’re going somewhere new, with someone else. But this year, with the world opening back up, I decided I didn’t want to have to wait for my friends or family to want to come travelling with me. I’d go on my own. And it was honestly an overwhelming, amazing, terrifying and empowering experience all rolled into one. So if you’re keen to start travelling on your own, here are my 5 reasons to take a solo trip.
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT
For me, one of the biggest motivators in wanting to take a solo trip was wanting to visit places that were on my bucket list. Not on the bucket lists of the people I was used to travelling with. Sure, it was great to see those places and I’m grateful for those travel experiences. But there are places on my bucket list, that I know my friends and family aren’t super keen on seeing yet. So why wait for them, when you can go on your own. And plan everything YOU want to do. You can decided where to stay, where to eat, what experiences to do… you get the picture.
STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Doing things on your own, when you’re used to doing things with others can be overwhelming. But we all know you can’t grow in a comfort zone right? And solo travel is a great way of stepping out of your comfort zone and taking control of your life. You’re the one in the driving seat and that is scary but also exciting. Your solo trip will probably change who you are in ways you would have never imagined. New experiences and challenges won’t feel quite as daunting after you’ve taken yourself off for a little solo adventure.
GETTING TO KNOW YOURSELF
Not only will you grow in confidence by stepping out of your comfort zone. But solo travel is also a great opportunity to really get to know yourself. we’ve all seen the Instagram posts of people ‘finding themselves’ on a trip. Some people do it in Bali, other’s in the Bahamas. The point is that spending that amount of time on your own, making all the decisions, gives you the opportunity to dig deep and really think about what you want in life. What makes you happy? What goals do you want to achieve?
YOU WILL MEET PEOPLE
It’s inevitable that you’ll meet new people when you’re travelling. And meeting people from different, countries, cultures or backgrounds will only broaden and enhance your sole travel experience. You could meet them in your hotel or hostel, at an experience together, or even on a plane, train or automobile. The point is you will definitely make new friends and even though you are taking the trip solo, take comfort in knowing you won’t be completely solo the whole time.
YOU DON’T HVE TO TRAVEL WITH SOMEONE
And finally, it’s pretty obvious. But a great reason to take a solo trip is because you don’t have to travel with others. I’ve always had great experiences when travelling with friends or family members. But for others, it can be a nightmare. Solo travel makes it a lot easier as you don’t have to deal with anyone else, other than you!
So there you have it, my top 5 reasons to take a solo trip. Let me know what you think in the comments, have you ever taken a solo trip? Would you take one?