Have you ever thought about packing your bags, getting on a plane and travelling anywhere you desired alone??? Well that is what I did and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
A lot of my friends think that I am crazy and/or brave for travelling alone, but I like to think of it as liberating. After my solo adventure I was able to learn a few pros and cons about travelling solo:
Pros
- You have no set plans- when I travelled to Spain I literally had no agenda, whatever I felt like doing that day I did.
- You’re on your own schedule- You can relax and wake up when you’re ready. While I was in Spain I woke up everyday at noon and started my day around 1pm, this worked for me because people didn’t get their day started until late. I was also able to hang out with people I met because I had no scheduled plans.
- Lodging is easier- if you have a friend abroad go visit them, it’s always easier to accommodate one person than it is more than one.
- Make new friends- Travelling alone forces you to talk to people you normally wouldn’t resulting in you to making friends from all over that you can visit.
- Discomfort increases- while you may think this is a con, when you’re in discomfort you begin to learn things about yourself, you grow, stretch, and learn to adapt.
- You learn to rely on yourself- travelling with people I have always relied on them and went along with the plans that was made. But travelling alone I had to depend on myself to make plans and arrangements. I also had to rely on myself to go out and navigate my way through a country.
Cons
- You have no set plans- Sometimes planning is great so you know what you’re doing each day and not just taking it day by day.
- You over sleep- Sleeping too long can cause you to not get an early start on the day, taking away from being able to take advantage of a full day.
- Who’s supposed to take your picture?- This is a hard one. Of course you’ll take pictures but you want to be in them. My struggle wasn’t asking people to take my picture, it was making sure they took a great picture. After having my picture taken, I had to delete a lot of them 😦
- When you’re alone safety becomes very important- because you’re alone you become an easier target for muggers. Always make sure you’re vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Take extra precaution, research the neighborhood you’ll be in, if you’re out drinking make sure you know your limits.
- Solo travelling can become lonely- there are many times I wish I had my friends there to experience what I was experiencing. There were times that I would FaceTime or video chat my friends and family so that they could see but it was not the same as being there.
While I had a great time alone, I want to reiterate that safety is very important! When travelling alone make sure someone knows your where abouts at all times; where you’re headed, and what time you plan to be back. Also if you’re staying with a friend or in a hotel make sure someone knows what your arrangements are.
If you are thinking about travelling solo, my advice is to do it. Solo travelling is one of those things that I believe everyone should experience. You spend so much time with yourself that you get to know who you are and what you’re capable of.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope this was helpful, if you’ve travelled alone before leave a comment and let me know what you have encountered that may not have made my list 🙂
Takiyah Travels 