Having the chance to do a little globetrotting is such an awesome opportunity to see the world and get a better understanding of different cultures. While most of us do our traveling with friends and family in tow, the chance to travel alone can be incredibly rewarding. Have you ever thought about packing a bag and just heading out on a solo adventure? A lot like tackling those new and somewhat intimidating opportunities that come your way, the idea of traveling alone can feel pretty daunting – but once you try it, you’ll probably love it. From getting to do everything your own way to meeting a heap of new friends, here’s a roundup of a few reasons to travel alone and where to go on your first solo journey.
4 Reasons to Travel Alone
Traveling alone can be incredibly empowering. It may be scary at first, but once you get in that mindset of total travel groove, you feel like a million bucks. You’re adventuring and discovering all on your own – with no worries of what anyone else wants to do or see. You got this! When you first head out – try a solo road trip or something in your home country where you know the language and you feel comfortable. Perhaps a tour of a few National Parks or hit up a big, bustling city like Manhattan.
You get out of your dependency routine. Traveling alone means it’s all you. You make the decisions and you solve the problems – no matter what comes your way. You get to decide what and when you want to eat, drink and sleep – and there’s nothing that feels more independent than that. It’s freeing and completely empowering. In our day-to-day, we often check in with our family or significant other to see what they want or need – traveling alone means you have the reigns of the whole journey. Head to Europe – perhaps to a favorite city like London or Paris – to get a bit outside your comfort zone, but still be part of a bustling metropolis.
You’ll make new friends. At some point or another in your solo travels you’ll cross paths with other travelers heading out on their own and you’ll be drawn to one another to hang out and chat. You’ll probably meet some pretty interesting characters along the way and you’ll keep those memories (and maybe even those friendships) for years to come. Putting yourself out there is part of the solo travel process that makes it both fun and a bit of a challenge – but the rewards are pretty awesome. Want a super adventure where you can still speak the language? Head to Auckland, New Zealand for a mix of both outdoor adventures and a safe city by the sea – loaded with travelers.
You’ll have to time reflect on your life, your goals and maybe even make sense and find some answers to questions you have. Spending time alone can be an incredible opportunity to face some big decisions or even just make heads or tails of what you want to do next and figure out where your priorities are. Whether you’re thinking it’s time for a career change or you’re making some big relationship decisions, alone time is often what you need to find the answer. If you’re thinking self-reflection is an important piece to this adventure, head to Bali for a spiritual and peaceful trip, where you’re sure to cross paths with loads of other solo travelers.
What do you think? Could you handle traveling solo?
