Solo travel: the advantages of travelling alone
For many, travelling alone in a foreign country can be a daunting prospect. Some worry that they will not feel safe the entire time, that they will succumb to feelings of loneliness, and some don’t trust their abilities to find their way around on their own.
However, once you get into the swing of things, solo travelling is one of the most empowering and liberating experiences. Not only will you meet heaps of people along the way, but you will also find out what you love doing, how you like to spend your time and relish the freedom of only having to think about yourself.
Meet lots of people
It’s a myth that solo travellers are lonely. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! Solo travellers are much more likely to be approached by friendly, like-minded people as a group can be intimidating to approach and strike up a conversation.
Without someone else continually by your side, you are much more open to making new connections and doing activities with a huge variety of people. So, rather than being alone, solo travellers are much more likely to be exposed to a wealth of people from all kinds of backgrounds.
Be as selfish as you want
A solo holiday is the only time you can really be selfish and feel better about it. With no one else to think about and design your holiday around, you can literally do anything you want. So, make the most of it!
If you have a vague plan for your journey but happen to stumble across an unexpected gem, hang out there for a few days! The same goes for if you find you don’t really like a place; you can just leave. It’s as simple as that. And feel free to shape your journey based on the people you meet along the way. They might become fast friends for years to come.
It’s cost-effective
Anyone who’s watching the purse strings will be happy to hear that solo travel is actually cheaper than group travel. Forget splitting the restaurant three ways or having to shell out for a private room because all the dorms are full. With only yourself to think about, you can budget your holiday exactly as you see fit and not feel pressured to spend money on group activities that you’re not super keen on in the first place.
By travelling alone, you can also enjoy different modes of travelling that aren’t accessible to a group. Try your hand at hitchhiking to save money on travel tickets, go couch surfing to save money on accommodation and buy a single tent if you fancy sleeping outdoors.
