Published: May 4, 2017
Updated: Oct 11, 2024
A lot of people tend to believe that having a travel companion is the better way to go around visiting the globe, but take it from a serial traveller: the saying “the more the merrier” doesn’t always work here.
Certainly, having someone to laugh with, play with, take pictures with and even share the hotel room price with is great, but I can give you a thousand reasons why traveling solo is just as fun, but for now, let’s just stick to 5:
1.Your Time, Your Schedule, Your Trip, Your Way.
A lot of people who are taking a year off (or a few months) to travel tend to either go through a process of soul-searching, seeking independence or realizing a dear dream. Whatever the reason is, this is usually something you want to do for yourself, and this would involve discovering new facets and aspects of your personality and ways you handle situations: and sometimes, the best way for discovering yourself is by doing it alone.
2.You don’t feel Guilty about cancelling Plans.
This is one of the things I value the most about traveling alone. If you oftentimes tend to be a people pleaser, then this would apply to you too. When you travel on your own, you set the plan and schedule to suit yourself, and you can readjust it as you please. Tired from bar hopping last night and want to pass on the island sightseeing scheduled for the morning? That’s fine. Would you rather check out the free morning fair instead of the art museum? That’s fine. Would you rather eat discounted burgers than try out a new (and perhaps expensive) restaurant? That is also fine! These might seem like little trivial things, but as a tourist, you have limited time and nothing compares to the freedom of readjusting your plans to suit your needs.
3.You get to Prioritize what You Want.
This goes hand in hand with the first two points. Sometimes, when you travel, in groups, decisions are made in the best interest of the group. Even if everyone contributes to the itinerary, at the end of the day, the majority wins and it might not always be in your favor. It’s Ok sometimes, but other times it’s not. If you’re in a group setting, you have to move with the group (as group dynamics impose) but if you’re travelling on your own.. Oh well. See you on the other side!
4.You get better at managing your Finances.
We tend to be less careful about our spending if we know that there will always be someone who can bail us out of a situation… (unless of course, you’re the rescuer!). But I am sure you get my point. However, when you’re traveling alone and you realize that a) Your only have $50 (or less) left for the rest of the day b) Your family members are located in a different timezone and you can’t call them c) Even if you call them they won’t pick up the phone because they’d be out or sleeping d) Even if they pick up they’d be super cranky; this forces you to think twice about where you put your money. I’ve been there, done that. Trust me.
5. You are less Inhibited when it comes to meeting new People.
And this is a huge part of traveling. Traveling alone makes you realize that no man is an island, but if you isolate yourself, you will sink in the waters. So you get out there and talk to people. And you might even get more comfortable sharing some aspects of your life with strangers (of course, not your deepest secrets otherwise you put yourself at risk) than when you’re alone or not with someone you know.
So there you have it! You might not have someone to take a picture of you next to some cool monuments (but hey, that’s why they invented selfie sticks), you might not have someone to talk to while you’re eating your meal (but hey, more mental space to plan your next move) and you might not have someone to share the price of your hotel room with (but hey, it wasn’t so expensive anyways since you booked it super early, right?): but the freedom, independence and sense of adventure that you get when you take the road on your own make it all worth your while, I promise!
So if you’re planning to go somewhere and none of your friends is down and you’re tired of convincing, please pack your bags and go.
But if you meet someone who wants to join you on your adventures, why not! The more, the merrier, right? But be careful… Not everyone who “wants” to travel “knows” how to travel… Find out how to pick The Perfect Travel Buddy in my next post!
Cheers,
Clem. ❤️
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher
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