12 Feb 2014

My first real independent travel adventure was a solo trip up the east coast of Australia. Since then, I've travelled on my own through South America, to countless major European cities, and down the USA’s eastern seaboard. On each journey I've learned something about myself and also about the place I've visited that I don't think I would have had I travelled with somebody else.

Here’s ten reasons I think solo travel is so great…

1You grow up

When I was 22 years old I packed my bags and headed off to Australia for a year. Even though I was going to live with friends, it was essentially a trip on my own as I had to find work, get somewhere to live and lots of other things without the help of people I was used to getting help from. It made me grow up. A lot.

2You can do what you want

If you’re traveling in a group, everyone has their own opinions, tastes and preferences. So although you might want to go hiking up a mountain, others in a group might not. Travel alone and you won’t have to deal with this problem.

3It opens your eyes to new cultures

True, travelling with friends can open you up to new cultures too. But when you’re with people from the same place you are, you don’t immerse yourself in the local culture as much as when you’re on your own. Travel solo and you’ll get a real flavour for what a destination’s culture is like.

4Come out of your shell

Unless you genuinely want to be by yourself at all times when on the road, you’ll be forced to step out of your comfort zone and open up to people you don’t know. Even if you’re the most extroverted person in the world, you’ll find when travelling solo that you’ll talk to others much more than if you were with your friends.

5You have more time

Solo travel means travelling to your schedule – nobody else’s. This gives you more time to relax, update your journal if you’re keeping one, and see things you really want to see…more time in general.

6You meet more people

You might be thinking this is the same as ‘it helps you come out of your shell’, but it isn’t. What I mean is, while it might sound a little sad, others approach you more when you’re traveling on your own.

On my solo trips I was invited to have dinner with a group of people in a restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown, ate with a fellow solo traveller outside a restaurant in the Aberdeen neighbourhood of Hong Kong and spent the weekend with two girls from Melbourne in Brussels because they saw me writing into a journal at a bar. All thanks to solo travel.

7It’s good for budgeting

The temptation or peer pressure to get involved in activities that involve a lot of money won’t be presented to you if you’re travelling solo. You won’t have a friend saying ‘Come out for just one!’ or ‘This 3-day boat tour would be soooo cool – let’s do it’ when really it’s not something you ever wanted to do. Instead you’ll have your own budget to help you make decisions.

8It’s great for having ‘me’ time

There’s no doubt about it – sharing special ‘moments’ with others on the road is great, but having time to chill out in a park in Barcelona with a book or on a beach in Sydney with your iPod is priceless. If you enjoy your own company- or want to get more comfortable with it, solo travel is perfect for you.

9You’ll read a lot

Books literally are food for the brain. Whether it’s an autobiography, a thriller or a factual book, reading is one of the best things anybody can do regularly. Travel solo and you’ll find yourself feeding your brain a lot more than usual.

10It’s a lot easier to be spontaneous

Doing things at the drop of a hat when you’re in a group is difficult. Even if some of your travel companions might be up for what you want to do, others won’t, which could result in you not doing what it was you wanted to do. If you travel solo you won’t need to confer with anybody – you can do as you please, when you please.

Tip: Stay in a homestay and meet the locals when you travel solo

Homestays are ideal for solo travellers as its offers the opportunity to meet local people, share a meal, chat about the local culture, learn a language and simply not be alone for a while when you’re in the mood for some company on your trip!

Do you want to try a solo adventure?

Book a homestay to make the most of your trip.

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