One of the biggest challenges of traveling solo is actually making the decision to book your flight and pack your bag. There are so many preconceptions that people hold about solo travel but, the reality is very different to what most people imagine.

This is particularly true for women. I can’t tell you how many times people ask me, “But aren’t you afraid?” or “Is it safe?”

The truth is, traveling solo changed my life and is the single greatest gift I’ve ever given myself. Like me, many women will find solo travel to be empowering, enjoyable and a wonderful experience.

Here are just a few reasons why all women should travel solo!

The Freedom Is Wonderful

What you eat, the activities you do and how you spend your day are all some of the options that solo travel will give you, and this sense of freedom is a great thing to embrace.

Traveling with friends or family will often cause people adapt to suit others in terms of what they do and where they visit. With solo travel, the ability to be selfish and do what you really want to do is wonderfully liberating.

The counter to this coin is that it does mean that there is no one else to blame if you end up on the wrong train or your find yourself struggling with a menu in an unfamiliar restaurant!

Those moments are when we learn most about ourselves and rise up to overcome hurdles.

Meeting New People

The thought of solo travel may seem like a lonely one to many people but, it is amazing how often travelers will start conversations with solo female travelers.

There’s a curiosity around it and people are usually more inclined to lend a helping hand and play a part in your adventure. It’s happened to me time and time again around the world despite language barriers and cultural differences.

There are also many people who will want to find out more about you and will want to make sure you feel welcomed in their city. This is the kind of experience that can really enrich your travels and restore your faith in people.

Confidence Boost

The hardest decision you will make with solo travel is to book a flight and pack a bag. Even that very first step of your solo trip is empowering. From there, the more you travel solo the more your confidence will grow.

While all of the organizing and hard work will fall on your shoulders, all of the pleasure that comes from a job well done when you have organized a life changing trip will be yours to savor.

Become The Master Of Your Destiny

Being able to do what you like when you like is something that is often underrated. When it comes to solo travel, you can choose whether you want to to sleep in, fill your day with activities or treat yourself to a day of getting lost in a beautiful city.

Solo travel is often associated with longer term travel and, if this is an option, being able to amend your route simply because you want to go somewhere on a whim is a great experience.

Learn To Be Resourceful

Until you are in over your head and desperately trying to figure out what to do next, you won’t really know how resourceful you really can be.

This is something that will sometimes happen when you travel, whether you miss a connection in a city you weren’t expecting to visit or you find yourself trying to arrange an activity that isn’t usually offered to tourists in an unusual destination.

Some of the most beautiful experiences come from the unexpected and even accidental. You will learn to loosen up and make the most of any situation.

No Compromises

Making compromises is a natural part of most trips, as you will have to choose a route to suit yourself and whoever you are traveling with. Finding experiences that suit everyone in your travel party means compromise is inevitable.

However, if you are traveling solo then these compromises are entirely up to you, whether you want a shorter holiday staying in hotels or if you prefer budget accommodation so that you can travel for longer.

Solo travel lets you prioritize what is most important for you.

Have you traveled solo? Comment below!