Why I Highly Recommend Solo Travel

If you’d told me a year ago I’d be writing this post, I would have probably laughed and said something sassy like, “righttttt, and I also shared coffee and banana bread with a unicorn yesterday.” I think the most unlikely part of that statement, by the way, is that I’d be sharing my coffee or banana bread with ANYONE. :p But I digress.

Around six months ago I felt an urge that I’d never experienced before. I was used to feeling wanderlust and wanting to explore new places, but this was different. For the first time, what I wanted more than anything was to explore someplace new by myself.

I think it came from a deep feeling of exhaustion from being constantly busy and endlessly immersed in stress culture. I wanted the space to breathe and just be me, to rediscover what being me even means.

I was tired of following set plans and guidelines, of molding myself to others’ expectations, of going by the straight and narrow. I wanted the freedom to soar, and solo travel felt like the best way to do that.

I didn’t mention this before, but my trip to Nantucket was actually meant to be a solo trip. I ended up going with my mom, which was a great thing because I actually don’t think I was ready for solo travel back then.

But I knew solo travel was something I planned to do the moment I arrived abroad, mostly because it’s so much easier and more normal to be a solo traveler in Europe. No one bats an eyelash at a person eating alone or sipping coffee and reading a book by themselves. Among other things, I think one thing Europe has over America is just people caring much less what others think.

In retrospect, it makes all the sense in the world for me to want to travel solo. I’ve always been very independent, an extrovert who loves socializing but also someone who loves to march to the best of her own drum. Yet I think solo travel always felt way too daunting for me. Maybe you’ve experienced some of these thoughts too that arose in me each time I heard about a friends solo travel experience and contemplated the idea for myself….

 

I couldn’t ever travel by myself.

I can’t spend that much time alone.

What if I feel unsafe/lonely/get in a bad situation/etc.?

To all that I say, all of these are fear-driven stories. We are made to be okay on our own; every single thing you need to do great while traveling is already within you. Saying you NEED someone by your side is nothing more than a limiting belief. I don’t think there’s anything at all wrong with traveling with others. Certain places are potentially even better experienced with others so we can share our impressions. But I don’t think that’s true for every place, and in fact, I think certain spots are best experienced solo. Listen to your own inner voice and whether it’s telling you to go forth alone. Feel the fear, the discomfort, and do it anyway, relishing in the certainty that you are doing what you are meant to do.

As a seasoned solo traveler (by which I mean I have successfully done one 3 day trip by myself to a place I’ve already visited once before), I wanted to write this post for those of you who feel the way I did about solo travel for most of my life, but who maybe have an itch despite the fear.

Here are some reasons I highly recommend solo travel if you have the opportunity, as well as some things I learned from my own recent trip to Bath, England (aka one of my most favorite places in the world).

You get to do what you want

Definitely one of the biggest selling points of solo travel and something even the most hesitant person will have to grudgingly admit. I know you’ve experienced the compromise that often has to happen when traveling with someone else. They want to hit all the museums; you want to explore the coffeeshops. They don’t like nature, and you were hoping to take a hike. There’s a reason travel often involves quite a bit of conflict.

Well, the great thing about solo travel is it’s just YOU. There is no one to fight with, no one impatiently urging you to move on to the next thing, no one complaining about being tired. You are quite literally free to do whatever, and there’s an amazing sense of freedom, joy, and ease that comes with that.

It’s pretty great to know you can read for 2 hours in a coffeeshop, or go to a museum for 15 minutes and leave if you’re not feeling it, or eat whatever cuisine you’re feeling. Ah, the possibilities!

You learn a lot about yourself

As a self-development junkie I’m constantly delving into the inner depths of my psyche and trying to learn more about myself, so I was definitely curious to see what solo travel would show me about myself. I wouldn’t say I had giant revelations every second, but it was interesting to see how I dealt with certain situations, what activities i gravitated toward, and how I chose to spend my time.

I also journaled a LOT. I just had all these ideas about things I realized I wanted to do during the rest of my time abroad, some of which I totally didn’t have on my radar before traveling solo and having that opportunity to discover what I was drawn toward.

It makes you feel really confident and badass

Honestly, there’s nothing quite like traveling solo to make you feel like a boss. There’s something about knowing you are responsible for every part of your trip and everything that could possibly go wrong that fills you with confidence. And when you sort through certain issues, or successfully plan a wonderful day, or discover a secret haven by yourself, well you sort of feel like you can do ANYTHING.

Self-reliance and self-sufficiency are incredibly important and useful qualities, I think, and solo travel definitely develops them quick.

Alone does not mean lonely

This is perhaps of the biggest lessons that I’ve honestly been steadily learning throughout college. I very rarely felt lonely on this trip, only when I occasionally came across something I felt the urge to share with someone else. But then I would take an Instagram story of it or a picture and make a mental note to one day come back to this place with my person.

For the most part, though, I was very content and comfortable by myself, and it was nice to listen to my thoughts and experience everything to the fullest without distraction. Plus, I wasn’t REALLY alone, which brings me to my next point.

A great book, a podcast, and a movie before bed can feel like the best of friends on a solo trip

On this trip I had along with me a physical copy of The Alchemist that I carried everywhere I went, The Power of Now on Audible, all my favorite podcasts on my phone, and a selection of movies that my bed and breakfast provided.

I usually listened to podcasts/my audiobook while getting ready for the day in the morning or getting ready for bed at night. It was a nice way to feel less alone in the quiet, which is one thing I still struggle with a bit. I pulled out The Alchemist whenever I was eating in a restaurant by myself and didn’t feel like people watching, or if I found a bench in a peaceful park somewhere. One of the nights, I watched The Greatest Showman in bed before falling asleep, and it was honestly the best. All these things made me super happy and also somehow made me feel like I wasn’t alone at all.

You have the best conversations with strangers

I didn’t meet any lifelong friends on this trip, but that wasn’t really my intention. Being alone, I found it was much easier to strike up conversations with people where normally I would just talk exclusively to whoever I was with. Of course there’s nothing wrong with choosing to keep mostly to yourself, but I was honestly amazed by the kindness and openness I experienced wherever I went.

You notice and experience things you wouldn’t have with others

I really feel like traveling solo results in the deepest experience of the place you’re exploring. Mostly this is because your attention isn’t divided between the sights and whoever you’re with, and because you’re free to explore on YOUR terms. I was able to be so much more present and aware of everything around me than I remember ever being on past trips.

 

And that’s just about it, friends! My thoughts on solo travel, all in a cohesive little post for you to look back on when you’re ready to take the plunge.

One thing I’d like to note- I am well aware not everyone is able to take a solo trip, or a trip at all, at this time. In that case, I highly encourage you to find solo adventures in your own city. It makes for pretty great practice for that eventual day when you can go to some faraway place by yourself. I spent many a summer’s day exploring and getting lost in NYC on my own!

Have a magical day <3

 

Ever traveled solo? Where did you go? If not, what’s your dream destination to go explore by yourself?