Why You Should Travel Solo In Your Lifetime

I’m walking into a bleek beige-colored tunnel luminated by dull lights, this is how my journey begins and ends. I take a slight right out of the tunnel onto a new strip life as I am quickly strolling down passed terminals, bars, and stores. It is hard not to absorb all the tourism graphics that line both sides of the airport walls and not imagine myself there. Walking through the airport allows me to get a preview of possibilities to come on my adventure. As much as I want to stop and investigate this information, I know when traveling alone in the airport I must keep it moving to beat the large groups of families to the customs area. After leaving customs, I walk out the automatic doors of the airport, from there I decide my next plan of action. I’m in an unfamiliar place and I’m all on my own but not scared, I’ve done this before. 

You might be wondering why I am traveling alone? You might be thinking that it doesn’t seem fun to travel alone? I have traveled solo to over 20 countries and I keep taking solo excursions because solo traveling has taught me more about myself, and taught me how to be a better version of myself. When you are alone with the world it gives you time to process how the world works and the dynamics of different cultures and societies. I have learned patience, respect, and at times an overwhelming amount of appreciation for this life I was given. Exploring new countries and being in unfamiliar environments has given me the confidence to try foods or activities I would not normally do or ever thought I would get the chance to do. When I stopped waiting on friends or family members to travel with me is when my life changed.

It is natural to feel nervous or unsafe about the idea of traveling alone, but there are precautions that can be taken to give me a sense of security. The best mindset is one of trusting yourself, and if you don’t already traveling solo will quickly change that. I try to stay aware and focus when I am in a new place, because it is easy to get distracted by all the new information your brain is taking in. I stay attentive to where I am in the city and the direction I am headed to avoid getting myself lost. If you are worried about your safety,  my advice would be to contact the United Nations of the country that you plan to visit to give them your travel itinerary. I also recommend getting Travel Insurance as well in the event that you get hurt or become sick. Before my trip I will research the drinking water ability of the area, safety, and the culture of the people. Typically I will stay in a hostel which has helped me feel safe because there are usually other solo travelers. The staff that work at the hostel are also a good resource to use in the event you have questions or need help. They can help know the types of transit options if you are staying in a city, restaurant recommendations, and sightseeing.  Hostels have helped me feel less alone because I have found other solo travelers from all over the world, and many of them have daily and nightly activities they provide for their guests.. As an introvert it was difficult to meet new people at times, and traveling has helped with my social skills. 

One important thing to remember with staying in a hostel is to lock your belongings in a locker if you go out for an daily adventure. It is simple to fill my days with solo activities such as hiking a mountain or joining a free city tour group. I usually start my day by going to a cafe to use their Wifi and search for attractions nearby. I like to find free markets and street vendors to buy local goods such as fresh fruit, food, and traditional garments. I always bring a book to read when I am in transit to the next destination, or I bring a journal to help reflect on my thoughts throughout the trip. This has aided me in my self-reflection during a  journey and post-reflection after a trip. You are able to discover how you’ve adapted to a new environment, people, and culture. One of the biggest rewards of solo traveling is simply knowing that you were able to do it, and come home safely, remember to trust yourself.  After a solo trip my brain feels renewed, and my perspective with my familiar environment begins to look a little different to me.

So here I am now sitting in the airport, waiting to walk down the same tunnel that got me here. I take my seat on the plane and I sit there and think about how freeing I feel after that trip. If you ever talk to someone who has taken a solo trip especially overseas they will probably tell you how solo traveling changed some aspect of their life. A solo trip will always be special to you, and no one can take that experience away from you. Traveling has given me purpose, made me feel that the world is big, but it doesn’t have to make you feel small. Realize yourself in the spectrum of where you are in the world. It is time to take control of the things that you want in your life and traveling might be at the top of that list.