Is solo travel worth it? Definitely. I strongly believe that one gets the full experience of travel when it's done solo. You might not agree based on the advantages and disadvantages of solo travel, which ultimately determine if it's something you’d love to do or not.
Guaranteed, there are advantages and disadvantages, and the part that weighs more determines if it’s something you’d like to give a try or not.
Some might say it’s a bit unconventional to embark on a solo journey, but the freedom it gives comes with true beauty. I have embarked on solo travel over 15 times, and I do not mean to exaggerate when I say it was the best time of my life. If you’d rather be free from a group dynamic or a dependent and overwhelming partner when travelling, it allows you to fully immerse yourself in the adventures planned in your itinerary and gives you a sense of independence.
To properly determine if solo travel is something you want to do and will enjoy, this blog post will weigh the major pros and cons of solo travel and answer the question of whether solo travel is worth it.
Pros of Solo Travelling
Independence and Freedom
Who doesn’t love a bit of freedom? Especially when you want to unwind from your daily life of having to be around people and conversing with them. Independence is the primary advantage of travelling alone, and it comes with having to solely make all decisions concerning you and how you spend your time, freedom to explore, and most important of all, freedom to be selfish, because, why not?
My first time away from home as a solo traveller exposed me to so much, allowing me to become independent and have as much freedom as I wanted. I love being around people, but when it comes to travelling, I’d rather fly solo.
From choosing where to eat to deciding on the pace of exploration, every decision rests solely on you, contributing to a highly independent journey.
You deserve alone time too, and travelling solo allows you to pull the reins as you please, which is quite liberating.
Self-Discovery and Personal Growth
If you’re in for a self-discovery journey, consider going on a solo trip. Travelling solo provides a conducive environment for you to step out of your comfort zone, which adds to personal growth.
Self-discovery is something you feel is not such a big deal and personal growth might seem hard to achieve but all in all, travelling solo helps to bridge between them as you embrace new things and navigate unfamiliar places.
Travelling solo has always challenged me in more ways than I expected on a deep level and the same is bound to happen to you once you give solo travel a try.
Flexibility in Itinerary
Creating itineraries can be such a fun experience, especially when you’re not considering other people in the planning process. You get to choose the activities for your trip and other aspects of your itinerary without having to consider the preferences of any other person. Be it skydiving, hiking, or just taking long walks to explore the area,
Whenever I’m in a new location, I love going on long walks rather than taking a bus or a taxi. Being in charge of my itinerary allows me to switch things up as I like and opt for that long walk to see new places and just interact with the locals.
When you travel solo, you get to deviate from plans on a whim and explore to your heart's content or just do whatever you wish without having to compromise. You get to pursue specific interests and activities or simply choose to have some alone time, like sleeping in or visiting art galleries, which shapes your experience and creates unforgettable memories.
Building Confidence and Resilience
Solo travel requires some self-confidence. Embarking on a journey alone is like delving into uncharted waters. It can be exciting and scary at the same time but the good news is that you will have an adventure.
Solo travel is going to help build your confidence as you navigate the entire process of arriving at a new destination and navigating your way around. As a first-time solo traveller, I didn’t know what to expect and was a bit nervous but I soon gained the confidence to do more by myself and adapt easily to my environment.
By overcoming language barriers as you make small talk with strangers and the foreign transportation system, you will develop resilience, a heightened ability to handle unexpected situations and a knack for problem-solving.
Meeting New People
It is nearly impossible to embark on a solo journey and not meet at least one new person and it is absolutely my favourite thing about solo travel.
Solo travel opens the floor for you to have meaningful conversations and connections with new people without the buffer of a travel partner. It could be your seat partner on the flight, locals in the area, or a fellow solo traveller like you. You can easily create a conversation from anything and create a rapport that could lead to a long-lasting friendship or a travel companion you never thought you needed, hence fostering a diverse perspective and exposure.
Cons of Solo Travelling
Loneliness and Isolation
The biggest downside to solo travel is the loneliness you’re bound to feel down the line. With the potential for solitude, it can be quite challenging to cope alone and find yourself vying for companionship.
If you’re an introvert, this might not feel like a con to you, but regardless, everyone is bound to feel lonely at some point in their lives. As an extrovert, this is a major con for me when travelling solo.
Loneliness can make you over-reliant on technology to keep constant communication with friends and family to fill the void and depend on the entertainment it provides, ultimately becoming a distraction from the experience of your travel.
Safety Concerns
As a solo traveller, you have no one to look after yourself, unlike when travelling with other people. You may be more vulnerable in unfamiliar and remote destinations, which requires you to be vigilant and alert to your surroundings in the absence of a travel companion.
The option to drop your bags and ask your partner to look after them for you is out of the question. Make sure to carry a handy bag that you can take with you everywhere
In the case of an emergency, you solely depend on yourself as a solo traveller. It sucks but it’s a small price to pay given that an emergency occurs. Emergencies could arise, like a health issue, the loss of important items, an abrupt change in plans, the loss of a passport and many more challenges. Certain precautions can be taken in the case of solo travel by being extra careful and having travel insurance.
Expenses of Solo Travel
Compared to travelling with someone or a group of people, solo travel is more expensive. I won’t sugarcoat it, as I’ve been on both ends before.
Travelling solo removes the ability to share the cost of accommodation and transportation and limits your tastes when it comes to food. A solo traveller would have to stick to a stricter budget and although limited by certain things, being conscious is important.
In some cases, travelling solo can be more expensive than travelling with a companion, and it can also be significantly cheaper considering the budget created.
When choosing to travel solo, consider the important things listed in the pros and cons and determine which yardstick fits your taste.
Limited Shared Memories
Travelling solo limits the shared memories, unlike having a companion. There’s something different about visiting a location on your bucket list and not being able to share the grandeur with a loved one.
You can’t share the beautiful sights of the destination and fun experiences, which become collectable joyful memories to reminisce on. This aspect is considerably a strong con, as the unique joy of sharing unforgettable moments is impossible.
It also poses difficulties when it comes to taking good portrait pictures of yourself in the delightful location, as you’d have to opt for selfies, carry around a tripod, or ask a stranger to take your pictures and pray it comes out nice. Tip 101 for travelling solo: always carry a tripod. It’s a worthy purchase that is sure to come in handy.
In my opinion, everyone needs to travel solo at least once in their lifetime. Solo travel is an individualised and dynamic experience that comes with advantages and disadvantages.
Considerably a big decision to make, the ability to strike a balance between effective planning and prioritising safety measures allows solo travellers to navigate their travel with ease
The pros and cons listed are for you to weigh before making the option to embark on a solo journey, as while it offers intriguing pros such as freedom and self-discovery, it also presents some challenges like isolation and safety concerns.
Choose your poison wisely.
