There are so many ways to travel, with friends, with a partner, with family but one of the most liberating ways to travel is solo. You are out of your comfort zone and have the independence to make your own choices. It’s one of the greatest feelings that leaves you empowered!
I decided to take a leap of faith in 2018 and travel throughout Europe for 3 months without any experience of solo travel. I learned every thing on the way and it taught me a lot about myself and others. This guide is written to help you understand the pros and cons of solo travel and I can confidently say the pros far out weight the cons!
Pros of Solo Travel
The Choice is Yours:
You get to make every decision on your trip and trust me the freedom is amazing! From what time you wake up, plans through out the day and if want to have a lazy night in bed watching netflix or have a night on the town, it’s entirely up to you!
Pick Your Own Itinerary:
You get to pick which countries and cities to visit that really interest you and how long to spend in each. If you want more of less time in a place it’s your decision.
Wake Up Time:
Totally up to you if you want to be an early bird or sleep in, you donβt need to feel guilty for it! Take each day at your own pace without feeling rushed.
No Compromising:
If you want to explore museums, or go on a walking tour, or shop all day, you get do that at your own pace. You are able to see and do everything that you want without having to worry about splitting your time with another person.
Easier to Meet People:
You are more approachable when you are solo, and are more likely to try and make friends so you arenβt lonely. If you are travelling with someone you are more likely to only be around them because that is what youβre comfortable with.
Tip: A great place to meet people is by joining a free walking tour.
Cons of Solo Travel
Sharing Memories:
It is nice to be able to share those awe moments with the people you travel with. Itβs amazing to talk about those special moments with someone and have those memories to look back on.
Being More Cautious
Especially as a female you need to be more cautious of your surroundings and to trust your gut if you feel uncomfortable. Always go out at night with someone so you are less likely to be targeted and always watch your belongings and drinks. You are more vulnerable to be pick pocketed and scammed as a solo traveler so watch out in touristy places.
I’m not telling you this to be terrfied of solo travel, just cautious! I have been travelling solo for almost 2 years and haven’t had any negative experiences!
Accommodation
If you want to rent an Airbnb it will be more expensive versus if you have a partner or a group to split the cost. Another option would be to stay in a hostel and I have stayed in over 40 around the world and definitely recommend it!
If you want to learn more about how to find hostels, costs and tips, give this post a read!
Dining Experience
It can be a little nerve racking and awkward having dinner alone, you might get bored or you might just avoid it all together. It can be a negative or positive experience depending on the person but once you try it the nerves will go away. As well, if you go to a busy restaurant they are more likely to seat larger parties first because they earn more money. I find sitting at the bar is a great since you can talk with the bartender or other solo people!
Tip: Bring a book or download a book to read while you wait for your food
Missing Home:
Youβre more likely to miss friends and family when youβre alone since you donβt have that comfort. The great thing about technology is that you can communicate with loved ones anywhere in the world so donβt let that stop you!
Taking Photos:
It is hard to take photos when you solo travel, since you constantly need to ask other people to take your photo but it might end up blurry or not how you envisioned. I say invest in a mini tripod to carry around or dare I say it, buy a selfie stick! ahaha
I hope you found these pros and cons of solo travel helpful to make the best decision for you. I was a little nervous being by myself for 3 months in Europe however it ended up being the best decision I ever made. If you have never taken a solo trip, try and go away for a weekend close to where you live and see if you enjoy it and then you can gradually increase the time spent away by yourself!
I used to quite enjoy dining by myself when I lived in Melbourne. But itβs definitely easier to get pictures when Iβm traveling with my husband.
Yes dining by yourself can be really nice when you get use to it! ahah Definitely easier with another person, for now, I rely on my tripod!
Yes! It is so much easier to meet people while solo! But orz, it’s so sad when your new friends leave and then you have no one to go on tours and eat dinner with ;(
Totally agree, always tough parting ways once you meet amazing people!
Great post! It’s easy to gloss over solo travel and say it’s all amazing when there are some very real challenges. The sense of accomplishment when you overcome them though is unbeatable!
Yes totally agree, it can definitely be tough at times! So worth the experience when you look back on it!
I would really love to go on a solo travel trip but I’m so scared to feel lonely. I love sharing travel memories with other and feel like I need to be able to share it with a friend or family member. Still thinking about going on a solo trip tho!
You should definitely try it at least once, even on a short weekend getaway!
Thanks for sharing. I hope someday I could also try solo travel.
My pleasure, I hope you can too!
I only traveled once alone, just for a day, and actually didn’t enjoyed it that much. It was nice to just be your own master and have your own timing but I really miss sharing the day with someone… So I really admire people traveling by their own!
Yes I can totally get that, it can be tough sometimes! Thank you Marina!
I have actually never experienced most of these pros in over 10 years of solo travelling. In fact, I think it’s better to travel solo when it comes to accommodation. I couchsurf in most countries and it’s definitely easier to find a host as a solo traveller.
For me, solo travel is all pros and the only way to travel! :o)
Yes love meeting people in hostels or couchsurfing! Definitely so many pros, thanks Kez!