10 Benefits of Traveling Solo

Because You Can

You have the ability to travel solo, everyone days. One of the simplest things that you gain from traveling solo is that you realize you can do it! If you are over the age of 18 you can do it whenever and wherever you like. Your mind may be holding you back but other than that there is no reason you can’t travel on your own. Maybe there are some other obstacles in your way such as money but that does not make it impossible. If you want to see a certain place in the world or have dreams of seeing the whole world, its time to realize that you have the power to make that happen.

Gain Confidence

When you accomplish traveling solo, you will realize what you are really capable of, especially the first time. This is a huge confidence boost, whether you are already a confident person or not. It will allow you to believe in yourself in ways that you never knew was possible. The feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes with doing it on your own is hard to explain and probably different for everything. No matter how your solo trip turns out, one thing is for sure you can feel proud that you did it. Not everyone is brave enough to go for it.

You Choose

You get to choose where you go, what you do and exactly how you spend your time. You don’t have to compromise with anyone or do things that you may not want to do. You can spend your days exactly how you want to without having to think of anyone else. You can have a late night out or an early night in without any judgment or guilt. It is freeing and allows you to fully have the experience that you choose to create.

You Don’t Have to Wait

You don’t have to keep waiting on someone else. If you are waiting for that friend, family member, significant other or anyone to accompany you to somewhere you have always wanted to go, you may never get there.

Traveling solo has the ability open up a world of opportunities. You can choose to work remotely and travel, work abroad in another country or start a travel blog to document your journeys. There is so much you can do when you are not relying on anyone else or their timeline or expectations. You don’t just have to take a short vacation alone, you can go beyond it. Trust me, once you get that travel bug, you will become addicted and try to figure out how you can do it more.

Overcome Fear

It gives you the opportunity to overcome your fears when you travel solo. I don’t think there is anyone who wouldn’t fear their first time traveling alone. Maybe your fear is small or maybe its huge but I don’t know that there is anyone who wouldn’t feel a little nervous or scared. If you are one of those truly fearless people, then lucky you, but if not, then don’t worry you are just like the rest of us. I have been traveling alone for some time now. Traveling solo can still can be scary the second, third time and so on. It does get easier, but that doesn’t mean its easy. Going somewhere new for the first time on my own always gives me butterflies in my stomach both for excitement and the unexpected. Traveling solo leaves room for me to grow each time and allows me to continue to not let fear stop me from doing the things I want to do in life.

Get Outside Your Comfort Zone

When you travel solo you are continually pushed outside your comfort zone in so many ways. Not just when it comes to the fear of traveling alone but also the comfort in having a companion by your side at all times. You may have to sit and have dinner with ourself. It takes courage to enjoy your own company. It also pushes you to meet and connect with people from different walks of life. You may have to overcome language barriers, difficult situations, cultural differences without someone else to advice you or confide in. All of this is a part of personal growth and allows you to get to know yourself better.

Meet People

I touched on this in the previous section but it is really amazing the connections you get to make when you don’t have anyone else by your side while traveling solo. Yes, you can also meet people while traveling with others but I have found the best ways that I force myself to put myself out there more to make friends and get to know people is when I don’t have someone that is already by my side.

When I first moved to China I knew nobody. I was lucky to be bunched in a group of other teachers right away, who became family in an instant. I have gained many other life long friends by putting myself out there on my adventures. I have had wonderful conversations with locals, briefly met other solo travelers that I now follow on instagram and continue to inspire me. Small connections along the road of travel and last a lifetime.

Experiences

The experiences while solo traveling you can gain are priceless. Seeing something with your own eyes can never compare to a photo, no matter how fantastic the picture is. There is a feeling that can’t be captured. When traveling solo and being in the moment, having the experiences by yourself is also something very new. Experiencing alone may feel different or you may wish that there was someone to share it with but it will allow you to realize how special it is for you to have that moment to yourself. It can be a story you tell to others and something personal you can keep for yourself. You don’t have to share things with anyone in order for them to be special.

You Don’t Have a Insta Husband

You may look at this title and immediately think it is a con, rather than a benefit of solo travel. I have a lot to say on this matter. In each situation I choose to look at the positive aspect. I love a good instagram photo and I have no judgment for anyone who wants to snap a beautiful photo while traveling or anywhere for that matter. I have also found ways to be creative in taking my own photos while traveling solo while not being afraid to ask a fellow traveler sometimes. I had a small tripod with me for my phone and I was not afraid to use it sometimes, but it suddenly broke. In overall crowded places it won’t work. When I do ask for someone to take my photo I don’t expect a ton. I am just happy with what I get, but we all know that it takes about 100 shots to get the perfect one, haha. I do believe its so great to have photos of yourself in the places you have been as a memory for yourself and to share with others.

However, when I travel solo it forces me to be more appreciative of the moment. I don’t have someone to constantly take a photo and I also don’t feel I have to take a selfie every second. It allows me to slow down and appreciate all my surroundings more and for this I see it as a blessing. Again, I have no judgment for those that are all about the photos and lets face it you need to take several to get a good one. But what does always make me sad to see when I see people pass through somewhere of history, a beach or anyone and take a photo then immediately leave without getting to know the history, taking time to enjoy the nature or whatever is but simply take photo and walk off. What good is that? Thats all you came there for. That I don’t understand but to each their own.

Discover Yourself

There is no better opportunity than solo travel, to get to know and find love for yourself. You are stuck with many of your own thoughts and it creates a great opportunity to really understand who you are. We all need time to ourselves whether you are single, married, or if you are the most extroverted personal in the world, everyone has good things to gain from alone time. Use this time to keep a journal, read a book or do things that you love.

These are just 10 of a numerous amount of benefits you can personally gain from traveling solo. We all have different perceptions. The way you experience something is individual to you. Regardless of the experience you have one thing that is guaranteed from solo travel, is the opportunity to learn and grow. I can’t wait to see where your adventures take you!

Health, Love & Happiness,

Courtney