Solo travel may initially seem intimidating, but it’s one of the most exciting and rewarding things a person can do. Whether you want to explore your country or travel internationally, solo travel is highly beneficial. In addition to the advantages you get during your trip, traveling solo helps you develop skills and habits that will help you in your everyday life. Life is short, and we never know what tomorrow will bring; take advantage of the opportunities and time you have now to travel as often as possible. If you’re debating whether to take a solo trip, here are the benefits of traveling solo.

It’s a Cost-Effective Way to Travel

Traveling with others is more expensive than traveling alone, as everyone has a budget. Your family might want to stay in a 4-star hotel, but those accommodations are out of your price range. When you’re alone, you decide on your budget and what you spend your money on. You can eat the food trucks daily for lunch or buy tickets to the best museums. If you want to splurge on yourself a little bit, have dinner at a fancy restaurant or go on a guided, private tour. Solo traveling gives you ultimate control over the budget and allows you to do fun things without feeling pressured to spend outside your means.

Helps Build Your Confidence and Increase Your Independence

Those who go on solo trips feel empowered afterward. Think about it – you’re going to a foreign city and/or country alone for a significant period of time. That’s scary and a bit overwhelming. As a solo traveler, you’ll be arranging transportation, booking hotels, planning your itinerary, and learning how to navigate the city or country you’re going to. However, the more research and planning you do on a destination (language, safety, cultural norms, public transportation, etc.), the better prepared you will be to handle anything that comes your way. Even if you don’t have everything planned down to the last detail, stepping outside your comfort zone by embarking on a solo adventure will immensely build your confidence. Entering the unknown offers solo travelers opportunities to learn how to face many situations. After a few solo trips, you’ll become an experienced, astute traveler who gets the most out of every trip.

You Develop a Strong Sense of Self

Traveling solo allows someone to focus inward, growing and maturing as you explore the world around you. As a result, both selflessness and selfishness increase. Ok, this may seem counter-intuitive but hear me out. The selfishness everyone thinks of is the unhealthy kind that warps a person’s view of reality to revolve around them to the point of detriment to others. That’s not the way to be, nor is it the “selfishness” I’m talking about. I’m referring to healthy selfishness – or respecting your own needs, values, freedom, growth, and happiness - crucial to every individual’s sense of self-worth and mental health. When you travel solo, it’s all about you and what you want. You can sit for hours reading and drinking coffee at a mom-and-pop shop you found tucked away or sample all the food trucks in one area without having to rush. Many times, the best travel memories are the ones that come out of unplanned, spontaneous decisions. Also, if you have a detailed schedule for every day you’re on vacation, you can feel stressed and overwhelmed.

On the other hand, traveling solo is NOT a reason to take selfishness to the extreme. When you travel somewhere, you are a visitor, an outsider to the place and the people who live there. You are responsible for respecting the local culture and minimizing your environmental impact. Even if you’re traveling within your own country, going to a new destination requires appreciation for the unknown and unfamiliar. Learn about the history of the area and be polite and friendly. Whenever possible, buy from local businesses; buying locally supports the local economy and reduces a product’s negative environmental impact. As you focus on the people and environment around you, the selflessness that you give will, in turn, increase your own happiness and self-worth.

The Freedom To Do Whatever You Want

As soon as you decide to take a solo trip, you have the utmost freedom to choose the trip and what you’ll get out of it. Everything is exactly how you want it, from the destination to the details. When you travel with others, everyone has their interests and budgets, making it difficult to have a trip that meets everyone’s expectations. Traveling solo means you can spend each day of your journey any way you like. Want to go on a hike to experience the beauty of nature alone? Go for it. Feel like sleeping in? You deserve it. Since your interests and wants are the only ones that matter, the possibilities are limitless. During my semester abroad, I spent a weekend in Edinburgh by myself. I explored this historical city at my own pace and had a phenomenal time weaving through the cobblestone streets and experiencing the Scottish culture to its fullest.  

Engage in Much-Needed Solitude

If you’re an introvert like me, solitude is a must to keep your sanity. Being alone doesn’t always equal loneliness; the time spent by yourself allows you to get to know yourself, which is hugely beneficial. Time spent with yourself has many psychological benefits: increased empathy and productivity, sparked creativity, reduced stress, and less anxiety. Taking a break from your daily routine via solo travel takes you on an odyssey of self-discovery and personal growth. Each independent journey you embark upon is one of adventure, purpose, and fulfillment. Solitary travel allows you to reflect on what you want out of life, introspect deeply, and discover what makes you, you.

Happy travels!!