Do you find the idea of travelling abroad on your own scary? Just remember, whatever your reason for flying solo, your ‘fear’ is excitement. When else in life will you travel with the freedom of knowing that on arrival you can do what you want, when you want? Experiencing the sights that you want to see? And travelling solo, you may even make friends while away. So, grab your passport – and there’s no need to wait for anyone else to finish their packing before you catch your cab to the airport!
Independence and confidence
Making decisions on your solo travels is a minute-by-minute confidence booster. Going for a meal can mean conversing in a foreign language to find the restaurant, to order food, to ask for the dessert menu, to settle your bill, etc. All these small personal wins incrementally boost self-esteem.
Why not keep a travel blog or vlog while you’re away to document your development? You can chart your journey, noting the highlights of your trip and your feelings when reacting to them. You can record when you are feeling low or uncertain. Your trip is a learning curve in many ways. Gaining independence and confidence through solo travel is what inspires many travel bloggers to share their thoughts.
New friends and experiences
When you travel alone, no matter how quiet or outgoing you are, you must speak to other people. No one else can do it for you! And by talking to people, new friends can be made. Perhaps you are planning on backpacking or solo hiking. You could venture on self-guided walking holidays in Europe or elsewhere and, chances are, you’ll meet fellow travellers en route.
Hiking in the more remote parts of a foreign country means you’ll encounter its cultures and people in the raw, without the comfort blanket of city amenities to fall back on. It’s these sorts of experiences that create memorable moments and, on occasion, require problem-solving. Of course, always be vigilant when travelling alone, especially if you’re a woman.
Your future wellbeing
But the benefits of travelling alone far outweigh any small negatives. By overcoming problems, you can ease any anxiety you may experience in your regular day-to-day life. You’ll step out of your comfort zone which can be liberating on many levels. You can take pride in overcoming challenges without relying on friends, colleagues, or family. And do you know what? Sometimes it’s nice just to have yourself for company. It can be calming. And solo travel is becoming more popular. According to Solo Travel Statistics (2023), there has been a 42% increase in people taking solo trips over the last two years, solo travellers now make up 11% of the travel market, and 84% of solo travellers are women.
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