To me- traveling is more than just visiting beautiful countries and historic sites. Well, those are some of the reasons, but it’s also a way to learn how life around the world differs from mine. I’ve come to realize that I best experience different places on my own; when I can submerse myself in what interests me most. Many people are scared to travel alone because it causes discomfort; we are not used to spending time with ourselves. But once you look past that barrier, you can discover a whole new way of traveling that you may enjoy. Warning: Traveling alone is not for everyone, but everyone should try it at least once, and here are five reasons why:
- Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
There’s something about being in a foreign location by yourself, with little to no guidance, that can really show you what you’re capable of. I’m a creature of habit. I go to the same places, order the same food, and very rarely drift from the usual. When I go to new restaurants I always look up the menu beforehand so I know what I want. Now, imagine the panic I had when I was in Vilnius alone, needing breakfast and no English speakers in the restaurant. Google translate came in handy, but the struggle of communicating in another language brought me out of my comfort zone, even if just for a few minutes.
2. Spend as much (or as little) $ as you like
One of my biggest issues with traveling with company is splitting the costs. This method usually requires waiting for the others to have the money available before booking anything. By going alone, you can book your vacation whenever you’re ready and not have to wait for anyone else to pay you back or to be ready to book. This comes in handy when you have a set budget and dates!
3. Splurge (or don’t) as much as you want
This might seem the same as reason #2, but it’s not. Have you heard of flashpackers? They are backpackers with slightly larger budgets. Flashpackers choose to splurge on things for convenience; i.e. spending more money on a flight instead of a bus ride, or a hotel room instead of a hostel. I am not a flashpacker but I definitely splurge if it’s reasonable and if it’s going to save me time. Regardless, the choice is ultimate only up to me and my preferences.
You go places when you travel in groups, but you experience them when you travel alone!
4. Visit the sites YOU want to see
I’m a WWII nerd. As morbid as it sounds, I love learning about WWII and all the happenings during that era. No matter what country I go to I always research the area beforehand to find WWII sites (if available) that I can visit. My friends, of course, don’t understand why I would want to go to such locations. When I go alone I’m able to visit these places without boring anyone. To date I’ve yet to meet someone who wants to come to Auschwitz with me (Poland I’m coming your way soon, again!). You may find yourself in a similar situation at some point in your life. Where your friends show absolutely no interest in your interests. If that’s the case, try going at it alone. You may discover more than just rich history.
5. Finding yourself
Okay sorry, I couldn’t help it. It’s cliché, I know, but I just had to add this one to the list. In all seriousness, this term confuses me a bit. From my understanding, finding yourself means you discover what you want in life and what you were put on Earth for. I always hear about people finding themselves while backpacking or traveling alone, but I haven’t had the luck of experiencing this yet. I’m not sure if it’s because I know what I want in life and haven’t ever actually felt lost or confused about my path?
I like to think that finding yourself can mean different things. I was raised Catholic, but while my grandparents are extremely religious, my mom is not. I grew up with Catholicism in the back of my head, but never actually practiced (aside from the occasional prayers when going through hard times). The last trip I took to Italy changed that for me. I decided to take that trip because I was having a difficult time both at home and at work. I figured some time away was what I needed to clear my head and come back refreshed. I visited many different churches in different cities, but the Verona Cathedral was my favorite. The architecture was beautiful, but the feeling it gave me was even better. It’s hard to explain—but for a slight moment I had a sense of belonging; like I was a part of something that was greater than myself. During a time when I was feeling extremely alone- this was exactly what I needed.
I’m not going to lie to you and say that I am now extremely religious; I’m the exact same person I was before. But now I feel closer to the religion I grew up with, and most importantly: I have faith.
Note: The statement written above is my own personal experience. All other religions (or none) are great for those who believe in them. Please don’t bash me or anyone for having beliefs different than your own.
I can’t think of a way to end this without beginning with “in conclusion” (shoutout to my sixth grade teacher who taught me to NEVER start a conclusion with that phrase!). I hope I’ve convinced you to take a solo trip, or at least sparked some interest. To date I’ve taken two solo trips and visited three different countries on each one. Some places I would visit again, while others I would not. But I definitely think I wouldn’t have enjoyed these trips as much if I had traveled with family/friends who did not want to explore the same things I did. Trust me, no one would have agreed to visit a KGB museum.
Paz y Salud Mental,
Katherine
Solo Wanderlust 