For many, embarking on a solo trip is a daunting decision because there is much to think about when you are taking on a journey on your own. From planning to navigating around a foreign place, everything is dependent on your own choices. When I was 18 going on my first ever solo trip, I was not quite as confident and was quite wary of going anywhere alone but I thought that the best thing I could do for myself was to push myself out of my comfort zone so that I could experience things that are new. Now, I travel as much as I can and most of the time, find myself enjoying my trips more when I take it on my own.
Your choice is the first choice
One of the best perks of solo travel to me, is having all the freedom in making your trip special. Whatever you decide to do on your trip, nobody can oppose it! Travelling and exploring new places on my own without having to compromise on what exactly I want to do is the best tip for the greatest travel experience. My trip is whatever I decide to be and the adventures you can take on are endless, simply because the sky's the limit.
For a fickle-minded and spontaneous person like me, the changes I make in my trips are often spur of the moment. Most times, if you are not travelling on your own, making drastic last-minute decisions can be a hassle. But if it is just you, whatever you want or wherever you want to be can be decided so simply!
Go out of your comfort zone
This might seem cliche but when you are in a new city on your own, there is no other choice but to quit being comfortable with being alone. I love travelling alone to faraway places because I can be whoever I choose to be. Most of the time, people you meet are fleeting and you can pretend and have fun with whatever you want to do. Because you are also traveling alone, you just become more inclined to talk to strangers and be more opened to meeting new people! You will find yourself more opened to the idea of approaching people who never would if you already have company around. I did not think travelling would grant me confidence and independence but that is exactly what I got out of my solo travel journeys!
Deeper connection to the places you visit
Granted, travelling with friends would give you some amazing memories together but when you are in a city that you have never been in, alone, you focus more on the place than the companions that you are with. You engage with the culture and people more intimately because you have the capacity to fully immerse yourself in the new space that you are in. Enjoy the gastronomical experience and bask in the mesmerising sunsets and sunrise without thinking of anyone else but the gratification of being in the moment.
Learn more about yourself
Spending time with yourself is so underrated! Learn about what you like and what you don’t, find answers to questions that you have always asked yourself. What is a better place and time than in a city that is new and fresh to you? Personally, solo travel has been a great tool in understanding myself, the kind of person I am and who I want to continue to be.
Still thinking if solo travel is for you? Take the leap of faith and just do it. Find your own place in this world, even if it is continents away, in a land you’ve never been to before!
