The Choice of Solo Travel

I remember the first time I set out for two months to the South of France.

My stomach was tied in knots, and I hadn't slept for at least a week before leaving. I meticulously calculated every single step, from getting off the aeroplane, the bus route, tram and train options, the exact number of blocks I would need to walk to get to the hotel, and of course, informing the hotel that I would be arriving late in the evening. After all, I didn't want to be left hanging around on the streets in the evening. Fast-forward with a few solo trips under my belt, I barely think twice. Not to say travelling with a companion doesn't have its perks.

On a trip to Cuba, I travelled for two weeks with a friend. Given the long trips from one city to another, taxi scams and sudden food poisoning, it was great to share the experience and laugh it off with someone. Organising activities and sharing costs can relieve just some of the anxiety associated with travel. Not to mention, not having to ask a stranger every 5 minutes to take a picture. Despite that, choosing to travel solo or travelling solo due to no other choice can be one of the best experiences and here's why:

Freedom

Yup! Do what you want, when you want, if you want, how you want, and within the budget you can afford! There's no need to compromise by staying in a luxury hotel if your budget allows a hostel. If you fall in love with a place, stay longer. If you wind up somewhere and you're just not feeling the vibe, move on. Go with the flow and take each day as it comes.

Are you willing to take the risk that it might never happen?

Waiting around for someone else to do the same trip as you? It might never happen! The annoying part is that when you do get around to it, that ship might have already sailed. Are you willing to take the risk of it never happening because you haven't found that special someone or even a budding friend?

Facing the unknown

A large part of why I prefer to take long trips solo is to get out of my cocoon. I'm socially introverted and prefer small groups and one-on-one encounters. It also means I get comfortable. When I'm alone, I'm forced to get out of a bubble. It can be something as simple as asking another traveller what they're up to, or for recommendations of where to go. Before you know it, you've met some new people to hang out with.

Just being yourself

One of my favourite quotes from a book I read during my yoga retreat goes like this:

Loneliness is the absence of the other. Aloneness is the presence of oneself- Osho

When you're lonely, you're missing the other, and thinking… Wouldn't it be great to have someone else here? You're focusing on a lack of presence in your life. Aloneness is the contrary. It is being so full that your presence flows into the world around you.

The hardest part is setting out on that first journey. The rip-off-the-band-aid part. Some of my solo trips have lasted a weekend, others have lasted a month. I still get anxious and ask myself a whole heap of questions, wondering if I should talk myself out of it.

Thankfully I go through with it. I’ve had my ups and downs, but I don’t regret a single minute of it.

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