Being a Solo Traveler- The ups, downs and all around it

The first time I decided to go on a trip all by myself I was 17 years old and going halfway around the world to Thailand.  Now, I wasn’t actually going ALONE as it was a mission trip with my church and there were about a dozen people that would be with me, but I had chosen to make the trip of my own free will and was basically plunging in not knowing anyone and felt very independent. I spent a lot of time wandering around and getting to know the locals by myself anyway so it felt essentially as if I were “alone” quite a bit.

Now, since then I have backpacked across Western Europe for six weeks, done weekend trips and treks in China and Vietnam, and traveled through Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, all on my own.  I will most certainly continue to travel this way for most of the rest of my life.

Well, obviously, you hop on a plane or train by yourself, head off to the destination at your own pace and make your own rules about where and when and how long you will travel.  The purpose of the trip can be varied: vacation, work, volunteering, soul-seeking, language-learning, partner-escaping, etc… The entirety of the trip does not necessarily need to be spent in solitude, however the majority of the traveling from place to place is generally on your own.  But there are really no rules—and that’s the beauty of it!

Obviously, you get to make your own rules and set your own agenda. If you want to get up at 6am to see the sun rise over the desert or sleep in a have a two hour long coffee date with your book that’s just fine! You can stay in one city for a week or two or move from place to place every night. If you get sick you are not holding anyone else back and you don’t have to adhere to anyone else’s schedule.  You can indulge in fancy dinners on Tuesday nights or cook soggy pasta in a public kitchen without worrying about offending anyone.  You can visit obscure museums and skip all the fancy churches if that’s your pleasure, or throw out the guidebook and just hang with the locals.

When you are on your own, especially if you stay in backpacker hostels or family-run hotels, it is much easier to make new acquaintances.  Many nice hostels have common areas and shared kitchens or cafes run within the premises so there are always people around to talk to and sidle up with on daily excursions and activities.  Other solo travelers will need a buddy for a day, or a group of people will invite you out for the night, accommodating you into their group temporarily.  The life of a solo traveler is always interesting to big groups of people who secretly wish they were all traveling alone as well. (Not always, I just sometimes get that feeling). Anyway, you can be a big star. 

It’s always easier to talk to locals and get to know the area better as solo traveler.  Locals generally trust individuals more than groups and are more likely to show you around and introduce you to the secrets of their hometown if you are one person and not five. One secret to actually meeting people out and about is by asking for them to take a picture for you.  Be very careful though that you chose the right person to ask and that there are plenty of other people around so the picture taker doesn’t steal your camera.  I wouldn’t recommend this too often... could be risky. And actually, doing the “Facebook profile picture shot” by holding the camera arms length out in front of you and taking the picture yourself will actually draw in people wanting to help and you can start a conversation without actually handing over the camera. That worked for me in Paris.

For some reason people who travel solo tend to spend less money on their own than when traveling with friends or family. For instance, shopping may be avoided because you only have room in your own backpack and it’s already too full and you have to carry it all.  Many solo travelers tend not to eat out at restaurants because at night it is safest to be in the hostel cooking fresh food bought from the market. Also, I very rarely can convince myself that going into said museum or monument is worth the ticket for the entrance so I usually end up skipping them altogether. And when traveling by bus or train it is easier to convince oneself that hardship can be endured to save a couple of extra bucks if you’re not worried about the comfort and experience of the other travelers. Staying in dorm rooms in hostels is cheaper than having a private room to share with a partner. These all depend on the motive of travel though; if the traveler is in a certain location to shop or to experience the rich food in local restaurants or visit specific museums these benefits of money saving may not apply.

We all need our alone time every now then and traveling solo can give you full freedom to indulge in the aloneness and solitude of your spirit for days on end.  Being in silence in the middle of a loud city or a huge mountain range is equally stimulating if you are focusing on your own thoughts and needs.  You have time to reflect, to read, to write, to pray, to meditate, to just BE and listen to nature and your soul. You can pretend you don’t speak English and ignore everyone around you. You can sing in the streets and not feel judged. You can take pictures of your nose from fifteen different angles and giggle madly about your own ridiculousness. The possibilities of self-entertainment are very high when traveling by yourself and the rewards are very fulfilling.

Being alone means you need to practice Constant Vigilance and be completely aware of and in charge of yourself, your stuff and your surroundings at all times.  You need to be proactive about safety and keep a smart head.  Don’t leave your stuff unattended. Travel light so you don’t have to worry about so much stuff. Keep your money out of sight and never carry too much cash. Use locks on luggage and keep it with you. Keep all documents on your person when traveling from place to place and locked up in a hostel safe when possible. Don’t go out alone at night, especially if you are a woman. Always take a registered taxi after dark if you do go out. Be trusting of people but not so trusting as to reveal your money, important documents or expensive electronic devices. I could go on, but I think this could entail another article entirely. Just be aware of yourself and your surroundings.

Okay, so some parts of solo travel can be cheaper, but there are times and places where you can run into higher costs as a person traveling alone.  For example, if you want to have a private room you have to pay the cost of the whole room which normally two people share. If you want to go on a guided tour many agencies charge per person but reduce the price with each additional person… Further, if it is an overnight tour, as a single person you may pay a bit more depending on the accommodation at the destination location as well (always ask ahead of time to double check if there are additional charges for a single person). 

Also, just being completely in charge of your own funds may be tiring at times. Keep a good record of how much you spend each day (spreadsheets help!) and never take too much extra cash with you on daily outings.

Again, this can be a positive aspect the majority of the time, but sometimes it’s just hard being all alone, and not only because you need to watch your back all the time. Sometimes you need a friend to laugh with over stupidly missing the bus because you thought when they said 1700 they meant 7:00pm. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to sit with at dinner or go to have drinks with and not worry about those typical pestering questions from other travelers: Where are you from? Where are you going? How long are you traveling?...  Especially if you are sick, it is nice to have a friend to keep you company and warm your heart with stories of childhood or crazy times in college and bring you hot tea and soup. Often times everyone is traveling in a group already and you feel like you don't fit in so it’s difficult to enjoy the space you are in. Some days you need companionship other than your iPod. Making friends while you travel can be easy, but it’s not that often that they will be as helpful and caring as a friend or partner that is with you for the whole trip. But those that are will be friends for life, no matter what continents you both end up on.

In my opinion, the benefits of traveling alone outweigh the detriments. But, I think a lot of the preference depends on one’s personality. I know several people who would rather cut off their own hand than travel alone, and that is completely fine, it’s not the perfect mode of travel for everyone. But, if you are considering a trip on your own, do it! Start off slow, just a weekend away or a few days at a beach house alone… it will do you some good, I can guarantee it. And if you want to graduate to longer trips, do your research ahead of time and pack wisely but do not make too many plans. Get a round trip ticket and have some goals of what you want to visit, but dedicate yourself to the wind and the stars and just WANDER through the trip with an open mind and a happy heart.