Whether it’s your very first solo trip, or you’ve been traveling the globe alone for years, here are the top solo travel benefits to be aware of!
Nowadays it’s fairly common to be or to know a frequent solo traveler. More and more people are setting off on their own, exploring the world, and discovering the surprising benefits of solo travel and all that comes with it.
When I first started traveling as a solo female, this was just not the case. I was routinely questioned, discouraged, and warned about the dangers of traveling alone.
And while the arguably valid concerns about travel safety deserve planning and consideration, overall solo travel – even for females – is fairly common these days.
So why are so many travelers heading out alone? When is it a good idea to travel somewhere solo? And what are we females getting out of it, since we generally need to be a bit more careful and aware than our male counterparts?
I’ve had my fair share of friend-trips, family trips, and relationship trips. Each of them have been valuable, memorable, definitely worthwhile.
That said, I travel the world primarily alone. It has hands down been the most rewarding type of travel I have ever experienced. And, that is still the case. This year alone, I’ve spent time traveling solo in Qatar, in Nepal, in French Polynesia, and more. And, I have no plans to quit anytime soon!
While there is likely an endless list of benefits of solo travel, here are my top ten takeaways after more than 15 years of traveling the world alone.
10 Solo Travel Benefits That Might Surprise You
These are just a few examples of the impact that solo travel can have, especially for females.
1. You’ll step outside of your comfort zone.
Solo travel forces you outside of your comfort zone in a way that other types of travel can’t.
When you’re on a group tour or on a road trip with friends, for example, you are kind of insulated from the outside world You still have a “safety net” in a way.
With solo travel, that safety net is peeled away and you are confronted with loads of new customs, foods, smells, and sights. Golden temples, ornate mosques, bustling cities, and lush forests show different practices and corners of the world that you may never have been faced with.
I say, welcome it!
Stepping outside your comfort zone can be, well, a little uncomfortable. But, you will have so many unexpected experiences and so much about not only the world, but also yourself.
2. Your confidence and self-reliance will grow.
Solo travelers often talk about how empowered they feel after their first trip. And I could not agree more.
One of my favorite benefits of solo travel is that it has made me deeply self-reliant and very confident in my choices. These thoughts and behaviors didn’t end when my first solo trip ended. These new qualities came home with me and probably still grown with each and every solo trip.
Think about this. The more research you do, the more prepared you can be before your travels. But, even with all the research in the world, things can (and will) go wrong. You’ll almost certainly face problems with travel or housing or tickets or delays.
Given that you’re traveling alone, it will require you to face various stressful scenarios solo. And no matter how annoying it is in the moment, it will undoubtedly increase your confidence in the long run.
3. You’ll make new friends.
When you travel with friends or family, you typically stick together for the entire trip. You decide together what to do on any given day. Because the choices are usually made jointly, you are much less likely to wander away from the group and explore hidden gems.
But traveling alone means you are more likely to chat with locals, becomes friends with others at your hotel or hostel, and you’ll be more social in general.
Though you are not traveling with friends, you will likely leave the destination with new friends – some of whom you may keep in touch with forever!
4. You’re the boss of the itinerary.
One thing that I love the absolute most about solo travel is being the boss of the itinerary.
I get to jam pack in as many activities as I like, such as paragliding or a local cooking class, or I get to be as lazy as I need after a long flight path. In fact, whatever mood I am feeling, I can cater the whole day around that.
Likewise, if I am enjoying a destination more than expected, I can choose to stay longer. Or, if I am not liking it, I can leave early.
You just can’t do that when you’re traveling with friends or with a group. You need to take other traveler’s preferences, budgets, and feelings into account.
And, while that is not inherently a bad thing, it can leave you feeling like you’re not having the trip you expected.
Solo travel is the ultimate freedom since you can go wherever you want whenever you want, and at the price point you prefer. You and only you are the sole decision maker.
Pro Tip: Here are the top travel planning websites that I personally use to keep my trips on budget!
5. You’ll become an expert decision maker.
Solo travel and decision making go hand in hand. You will make countless decisions every day, from where to eat to what to see to where to do laundry.
While for me that has become second-nature, it may seem intimidating if you are a newer solo traveler. But soon enough, it will feel normal for you too.
Additionally, you are bound to make mistakes as you go. We all do. But these mistakes help you hone in on your travel likes and dislikes, and learn what you will or won’t do again.
Travel has helped me hone in on my decision making skills and stand strong once I make a choice.
6. You’ll likely learn new languages.
While I am far from a polyglot, I have definitely learned phrases and sentences in just about every country I’ve visited. And, the same is likely true for many a solo traveler.
When you are alone, you have the time to notice much more of what’s around you. Your attention is focused outward, not inward as it usually is if you’re in conversation with a friend, or telling a story to your travel-mates.
What this does is help you to hear the language around you and notice patterns. You see the city, and notice the written characters on the bakeries; on the grocery stores; on the souvenir shops. Even if the alphabet is different than yours, you start to see the patterns.
You, my friend, are learning the language. And it is simply because you are more present, paying attention to the sights and sounds around you, in a way that you just can’t do when traveling with friends.
🗣️ Want a jump start on learning a new language before you travel? This is my favorite language learning resource! 🗣️
7. You can completely disconnect.
We live in such a busy tech-filled world these days, solo traveling can help you disconnect in a way you likely don’t at home.
Leave your phone on airplane mode, turn off your emails for the week, and tell people not to call you unless there’s an emergency. Solo travel can be the ultimate self-rejuvenation time if you need a stress free escape.
(Note: it is still wise to leave your itinerary with a trusted friend if you are solo traveling! Disconnect from work and obligations / be available for friend or family updates.)
8. It will probably leave you more humble.
Solo travel has left me more humble than any other experience on the globe.
Firstly, you learn just how small you are in the world. There are billions of people and thousands of cities and indescribable nature to see everywhere! It is incredibly humbling to take note of how small you really are.
Furthermore, coming from the USA, I am frequently amazed at the different ways people do things around the globe. Humans are incredible, and there is not only one right way to build you life and community. Hearing different points of views and perspectives has only left me more humbled.
And, lastly, the natural world is awe-inspiring. Nothing that humans can build is ever more impressive than nature, in my opinion. Seeing various ecosystems, climate zones, and geological formations is nothing short of incredible.
9. You’ll realize how similar we all are across the world.
One of the most important solo travel benefits that I have experienced is the realization of just how similar we are across the globe.
The media likes to paint us all as very different. Different nations, different religions, different beliefs, and more.
But I’ve found that despite these differences, we are all so much more similar than we are different. My solo travels throughout the Middle East at the height of the conflicts there have proven to me that the media usually gets it wrong.
In all nations that I have been to, all people want to find peace, love, and happiness. They all have good days and bad days just like you and me, but in general we are all the same. Just trying to live a good life.
10. You’ll likely be happier long term.
Research from the Anu Aggerwall Foundations suggests that traveling alone has the power to increase our overall happiness, more so than traveling with friends.
You pinpoint likes and dislikes. You learn what is important you you. And you gather information based on experience, not what others around you assume about the world.
Solo travel promotes deep personal growth, independence and self-reliance. By opening up yourself to new experiences and learning from all that you see, you open yourself up to a deeper sense of understanding of yourself and the world.
Conclusion: The Benefits of Traveling Alone
Solo traveling the world has benefited me in more ways than I can count. If you are embarking on your first solo travels, I can almost guarantee that it will do the same for you.
Solo travel can provide you with life-changing experiences if you’re adventurous enough to take on the challenge. From building self-confidence to making you more humble, solo travel will hit you in ways you never expected.
Have you been changed by solo travel? Let me know your story below!
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