Will I Solo Travel Again? The Good And The Bad
Have you ever considered a solo trip? Perhaps you have seen some of those “reasons-why-you-should-solo-travel” blog posts before. But there’s just something about traveling solo that makes people think of “lonely” and “dangerous”. When I explored Sapporo and Phuket alone, people asked whether it was worth it and what made it meaningful. While I sit here contemplating whether I will solo travel again, here is an honest “review” of my experience.
1. Not For The Faint Hearted (-)
Even if you plan things in great detail, most of your days are unpredictable. Furthermore if you are open to the possibility of traveling with others you meet along the way, you will never know for sure what’s going to happen next. For example, when you go to a new hostel location the people there are going to be different. You don’t know if people will be friendly and whether you have company to hangout with that day. Maybe you won’t feel sociable all the time, and you get extra nervous meeting people. In other words, things are uncertain and if you don’t mind taking that on, go for a solo trip.
2. Missing Loved Ones/Friends (-)
There’s nothing better than traveling with people you love and enjoy spending time with. When it gets lonely and awkward, sometimes I think that I should be with them instead. Imagine a warm hug with someone you love rather than having to bear the cold yourself. However when the option of traveling together is not available, traveling solo makes sense. Unless we already decided to travel to certain destinations together, if you really feel compelled to go somewhere, just do it.
3. Hostels Are Fun (+)
If you can find reputable hostels with good reviews, they are really fun to stay in and mingle with people. The good hostels usually have nice facilities to hangout, and they often organize events to get people to socialize. If you choose to participate in these events, it could be really interesting and everyday will be different. It is also safe to assume that if you stay in a hostel people are open to make friends, creating a friendly environment. I was surprised the first time, but there were many solo travelers who are looking for people to hang out with! This makes it easier for an introvert to make friends.
4. Limitations of Being Alone (-)
Financially, it is more expensive traveling alone. It’s best to share meals in Asia, but when you are eating alone you cannot split the cost of the meals. If you are taking a cab it is also more expensive, and you hesitate when thinking of the tradeoff between safety and frugality. Do you feel awkward asking others to take a picture for you? I do, and if I feel like my photo is a little too vain I would be shy to ask people for help. One alternative is to use a tripod, but that means extra baggage and running up and down for the self-timed shot. Lastly, in terms of keeping an eye on valuables, being alone means that sometimes you forgo a dip in the sea just to guard your valuables.
5. Solo Travel Brings Freedom (+)
This has probably been brought up often but it highly outweighs many of the other downsides of solo traveling, especially if you want to take the opportunity to try new things. Traveling alone makes it easy for me to decide when I want to hangout with people or when I want to be alone. It is easy to have a change of company because no one is going to blame you for being “disloyal” to the group you just met a few days ago. When you travel solo there is mutual understanding to give each other freedom and there is less waiting around unless you have made plans with others to head out together. Seems a little selfish to say it like this, but I hope some of you can relate!
6. Being More Approachable (+)
I realized that being alone makes me more approachable. My first conversation in the hostel was with someone in the dining area, and I asked what she was having. She went back to her seat after pointing it out on the menu for me, so I joined her at the table, and we ended up becoming friends. I felt that being alone gave me flexibility and freedom to approach anyone I wanted. Furthermore, a 1-to-1 conversation is easier than 2-to-1. I imagine that when 2 people approach me together because I would naturally have my guard up.
7. You Learn More (+)
Often, you are forced to figure things out yourself instead of relying on others. There are many situations where you have to be spontaneous. You also learn a lot more than when you travel with friends who have the same perspectives as you. People shared stories and how they started solo travel. It was quite inspiring to get different perspectives because it is rare in Singapore.
8. Greater Sense Of Adventure (+)
Maybe the idea of traveling alone is a scary one, and you are determined to make it work. You might not be doing extraordinary things, but each day is uncertain and you are free to change your mind. You will decide your own adventure and there is no one to tell you how and what to do. This is the feeling that you do not get when you travel alone, and personally it was a novel experience. It was thrilling every time I decided to do something on my own. Sometimes you also initiate adventures with other travelers you meet on the way, such as exploring a night market together. I wonder what this sense of adventure will look like for you!
9. Being Yourself (+)
One of the most important things I value about solo traveling is the freedom to be myself. No one has any pre-conceived ideas about you, they do not know your background or your “reputation”. You could be the CEO of a company, or a college drop-out, but people still see you as an equal. They want to get to know you as long as you are friendly and fun. Maybe somewhere along the conversation your background is mentioned, but you can choose what to share because these are people you meet for the first time. This is nothing like a pitch to impress people, but rather simply to make friends and share experiences together. There is no pressure to live up to expectations from back home.
10. Becoming More Confident (+)
After days of interacting with strangers and getting out of your comfort zone, you gain confidence in knowing that you can handle uncertainty. This is not something to be arrogant about, but rather something to learn and grow from. I grew a “thicker face” after dealing with awkward situations where I seemed to be unwanted company. Taking a solo trip in itself is already a bold step of faith, and I was trusting God to keep me safe and give me a fun time.
The Verdict
Going back to the question about whether I will travel solo again, the short answer is YES. However, it really depends on my objective of the trip. If you value the company more than the trip itself, there’s an easy answer to this question. However if wanderlust gets the better of you, it becomes tricky when you try to balance these factors. When I went to Phuket alone, I really wanted to experience solo travel, and enjoy the beach which I was more comfortable with doing alone. If it is something like climbing Mt Rinjani, I would definitely plan to go with close friends/loved ones because I really want to experience the joy of reaching the peak together.
I really want to know what you think of this, whether you agree or disagree with some of my thoughts. Drop me a comment here, or DM me on Instagram (@wheresjanice). Thank you for reading! 🙂
