Why You Should Travel Solo at Least Once in Your Life

Traveling solo has been such an amazing experience for me, and if you’re interested in traveling at all, I think that it is definitely something you should consider trying – especially if it scares you. This post lists a few of the reasons why I think everyone should consider traveling solo at some point in their lives.

1. You learn what you’re capable of and gain confidence in yourself

The first time I traveled solo, I was terrified. I probably had a full-on anxiety attack – stomach pains, couldn’t breathe, thought I was going to have to go to the hospital and have my travel insurance ship me home in defeat.

So I guess you could say it was a bit of a rough start. But I finally got to bed, and when I woke up the next morning and didn’t seem to be mysteriously dying, I went for a walk around the city of Barcelona and quickly forgot about my nerves because, actually, Barcelona was pretty cool and not even that scary.

Once I got home, I felt like I had such a different perspective on small, day-to-day anxiety-inducing things. I figured, if I can get myself around Europe for a month on my own, I can definitely handle this presentation/interview/doctor’s appointment/whatever.

Conversely, the longer I stay in one place, the less comfortable I get with being uncomfortable, and I think that this tends to result in me missing out on things because I prefer to stay in my comfort zone. For me, solo travel is like a reset that keeps me taking chances, trying new things, and pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone.

2. You get used to being alone and start to enjoy it

Before I traveled alone, I would feel so weird going out to eat at a restaurant by myself. Now that I’ve done it many, many times while backpacking, I don’t think twice about it. Honestly, I really enjoy going out to eat and doing lots of other activities by myself. I’m really glad that I was able to get over being self-conscious and learn that about myself.

3. It’s easier to meet people

Just because you’re traveling alone doesn’t mean that you have to be alone the whole time, or even most of the time. There are plenty of ways to meet people while traveling. I actually think it’s way easier to make friends traveling than it is to make friends at home!

When you’re one person, you get outside the “bubble” of traveling in a group, and other solo travelers often find you more approachable since you don’t already have people you’re hanging out with.

Hostels in particular are a great place to meet other travelers, but you can often find meet-ups or other events online. I’ve even made friends at bus stops while backpacking – you tend to stick out a bit with your giant pack, so it’s easy to recognize people who are doing the same thing as you.

4. You don’t miss out on opportunities because you don’t have someone to go with

In the past, I often tried to get friends to travel with me, but it never worked out. People are busy with their own lives, and the timing is never perfect. I used to be disappointed when our plans didn’t work out and feel like I was being held back because I didn’t have people to travel with.

Now, I really don’t mind if no one can go with me, because I know I can just go by myself. It gives me such a sense of freedom not to feel like I’m missing out because I need someone else with me to do what I want to do, and I’m very thankful that 20-year-old me took a chance and booked that first solo trip so that I could realize this.

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Overall, solo travel has had such a positive impact on my life. In addition to becoming more confident, I’ve become more flexible, adaptable, and able to solve problems on my own. I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to travel by myself and to grow from that experience, and I think it’s something that everyone should consider trying if they have the chance to do so!

For my thoughts on more long-term solo travel, check out Life as a Digital Nomad: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.