Pros and Cons of Solo Traveling

Photo: Tagaytay, Philippines Jan2019



I for one love to travel solo as I don’t have to wait for others that causes delays in my travel calendar.  Today, I bumped into this MSN article that I would like to share with you all about the pros and cons of solo traveling as this one speaks so much about me traveling alone often (see link hereafter).

http://www.msn.com/en-ae/lifestyle/travel/pros-and-cons-of-solo-traveling/ar-BBT45kV?li=BBqrVLO&ocid=iehp

The real beauty of this world is, of course, the world itself. We know that better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times. So, if you’re hungry to see the beauty of the world, pack your bag, and travel! Jobs may fill your pockets but the adventure you’ll have will be with you till the very last moment of your life. In the end, you cannot remember how much time you spent at your office, but you can clearly remember the adventurous moments of the journey we call life.

Pros of Solo Traveling

You may travel solo or in a group, but the more people you travel with, the more time you need to take any decision. Maybe you’d like to travel to Italy while your travel buddy wants to spend their vacation on the shores of the Maldives. If you dare to live the life you always wanted or see something you’ve waited for, just leave the group, try traveling solo for a change. You don’t have to wait for others. You can roam the world like a free bird and enjoy each and every moment of this tour. You’ll definitely cherish this trip’s moments throughout your whole life.

Traveling to different countries means you can learn different languages faster. A foreign language means a whole new vision. Highly developed critical thinking skills have a significant benefit on both mental and personal growth. This will always improve the memory; it’s like the brain gym that sharpens the memory.

A human being cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. Like the new oceans and the new shores, a new journey always helps you find new friends. In an unknown country, if you find a new friend, the stress of the journey will be minimized. Your new local friend can help guide you in the unknown destination. You’ll be familiarized with the food, lodging options, nearest view spots, historical places, and the culture of the country. Making and meeting new friends around the world makes you feel that we are all human beings from different parts of the world. Opening up the mind to people with different cultural backgrounds can change your mind for the betterment of yourself. You can make new friends, or you never know, you may find your dating partner, on Doulike.com.

Traveling solo is also beneficial for the personal growth of yours. Traveling with a group, on the other hand, decreases personal growth dramatically. Solo travel needs a significant percentage of bravery and courage. Facing your own struggles will be a piece of cake as solo traveling enhances your problem-solving skills. Once you master this, you’ll get this feeling that’s extremely empowering and overwhelming.

Cons of Solo Traveling

“Solo travel is not always pretty; it isn’t always comfortable. It can even break your heart sometimes, but the journey will always change you. It leaves marks in your memory; you take many memories with you,” says the renowned traveler, Anthony Bourdain.

Traveling solo for all day long may make you feel bored. Bourdain wrote about his travel experience, “It took almost four hours on the bed while lying and looking at 9,000 photos of the last three-year journey. I felt homesick at that time; I thought about quitting the journey.” It is true that traveling by yourself can be incredibly isolating. Whether the journey is for a short time or for a long time, you don’t have someone to talk with you, especially on the bad days. This deep sadness causes someone to head back home or seek comfort at the wrong places.

The more people with whom you travel, the less money you have to spend on accommodation, or the trip, in general; solo travel can be a bit expensive. A well-decorated room which you like is available for 4 people but you are alone. So you have to pay all the money yourself. Besides this, sometimes the trip’s cost is also reduced in case of a group. Also, you may miss human interaction while solo traveling. If you ever feel lonely during these times, these few tips can be helpful to avoid loneliness when traveling solo. Safety is also the main point that makes us question our need for solo travel. You may become sick on the road but you have nobody to take care of you.

However, twenty years from now, you will regret the things you haven’t done more than the ones you did. So that the reality is thrown off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails, explore, dream, discover yourself, and also discover a new place of joy and happiness.